Anxiety & Depression, Please Help Needed
Find a Conversation
Anxiety & Depression, Please Help Needed
| Mon, 04-11-2005 - 10:12pm |
Hi,
I have had severe anxiety and some depression for the last 7-8 years. My family dr. prescribed Effexor 37.5 taken 2 times a day and Lorazepam (1mg.) 3 times a day. I never took that many becasue I would not be able to function or have a life. Anyway, it came down to 1 to 1 1/2 tabs of the anti-anxiety med (Lorazepam) per day, (The larger amt. would alsways be around my period). That seemed to do the trick with the anxiety and I have always had a hard time sleeping, which it also helped. I trusted that my Dr., who I think the world of would let me know if this was risky, but he never said a word. Anyway now he has retired and a new Dr. took over his practice. To make a long story short,the new Dr. says to me that he doesn't agree with the Lorazepam, I am probably addicted, that the Effexor should help with the anxiety, maybe I just need to up my dose of that, etc. and that he will send me out to a psychiatrist. Needless to say, I was scared to death, came out feeling like I am some kind of "junkie", which is creating a whirlwind of huge anxiety about taking this med. I started to keep a journal of all the times I took this and now am cutting down as much as possible. I feel so TERRIBLE, like I am a piece of dirt. I should add that during the past few years I have gone through marital problems, husbands affair, and me being the sole caregiver for my mom in our home while she had breast cancer and eventually bone cancer. I don't know how I would have coped with these things otherwise.
Today was so awful, I kept getting more and more panicky, with all of these questions in my mind racing, to the point of EXTREME PANIC along with my irritable bowel starting up. I tried the best that I could to just get my work done, and I got home and tool 1/2 tab of the Lorazepam. I have made and appt. with a psychiatrist for the end of the week, but I am VERY SCARED on what will happen. I have never seen a psychiatrist before, so I am just "What if" ing myself to death. I was mentally and physically exhausted and I fear this is going to spiral into a depression. If anybody has any advice or encouragement, i would greatly appreciate it.
I have had severe anxiety and some depression for the last 7-8 years. My family dr. prescribed Effexor 37.5 taken 2 times a day and Lorazepam (1mg.) 3 times a day. I never took that many becasue I would not be able to function or have a life. Anyway, it came down to 1 to 1 1/2 tabs of the anti-anxiety med (Lorazepam) per day, (The larger amt. would alsways be around my period). That seemed to do the trick with the anxiety and I have always had a hard time sleeping, which it also helped. I trusted that my Dr., who I think the world of would let me know if this was risky, but he never said a word. Anyway now he has retired and a new Dr. took over his practice. To make a long story short,the new Dr. says to me that he doesn't agree with the Lorazepam, I am probably addicted, that the Effexor should help with the anxiety, maybe I just need to up my dose of that, etc. and that he will send me out to a psychiatrist. Needless to say, I was scared to death, came out feeling like I am some kind of "junkie", which is creating a whirlwind of huge anxiety about taking this med. I started to keep a journal of all the times I took this and now am cutting down as much as possible. I feel so TERRIBLE, like I am a piece of dirt. I should add that during the past few years I have gone through marital problems, husbands affair, and me being the sole caregiver for my mom in our home while she had breast cancer and eventually bone cancer. I don't know how I would have coped with these things otherwise.
Today was so awful, I kept getting more and more panicky, with all of these questions in my mind racing, to the point of EXTREME PANIC along with my irritable bowel starting up. I tried the best that I could to just get my work done, and I got home and tool 1/2 tab of the Lorazepam. I have made and appt. with a psychiatrist for the end of the week, but I am VERY SCARED on what will happen. I have never seen a psychiatrist before, so I am just "What if" ing myself to death. I was mentally and physically exhausted and I fear this is going to spiral into a depression. If anybody has any advice or encouragement, i would greatly appreciate it.

