Category: Articles

Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness ISN’T IT TIME TO QUIT MY MEDICATIONS? 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind.  By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery.  “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World.    Dr. Leland Heller  Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E • Okeechobee, FL  34972 • 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved.  May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness™, BiologicalUnhappiness.com™, & Dyslimbia Press™ are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)

IS WELLBUTRIN WRONG FOR ME? Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness IS WELLBUTRIN WRONG FOR ME? Question: I’m not sure I understand exactly what Wellbutrin does and doesn’t do.  I keep hearing “it’s in a class all by itself,” but that tells me nothing.  I was taking Celexa for a couple of years, then switched to Paxil for about a year because the Celexa was no longer effective.  During those three years, I gained 30 pounds.  I was also concerned about the lack of happiness or sadness with Paxil – that’s abnormal.  I hardly ever worried, even when I should have, and my willpower was zero.  I was smoking more, had to intention of ever quitting, and eating way too much.  So I went to my PCP, who suggested we try Wellbutrin, because apparently that’s what doctors switch to when there’s a weight gain problem on the SSRI’s??But I also have panic disorder, which has gotten worse, and I’ve started taking Ativan again, which I never wanted to do.  I’ve only been taking the Wellbutrin for about 2 weeks, but throughout the day I go through periods of uncontrollable crying and depression (I’m fat, ugly, terrible mother, hate my husband, etc).I’m also experiencing dizziness which sometimes leads to panic attacks.  Is Wellbutrin totally wrong for me?  Have I just not given it enough time?  Is there something out there that works well for depression and panic, but doesn’t cause a lot of side affects and weight gain?Thanks, … Dr. Heller’s Answer: Wellbutrin increases noradrenaline and dopamine levels.  Taking SSRI’s can cause a relative imbalance with extra serotonin and relatively low noradrenaline and dopamine.  This causes a lack of happiness, enjoyment or zest for life.  The addition of Wellbutrin to an SSRI is an excellent choice in this situation. 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home MENU: Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home   Video DVDs now available!   You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home.  Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind.  By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery.  “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World.    Dr. Leland Heller  Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E • Okeechobee, FL  34972 • 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved.  May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness™, BiologicalUnhappiness.com™, & Dyslimbia Press™ are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)

IS TRILEPTAL AND CELEXA A GOOD COMBINATION FOR BPD? Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness IS TRILEPTAL AND CELEXA A GOOD COMBINATION FOR BPD? Question: My 18 yr. old daughter has been diagnosed with BPD.  She is currently taking Celexa and Trileptal.  Is this a good combination?  We have been dealing with this for over a year and the only improvement we see is that she hasn’t tried to commit suicide again – tried twice last year! Dr. Heller’s Answer: I’ve only seen one patient do well with Trileptal, the rest do much better with plain Tegretol.  It’s also important to have the blood level in the upper normal range.I’m not impressed with Celexa with the BPD.  Some patients do well with it, but none do better than on Prozac.  Prozac is far superior, likely because of it’s effects on the brain’s support cells (glial cells).Additionally, borderlines tend to have many diagnoses and they all have to be treated for the individual to do well.  My screening test may be of assistance here at http://pks.947.myftpupload.com/screen.htm. 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home MENU: Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home   Video DVDs now available!   You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home.  Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind.  By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery.  “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World.    Dr. Leland Heller  Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E • Okeechobee, FL  34972 • 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved.  May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness™, BiologicalUnhappiness.com™, & Dyslimbia Press™ are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)

IS THIS PAXIL WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness IS THIS PAXIL WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? Question: I have been taking Paxil for several months.  I decided to stop it 6 days ago and am wondering if I am having withdrawal symptoms.  I have numbness and tingling in my hands, feet, and around my mouth.  I frequently have fleeting moments of being unconnected with my body, can’t sleep, and feel horrible.  Can you offer any suggestions?Thanks. Dr. Heller’s Answer: It may indeed be a withdrawal symptom.  It could also mean your underlying symptoms are returning.If it is a withdrawal syndrome there are two things that can be done…

1)  Taper the dose slowly over time.2)  Switch to Prozac for a few weeks, then stop it.  Prozac tapers by itself, avoiding the withdrawal syndrome in most patients.

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home MENU: Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home   Video DVDs now available!   You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home.  Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind.  By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery.  “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World.    Dr. Leland Heller  Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E • Okeechobee, FL  34972 • 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved.  May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness™, BiologicalUnhappiness.com™, & Dyslimbia Press™ are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)

IS THE BPD A HORMONE OR ENZYME DEFECT? Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness IS THE BPD A HORMONE OR ENZYME DEFECT? Question: Dr. Heller,I am living in The Netherlands, where the doctors still don’t want to accept the fact that BPD is a physical disorder with psychical consequences.My opinion is that it is a disturbance of our metabolism (enzyme / hormone) Am I crazy or is my feeling correct? Dr. Heller’s Answer: I doubt that it’s a hormone or enzyme defect because of the many possible causes.  90% of the cells in your brain are not nerve cells.  They are support cells called “glial cells.”  I’m highly suspicious that glial cell malfunction is largely to blame for the BPD.  No one knows, however. 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home MENU: Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home   Video DVDs now available!   You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home.  Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind.  By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery.  “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World.    Dr. Leland Heller  Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E • Okeechobee, FL  34972 • 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved.  May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness™, BiologicalUnhappiness.com™, & Dyslimbia Press™ are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)

IS PERCEPTUAL DISTORTION PART OF THE BPD? Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness IS PERCEPTUAL DISTORTION PART OF THE BPD? Question: Dear Dr. Heller,What do you think of Perceptual Distortion as an aspect of how BPD people react to the world around them with extreme hurt and anger?  What is your opinion of a neuroleptic agent to control this?  What would be your recommendation in terms of one?Gratefully,… Dr. Heller’s Answer: Perceptual distortion is a major part of the BPD.  The scariest part is that they remember these distortions as reality.When a borderline is stressed or threatened, the trapped animal part of the brain takes over – and is on “survival mode.”  “Shoot first and ask questions later” describes it well.  Since most of the time they are not really trapped and cornered this perception is untrue, and is called psychosis.  Borderlines act very rationally from that incorrect perception.I teach my BPD patients that dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair) must be treated.  It is while experiencing dysphoria that psychosis occurs.  My usual approach is to have Haldol 2mg available for these episodes.  If Haldol doesn’t work, Tegretol is usually necessary.  Occasionally Risperdal 3mg is needed. 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home MENU: Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home   Video DVDs now available!   You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home.  Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind.  By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery.  “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World.    Dr. Leland Heller  Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E • Okeechobee, FL  34972 • 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved.  May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness™, BiologicalUnhappiness.com™, & Dyslimbia Press™ are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)