Karen, are you feeling any better?

Yes Amber and thank you for asking. I've been trying to stay as busy as possible although it is hard. I missed an important lecture buz I slept too long. Oh well.

How are you doing?

This is just some info I thought was interesting. I'm not posting this to accuse anyone of being this way, I just thought it was an interesting read. I know I fit the profile, lol.
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History and use of the term
To differentiate between neurosis and neurotic: "Neurotic", or affected by neurosis, has come to describe a person with any degree of depression or anxiety, depressed feelings, lack of emotions, low self-confidence, and/or emotional instability.

The term was coined by the Scottish doctor William Cullen in 1769 to refer to "disorders of sense and motion" caused by a "general affection of the nervous system." For him, it described various nervous disorders and symptoms that could not be explained physiologically. It derives from the Greek word neuron (nerve) with the suffix -osis (diseased or abnormal condition). The term was however most influentially defined by Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud over a century later.

The American DSM-III has eliminated the category of Neurosis altogether. This largely reflects a decline in the fashionability of psychoanalysis, and the progressive expurgation of psychoanalytical terminology from the DSM. Those who retain a psychoanalytical perspective, which would include a majority of psychologists in countries such as France, continue to use the term 'neurosis'. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, however, it is "no longer in scientific use."[1]

Psychoanalytical account of neurosis
As an illness, neurosis represents a variety of psychiatric conditions in which emotional distress or unconscious conflict is expressed through various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances, which may include physical symptoms (e.g., hysteria). The definitive symptom is anxieties. Neurotic tendencies are common and may manifest themselves as depression, acute or chronic anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, phobias, and even personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. It has perhaps been most simply defined as a "poor ability to adapt to one's environment, an inability to change one's life patterns, and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying personality." [2] Neurosis should not be mistaken for psychosis, which refers to loss of touch with reality.

The term connotes an actual disorder or disease, but under its general definition, neurosis is a normal human experience, part of the human condition. Most people are affected by neurosis in some form. A psychological problem develops when neuroses begin to interfere with, but not significantly impair, normal functioning, and thus cause the individual anxiety. Frequently, the coping mechanisms enlisted to help "ward off" the anxiety only exacerbate the situation, causing more distress. It has even been defined in terms of this coping strategy, as a "symbolic behavior in defense against excessive psychobiologic pain [which] is self-perpetuating because symbolic satisfactions cannot fulfill real needs." [3]

According to psychoanalytic theory, neuroses may be rooted in ego defense mechanisms, but the two concepts are not synonymous. Defense mechanisms are a normal way of developing and maintaining a consistent sense of self (i.e., an ego), while only those thought and behavior patterns that produce difficulties in living should be termed neuroses.

Effects and symptoms
There are many different specific forms of neuroses: pyromania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety neurosis, hysteria (in which anxiety may be discharged through a physical symptom), and an endless variety of phobias. According to Dr. George Boeree, effects of neurosis can involve:

...anxiety, sadness or depression, anger, irritability, mental confusion, low sense of self-worth, etc., behavioral symptoms such as phobic avoidance, vigilance, impulsive and compulsive acts, lethargy, etc., cognitive problems such as unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, repetition of thoughts and obsession, habitual fantasizing, negativity and cynicism, etc. Interpersonally, neurosis involves dependency, aggressiveness, perfectionism, schizoid isolation, socio-culturally inappropriate behaviors, etc. [4]

Treatment
Although neuroses are targeted by psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, counseling, or other psychiatric techniques, there is still controversy over whether these professionals can perform accurate and reliable diagnoses, and whether many of the resulting treatments are also appropriate, effective, and reliable. Some studies show no benefit is gained from talk therapies. However, some benefit is gained from other kinds of untrained personal companionship and discussion.