Pages
I am so glad you are seeing a psychiatrist. Family dr.s do not specialize in psychiatry to deal with mental health issues. Don't feel like a junkie. You are on a very low dose of anti-anxiety meds. Your not even taking them 3 times a day. Everything will be ok. I know you have been through alot. Take the med if you need to. Don't suffer because 'one' doc said not to take them. Wait and see what the pdoc(psychiatrist) says. Anxiety is a horrible feeling to cope with. I deal with it evereyday and I am on a strong anti-anxiety med called xanax and I take it 3 times a day. Some days I don't need that many but they are there if I "need" them.
I am sorry to hear about your mom. That was alot for her and you to go through. You are a strong person for dealing with all you have dealt with. You can get through this!
Seeing a psychiatrist is a good beginning. Pat yourself on the back for reaching out and seeking help. I hope you start to feel better soon.
I am also sorry to hear about your marital problems and that he had an affair on you. That hurts and I hope you are ok now. Are you still with this man? If you are that is your business but I feel bad he did that to you.
Hang in there!!! Things will be ok. You will be ok. Your strong and will get through this.
Tina~
Don't feel that you have failed in anyway or consider yourself less than the good person, I am sure you are. The ativan(lorazapam) was prescribed by the dr. & you took it as ordered. In some folks it has caused addiction problems. But, NOT everyone. We have ppl in our community that take meds such as this on a daily basis & for long term use to help with their anxiety. If you have developed a dependence to the med, you can be slowly taken off without much trouble. I had a problem with xanax many years ago, in the same family as ativan & though it was tough going for a few weeks, I have managed ok. Try to relax until you see the dr. Keep it all in perspective & don't let your thoughts get ahead of you. I know that's much easier said than done.
In the meantime, please post whenever you need too. We will lend you an ear & the support you need. If you can, join us in chat. All the folks are willing to share what they have learned about anxiety & new ways to cope. I hope your past problems are resolving & you begin to feel better soon. Good luck & GBU! (((hugs))) jan
I sure can relate to your problem!!
I have taken xanax for over 12 years and we recently moved
to Florida- My GP said the same thing! Some of the states are
coming down on GP's giving these drugs instead of psychiatrists.
The psychiatrists want and need the business!!
HOWEVER I do not agree with this--- so many people have panic
and it is easily treated with anxiety meds and your MD
has watched you for problems with it!! As mine has!
I went to another MD I refuse to go to a psychiatrist!!
Never have and won't go!! This is not a severe mental issue
and my therapist agrees! FIND ANOTHER GP Good luck, Judy
NOOOO you are not an addict!
I am so thankful I found this board, you are very caring people and I don't feel so alone. I am just a bundle of nerves until this appt., making a mountain out of it I'm sure, but it seems to take on a life of it's own (the anxiety and worrying). I wanted to ask if anybody had ever fell into a severe depression (or nervous breakdown), just months of crying, felt like I was in a black hole. After having these panic/anxiety attacks for weeks reaching a fever pitch? That was before I started the meds. That seems to be what happens with me. I wonder if anybody had this happen. I have really tried to breathe, distract myself, be mindful (in the momemt) & not worry, but this whole situation just scares me. I don't know if this Dr. will take me off of these meds right away, and that is a BIG fear. I don't want to ever go through that debilitating state again. I have done well on these meds, I didn't think I was abusing them. I cannot go through this week getting this full of anxiety - so I am just taking 1/2 tab every 8 hours. Anyway, I really appreciate your posts and writing so soon. Many Thanks, westies4evr
I can relate with the depression. My depression has gotten so bad that at one point in the past I checked myself into the hospital. I feel that my depression really spins off my anxiety and panic attack issues. Talk to your PDoc about the depression. My doctor has me on celexa for the depression part. I too take an anti-anxiety med klonopin. I was worried about getting addicted, my pdoc told me that as long as I took only the prescribed amount that I would be ok. Even if your new doc wants you to go off it, he will probably ween you off the med slowly. It's important to remember that you are not weak, your just going thru a difficult time right now. I think everyone goes thru atleast one major depression in their lives. Seek help it can get out of hand quickly and you shouldn't have to suffer. Please post here often, I have found it really helps to have a place to talk about this with people who understand.
