So a few people here know me a bit and several have heard me talk about my experiences in performing therapy. I chose to specialise in anxiety-spectrum disorders because I suffer pretty severe anxiety myself. So I just wanted to share a little about what's happened to me recently and thank this board for their assistance because whether you all know it or not, you've helped So I am 34 years old and frankly have lived in paralysing anxiety for about 26 of those years. For those who suffer anxiety you know the feeling. Actually, for those who suffer damn near anything on the mental spectrum you know the feeling. That constricting and disabling anxiety, depression, mania whatever. It makes you feel unconfident and it makes you feel uncomfortable in your own mind. If you don't or haven't been through these things I can tell you it can be an awful way to live. But here,s the shiny happy part. A month ago I started seeing a new therapist and my psychiatrist started me on Zoloft. I know, I know...medicine is not always the answer but it has helped me immensely. The Zoloft has brought me to a level where I can breathe finally after 2.5 decades of pain and torment. But more importantly, the therapy did something for me. By trade I am an analyst and still believe that analysis is an amazing way to weed out your demons. But then my therapist made a suggestion. He said "Let it go" (and yes that is a big part of why I posted the Frozen thread...because that song spoke to me) I have spent so long trying to figure out why I am hurting instead of working on healing the pain. Now I am proud to say with some good techniques (and yes) the medication I feel so darn free. I can enjoy my life again and I can actually live in the moment. It is an unbelievable feeling to be paralysed by fear for 26 years and then suddenly be free. It's almost frightening...but damn do I feel good And thanks to the community here for allowing me to expose myself and be genuine and in the moment. Mostly, thanks for being accepting of me and all my faults and charms I feel amazing these days For those who are experiencing these things, know that somewhere out there IS a way to heal. Talk to your therapist, psychiatrist and doctor. Feel free to message me if you like...there is hope. Let it go friends
I've always been a big advocate for medicine here and some people disagree with me... but like you said it totally worked for me and I've never been happier or more stable in a long time having found the right medicine. Also the whole let it go concept. I lived in fear of failure and displeasing my parents so long while in a horrible grad program that ate at my soul each day working for a miserable old fogey who just kept dangling that carrot. I told myself I won't be successful if I don't in order to rationalize my parents pressure on me. I catastrophize things so I would go into a deep depression that lead me to believe I'd be a loser and never amount to anything. Eventually I gathered the courage to say "fuck it life will go on" or more politely "let it go". I left the program and pursued what I wanted and now I'm in a job I love that is possibly one of the most important jobs ever and I love it. That let it go attitude saves people a lot of stress if they could just recognize it.
Thanks to both of you. Yeah Kasey I will never pretend to speak for anyone else but the Zoloft has made a massive difference in me. It's allowed me to work through my issues in therapy. Without it all my therapy sessions were superficial at best and a waste of time at worst. But man do I feel free and amazing and the best part is I have no side effects and I don't feel fake and like I am wearing a mask like with other drugs I've tried
Congrats, although I'm a little surprised it took you so long to go on Zoloft. For me, it was one of the first recommendations, and the only reason I didn't switch was because what I was taking was working just fine at the time.
Glad to hear you're getting better Foxface. Drugs been proven to help with anxiety and stress and it's shame that they don't always work for everyone. One stress management technique I find particularly useful is meditation. Just find a nice, quiet and comfortable space where you can relax close your eyes and focus on the sound of your breathing. Avoid thinking anything whatsoever and it works pretty well.
I've tried Wellbutrin and zoloft but neither addressed my specific neurological transmitters and were ineffective. I am on Lamictal and that is an anti psychotic which calms down my overactive brain and supposedly works on GABA receptors as opposed to serotonin receptors. Anyways I haven't had major anxiety or racing thoughts in at least 2 years. And I have had no side effects of any perceptible kind including weight loss or gain.
Thanks again to all The reason I haven't been on Zoloft yet is my psychiatrist only wanted me on the Zyprexa. The problem was she gave me Ativan. I am a addict. It's in my paperwork that I am an addict. So why would she have given me 90 Ativan? I turned it down at the pharmacy window then came back two weeks ago. That's why it took so long. She was sort of weird about me asking her about why she gave an addict that much Ativan. I'd rather have a daily pill to help me through things than another crack at addiction. I was surprised too that right out the gate the Zoloft worked. It is amazing how night and day I am when I am on the Zoloft AND going to therapy and using that let it go attitude. And I actually can meditate now that I am at a good level Though it's funny I now have this weird dilemma I am using a let it go attitude for myself...yet in therapy I very much love to analyze others to detail...I wonder if this is an impetus for me to change how I work? But I love my analytic work...I dunno I am just sounding things out now I don't expect an answer Anyway thanks again for those here that listened to me and helped me out
Attivan? Lorazepam? I take that every so often when I can't sleep or get super anxious (it still does happen from time to time)
Ativan (lorazepam) Information from Drugs.com yup...Ativan...great for a short while but like I said I have a history or narcotic addiction so I am personally really wary of taking Ativan or Xanax
Yea I'm aware of the potentially addictive nature of it. I only get 0.5 mg prescriptions and a 21 count per month which I don't even use. I can't operate during the day using that one however...
I am glad you have found a useful medication. All my experiences (I must have tried almost every type) have been poor ... except for Diazepam, which nobody wants to prescribe because of their addictive characteristics
I do want to make clear that is more than just the medication helping me. The medication has allowed me a clear head to do therapy so I am not saying run out and get meds. I am merely saying don't simply dismiss them outright...or I guess anything for that matter the reality is the main message of this thread was 2 things 1. To tell you all there is hope out there 2. To thank those who helped me a lot
Exactly! The best treatment, for most psychiatric issues, is a combination of meds and some form of psychotherapy. I hate it when people are just given meds and nothing else. Meds open a door for the person to respond better to psychotherapy. It's awful to waste that opportunity,
Medication and therapy together are like peanut butter and chocolate (not to trivialize things). Even people who don't need medication can always use a helping hand... If not just have someone they can let feelings out to.
