Down on Psychiatrists !!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2007
Down on Psychiatrists !!
11
Fri, 05-25-2007 - 2:53pm

Now I will vent. For over 20 years a small dose of Xanax as needed, not very often, worked for me for an occasional panic attack. Then my daughter developed severe depression with thoughts of suicide and it just blew me away. She's fine and has detoxed herself from Effexor. So ten months ago I sought the help of a psychiatrist/neurologist to help me lower my anxiety level and get me off the 3 to 4 mg/da of Xanax I had increased myself to. Doctors had had me try SSRI's 5 different times and they made me very sick. I am not depressed and sleep well, not a classic text book case, I'm told. So? not everybody is.

Then the pdoc put me on Zoloft, another SSRI which made me sick. I said I don't want to take pills, talk me thru this. Then in January he said take Neurontin to make you feel better. All that did was give me hands that shook and I just got off that. In March, I said I want OFF Xanax and he gave me a chart to follow. When I asked why he didn't suggest I get off it last Fall, he said "you're not ready". Well. . . . he could have at least asked. I'm now down to 1 to 1-1/4mg mg. day and holding. I get a strong scared feeling in the morning, for no reason. I don't worry, am not stressed, it just comes over me for no reason. I take the Xanax. The afternoons are comfortable and the evenings are just fine. I go to bed and sleep well til it hits again the next morning.

Also, during this 10 month period he had me take over 50 Neurofeedback sessions where you are supposed to adjust your own brain waves. After over $4,000 worth, there was little change and it's not covered by insurance.

The pdoc did say maybe your Cortisol level is low in the morning which would increase anxiety. I took a saliva Cortisol test and mine came back normal. Anyone else encountered this??

I saw him yesterday and he said you may have some unresolved childhood traumas that need to be addressed. Well, those people are all dead and gone and I never think back. Just now to the wonderful life I have. I only want to relax and enjoy it.

His final comment was, why don't you try Lyrica. Why???? I don't want any more meds. And then said "I CAN'T HELP YOU". How's that for another "abandon"? He said maybe you could talk to a therapist. But I thought that's what I was here for.

So . . . from 2 experiences with psychiatrists I've decided they are "pill doctors". It all becomes an experiment to see what pill will work.

I don't have local support, except my wonderful husband. I did find a therapist in town that I will see next week. Hopefully, she can talk me thru this.

In the meantime, I'll take my a.m. Xanax and keep the dose there. I did before and think I can do it again.

Thanks for listening to my rant. Any comments?

Ruth

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Fri, 05-25-2007 - 4:27pm

{{{{Hugs Ruth}}}}

I've only been taking Xanax for 1yr. and I was also on 4mg a day for a couple months , but thankfully I've been able to regulate it down to only 1mg per day and 1mg as needed, which isn't even that often...

Side effects are different for many...The only effects I've had, have been positive...I, too, have been overcome with a sscared/anxious and heart-racing feeling during midmorning...although, I've told myself to try to work through it by focusing on something, like working on a jig-saw puzzle ...

I've heard a lot of bad things about effexor....Good for your daughter, for being able to get off of something that caused such darkness in your lives..I know first-hand how very lonely that is and how hard it can be to begin to try to lift a hand and reach for that light, it seemed so far away...

Personally, my neurologist has been intensely working with me, my medicine has been adjusted several times and is now working wonderfully...

I've also been on Zoloft, it had no effect on me...I'm sorry that all these things have made you sick...I guess the only advice I can give you is to be patient..it took me 17yrs to finally find a dr./things/ways to get through....

Yeah, my neurologist just put me on Lyrica, this is meant to eliminate the neurontin...it's kinda quizzical to me..I can understand your frustrations, believe me, I was there too....for now, for myself, I'll trust my doctors...

I think that it's wonderful that you have your dh for support...

My advice:

Believe that you can get this, Keep stepping forward, keep going and don't stop, Know that, as long as you want to achieve your goals then you'll have support along the way...

Good Luck with your therapist! And regulating your Xanax!

{{{{Hugggsssss}}}}

^j^Honesty Abounds

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2007
Sat, 05-26-2007 - 8:28pm

Thanks for your comments Honesty. What did the Neurontin do for you? I never felt anything but shaky hands. And why the Lyrica? What's that to do for you? They're mainly to prevent seizures. I have no history of that. I just don't want to take any meds. That seems to be all the pdoc can do. I lived most of my life without anxiety and medications, so I think I should be able to get past this.

