Dr. Laura Jean Seed

That is a very good question. As far as my over 30 years as a psychiatrist goes, I now believe that just about anything can been caused by medication. I used to think otherwise, but so many years of experience as a clinical psychiatrist had led me to think more broadly (meaning I treat patients -- I am not a researcher). The problem for YOU is, there is really only one way to find out. Here it is:

Stop taking the antidepressant medication. See if your memory improves. If you want to be super thorough, go to a clinical psychologist and have a battery (meaning a bunch) of tests, given to you, which will test your memory very thoroughly. This testing can be quite expensive, if you have health insurance, make sure such testing is covered by your insurance or that most of it ( for example 75-80% of the total fee) will be paid for, and get it in writing, so you can prove it, if the insurance company later decides to NOT cover this memory testing. Then stop your medication for at least 4 weeks. Completely stop it. Do not take any other antidepressants. Again, this can be a  huge problem, you may end up very depressed or anxious, or whatever your symptoms were/are may return, causing you to feel worse mentally.
If you are able to function without the antidepressant, get the whole battery of testing done once again. See if your memory has indeed improved. If it is better, then it is highly like the medication was indeed affecting your memory in an adverse (bad) way. This is not a very good option, but is the only way I can think of to truly find out the answer to your question.

Best wishes to you,

Laura J. Seed, M.D.

Indeed, there are many types of treatment available for "panic attacks".  If you are not eager to use medications (of which there are many many choices as of 2019), a starting point is finding a good therapist--meaning a licensed MFT (marriage & family therapist)-which although has that name, more often consists of "individual therapy", meaning just you attend the sessions), LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), Ph.D. psychologist, or master's level psychologist.  You may also chose to go a a psychiatrist, because almost all psychiatrists deal with "anxiety disorders", of which "panic disorder" is a sub-type.  I would recommend starting with a therapist, be sure this person actually has a LICENSE, in your state (rather than someone who claims to be informed about these conditions but has not gone thru the proper education/licensing to be a licensed practitioner of mental health problems.  After seeing the therapist, it is important you are able to develop a "good rapport" with your therapist (male or female, which-ever you prefer, it does not matter, except if you have a preference), meaning you feel comfortable sharing your innermost problems, fears, anxieties, etc, with the "therapist".  If the therapist thinks you need medication, she/he will quickly determine ( if this is a reputable, well trained, experience therapist) whether or not you might benefit from medication. At this point your therapist will likely recommend that you go to a psychiatrist for medication treatment. You can choose whether you prefer a female or male psychiatrist (who is an M.D.), & try to get an appointment as soon as possible (often easier said than done, as we happen to have a shortage of psychiatrists all over the USA).  Once the psychiatrist does an "evaluation" of your symptoms and your general life situation (stress, family life, work) she/he may recommend medication.  FYI- medication is basically trial & error. There is very little science involved (even if your doctor pretends otherwise!).  A medication is tried, if it helps you, great.  Continue taking it , as needed.  If medication does not HELP you, or has intolerable side effects (adverse effects), tell you doctor and switch to another medication.  It is possible  you may end up going thru several medications until you & your doctor find something that is affordable, effective and without a pile of side effects.  Do not get discouraged. This takes time.  Anxiety is a very common problem, & as I mentioned "panic attacks" are a type of anxiety.  Our American society is very anxiety inducing-  jobs, working, family concerns, strife,  money, illness, stress, lack of time to take care of ourselves, always feeling rushed, and that "there is not time each day to get done" what you think "must" be done....all of these many factors contribute to panic attacks.  Other serious things to consider include exercising, which can make a huge impact on reducing anxiety/panic,  yoga or other forms of meditation (mindfulness is a "hot topic" now.  Many years ago, all kinds of other therapies were the latest "must try" answer to anxiety such as "intensive, problem focused therapy, Gestalt therapy, humanistic therapy".  You name it, all have had their "hey day", in which each was going to CURE everyone of her/his problems. This turned out NOT to be the case. If it were, all of us in "mental health " would no longer have jobs! Best wishes!Laura J. Seed, M.D.Adult & Adolescent Psychiatrist; Treatment of Opioid Dependence with BuprenorphineSan Diego, CA
Laura

Yes, it could, but on the other hand, your wife loves her mom and wants to do the best she can to help her. She would feel worse if she was not "There " nor "Available" to her mother. I would let your wife do as she chooses, but help her (your wife ) with anything you can, so she feels less burdened in other areas. You might suggest doing fun things now & then, when time permits, going on an outing together, getting out in the sun, enjoying each other's company, holding her hand...Telling her how much you love her. (your wife, I mean). Tell her you are amazed at her dedication to her mom, but suggest she might need a break now and then , for herself. That she will wear herself out, if all she does is care for her own mom (& she will). Do your best in a hard situation. Death is no fun for anyone. My own mom recently died and I myself am having a very hard time coping...I tried to be there as much as possible for my own mom, as did my 2 brothers and my 3 daughters. But my mom still died and it is very painful for all of us.

