Therapy Hasn't Helped
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Thanks for listening to my Call of the Day podcast. You can hear my live radio program Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Kristen, welcome to the program. Yes, thank you for having me. You're welcome. How can I help? I wanted to know what you think the first plan of action would be for somebody who's newly diagnosed with depression.

I'm sorry, what was happening to you that made you go for a diagnosis? A traumatic event. Well, everybody has traumatic events, but what were, what was your problem? What were you experiencing? What were your symptoms that made you go in for a diagnosis? Panic attacks, terrible, like social anxiety, like trouble sleeping, being extremely tired.

Not able to live life like I once was. And when did you switch into this mode? How long ago? Well, in relation to the traumatic event? No, you're 36 years old, and we're at the end of May 2025. I just want to know, at what point in your life did you switch from how you used to be, that you just talked about, mentioned, to what you...

Went to get help for. Right. What happened? Well, what was this? How long ago did this happen? Days, hours, months, years? I'm just trying to get an understanding. I know. Full disclosure, I've actually been diagnosed and been treated for it since I was 21. Okay.

I was wondering from your perspective as a doctor, what do you think I basically like should have done? And so I'm sorry. At 21, you went to see who did you go to see that diagnosed you? An internist, a psychiatrist who diagnosed you? It was a psychiatrist. Yes. OK. And then what did you the psychologist said? You're depressed. And then what happened?

Were you given meds? Did they talk to you? Did they put you in a psychiatric hospital? What happened? No, I was just put on antidepressants right away. Right away? Yeah. Who made out the script? Because psychologists can't. Only MDs can. So who made out the script to get you the meds? A psychiatrist. And how long did you see the psychiatrist before you got the meds?

I mean, it was really, really quick. How quick is really quick? I mean, it was basically one visit and that was it. Did you know that skin care can start in the laundry room?

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Hey everybody, Ted Danson here to tell you about my podcast with my longtime friend and sometimes co-host Woody Harrelson. It's called Where Everybody Knows Your Name and we're back for another season. I'm so excited to be joined this season by friends like John Mulaney, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Ed Helms, and many more. You don't want to miss it. Listen to Where Everybody Knows Your Name with me, Ted Danson, and Woody Harrelson sometimes.

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Get 15% off plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe at ProLunLife.com slash Pandora promo. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. See site for details. Did you have your bloods taken so we knew levels of things like cortisol and estrogen and thyroid and stuff like that? Did anybody do any testing first or did they just drug you?

That's what I'm wondering. I mean, I just I don't have the greatest memory of that time in my life. So I want to believe that, yes, that happened, but I can't say for sure. So between 21 and 36, which is where you today, what have you been doing with your life?

Oh, my gosh. So many things, Dr. Laura. Like what? I've been on over a dozen antidepressants, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic medicines. I've done CBT, DBT. I've had a lecture on... Why are you calling about what to do with your diagnosis? It sounds like you've been spending 15 years doing things with it.

This is true. I wanted to get your perspective on like what you would say to somebody that was newly diagnosed. But you're not newly diagnosed. This happened 15 years ago. I know. You're right. But maybe you would have something to offer that I haven't tried yet. Yeah. A good therapist. Okay. You obviously have not had one of those. I have. No. If you had a really good therapist, we wouldn't be talking today.

I know, but she retired. No, we wouldn't be talking today if she was a really good therapist. If she was just sort of a mommy that you went and talked to all the time and felt better by talking, that's not improving so that you can be independent. Okay. That was a comfortable therapist, not necessarily a good one. Okay. I mean, it's like a bird leaving the nest. We assume you can fly if you're getting help.

How long did you see this person, by the way? Years, months? Yeah, I was with her for two years, and then she retired, and she referred me to another person in the practice, and then she retired. So right now, I'm shopping for a new one in the same clinic. Maybe you ought not be in the same clinic. You think so? Yeah.

Well, you've been seeing therapists and you haven't gotten any help. Now, you could be particularly resistant and a pain in the butt about it, but to spend two years and you can't fly out of the nest yet has me concerned. Well, but don't you think, is it not healthy to just be, to have a therapist that you see regularly just for, even if it doesn't really seem like anything is wrong? No. Keeps a person dependent, weak.

and not feeling confident in themselves. No, I don't think that's good. Oh, I'm surprised by that answer. Okay, well. I mean, it's just a different point of view. Yes, mine's from the standpoint of being a professional. Yeah. Thank you so much for your time today. You're very welcome, and I wish you well with your search, but I think you've been searching the wrong place for 15 years.

And I think nobody's directed you to the right path. Frankly, that's what I really believe. Sometimes life is such that we want to stay connected to an umbilical cord.

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Hey, everybody. Ted Danson here to tell you about my podcast with my longtime friend and sometimes co-host, Woody Harrelson. It's called Where Everybody Knows Your Name, and we're back for another season. I'm so excited to be joined this season by friends like John Mulaney, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Ed Helms, and many more. You don't want to miss it. Listen to Where Everybody Knows Your Name with me, Ted Danson, and Woody Harrelson, sometimes. Where Everybody Knows Your Name.

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