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About Patricia A. Schafer, Ph.D.
Expertise
I received my Ph.D. from Kent State,in Ohio in Counseling.I specialize in various forms of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and forms of addictions such as substance abuse,eating disorders and gambling. My licenses are: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -Supervisor(LPCC-S) and Licensed Professional Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC) My experience includes counseling substance abusers, families of alcoholics/drug addictions, and codependency issues. I also specialize in social phobia; stress; anxieties; women`s issues; grief and adjustments to life changes. Some therapeutic techniques used are: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy)REBT (Rational Emotive), SFT (Solution Focused) and 12-Step, etc. If you live in the Cleveland area, you can contact me at my office for an appointment at: 440-349-4521. I accept insurance and EAP programs.

Experience
Twelve years experience as a professional clinical counselor; 30 years member of Al-Anon.

Organizations
ACA, OCA, OMHCA, NBCC

Publications
Experiences of prejudice among individuals in African American and Caucasian Interracial Marriages: A Q-methodological Study (Doctoral Dissertation - December 2008; Wilsnack and Beckman's book: Alcohol Problems in Women (1984). Alcohol use and marital violence: Female and Male Differences in reactions to alcohol(pages 260-279.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Counseling - Kent State MS in Counseling - John Carroll University BS in Psychology - University of Pittsburgh

Awards and Honors
Previous president of NCOCA (North Central Ohio Counseling Association); previous president of Chi Sigma Iota. Two years VISTA volunteer on Navajo reservation in Inscription House and Shonto.

Past/Present Clients
confidential

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Mental Health > Dealing with Depression > Am I depressed

Dealing with Depression - Am I depressed

Expert: Patricia A. Schafer, Ph.D. - 10/19/2009

Question
Hi,

I have always been prone to getting spells of feeling down and have always had anxiety to a certain extent. But since early this year, I have been getting periods of weeks where I would feel really down. The first time it happened was around February and it seemed to come out of nowhere. It came and went. But then it culminated in the summer when I lost interest in eating and sex (I also could'nt eat much food or I would get a pain in my stomach). A while before that, I had started trying to lose weight and then ended up losing too much (around 30 pounds) because I could'nt eat. I was also feeling like crying for a few hours almost every day. I became sick with an infection then as well.

I took Valerian which stopped me from feeling like crying and reduced stress at work (I was very stressed at work) and got my appetite back. I then got a bad bout of anxiety which seemed to be caused by the Valerian and I had to take time out of work and was put on a SNRI, 37.5mg per day Efexor XR.

While on the Efexor, I felt very good but stopped it after a few weeks as the withdrawal effects are supposed to be terrible. The anxiety has come back a bit but not too bad. What has come back quite badly is the feelings of being down (which I didn't have just before going on the Efexor). I feel like crying at the slightest thing and often think bad things about myself.

From what I have told you, do you think I have developed depression? Like I say, I was always prone to feeling down and getting anxious but I would'nt have described it as a bad problem. It is now something which seems to loom over my life (though it's partly that I'm now just more aware of it). Is it possible to just develop depression like that? Or was I maybe always prone to it? As I say, this year was very stressful in work and last year my mam had a mental breakdown which caused me a lot of distress at the time.

Sorry as I know this is a bit long-winded but if you could just give me a general idea of what you think.

Thanks for your help

Answer
Hi B:

You are the first one I have ever helped that is from Ireland!! I am Irish. My grandparents came from Ireland- so, I am second generation born in the US.

I do think you have depression. Since you felt better, why did you not stay on Effexor? You can slowly taper off of it - a sudden stopping of it is not good. Since your mom had a break down, I am presuming she had depression and anxiety, are there any other members of your family, even grandparents who suffered with depression and/or anxiety? If so, then that is a strong indication that it is in your genes.

When you feel good, that means the medication working. If it is the correct medication, it makes you feel good and fights the brain chemistry that makes you feel bad. Please get back on medication so you can function a lot better in your life.

Let your doctor know you suddenly took yourself off and what happened and get yourself back on the medication. Or, if you don't like Effexor, ask your doctor for another type that has less side effects. You do need medication to help you function in your life right now. Without it, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and eventually a possible suicide.

Also, here is a web site to educate yourself more about depression:

http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html There are self-inventories you can take to see how severe your depression is. This site was put together by Dr. Ivan Goldberg and excellent New York Psychiatrist.

Hope the information I have give you is helpful to you.

Take care,

Dr. Pat

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