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Date » 2005 » November

What’s going on here?

Nov 21 2005 | Comments 2

I write a column called “The Trouble With Spikol” for Philadelphia Weekly. It’s often about my struggles with mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder and OCD. I was also diagnosed with dissociative disorder N.O.S.–which means I suffer from intermittent depersonalization and derealization. Blah, blah, blah–check the DSM-IV for more.

Here are the meds I take: Seroquel, Lamictal, Ativan, plus Melatonin for sleep. The meds have saved my life, though I need to add an antidepressant to the mix soon.

I want to write here in a quirky and penetrating way about what’s going on with mental health in this country: medication issues, insurance coverage, stigma, prejudice, stereotypes, substance abuse, co-occuring disorders, diagnosis problems, legislation, psychiatry vs. psychology, electric shock therapy, new treatment options, and more. I’ll also chronicle my own experience.


liz | 10:43 PM | Uncategorized