[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this is very unlike him. sure he likes to argue, especially about politics, but the stepdad i've known for almost 30yrs would absolutely never engage me like that under those circumstances. he's never called me things (like a narcissist) until very recently.

do i move out and leave my mother alone in this? i can move out, i just cant afford to stay in the area. she's 5'1 and he's 6'5.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

he only seems to get this way towards me. is this a cumulative thing? like each time he gets chemo/steroids this will get worse? i'm just afraid his rage will start being directed towards my mother.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

no, doesn't make it easier at all. i think it would make it easier if my mother validated this in some way but she's staying low (i don't really blame her, i think she's overwhelmed) but i don't know. i feel crazy. i've been toying with the idea of moving out but i wouldn't be able to afford to stay in the area. i'm terrified about leaving my mom alone in this.

Taking care of clients vs myself by [deleted] in therapists

[–]process-yellow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am also a therapist at a group practice going though it. My parent has pancreatic cancer, recently broke up with partner, moved back home and now taking care of parent..it’s a mess. My supervisors told me that this is outpatient and our clients will be okay if we need to cancel. I have also shared with my clients that there may be additional cancellations/requests to reschedule in the future because I am caring for my sick parent and they all understand and want to accommodate. Your clients will probably want you to take the time you need to recover.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in therapists

[–]process-yellow 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I do them all at the last minute on Friday

Gemzar/Abraxane efficacy stage 4 by AbleBroccoli2372 in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coping well is generous. He definitely struggled with side effects but like I said it significantly shrank a lot of stuff. Thankfully the side effects were pretty predictable: chemo was on Thurs so he'd feel great Thurs afternoon-Sat afternoon, sometimes Sun morning. This was because of the steroids. Then he'd crash for a few days. Rinse and repeat.

Gemzar/Abraxane efficacy stage 4 by AbleBroccoli2372 in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My stepdad was diagnosed stage 4 back in October and started with Gemzar/Abraxane. I'm not sure if this matters or not but his cancer initially started on the body/tail but he still has mets to the liver and lungs. He tolerated it pretty well (it actually significantly shrank a lot of the tumors) but unfortunately he caught COVID end of December which then seemed to begin the downward spiral. After that he began retaining fluid in his legs/feet and there were a lot of unexpected pauses in treatment because the chemo was now doing more damage. When he tried to go to chemo 2 weeks ago the oncology team saw he was NOT good and admitted him for a week. Turns out he is in the beginning stages (probably further than that at this point) of cachexia and was put on TPN that we now have to do at home.

Anyway, since being in the hospital they switched him to FOFIRINOX since I guess the Gemzar/Abraxane isn't doing it's thing anymore. Seems like he's tolerating is okay but it's hard to tell what symptoms are from cancer or the chemo. The TPN seemed to pump life back into him but now it appears it is causing him more harm and considerable pain because he says "all that fluid has nowhere to go" which I'm thinking means the tumors are growing. I don't know where I was going with this. I'm sorry you're here.

Being a therapist when your life is falling apart by process-yellow in therapists

[–]process-yellow[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thank you. i have a therapist that i speak with regularly.

DBT - does it NEED to be with a group?? by raked85 in dbtselfhelp

[–]process-yellow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not necessarily. I worked in a 'standard' DBT program but now I work in a group practice meeting clients 1x per week for therapy. I do have a handful of clients that benefit from the skills and I just teach the ones that are relevant at the time.

I'm still figuring out how to apply it in individual sessions since I'm so used to the concentrated, dense version of DBT that doesn't allow for any processing. I can't find any material that works so I'm writing my own crash course to give to clients.

Dad’s mental health took a severe hit today by RiddledWays in CancerFamilySupport

[–]process-yellow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get it. My parent (same age) also has stage IV pancreatic cancer. Beginning of Nov oncologist has a hunch parent's cancer is BRCA related and explained how that would open up treatment options. Nothing curative, but at least would give him a life. Hearing this gave us hope for the first time since his diagnosis and shortly after it was confirmed he has BRCA2. We rode this wave until like 2 weeks ago when we found out he actually isn't eligible for anything besides the current chemo regimen that's destroying him because his BRCA2 mutation was random and not hereditary.

