How do I apply/look for psychological testing?

[kzm007]

Long story short, I'm on some meds, tonight I went nuts, went from slightly irritated (which is what oxycodone did to me) to flat out pissed off;

I couldn't get a microphone to work out of the box, as advertised; it works, just not for MSN at the moment, I may figure it out, but just plugging it in didn't work, and it was a pain to return to the torn bubble container.

I had to retrieve a heavy massage pad from across the room. I stubbed my bare, cold feet on something - always hurts more ya know, and then I fell two more times because I stagger due to CP.

I slept all day today, and woke up to extreme back ache, all muscles it seemed. Wasted Christmas.

After the mike issue, I've just had extreme agitation, etc. Got upset over something, slammed my laptop shut; when I came back on, the person I was talking to had left. For whatever reason, I ripped all my number keys off - two fell off, and I removed the rest. Broke the holders for the 4 and 8 key, and discovered I'm missing my delete key...didn't know that.

So, I talked to her on Facebook, and she's a little upset, but I'll smooth it over.

Just out of curiosity, where would I go to get a psych test done? I've always wanted to, that and an IQ, but I digress. I fully blame my pills for my actions, and am taking Wellbutrin, Valium, Zanaflex, and Prilosec.

I plan on informing the GP to my actions, of course, and I see a surgeon from Shriner's in Erie PA on the 5th about my back. But any leads to a proper psychological testing for curiosity's sake, if not my own mental health which is relatively good I think, would be appreciated.

Rant over. Sorry to be a burden with all this, I'm calm now, back's killing me again though. Night dosage and bed. Any medical pros wanna chime in, probably best to PM me.

Smoke in peace, God bless, and happy Boxing Day to all to whom it may apply. Enjoy the sales.

And to add insult to injury, Wellbutrin is also used in smoking cessation :r all this tobacco, and I'm just not in the mood for it. Irony :D

[icehog3]

Maybe ask your GP to recommend an agency in your area, Kegan. I know places by me, but that doesn't help your situation. See what your GP says when you bring up the possibility. Good luck sorting it all out.

[htown]

I'd get off the Valium- they are highly addictive and can cause seizures when you're detoxing.

[GreekGodX]

Setup an appointment with a social worker. They should be able to do a test like this for you. Most Psychiatrist offices should have some social workers on staff or just go to a psychiatrist maybe they can do it. Hope you get this stuff figured out Kegan.

[kzm007]

Thanks folks...I'm gonna stick with the Valium until told otherwise - it wasn't a problem until the tizanidine (Zanaflex) came back into the picture, and I've got no history of seizures yet...wait until I'm married, divorced, and she seizes half my stuff :ss sorry, had to make light of at least one issue.

Valium works...Zanaflex worked, both separately. Maybe together they don't mesh...who knows. And I also know that Wellbutrin...I think now,...can cause an emotional rollercoaster. Most anti-depressants do, at least.

The Prilosec is probably harmless.

On an interesting note, I took a Z and a V at about three a.m when I went downstairs to get a drink of water. I woke up today without any back pain, but within 10 - 20 minutes, it's back, and my neck is killing me.

As I said, we'll get this sorted. Thanks again for the support, folks.

[mash]

I'm a mental health physician, so if you don't mind I'm going to respond.
First of all, I'm sorry for what you're going through. Feeling irritable and out of control is miserable. I hope things get better.
It sounds like to me like you need a psychiatrist/psychologist to see you and try to help. You need someone who is versed in psychopharmacology to sort out your meds, not sure if a psychologist is going to fit that bill.
My one question is in regards to your statement "I fully blame my pills for my actions". I'm assuming there was a reason that these medications were started, to think that everything you do is now attributable to your meds is almost certainly wrong. Yes, people can have mood changes/swings while on antidpressants or other medications, just like people with diabetes can have excessive thirst on Insulin. Doesn't mean the treatment is the reason.
Good luck with your situation.

[mosesbotbol]

I don't know your exact situation, but I have "been there" with pain pills and back issues.

You should find out what treatments are available on your health insurance. Most likely you'll need a referal from your GP. Mash made a lot of good comments. The amount of pain pills is a little troublesome to me, but whether they are a culprit to your behaviour, I doubt it a 100%.

I had trmendous back pain (acute sciatica for years) that doctors perscribed a cocktail of pain medications; that is what GP's do - perscribe drugs. If someone would end their life over pain, I was close to it. The sciatica was overwhelming at many points.

Paitents become reliant on pain pills and think it is OK since a doctor perscribed them. More people die from perscription drugs than all "illicit drugs" combined. Trust me, pills aren't an "answer" to back pain, anything beyond an anti-inflamatory and that is just temporary too. Don't rush into surgery either. Once your back is opened up, that's it. If post surgery scar tissue impeedes an nerve, there's little that can be done...

