Today my mom approached me in the kitchen and talked to me in a serious tone. I was really worried about what she was saying, but she surprised me.
Mom: What was the name of that new doctor you saw?
Ade: I don't know.
Mom: Well, I wanted to know, since I wondered if she could give you a referral.
Ade: A referral?
Mom: Yes... I thought that now you're 20... *Ade starts worrying* maybe your new doctor could refer you to an adult... *Ade freezes in antici...pation* ...neurologist.
Ade: *relieved that she didn't say the dreaded g-word... you ladies can figure out what that is* A neurologist?
Mom: Yes... since Dr. Old Neurologist Guy is a pediatric neurologist, I thought you should see an adult neurologist.
Ade: Do you think I need to see one?
Mom: Well... you know, with your recent hair-pulling... (My mom abducted my trichotillomania book and read all about hair-pulling, so she keeps asking me about it when I'd rather just keep to myself about it)
Ade: Oh that, that's nothing... *feels the semi-bald patch on the back of her head and bites her lip*
Mom: Well, I thought that maybe a neurologist could help with that. (I guess my hair-pulling is another symptom of Tourette syndrome)
Ade: They'll probably put me on medication. *sarcasm* Woohoo, Ritalin!
Mom: Plus, with that anxiety you have about talking to people...
Ade: That's not related to neurology, that's a psychological thing.
The conversation went on for a while, and I tried to convince my mom that I'm fine and don't need to see another neurologist. She apparently thinks that my self-diagnosed social anxiety is related to Tourette syndrome, but it has nothing to do with it. I don't think I need to see a neurologist, because my hair-pulling isn't extremely serious at the moment (it was a few months ago, but the hair is growing back). And if I did see a neurologist, (s)he'd probably just put me on medication. I read that several antidepressants tend to have positive effects on hair-pulling, but I don't want to be on medication. I can't even get myself in the routine of taking a vitamin every morning. Plus, I don't know what weird side effects I'd have on medication. I mean, Zoloft or Paxil might be great for some people, but they can have horrendous effects on others. I haven't routinely been on medication (I know... lucky me) since my appendectomy 2 years ago, and my body isn't used to taking weird chemicals. Of course, last time I went to a neurologist, he said I didn't need to take any medication to control my Tourette syndrome unless it was affecting me socially (too late - it just about ruined my childhood). So I don't know if going to a new doctor would change anything.
*ahem* There I go, babbling again. I tend to do that late at night. Maybe I should just go read and go to bed. I'm just a bit crabby now. I'll be better tomorrow. Hopefully.
Quote of the day:
"It's not every day that your best friend grows a penis!"
- The Hot Chick