Karen, the Lamictal is wonderful, today is my second day taking it and neither yesterday nor today have i felt like hurting someone.......i was even able to write a letter to my ex without feeling hostility....just a little sadness, but can i expect after three wonderful years, it was just the last month and a half we were together that was sheer hell

Oh Amber, I am so glad to hear you are doing better. That was one thing I liked about Lamictal. It doesn't take forever to start working. Another thing I take is a blood pressure pill called Toprol. It keeps you from getting too extreme in your emotions. It works by keeping your adrenalin leves down. The only thing I don't like about my meds is that they keep my creativity down. Man! When I'm not on meds, I think up the wierdest things and they would make some nice art pieces, but oh well. I guess I would rather be stable than riding the 5150 rollercoaster, lol. I also take Geodon, and Klonopin.

my momma takes Geodon and Klonopin as well as trazedone, why they took her off the Lexapro, i'll never know

my doc said he wanted to wait to put me back on the Effexor XR.....

But this is the quickest I've ever started feeling better after restarting medication

probably also helps that i'm not the hospital this time, i'm in a home setting

I don't care for Effexor. They are doing studies now that people who are BP shouldn't take antidepessants and that they can trigger mania. That's why I won't take them. The meds I'm on have the potential to cause depression, but the Lamictal seems to keep that at bay most of the time. I mean there is no med that is going to take all your problems away completely, but they can be a helpful tool in stablizing your moods. I say be careful with antidepressants if you are or think you may be bi polar.........just my humble opinion though. I'm no Dr.

wow that trazedone is a harsh drug.i took half a dose and was in happy land for 12 hrs.....
sorry to hear you are still struggling karen..

(((JAX))), thank you. Yeah I've had a rough timeof it here lately, but I'm trying to keep on truckin.

Trazadone, eeeeeewwwwwwwwwww That stuff made me puke and the abilify made me sicker than a dog. Ended up in the hospital. I think it was a allergic reaction or something. I only took too doses. Go figure.

Zoloft makes me have terrible side effects, so I gave up on anti-depressants. They are not good to me and they make me sweat too much, thow me into mania and it is hader to get off than it is to get on them. Effxor and lots of the drugs cause more pain than if I weren't on them. They also make me gain wieght. Big no no for me!

Gnite all.........

Lubya's

Karen

Hey? Has anyone contacted Mike and Van and asked if this can be a perm topic? Have heard nothing back.......everyone was so positive about it and now, still nothing. hmmmmmmmmm

i was wondering the same thing karen..


after a sleepless night last night i think a dose of trazodone is in order tonight.jesus i hate insomnia...

Hope everyone is well!!

Jax..ever try melatonin? It works for me when I can't sleep.

i havnet been sleeping but am afarid to use sleeping pills cause im scared i might just od on them

im feeling alittle down tonight. I don't want to go back to my new job but i need the experience and im trapped. im to old to start over again and i have to build a future for myself but i dont see this place as being it.. that and i cant really disappoint my mom again. i sometimes wish i was dead so i woudlnt worry myslef and others again..

ya i should proably get help but i hate shrinks and drugs

Or how about Celestion Seasoning's SleepyTime Herbal Tea???? it works quite well with me.

Jeff, you can't OD on over the counter sleeping pills. Believe me, I've tried. Did some reaserch a while back, and all it does is make you black out and do stupid stuff you probably won't remember. Hell, I tried with my meds and still just ended up blacking out and all I got was a black eye and bruised ass from falling down.

You know we care and don't want you to try that. Come on friend, you are young and have so much time to persue your dreams. They don't just come true. You have to reach for the brass ring.

You are already doing it! You have the new job and I can tell you are not the type of person that likes change much, but you have to learn to deal with change if you want to move up.

It was not too long ago that you hated the gas station and now it is your life raft. You got rid of the station and got your job you were so looking forward to, and now you are working both.

You are doing great. I just wish I could say something to make you realize that.

I take melatonin, but have to take bendryl too. It helps a lot. Of couse I take boucoup meds, but I still suffer insomnia. Have since I was a child. PTSD thing........

kinda sounds like we've had similar childhoods Karen