I have the exact same problem. My mom died two months ago, an I miss her desperately. She was always a huge support to me... I felt like I had the best mom in the world. Now she is gone. I feel lost.

They say all things heal over time. One thing I tried was going to a 'grief group'. It was ok... but not great. I did not know the other people well, they were always changing, as it was a drop in program. But it might help you. If you really feel awful you could also try an anti-depressant, but that is just a band-aid, it won't stop you from grieving, which you need to do. But medication might temporarily help with your pain. Then if you feel better you can taper back off the medication with the help of your doctor.

Has she also gone to therapists? Psychologist, LCSW, LMFT? They are all trained to help with depression, which is sadly a very common problem in our society. Another option is TMS. Transcranial magnetic stimulation. It works for some people, but can be expensive and is not always covered by insurance. Telling her you love her and will do what-ever you can to help her sounds trite, but will help. Just knowing that her own sister loves her and wants to help her can make a huge difference. She will feel less "Alone" in her struggle. Invite her to do fun things with you. Try to get her to smile. Take her to a funny movie. Go to the beach or a lake or where-ever there is water..A creek, stream, waterfall. Humans love water. We love the sound of water, the sound of rain, the smells of the ocean. Give it a try...You never know until you try!

This is a tough question. I would take him to both a psychiatrist and a therapist with training in this area. At least he is a minor now and you have some control-- as his parent, over him. When he turns 18, you cannot do a thing. He will technically be an adult. The sooner he gets help the better.

Yes, there is something called tms. Transcranial magnetic stimulation. It can be expensive though and is not always covered by health insurance. I myself, am not at all a fan of ect- or "Shock therapy". I think it is archaic...And do not ever use said procedure. Have you also tried going to a licensed mental health professional? Such as an MFT, LCSW, or Ph.D in psychology? They can be very useful. So can a lot of strenuous physical exercise. For example running or biking 2 miles every day, or at least 4-5 days/week...This alone can make huge difference in your mood.

No. None at all. If you think you might benefit from medications, go to a psychiatrist. This is what we are trained to do. Medications can help a lot, but they are not a magic wand and won't make all your problems disappear. But they certainly can help and there are many more choices of medications available now than there were just 30 years ago. Research is being conducted all the time. The brain is complicated... we have much to learn still.

Yes, a psychiatrist can definitely help. But the doctor cannot completely solve the problem. The person has to want to get help & want to change. The psychiatrist may be able to help you figure out how to deal with this entire situation better, in other words, what is the best choice for you. There are some drugs that can help with alcoholism. One is quite old--anta-abuse. It works though. If the alcoholic takes this drug, daily, it causes her/him to vomit, feel awful and like she/he is gonna die. Sometimes this is enough to stop the person from drinking alcohol. However, the person has to take the med, in other words --swallow it every day. If he/she won't do that, the med won't work. This is a tough situation. That is why we have so many alcoholics. It is an "Easy" escape from all of our many problems.. We all have problems. From the rich and famous to the poor and unfortunate. No one escapes them.

Good luck! He is clearly drinking again, if you are finding empty bottles. If he is passed out on the couch, he drank too much...Alcoholics are never honest. Nor are other addicts. My sub-specialty is addictions. They lie constantly..You need to take care of yourself. No one can get another person to quit drinking. That person has to decided for him/her self to get help. I suggest you move out. Maybe that will shock him enough to get help for himself. If money is a problem, maybe you can go stay with a relative for a time or a good friend. This is not easy to solve. If you are at "The end of your rope" it shows how this is damaging you. You matter. Take care of yourself. Get help for you. A professional can help you decide how to do these things... and how to approach the whole situation. Not easy. I have had this very same problem in my own family members. I thought I was immune to it, because I am an M.D. I was totally wrong.

I suggest you tell your doctor immediately about this problem. I have prescribed plenty of celexa and never run into this side effect, but anything is possible. You should also hurry to see an ophthalmologist ( an M.D. who specializes in eyes)--I actually liked ophthalmology a lot when I was in med school! Thought about specializing in eyes... It is so interesting. Don't wait, this is not a common problem.

I think psychoanalysis is from the "Dark ages"... If you don't want to take meds that is fine, but go to a professional- someone licensed, a Ph.D psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Often antidepressants stop working after awhile. We don't know why. But sometime switching to another drug may help. It also may not help; this is why medicine is an "Art" not a science. We try are best to be scientific, but the truth is the brain and nervous systems is very complicated and we have much to learn still. Best wishes

No, celexa is not a drug one gets dependent on. If you are more depressed go to a professional, stop taking increasing doses. Sometimes meds stop working, for no known reason. We have no clue why either. Get the care you need. Go to a psychiatrist. We are the most knowledgeable about these medications. Family practitioners try and so do internal medicine docs, but a psychiatrist is formally trained in all types of psych drugs...You deserve the best care, so go find it. I am guessing you are more depressed, but this med may no longer be helping you and you may need to switch to another.Best wishes, Laura J. Seed, M.D.

