Why do they not listen?

[Hand of Blood]

So today I was seeing pychologist dunno if that's how u spell it. Anyway I tell them all about my depression how bad it is, all anyone every says to me is I have panic attacks! They said the same it's worse than that I'm depressed all the time I get panic attacks when I get really bad side effects or aura but no one seems to think its all due to that! It is I know it is. It's the biggest reason I'm depressed coz I got side effects every day but they didn't even look at depression. How can u tell someone u hate life etc then they just say its panic attacks. It's annoying me!!

 

[shonafrances]

Hiya, I understand your frustration at not being listened to. Remember that anxiety and panic attacks are serious in their own right and very disruptive to your life so they should never be dismissed as not important (I don't know if your psychologist is using a dismissive tone or if you are hearing it that way due to feeling they aren't listening).
I have a range of issues including depression and anxiety and am having the possibility of simple partial seizures looked into (which is why I am here) and everyone said when i was experiencing intense deja vu and fear I was having panic attacks. But I have panic attacks too and this felt different so I investigated and saw the symptoms could also match seizures.
Also I am seeing a psychiatrist who is supposed to be helping figure out my moods and if it is depression or something else and she can be very dismissive of me which is really upsetting.
Plus as soon as you have 'anxiety' on your notes some medical staff say everything is psychosomatic which is VERY annoying. Anyway, sorry to go on but my point is that there is so much overlap with symptoms and they often feed off each other but medical people too often don't look at things holistically. For example I know my anxiety and depression are totally linked as when I am really anxious I isolate and stay inside and then my mood gets really low. I also think there is a good chance if i do have a form of epilepsy my moods could be linked to that. But sadly neurology and psychology/psychiatry parted ways many years ago and are too often seen as totally different disciplines and so the chance of seeing overlap between conditions is often missed.
Lastly, (then I will shut up promise!) the frustrating thing I find is often at my worst is when I have to fight hardest to be listened to by medical people. It is upsetting but true that you have to learn to be pushy. If you think they aren't listening to you maybe write down what your concerns are and send it to them in advance of your next appointment (I have done this this time for psychiatrist, not sure how it will work out but fingers crossed) and take a list of things you want to talk about with you when you go I . It helps me.
Sorry you feel so unheard, that sucks.

 

[carolinus]

Hello there,

I new to the forum as of today, however I joined just because of your story.
I've been in treatment with a psychiatrist and psychologist for depression for several years.
If you don't feel as if you're getting help now, by all means go to someone else.

You're right though in that explaining much of what we as epileptics go through is very hard. That is especially true of families. My experience is that medically trained can be the worst.

I don't know if they are of any use but I can suggest the following to try the "Brainstorm Series" of books for yourself and on other people. The editor, Steven Schachtler, is a neurologist but the books are written for patients, but particularly families and friends.

Best wishes!

 

[Hand of Blood]

But I don't get the panic attacks where u breath heavy etc mines just depression and paranoia

 

[girlwithadog]

Hi there! I'm kinda new to this forum but thought I would respond on this as I'm the opposite but I know how you feel.

When I started getting to the diagnosis point in the epilepsy my anxiety got bad... Like really bad. Every day was a constant panic attack. I went to the psych docs and they all kept saying I was depressed and trying to put me on anti depressants. I would explain over and over that the depression is a symptom of the anxiety, that the anxiety is what started everything and without the anxiety I wouldn't be depressed but they kept insisting it was depression. I got so frustrated and kept saying "I just had another major seizure, this is all new to me, my life is changing and I'm afraid to do anything at all, it's the anxiety that is disrupting my life from this new condition, not the depression!" but they never seemed to listen.

So I started looking up anxiety and depression. Apparenly they often do go hand in hand. Depression causes anxiety and anxiety causes depression. So the doctors got it partially right but they thought the depression was the major factor when in fact it was the anxiety. I think in your case the depression is the major factor but they are claiming anxiety?

Either way it goes though, the anti depressants can work for both depression and anxiety. I think Zoloft was one of them they wanted to give me to work for both. It might have been another one. But when I take anti depressants they make me depressed so I didn't take it.

As long as they are aknowledging both issues and not just one, it doesn't matter too much which they think came first, the depression or the anxiety. They should be able to help treat for both. I know how frustrating it can be. I tried so hard to get help with my anxiety but the only thing they were willing to do was give me ant depressants which would make me even more depressed so through the worst anxiety attack of my life I was without any medication. It made me stronger as a person... I think.

Hang in there, if you don't think you are being listened to though, find another psych. If you're not already seeing a psych consider seeing a therapist. They listen more carefully and will understand better and can refer you to a psych and they can work with the psych to figure out a good med plan. Best of luck, I know it's frustrating.

 

[Cint]

Plus as soon as you have 'anxiety' on your notes some medical staff say everything is psychosomatic which is VERY annoying. Anyway, sorry to go on but my point is that there is so much overlap with symptoms and they often feed off each other but medical people too often don't look at things holistically. For example I know my anxiety and depression are totally linked as when I am really anxious I isolate and stay inside and then my mood gets really low. I also think there is a good chance if i do have a form of epilepsy my moods could be linked to that. But sadly neurology and psychology/psychiatry parted ways many years ago and are too often seen as totally different disciplines and so the chance of seeing overlap between conditions is often missed.

.

I've had my extreme mood swings with epilepsy for years, and yes the temporal lobe E and mood swings do go hand in hand. My best advice is to find a psychiatrist who specializes in mood swings that go along with epilepsy, a neuropsychiatrist. Here in the U.S. there are neuropsychiatrists at hospitals that specialize in epilepsy.
Here is some good info about epilepsy and moods:
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/behavior_personalitychanges

 

[Maisy]

As above swings and round shouts sort of know where your coming from, with me now its all depression could be causing non ep seizes im like no the epilepsy and it changing my life caused the depression, just fight and stand up for what you believe in you can do this hun :hugs:

 

[Sandie]

I agree with Cint. If you can find someone who specializes, I would definitely look into it. There is nothing worse than someone having the 'snap out of it' attitude when you have depression and anxiety and with it being epilepsy related you need someone who understands. I suffered severe depression quite a few years age but it was not E related. I really hope there is sunshine ahead for you soon.

 

[Hand of Blood]

yeah I don't think I have panic attacks etc.... its deep depression to the point I hate my own son my own partner I told them this etc but it didn't seem to get listened to

 

[MuayThaiFighter]

Psychologists can really help if you get a good one. Someone that will look at your treatments, what worked and what didn't. I don't understand how they can't look at the drugs you are on and not understand both can cause some dark depression. Both Tegretol and Keppra can be used as a mood stabilizer. So that lack of extra activity in the brain might stop a convulsion, but it also might stop the natural motivation/desire we have.

Personally I would rather have to deal with the side affects then deal with my mind going into different directions because of seizures activity. But I know what you mean, sometimes it doesn't seem like you can win. Though eventually someone is going to listen and will get the right medication or emotional support you really need. It sounds like they aren't really helping to much.

I remember before things escalated for me, an anti depressants really helped my moods. But now I can't handle them, have you tried that route more?