Real clincal psychiatric help needed, please. (please only respond if you know what you are talking about)?

I%26#039;ve been feeling really down in the dumps for the last 2 days. I%26#039;m sitting in my lonely studio apartment by myself with only the pc screen lighting up the room.





I%26#039;m a male 24yo 2nd year medical student, in neurology block, studying depression this week.





I have been formally diagnosed with ADHD at 10yo, yet have not had satisfactory reviews from the paediatrician since 16yo. At 18yo he basically pushed me out the door because I was an adult but kept writing Ritalin scripts for the next 5 years or so.





I put my foot down about a month ago and trawled the internet and tracked down a clinical neuropsychologist specialising in ADHD research. I%26#039;ve been in for EEGs and a 3 hour long computerised cognitive assessment and I%26#039;m awaiting the results.


I%26#039;ve been completely self-managing, taking 20mg Ritalin, 3000mg Omega-3 fish oil, Ginkgo Brahmi and Lecithin (apparently a precursor for phosphatidylserine)





(to be continued...)

Real clincal psychiatric help needed, please. (please only respond if you know what you are talking about)?
Are you aware that medical doctors have the highest suicide rate of all professions? See this article in Newsweek.





http://www.newsweek.com/id/132887





The article cites a website: www.doctorswithdepression.org





You need help and you know that you need it now - especially because if you don%26#039;t get some real help, your problems will only get worse. I totally understand the urge to self-medicate, and being a med student... you have access to resources that other people do not have. And I totally agree with the above poster, dope is NOT the answer. Talk about a crutch.





Med school is extremely stressful... I%26#039;m sure no one has to tell you that, but it might feel good to hear it. In addition, due to your ADHD, you are already set up to be more vulnerable to the highly stressful environment. Aside from your emotional issues, how is the ADHD affecting your learning and academic issues?





The study that you are in should be able to give you some referrals for a reliable psychiatrist. You should also find some reliable social support; support for any academic needs that you have due to the ADHD; and work on the basics: getting enough sleep, exercise and proper nutrition.





Don%26#039;t feel bad that you are going through all of this... it%26#039;s normal, especially for a young adult with ADHD and especially for a med school student. But in the long run, it will only make you a better, more empathic and sensitive neurologist (and by the way, I don%26#039;t mean sensitive as in touchy-feely, I mean sensitive as in more attuned to the issues regarding dual diagnosis and to the real-life barriers to your patients seeking help).
Reply:you know what you should do...


you know what ur going through...medical students usually go through this...thats why i didnt continue medicine :P





listen,from what i read ur under alotttttt of stress lately.first off, get off ur freaking pc and clean up ur room...lay off the alcohol and dont take weed (ur already depressed...taking depressants isnt gonna help,and u know it)





sounds like you need some sleep and a friend to talk to. you also need a change and get out of ur routine.





install really bright white lights in ur apartment...its proven to change ur mood.


get some exercise done (aerobic workout), it%26#039;ll get ur endorphins to kick in.





dont know what else to say except ur not alone...i%26#039;ve been depressed for the past 2 years...cant remember the last time i was happy...but im against medication,so i try to remedy myself through controlling my activities.


hope this helped...
Reply:don%26#039;t self manage go see a doctor any doctor


make a list of simple survival tasks such as wash clothes have shower and get yourself to that appointment


you can%26#039;t live on jam sandwiches if you can%26#039;t get the energy to cook eat bananas cereal milk fruit till you can


drink plenty of fluids


no beer no mara- this would be stupidity, compounding your probs


committ to helping yourself recover


you are in no shape to study till you get back on your feet


stop running thru your probs in your mind


time for action, baby steps
Reply:I cant give you clinical psychiatric help because im not qualified, and even if I were, you as a med student should know this is not the way to get it.


You dont just have medical student syndrome, thats obvious even to me. it sounds as if you are really struggling from not having your ADHD effectively managed and feeling very unsupported in this and your studies.


You dont need dope, its the worst possible thing you could do. Or alcohol or any other self medication.


Put on you cleanest clothes, wash your face and comb your hair, then go andsee your Dr and explain exactly how you are feeling. Ask to be referred for proper psychiatric evaluation of your mental state now and your previous ADHD diagnosis.


While you are waiting for this to come through (they should hurry it up for one of their own), go and see your course tutor and discuss your work problems with them. You will need to be honest to get the help you need. Then ask for help in finding a counsellor to talk to. Ask your Dr about this too so you get as many recommendations as possible.


Go easy on yourself, but dont let yourself get any further down as it only gets harder to get help if you do. You young medics are valuable, you are the future of medicine so make sure you get there.


I hope I havent sounded harsh. I really dont mean to say pull yourself together because I know how unhelpful that is when you cant. It just feels like one more thing you are failing at, but you asked what you should do. So do it. Before you get to the point where you cant. If you need to talk in confidence, try ringing the Samaritans as sometimes just talking helps you clear your head. I wish you well.



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