This is NOT a simple answer. It depends how severe your depression & anxiety are, as well as how long your symptoms have been going on. You should start by seeing a professional in mental health. If you are NOT interested in taking medications, then go to a Licensed MFT, LSCW, or PhD therapist. After a few visits, the therapist will determine the severity of your symptoms. If therapist thinks you should see a psychiatrist, she or he will let you know & you should see a psychiatrist as soon as you can get an appointment. If you ever feel seriously suicidal, feel like harming someone else, or you totally cannot function: meaning you can't get out of bed, go to work or school, take care of your daily needs (bathing, dressing, eating, sleeping) go straight to an ER or call 911 for help.

If you are using any illicit drugs, stop. If you drink more than 2 or 3 glasses of alcohol/day- stop. All can contribute to worsening depression & anxiety. If you smoke cigarettes, quit. Ask your primary care doctor for help. Don't wait until you feel so miserable you cannot function. Get help now.

Sincerely,

Laura J. Seed, M.D.

Yes, absolutely, a psychiatrist can help you with depression. If you are starting to feel suicidal -- PLEASE  GET IN QUICKLY. That is a bad sign. Both therapy & medication(s) can/should help you. In fact, all studies have shown, for years now, that both therapy (talking to someone, a professional, you have a good, caring relationship with) & medication work best for depression.

This has been extensively studied and is considered the "standard of care." In other words, find a therapist, which can be the psychiatrist, or an LMFT, LCSW, PH.D, or any psychologist who is thoroughly trained. If you go to a non-psychiatrist, the therapist will recommend a psychiatrist right away if she or he thinks that it's important (given your description, that is). If you are not eager to take medication, then start ASAP with a therapist, as soon as you can get an appointment. Don't be shy about telling your loved ones you feel depressed &/or suicidal. They need to know & can provide you with support. They might even help you out by helping you find a psychiatrist &/or a therapist to go to. Start with your heath insurance co. Call them up & ask for names of both therapists, as I mentioned above, and psychiatrists. Then, go in & see someone, SOON! DON'T WAIT. Depression does not just go away on its own. You need treatment (help). There is no stigma in getting treatment; in fact, it is just the opposite. You are taking care of yourself & you are seeking care for a medical condition. You would do exactly the same if you broke your leg or had diabetes, right?

Best wishes,

Laura J. Seed, M.D.

First, how old is mom? If she is elderly, maybe there truly is something wrong. I assume you have taken her to various doctors & had blood work done: thyroid, chem panel, cbc, etc.? If not, take her in & get those done first, ask her primary care doc if he/she thinks your mom has a psych problem, if the the labs are all normal, you also should prob. get an EKG. You need to be more specific, too. "Totally wrong" is quite vague. Try to pin down exactly what she means by that. If primary care thinks she has psych prob, make an appt or get a referral to psych ASAP. It is impossible to diagnose a patient without a proper evaluation, in person. By both primary care and by a psychiatrist. She might also need a psychologist, LMFT, or LCSW. Hard to tell.
Good luck.

You are right, it could be either. Often, though, people think they cannot sleep when they really are. We don't actually know why this is. I would check on her at night and see if you can tell if she is sleeping, in other words, in her dark room, go up as close as you can, listen for her breathing and see if she notices you. If she doesn't, she is prob. asleep. If she says, "Why are you in here?" you know she is indeed awake. Take her to a primary care doctor and get labs drawn. Insomnia is a very common human problem. Stress, schoolwork, peer pressure, family problems, so many things can contribute to insomnia in both youths & adults. If primary care cannot find anything physically wrong, after tests and physical exam, take her to a child & adolescent psychiatrist. You must find a specialist. Psychiatry is broken into several sub-specialties, child & adolescent is one of them. Adult & adolescent starts at age 13, so she needs a child-trained psychiatrist. This involves 1 extra year of training. Regular psychiatry training is 4 years, after one finishes med school. It is good you care, she tells you what is going on & you are looking into answers.

Be sure labs are drawn, esp thyroid.

Do you have good friends you can share this with? Or family who are understanding? If you cry often, or are clinically depressed, I suggest you seek professional advice, either with an LMFT, LCSW, or a psychiatrist. This is an issue that should be discussed with a professional if it has gone on for more than a month. Best wishes- your child needs you, (for a long time!),so you have to take care of yourself in order to be the best mom you can be for your little one. I have 3 grown daughters, I know how hard being a new mom is. You need help and support from all your family, friends, and partner (baby's dad).

First, I would recommend a 2nd opinion. Schizophrenia is often mis-diagnosed. You might have another mental condition. And no, there is absolutely NO guarantee, that taking medication will cause your condition to be manageable. This is a serious illness, if correctly diagnosed, with serious potential problems long term.