You are brave to mention such personal issues on an open forum and that goes to show you are willing to find a program that suits your goals. Best of luck with your situation.

[kzm007]

This surgery is arranged through Shriner's Children's Hospital in Erie, PA, of which I am still applicable and proud to be a part of. I trust Dr. Schrantz, literally with my life...the first visit I was there, I had a headache. They gave me a Tylenol and he himself brought me in some food and drink to go with it. I've never had a man of such high rank be so humble...Actually, I just Googled (<http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Philadelphia/about_us/Team/Shriners_Hospital_William_Schrantz.aspx>) him, and he's got quite a record.

Any surgery is his educated decision, and after 20 years on this Earth, I've learned to trust intelligent people.

He's good people :pi and trust me, we've taken all routes with insurance.

[shilala]

Hydrocodone used to make me moody as hell. It's long since passed.
All meds have side effects. Add to that, you're a drama queen, and this will happen.
Good thing is that you're talking about it. Keep talking, but get some loved ones close to you and get some resolution to the things that are stuffed.
Redemption has a way of calming the spirit and easing the mind. You might have some stuff you have to get rid of, and psychological counseling is a good place to start. They'll at least teach you how to get stuff off your chest and learn how to keep it off.
I use Christ all day, every day. My Bible is a lot cheaper than an $80.00 visit.
Besides that, I have an incredible network of very close friends that listen to me b!tch and give me good suggestions that I actually follow.
As a result, I'm the happiest a$$hole in the world.
I should mention that my best friend in the world is a preacher, and I have two other precher buddies that are more than happy to help.
I just really don't have anything to need help about because I make sure I take care of things as they go.
To qualify my statements, I once smashed the whole kitchen and threw the computer and it's desk in the back yard because the dish towel wasn't hung in the right place.
That was a lot of years ago.
It took a lot of work and a lot of new habits to get better, and I still suck at life.
It's a whole lot easier now, though. :)

[kzm007]

Damn Scott :) congrats, although I'm unsure if you were calling me a drama queen or using it as a generalization. Gonna grin and bear it.

And I always appreciate a Christian who swears...it's so weird watching a really good action movie on one of the Hallmark/old people channels, and they won't even say 'hell'

My 83 year old grandfather swears up a storm some days...he's also going deaf and won't buy a hearing aid unless it's the one on TV sold by Lee Marvin...sigh. I've got the money, but no.

My 86 year old grandmother told me one day that she wasn't going to take my *****ing, and she'd beat my ass if I kept it up...this was about nine years ago. She chased me through the house with a wooden spoon, and I cracked my knuckles good when I stuck my hand back there to block it.

As to mash's statement, I said fully blamed because I had just started taking a higher dosage of Wellbutrin. Body probably had to work it through. I refuse to see a psychologist, because I hate being stared at, and they always make me feel like I should bawl and go all Freudian. So talk therapy is a no, I'll just quietly grin and bear the insanity. It's actually been better lately. I think if the antidepressant angers me, the relaxants probably knock me into a stupor enough to function and calm down. They also make me talk...or type a lot. Which is great, because I'm too quiet and self-conscious of my body language, since I can't correct it to look confident...damn posture.

Thanks for the help, guys. And frankly, Bibles are expensive too, they cost about $80 it seems. You'd think the proliferation of Christians would help flood the market with religious writings at cheap prices...besides that ever-smiling Joel Osteen, who I hope God has the grace to give a cavity or an abscessed tooth or something. He's so smug about who he is.

Granted, I dislike televangelists in general. However http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3MkK0rpxk0]Bobby Bare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3MkK0rpxk0) fell prey to them ;)

Again, thank you all.

[shilala]

And frankly, Bibles are expensive too, they cost about $80 it seems.
They're 7 bucks at Borders, or you can steal one from any hotel room in the world. Don't let that slow you down. :tu

[kzm007]

I'm not stealing a Gideon's Bible xD you're negating the commandment, Scott.

And where's the nearest Borders? If I do my math right, I'm only two hours from you, but I haven't seen Du Bois in about five years.

I'd guess either there, or Buffalo at the Galleria?

[baldanders]

They want you to take the Gideon's Bibles so its not stealing and they get replaced

[Sauer Grapes]

Those Gideon's Bibles are put there for you to take if you want. The Gideons are probably happy to have to replace them every so often.

[M1903A1]

Many Evangelical churches, like what you'll find near colleges, have softcover Bibles that they give away for free. :2

[baldanders]

Most any church will have one for you if you ask. If they don't have any at the time you ask they will tell you where you can get one.

