PsychoGirl

cniro: Have you tried Zoloft? Not all of the SSRIs are created equal and sometimes you have to try a couple of them before you find something that works. I suggest Zoloft because it's been approved for GAD and the others, while sometimes used for anxiety, aren't neccessarily FDA approved for that use. Doesn't mean they won't work though -- psychopharmocology is not an exact science by any stretch of the imagination. I have found that the anti-depressant that gives you the big energy boost is Wellbutrin -- not sure if it's indicated for anxiety. mjlrn97: How long have you been taking the Ativan -- I'd ask your doctor about it because even at that low a dose it can be habit forming and really should only be used short-term. Just like all the benzos -- they work great for anxiety -- but shouldn't be used longer than a month at a time. I was on Ativan for two weeks after a panic attack and it enabled me to sleep (and wake up rested). But even after 2 weeks it was hard to give up.

I just learned about this. Korsakoff's syndrome is caused by a thiamide deficiency commonly found in extreme alcoholics. It's characterized by SEVERE memory loss.

In order to be a social worker you need a MSW or Master's of Social Work degree. A nursing degree, although it might be helpful, I don't believe is enough. But, I could be wrong. If you're looking to be a therapist you might want to go for the MSW.

Hey, I posted this over in the intro part but I thought it was more appropriate to ask this question here. I would appreciate any input (positive, negative, or otherwise) about my education goals. So, I'm a psychology major and I will finish my BS in May 2005. I recently have become aware of mental health nursing as an option for being a psychiatric provider. Right now I'm trying to cram in 7 prereq classes I haven't already had (mostly hard sciences) to try to apply to a BSN program for Fall 2005 (or Spring 2006 if I need to spend the fall finishing my requirements). If my end goal is to become a PPCNP(i think that's the acronym they used for psychiatric primary care nurse practicioner) should I focus on getting into the extremely competitive BSN programs here? Or should I become an RN (going to a community college) with the aim of later doing an RN to master's degree program? Also, Is anyone here a mental health nurse practicioner? Why did you decide to go into the field? Did anyone else start out interested in counseling psychology and then go into mental health nursing? I really think that being a mental health nurse would be a better fit for me than a Ph.D. program for clinical or counseling psychology, and the education takes much less time (7+ years for Ph.D program in psychology). Thanks for your input.

I was on that combo of antidepressants recently, before I decided the celexa didn't work for me and switched to effexor. I don't remember having that side effect at the time, but I am having it really bad now. I stop in the middle of conversations not being able to remember simple words. Also I'm constantly forgetting what classes I'm taking! (I'm a full time college student) My psychiatrist billed Wellbutrin as a wonder drug for depression (especially my atypical depression where I sleep all the time) but I found the side effects and precausions associated with it were just too much. To the second poster, I have been taking antidepressants for 4 years and I've found that after a while I build up sort of an immunity to it or just become complacent and it stops having the same effect on me. I've been through Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and numerous other things added on top for sleep and such. Most recently my psychiatrist has had me experimenting with anti-seizure drugs (like neurontin) that also have been found to work on depression and mood disorders. My "favorite" SSRI side effect was the lucid dreaming. Confused the hell out of me at times when I couldn't remember if something had actually happened or only happened in my technicolor dreams.