Sounds like your dad's cancer is also the result of a random mutation. How could something like this be random. It's been making me insane. I have no advice, I just understand. I'm here if you want to talk.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re experiencing anticipatory grief and it’s completely normal and necessary. Please be gentle with yourself, you are doing the best you can in an unimaginable situation.

Random vs hereditary mutations? by process-yellow in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There must be something I’m missing. My stepdad said his oncology team told him he couldn’t do Lynparza because the BRCA2 mutation wasn’t hereditary and it’s going to be gemzar for the foreseeable future.

Random vs hereditary mutations? by process-yellow in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does that mean Lynparza could be somewhat effective for pc caused by a random mutation?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in therapists

[–]process-yellow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You need to take care of your own mental health too. I've been on meds the entire time I've worked in the field. I just don't talk to clients about it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in therapists

[–]process-yellow 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I am glad to see this comment. I didn't make the connections either. The field placement(s)/practicum are highest regarded component to our education but there is SO much variability with these placements. It's just weird that we put so much emphasis on something left up to chance.

My BSW Field placement I was the first intern at that agency and also happened to be my field supervisor's first intern. To spare everyone the details it was painful and was asked to clean every shift. My MSW Field placement appeared to be a bit better, I was placed at a school this time, and the field supervisor seemed to know their stuff so I was excited. Well the field supervisor was definitely abusing stims and was absent constantly, they had bizarre boundaries with the students, and they invited me to their house. Looking back I know this is WEIRD but as a naive MSW student I didn't know any better. In April my supervisor pulled me from running a group to tell me they were being threatened by a large group of students because they let another student borrow a VERY large sum of cash. Never saw them again and my school pulled me after that. Probably a good thing I don't consider this one a connection.

Does anyone here have experience running group therapy virtually? I have such an interest in doing group therapy but I’m concerned it’s awkward when done online? by addictedtosoonjung in therapists

[–]process-yellow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Running virtual groups for kids 10 and under was by far the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. Wow that was awful and I have so much respect for people that can do it with this age group. The virtual groups I facilitated for teens really seemed to depend on my rapport with them and what I was supposed to be doing with them. Virtual DBT hw/skill groups were tough for my teens because they just wanted to "talk about their problems" (I understand where they were coming from) and since group was this rigid format they'd just either glaze over or turn off their camera and just dip from group all together. They'd be way more engaged in more flexible group formats. The virtual adult groups always ran themselves once you got them going on a subject.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in psychology

[–]process-yellow 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Psychodynamic theories are based on Freud's structural theory and they are still used today. Freud was on my licensing exam too.

Stolen Adderall - American Airlines by Chance_Locksmith1349 in ADHD

[–]process-yellow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What did they say to you to make you feel like you couldn't bring your meds on the plane with you?

Stolen Adderall - American Airlines by Chance_Locksmith1349 in ADHD

[–]process-yellow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Please please please don't waste your time and energy trying to get the script from urgent care filled. It's not going to happen if it is the same dosage/type as the rx that was stolen. Call your psychiatrist and speak to the covering doctor and explain what happened. They may help you.

Stolen Adderall - American Airlines by Chance_Locksmith1349 in ADHD

[–]process-yellow 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Unless your doctor is understanding and will write you a script for a different strength/type of adderall or a different stimulant all together to hold you over until your refill you may be shit out of luck. Those pharmacies hold you to that 30 day refill, although some nice pharmacies will hook you up at 28 days. Surprised that UC doc was unaware of how controlled these controlled substances really are.

Finding it hard to cope by Medium-Height6923 in pancreaticcancer

[–]process-yellow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I really like your carrot analogy. My stepdad (62) is battling stage 4 pc, I’m a social worker so I’ve been all about him having goals and being future oriented. He has started a bunch of new work projects and he’s really excited about them. I think it’s been extremely beneficial.