[shilala]

Way to go guys. I figured there was a far better chance if I told Kegan he was stealing it. :rolleyes:
I never noticed you were up in Port, brother.
I also never knew there were emos in Port, so I guess there's a bunch I don't know. ;)
My xsil used to teach Spanish up in Port. She's down here now.
Just go steal a bible. It's good for you. :tu

[gvarsity]

I refuse to see a psychologist, because I hate being stared at, and they always make me feel like I should bawl and go all Freudian. So talk therapy is a no, I'll just quietly grin and bear the insanity.

Then you have been seeing the wrong psychologist. A psychologist should make you comfortable. I think the bawl and freudian thing is an expectation built up by representations of psychologists in movies and tv.

The experience should be personal to you and reflect who you are if you aren't a bawler or have parental issues that should not be the expectation of a session. Like any specialist you need to go through a couple until you find one that fits your needs.

2-3 sessions should be enough to tell whether someone can help you or not. Anything can happen in one and two will give you a better sense.

I'm not telling you should or shouldn't see a psychologist but since you are saying you are "bearing the insanity" it seems you are looking for some assistance and I wouldn't write of a psychologist because of one bad experience or expectations of a bad experience.

Best of luck with everything.
Cheers

[M1903A1]

I refuse to see a psychologist, because I hate being stared at, and they always make me feel like I should bawl and go all Freudian. So talk therapy is a no

That's what a good psychologist or LCSW is supposed to do; the first step of overcoming a problem (once it's been recognized) is to confront it, painfullness be damned, and their job is to pinpoint the problem and make you face it down. Once you've overcome it, and you realize it's behind you, the pain of confronting it is nothing compared to the joy of not being controlled by it. If they're just taking your money and holding your hand, they're not doing their job.

"The truth will set you free...but it will really p*ss you off first!"

[kzm007]

Better to be p!ssed off than p!ssed on, I suppose.

But in all seriousness, now's not a good time for therapy, I've got to plan for a surgery instead.

FML.

[mosesbotbol]

But in all seriousness, now's not a good time for therapy, I've got to plan for a surgery instead.

FML.

The thought that you'd risk your life and permanent disability over talking to a professional that can help you really reflects on your current mental state. Not to rain on your parade, but you could really use physiological services available to you.

If you can walk, go to the bathroom, eat and sleep, the surgery can wait. You have to deal with the real issues at hand and then you’ll be able to make a clear headed decision and game plan. Hiding from issues and thinking absurdity are not the way to deal with such important issues.

[kzm007]

Moses, the surgery has been planned for awhile at the advice of both my GP and the surgeon, who is VERY highly skilled in the field, especially concerning cerebral palsy. I may have made it out to be worse than it is on the board, but I am sure he knows very well what he's going to do, and I will be informed the whole way through.

He's a very compassionate man, and the surgery simply consists of gently cutting the cords of my heels to help relax the taut muscles, since I walk painfully on my toes. He is also going to do the same to my hamstrings, which I assume are connected somehow. He is also going to separate the skin between the toes on my feet that cross over; when I walk, they rub and blister.

With flatter and surer footing, I may be able to learn to walk 'normally,' heel-toe, like someone without my physical issues. It will also help my posture straighten, which will relieve my back ache, and probably my entire demeanor as I work towards making things easier for myself through physical therapy. My balance and unaided walking will be smoother - currently, I can't stand without a support, and that's not good enough for me. It'd be nice to have two free hands when carrying bags indoors in the wintertime.

I only have minor depression, and that outburst was a one-night thing. My mood is fine, and I am not hiding anything. I believe I'm just stressed because my back always aches, and I was having troubles in school because of it, so college is on hiatus. My surgeon is also going to refer me to a specialist who may insert a small device into my lower back. The device contains a painkiller, and is basically like a pill, only it's more effective, and without the side effects of the drug going through my body. Every so often, it will need to be refilled.

The large possibility of me living with much less pain after the surgery is a wise decision, and yes, it does reflect my mental state, very rationally; I'm twenty years old and I'm working towards living a normal life, where I can get out and about more easily and do the things most people take for granted with less of an issue.

I'm by no means 'crazy,' and part of me simply wanted the testing out of curiosity, as my mood has been fine. I assure you, I'm not just rushing into things; I've been disabled since birth, and I am continually seeking new options to better myself and live a happier and more productive lifestyle. Having basic abilities is not a final answer - if there is an improvement that can be made, by all means, take it. If a door creaks, you oil it, if a car doesn't stop on a dime, you replace the brakes.