I have had many childhood and later traumas which I weathered just fine. I was raised by my maternal grandparents who were wonderful people. In 1984 I had an abandon type situation at my office and had my first panic attack. My therapist, at the time, said it may have been the "straw that broke the camels back" as to being abandon. I still carried on for over 20 yrs til my daughters depression, Fall 2005. She's fine now, I'm fine, so what's going on?

Fortunately I've had no real withdrawal effects from cutting back on the Xanax. But the mornings are still pure panic, for no reason. I've always been a very outgoing person. But it's Hell being housebound in the morning.

I will see a therapist next week that I spoke briefly to last year. I'll see what her take is on this. But as far as the pdoc telling me "I'll have to live with this and he can't help me", I think NOT !!!

Ruth

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Sat, 05-26-2007 - 10:20pm

Hey Ruth~

Our situations may be very different...Dr.s are well known for prescribing medications for many other symptoms than its prescribed use...that being said...Neurontin was prescribed to me for severe leg pain....it has finally base lined ...though, I've just recently had an attack and was prescribed Lyrica...I don't have seizures but I do have muscle spasms that last, a very long 3-4 days...

IMO, as we grow older, we need to really listen to what our body is telling us...it's okay to feel the way you do, but it's worth your own self well being to keep challenging yourself as well as your doctors...try to be as open-minded during these times of doubt, try this for awhile...ya never know

I can really relate to being housebound...you're right, it IS Hell...but, you should think about the positives during those moments...it's worth trying, ya know...

Maybe your therapist will have some great ideas too!...

"What you think about, you bring about"

Talk soon

^j^Honesty Abounds

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2007
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 8:45am

Hey, Ruth,

Please trust me on this: It IS IMPORTANT to know what is causing your anxiety and depression! I was sceptical, too, until I faced down my frightening past, and got better! I had been killing myself--not with a suicide per se--but slowly, every day. I was living a "normal" average life, but I had come from a childhood of verbal and physical abuse. My husband beat me and verbally abused me, and when he abandoned me, I sort of died. This is extreme, but even if you were called names, overly criticized by your parents, bullied at school, sometimes that can trigger depression and anxiety.

Don't be down on psychiatrists! I found a good one, who has helped me get my life back! My friend's husband is a child psychiatrist, and I asked him who he would recommend for me. I also was working with a client who was head of the neuropsyciatric dept. of University Hospital. Both doctors referred me to the same man, who turned out to by my neighbor! He is now the new head of the State Phychiatric Association. Get someone with good references!!!

If you don't know who to ask, you can call around and find a "cognitive" or a "behavioral" therapist.

My primary care doctor gave me Zoloft, and I lived with the headaches and sleepiness for a month, and was too sick to continue. Prozac made me jittery. Paxil made me fall asleep in business meetings. Imipramine worked best, but, like you, I did not want drugs.

The psychiatrist put me on a lower dose of imipramine, but soon determined that I could do without any antidepressant drugs at all. To deal with the anxiety, he gave me Lorazepam. I only take it when absolutely necessary, and not on any schedule. I am careful with it, for the same reason you are. I am calmer now, just knowing my pills are nearby, and I take one half, maybe once or twice a month, or even less, depending on how my life is going.

Maybe you drink coffee in the morning? Don't do it! You probably don't have protein in the morning, either, which you need to eat to keep your blood sugar higher throughout the morning. (Sugary cereal or donuts makes your blood sugar plummet after 20 minutes)

You seem to be doing very well! Keep up the good work!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 12:16pm

Hey Ruth~

I just wanted to also share how much talking to a therapist has helped me and to at least tame my anxiety...it is a very brave step to tell someone about your innermost thoughts and feelings...I think you're doing an awesome thing...

Maybe there are moments in your past that you need to talk through...they could be indirectly impacting your anxieties right now...your therapist could talk you through your frustrations and help you see a different perspective...

Don't give up hon, this can be a rough path to begin, but with your belief in yourself and your will to just try, then you'll begin to see your support system grow -- don't forget you've now gained a friendly and vast support system by just reaching out by posting your concerns to this board...

Hang in there, Ruth!!

Hugggsssss

^j^Honesty Abounds

^j^<~An Angel's Always Near...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 9:37pm

(((Ruth))) Good to see you:) I am sorry to read about what seems to be conflicting information. As you know, I am not an expert. However, I can tell you that from experience there are plenty of mental health experts that think dredging through past traumas & events is the only way to deal with present problems. OTOH, there are plenty who feel that dealing with the *here & now* is all that's required. I have seen both kinds & have benefitted from both kinds. But I have not always benefitted from certain *t's.* We simply didn't *click.*


Hopefully the new therapist will be on the same page as you & together you guys can work out a treatment plan that will progress to the goals you have in mind. Don't give up hope.


