Interview with a Clinical Psychologist

The elusiveness of chronic illness, like MS, and it's vagaries can make a psychological wreck of anyone. I'm amazed that ways are found to cope this.

To go years without a diagnosis, dealing with friends and co-workers, bosses and family, trying to explain, especially after seeing a number of doctors, what the problem is, when you haven't any idea, seems impossible to deal with.

Taking to one's cave in the face of that seems natural.

The doctor addresses something important, the expression of anger, as self protection even when we know it is wrong. Leaving friends before they leave you. Or you think they will. Her advice to be social seems like trying to navigate a maze, for which you cannot find the entrance.

I really enjoyed her interview, you seem able to find and work with people wanting and able to help others. I expect if she gave her name, she would be swamped with new business  She is the Dr. Sethi, of psychology. You know that is high praise. 

Hi All:

I was more than depressed when I got diagnosed in 2003. Add to that fact that I had jumbo C4 spinal lesion that severely debilitated me from pretty much the neck down. I've since then almost completely rehabilitated. However, once you get your mind right and focused, you have to deal with the Interferons. I've been on Avonex, and now Rebif. That stuff helps, no doubt, but it definitely alters your personality at times. I'm pretty happy, by nature, and this medicine can make you very dark.

I believe exercise to be the prime contributor to slowing the progress of this disease. I do 2 hours a day 6 days a week. The Interferon helps slow it, but it take its toll. Havin a good PhD to rail at helps.

Nice posting. Thanks.

Tom

A very interesting interview... on a very real and important part of dealing with MS or other serious and lasting illnesses.  I could not help but think how much of dealing with an illness is "in our heads"  so to speak, and no pun intended.  We are complicated thinking beings.  I am a dog person, had them all my life and have had one that had to deal with illness that took away her ability to walk on her rear feet and another the same with an accident.  Both never changed though, except one learned to walk on its front feet alone, the other uses a cart, but they are still the same happy dogs.  I have often thought i would have never had the courage.  But really, the question would we, perhaps will be someday, can I overcome "myself"?  Dogs are lucky i guess.  They never think of self that way it seems.   But they do need others, me in this instance, to help.  We all need others, and help sometimes.

I think the interview is great.   Many thanks to you Doctor for your insights and the work you do.

Excellent questions, MM and excellent, thoughtful answers, Dr. HP.  Am a big fan of cognitive behavioral, here, and highly second the recommendation for people coping with chronic illess and chronic pain, anxiety and depression. 

Great interview and Thank you for giving people a look at the emotional aspects of this disease and how it touches so many.

Great idea for this interview and another Great job!

The UCSF trial of LDN for MS was covered at two different neruology conferences in 2008; publication is pending. The double-blind placebo controlled study found a significant effect on mood improvement during the 8 weeks patients were on LDN, in addition to other improvements like less pain and fatique. The mood improvement is not due to a pharmalogic effect from naltrexone, more likely to the boost in one's own endorphins that the tiny 4.5 mg dose triggers. But that is just a side benefit to the larger benefits of symptom improvement, and slowing progression. The UCSF study was too short to explore this, but a multi year trial is under way in Italy that has already published positive results at 6 months. More details at http://LDNers.org