AboutPatricia 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.
When I was 18, I suffered silently for over a year with extreme depression until I finally had a break down and got on prozac. I had all the symptoms of major depression, loss of interest in activities, inability to become happy regardless of how "good" my situation was, insomnia, extreme anxiety and feeling like my head was going to explode, fear of social situations, you name it, I had it.
Fortunately, the prozac worked like a miracle drug for me (as it also had with my mother and sister who also take it) and within two weeks of taking it, I was back to normal.
Recently, however, I've become aware of the possibility that perhaps I was also psychotic. I didn't have any hallucinations but I did have this overwhelming fear that I could go mad and hurt people. To be more specific, this was NOT a desire to hurt people, it was simply an irrational fear that I would lose control and do it.
I always assumed these horrible fears/thoughts were part of the depression but now I'm scared that I possibly could've been (or could be) psychotic as well.
For the last 7 years, I've stayed on the prozac and managed my depression fairly well. A few episodes with minor versions of the above listed problems (including the fear of flipping out and hurting someone) but much less severe and usually gone within a day or two.
My question are the following:
1) If I had been, or possibly still am, psychotic, could prozac alone have cured me?
2) Is that fear of irrationally flipping out and hurting people an exclusive symptom of psychotic depression or can it be associated with severe but non-psychotic, depression?
I know that's a lot to read and consider so please take your time and get back to me when you have a chance.
Thanks for reading this and take care.
-John
Answer Hi John:
I am so glad prozac is helping you. Everyone's brain chemistry is different and sometimes it takes people a year or more to get on the right medication. BE glad it has worked for you. Genetically, sounds like brain chemistry probems are inherited and in your family. Your grandparents or aunts or uncles too may have had depression, anxieties, alcohol problems, obsessions, cumpulsions - like gambling, etc. So, your "fears" sound more like forms of panic attacks to me more so than being psychotic.
You still are feeling a fear because you are still worried about it and that is anxiety too - your worries. You may need an antianxiety. There is an oldie but goodie one, called Buspar. Talk to your doctor about it, it may help you if he or she thinks you need some antianxiety medication.
Also, to educate yourself more about depression, anxieties, etc. Type in the name Dr. Ivan Goldberg - he has a fantastic website.
Pat
The "fear" of flipping out and maybe hurting smeone, or anyother feeling of "fear" is anxiety. Some people feel they can't breath, are going to dye, or make a complete fool of themselves (stage fright) etc. All kinds of fears.
