QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I am presently taking several medications and am still severely depressed. I take 20mg of Celexa A.M., 1mg Klonopin A.M. and P.M., 500mg Depakote PM, 15mg BuSpar A.M. and at 1:00 P.M., and 15mg Restoril P.M. I have tried suicide twice, and self mutilate with a razor blade cutting my arm severely several times a week when I become stressed.
I am a teacher and did not work the first half of the year because I spent most of the time in hospitals. My job has been very supportive. I also tried ETC. I went back to work in January and have developed a sort of paranoia, I am fine with my young children, but other than that I do not want to leave my classroom. Faculty meetings are a complete disaster for me, I sit near the door so that when I become too stressed or nervous with the other people, I can leave. I am going to counseling once a week and see the psychiatrist for my medications. Recently I have even tried going on and off the medication for several days at a time.
I also become depressed over the 30 pounds I have gained on the medication. I do not eat any more as a matter a fact I have almost stopped eating all together to try and lose the weight, I also go to a gym 7 days a week and work out for more than an hour, and the weight is not coming back off. Do you have any suggestions on the medications or weight problem. I am becoming so depressed again that I think of suicide again daily.
Thank you for any advice you can give me.
ANSWER:
While I don't know all your diagnoses, your self mutilation under stress along
with your suicidal thoughts imply the
BPD - borderline personality
disorder.
The medications you are taking help many people, but I've had much greater success
with Prozac instead of Celexa and Tegretol instead of Depakote.
The "ask the doctor" and "BPD" sections of my website will be useful
to you, especially:
-
Medical treatment of the BPD
-
Dysphoria instruction sheet
-
What should I do first