As for the meds, neurontin has been used for anxiety by others on this board. In fact, many folks talk about clonazepam(klonopin) which is in the same family as xanax & it is used for seizures, too. It depends on the dr./patient/ med:)


I have no firsthand experience with the neurofeedback sessions. I have used self relaxation techniques to reduce my racing heart, anxious thoughts, etc. through meditation. That is an awful lot of money to dole out when it would seem that after 5 or 10 sessions it would have been apparent it wasn't working. JMHO):


When I first became an RN back in 1973, psychiatrists were the first line in *talk therapy* for folks with mental illness. They rarely see folks that way nowadays. They do *med checks.* Or direct treatments or therapy through nurse practitioners, counselors, social workers, psychologists, therapists, etc. They have LOTS of handles;) They are the ones who give you the time to talk:)


I think you are doing so well, Ruth. In spite of everything you are plugging right

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
Wed, 05-30-2007 - 5:06am
Do you drink a lot of coffee, soda or tea in the morning? I find that my anxiety peaks in the morning after I wake up and having my usual coffee does not help when that happens.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 05-30-2007 - 6:23pm

I only see my pdoc for meds, and if I didn't need meds, I would go to my regular doc.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2007
Wed, 05-30-2007 - 7:31pm

Yes, I have learned that pdocs are for "med checks". I'm not taking anything else but the low dose of Xanax I'm on, til I get completely off it.

As to my diet, it couldn't be better. I drink a few cups of decaf coffee in the morning and herb ice tea from then til bedtime. I use an artificial sweetener, which has never bothered me. No refined sugar. My breakfast is whole grain cereal (fiber), a banana (potassium and natural sugar) and cottage cheese (protein). I take a one-a-day woman's multi-vitamin plus 1200 mg of calcium, Omega-3 fish oil and Selenium to strengthen my nails.

We both love to cook and most of our meat, fish, etc. is cooked on the BBQ. Unless I get soft and go for chicken and dumplings :). Always a fresh vegetable or brown rice and a large green salad with lots of stuff on it. Hungry??? I use olive oil almost exclusively. We are both slim and really in good health (except for this damn anxiety!).

I had the pdoc call me yesterday as I needed to know WHY he couldn't help me and what his diagnosis was at this point. Had to wait over a long weekend and OCD'd over that. He said I may have to make some changes and he wasn't sure I could do that. Such as my need to control outcomes (?), it's difficult for me to trust anyone (don't agree on that), should feel more helpless (?). Listen, my toughness and courage is what got me thru life. Acknowledge that I need more support, like a group. (good, where, I'm out in the country?) His diagnosis was: Panic disorder, GAD and OCD with maybe a little PTSD thrown in. I think he couldn't come up with another "pill" that would work on me and that's fine.

I have good news on two fronts . . . I saw the therapist today that I'd spoken with last year. I really like her. This week she suggests I change my morning routine. Brush my teeth, get my coffee and do something different than usual. Accept that I have the panic and just ride with it. I like to dig in the garden, pretty soon I'll be weed free. Also, instead of listening to meditation tapes I'm to play some upbeat music that I enjoyed years ago before I had this problem. Like Fleetwood Mac, The Brothers Four, Credence Clearwater Revival, etc. Am I dating myself ??

Second good news, thru my primary care Dr. I found a support group that meets in her office on Tue afternoon & Thu morning. I don't have a problem with a group but I think there's just a few people and it's headed by a Licensed Therapist. And after the meeting, she will meet with you individually, if you like. I've been very open about myself and never embarrassed by what I'm going thru. Plus, thru that office, my insurance will cover it. It's just 15 min. away out at the highway. I called to make a reservation for tomorrow morning. It will be difficult for me to get out of the house at 9 a.m., but I'll make it.

So far I've had no withrawal effects, but the anxiety is still with me. But things are looking up.

I've said from day one . . . I will make it. I have a wonderful life and so much to be thankful for, I just want to relax and enjoy it.

Til later . . . . Ruthi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 05-30-2007 - 8:42pm

It sounds like this therapist has alot to offer, you have some good plans in place, too -- I DO meditate, but listening to the upbeat music helps me ALOT, as well. I like the sounds of her!

Sheri Ann

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