Candie
I wouldn't put much stock in what any GP has to say about psych meds. Most are uninformed on the subject. When I had a series of panic attacks a few years ago, I was diagnosed first with labrynthitis (an inner ear infection that effects balance and can cause many of the same symptoms of panic attacks), then with panic disorder. About 6-8 weeks after feeling like I was losing my mind or that something was seriously wrong physically, my GP gave me Paxil samples and xanax. The Paxil dose was waaay too high for me to start on and it aggravated my anxiety to the point where I didn't sleep for two days. The Xanax helped for brief periods, but when it wore off, I felt a serious rebound of anxiety. A frantic phone call to a psychologist I'd never met before was helpful, as she assured me that what I was feeling was temporary and to stop the Paxil (I'd only been on 3 days- the correct way to normally stop taking an ssri is to taper off slowly under the direction of a psychiatrist).
I decided enough was enough, and even though I still hadn't fully admitted to myself that I could be having panic attacks, I made an appointment with a psychiatrist. He started me on a tiny dose of Zoloft (1/2 25 daily) and prescribed generic klonopin (also a very small dosage to be taken in the morning, at night, and once midday if necessary). I tolerated both medications pretty well and we slowly increased the dosage of the zoloft. While I had an aversion to taking the klonopin for fear of becoming addicted to it, my doctor told me that most patients he sees have more success NOT sucking it up and trying to fight thru the anxiety. His view is that attaining a steady state of feeling normal over time helps the process. And it did for me- as the zoloft dose reached a clinical dose (barely at 50mg) I tapered off of the klonopin. I went over a year without the generalized anxiety (I haven't had a full blown panic attack in a few years now). Subsequently, I tapered off the zoloft after months of having no anxiety.
When the generalized anxiety returned later, I went back to the same regimen with the same results and tapered off again, hoping that this time it would be behind me for good. Unfortunately, I started experiencing generalized anxiety again recently and have this time started with a low dose of celexa and again, klonopin. While it sucks to feel nausea for a good part of my day right now, and I have a hard time concentrating, my thoughts race, and at times I feel hopeless, I know that I've gone thru this before, I know what these symptoms are, and I remember that one of these days I'll wake up and feel like me again. And that's the biggest comfort.
So, my advice to you is to look at your upcoming visit with the psychiatrist as a good thing. His/her knowledge of the available prescriptions, side effects, and appropriate dosing should be better than your GPs (former and current). I personally like that my doctor is very conservative, starting with very low doses, and monitoring/adjusting as necessary in a safe way, and just as importantly, tapering slowly when we decide it's time to stop a medication. The SSRIs most of us take for anxiety/depression can have some nasty side effects if started at too high a dose, and the benzos can be addicting. While those aren't positives, it's positive that the person perscribing those meds specializes in this area, and should be compassionate, knowledgable, and professional about your problem in a way that most GPs can't be.
One other thing I'll share from my experiences, and I'm sure it's different for some, so take it with a grain of salt. I had a hard time with Xanax because of the relatively short time it works (a few hours) and the rebound I felt when it wore off. Klonopin is longer lasting, and less sedating than Xanax, so I feel I can function pretty close to my normal abilities while I'm on it. And when it wears off, there's little to no rebound, so I don't feel like I need to take another one a lot of the time for an entire day if I take one in the morning.
Best wishes to you and us all,
Paul
Blessings, Suz
Posts in this Community ![]()
Hey, I'm wondering how your appointment went today. If you have a minute, please post!
Sheri Ann
Sheri Ann
The appt. went very well. It took 5 1/2 hours, he was very thorough, very understanding and just put me at ease about alot of things. DX - Panic Disorder, with PTSD - he says that stems from my marriage & upbringing. That's was alot to digest right now. Gulp! But I feel better and have another appt. in 3 weeks. Thanks so much to all for your concern and caring! You are all angels!
Blessings, Suz
Posts in this Community ![]()
Pages