Ask the Therapist

advertisement
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter


Users Online: 435
Join Us Now!

advertisement

Kristina Randle, LCSW's Archive

Was Divorce My Fault?

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Q. My husband blames me for our failed marriage and I have guilt. I am a recently divorced woman. A few years ago I wouldn't have imagined being in this situation. But I feel that I have learned a lot about myself. I met my husband in a whirlwind — and in just 3 months he asked me to marry him. He was perfect — the house, the teaching and coaching jobs, funny and sweet. We married 9 mths to the date we met. I couldn't believe such a wonderful man would want to marry me. I didn't have much, but a wonderful 7 year old... Two weeks before we married he was accused of sending sexual messages over the internet to two highschool students. ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Weight Gain and Invega

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Q. I have Borderline Personality Disorder & Bipolar Disorder Type II, with transient psychotic episodes. I was prescribed a brand new anti-psychotic, Invega (3 mgs.) about two & a half weeks ago for: distorted thinking, amplified emotions, & daily crying spells. As opposed to the same class of more recent anti-psychotics, such as Seroquel, I am tolerating this one very well — with the exception of weight gain. I have been dieting & exercising in an effort to eliminate or decrease this side effect, but have still already gained 5 pounds! I'd like to know if this side effect will subside as my body gets acclimated to it, or with time. I discontinued the others because this is the one side effect which I will ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

When Does Schizophrenia Show Up in Women?

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Q. Both of my parents are mentally ill, my mother suffering from Schizophrenia and my father from Manic Depression. Both of my parents had regular auditory hallucinations and paranoia. At 21, I've yet to suffer from any of their symptoms, but have been struggling with PTSD and related anxiety. Since I was aware enough to know my parents were ill, I've constantly monitored myself to make sure I wasn't sick like they were. From reading on this site and others, it appears that Schizophrenia shows up in women later than men. Could someone please talk about this more? Since I'm a 21 year old woman, I'd like to know if it's possible for me to still develop Schizophrenia (though I show no signs of it now and ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Wedding Doubts

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Q. I am 25 and been with my fiancĂ©e for eight years. She was my first girlfriend and I her boyfriend. In the 8 years we have broken up twice for short periods of a couple of months and dated other people. I love her very much and she wants to wait until married to have sex which I have respected for these years. Our wedding is three months away and the thought of it makes me feel ill. I recently met someone who made me feel alive — a 40 year old man! My fiancee doesnt wish to travel etc and is happy with what i see as a typical suburban life! Me too! But I am panicking that I'll never get to ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

How Does Pregnancy Affect Women with Schizoaffective Disorder?

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Q. A year and a half ago my sister was hospitalized because she suffered from a mental break down. The doctors never gave her an exact diagnosis. They said that it appeared that she was suffering from schizoaffective disorder. She was released from the hospital and sent home with medication that was supposed to help her condition. 2 weeks later she stopped taking them and she was sent back to the hospital. Home again just a few weeks later she seemed to be more clear, not 100% but a huge improvement of how she was only weeks before. She began going to a Community Mental Health Center and was seeing therapists. She decided that she no longer wanted to take the meds that had stopped ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Good Friend Ends Relationship. What Should I Do?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. Four months ago I met a man in two of my classes. We started studying together and developed a friendship. We are both married and shared similar religious beliefs and goals. Our friendship turned into an attraction that was obvious to the both of us and to those around us. Despite this attraction, we both set boundaries that prevented us from being unfaithful to our spouses. Besides studying, we also flirted and continued to grow in our friendship. It was a strange relationship, because we never talked about having an affair or leaving our spouses for each other. In fact, we would encourage each other in our marriages. However, I feel that deep down we were unhappy with our marriages. He was a great ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

What Type of Mental Health Professional Should I See?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. I know that I have issues that I need to deal with, such as anxiety, depression, and unsuccessful suicide attempts (obviously); and all of these recently have been becoming more worrisome. I have only ever once seen a psychologist for one visit, while in college (been out of college for 4 years) only so she could give a report to the college doctor; I was placed on a med (not sure what though and was only on it for about 3 months before not taking anymore). I am now very open to going to my pcp, a therapist, and/or a psychiatrist to hopefully decrease some of my issues. My question is who am I suppose to see first? My pcp, a therapist, or ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Why Do I Talk Like a Baby To Husband?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. It sounds so crazy so why do i do it? Is it like another personality? I've never done it before and he's the only one i do this with.(for like 2 years now) Would it have anything to do with the fact my father died 3 years ago when i was 16 and i never dealt with it because I couldn't and still can't.Like every time the emotions almost get to the surface a wave washes over me and it goes away no matter how hard i try to make it stay. Or maybe because my mother was untreated for her bi-polar and very abusive(emotionally,mentally and physically) through my whole childhood. She had alot of bf who lived with us. Bad guys.A drunk, a ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Psych Student Who Thinks He Has Schizophrenia

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. I think im Bipolar but i meet nearly all the things for schizophrenia to, please take me seriously i am a psy student..I am almost certain i am Bipolar i have thought about it for a number of years, recently (the last 18 months)ive begun to wonder if there is something else happening in my head. Diagnosing yourself is not something that works theres always going to be denial and i am a psychology student meaning mabye im biased.. I dont hear 'voices' but i have been hallucinating i often feel like im drunk and like nothing around me is actually seperate or external to me i just feel like im detached from my body kinda thing all the time. I feel like im in ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Should I Break it Off With My On-line Boyfriend?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. Before we met we talked to each other through emails many times. We started our first date two weeks ago. The first date was wonderful. I found he was a nice-looking guy, and he was full of humor. He also told me he was a physician and he just moved to this city two months ago and he was currently living in his brother's house. He was looking for his own house but still in debating. Our first date ended with warm kisses. I believe we had strong chemistry between us. Then he asked for 2nd. date. Actually I don't want to go out with him too often in a week because I am very busy especially at the end of semester. I ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Should I Report Repressed Childhood Sexual Abuse?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. From the ages 4-6 (I'm not really clear exactly) until I escaped at 11, I was sexually abused by my older male cousin. He is about 4.5 years older than me. I didn't consciously remember being abused until I was 16, at which time I was seriously unable to cope with the issue (as was my family). Now that I'm 23, I've faced the issue, and I want to do something about it. I hate that he is able to go about a normal life, and I worry that he's going to do this to someone else. He was also sexually abused as a child by my much older male cousin, who also sexually abused my older brother. The family doesn't want to deal with ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »

Am I Bipolar II?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Q. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and co morbid panic disorder 2 years ago and was treated with paxil CR, clonazepam and trazadone. This was a perfect medication combination. I found out that I was pregnant and had to stop these medications for the first trimester. I was fine for those 3 months. At the start of the second trimester I was having horrible anxiety which led to depression and was sent to a different psychologist who re evaluated me and diagnosed me with Bipolar 2. I was on zoloft at the time of diagnosis and the zoloft made me agitataed and amplified my panic which led to more depression. I was taken off of the zoloft and put on seroquel and have ...  
Read the rest of this question and answer... »


In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
-- Albert Einstein