Advice from anxiety sufferers...

[boltnrun]

Just be aware it is addictive.

 

Oh...then I won't do it.

 

Several years ago my doctor prescribed Tramadol for pain. I became addicted because although I was told it isn't an opiod I wasn't told it was addictive. I became addicted in less than a week and had to go through terrible withdrawals when my doctor refused to renew my prescription. I didn't even take the pain medication my oral surgeon prescribed when I had two teeth extracted last week. And when I had major abdominal surgery I had them take the spinal out the day after the surgery and also the little hand button because I so fear becoming addicted.

 

Thanks for the warning.

[Seraphim]

Oh...then I won't do it.

 

Several years ago my doctor prescribed Tramadol for pain. I became addicted because although I was told it isn't an opiod I wasn't told it was addictive. I became addicted in less than a week and had to go through terrible withdrawals when my doctor refused to renew my prescription. I didn't even take the pain medication my oral surgeon prescribed when I had two teeth extracted last week. And when I had major abdominal surgery I had them take the spinal out the day after the surgery and also the little hand button because I so fear becoming addicted.

 

Thanks for the warning.

 

Any benzo is addictive beyond a few weeks.

[SherrySher]

You need to go and talk to your doctor as soon as you can.

 

Benzos are getting harder and harder to come by and it sounds like you are creating a scenario where you are slightly addicted.

That's dangerous.

Because although it may help you temporarily get to sleep now, you're getting your body too used to it and in the end, (like you're seeing now), you will need more and more before it does anything.

Plus if your doctor won't give you anymore...then you really will have serious problems on your hands with withdrawls.

 

You need to first wean back down until you are taking barely any then talk to your doctor about long term medication for anxiety. Benzos are not meant for long term.

 

I could give you all sorts of suggestions, but it does sound like you need long term medication like an antidepressant. It's trial and error but once you've found one that works, it can make a huge world of difference.

[SherrySher]

I am concerned for any of you that are taking benzos daily or have been for years. I hope and pray for you that your doctor doesn't suddenly become sick or can no longer practice. Because I can assure you that getting another doctor to prescribe benzos like this, will be extremely hard to come by.

 

It won't matter if you tell them your last doctor gave you a prescription for years. The most they will do is wean you off and put you on an SSRI or antipsychotic.

 

I'm just giving fair warning. It's not safe to rely on benzos in this day an age.

[Seraphim]

I am concerned for any of you that are taking benzos daily or have been for years. I hope and pray for you that your doctor doesn't suddenly become sick or can no longer practice. Because I can assure you that getting another doctor to prescribe benzos like this, will be extremely hard to come by.

 

It won't matter if you tell them your last doctor gave you a prescription for years. The most they will do is wean you off and put you on an SSRI or antipsychotic.

 

I'm just giving fair warning. It's not safe to rely on benzos in this day an age.

I have weaned successfully . I am on a very very small dose, .25 mg. So a quarter of a mg. I can’t take SSRI’s . I have tried that. I got serotonin syndrome and saw walking furniture, I was severely agitated couldn’t stop walking morning noon and night ,didn’t sleep for 20 days lost 30 pounds because I couldn’t eat or drink. I almost died . Now this is not a common reaction but I cannot take SSRIs. Period.

[Seraphim]

I will say according to the doctors I’ve had most people tolerate SSRIs well. My husband in particular Zoloft has been very successful, Prozac and Paxil not so much. I took 25 mg of Zoloft and had a severe reaction from the very first hour. According to my doctors my liver just cannot process it and it becomes a toxic situation almost immediately.

[Seraphim]

This new med the dr put me on for insomnia is also a new med for depression and anxiety. I seem to tolerate this better than SSRI’s. If you want to go off it you do have to wean or you will get withdrawal symptoms just like you would for an SSRI.

[Seraphim]

ANY brain altering med requires you wean if you want to go off.

[SherrySher]

I have weaned successfully . I am on a very very small dose, .25 mg. So a quarter of a mg. I can’t take SSRI’s . I have tried that. I got serotonin syndrome and saw walking furniture, I was severely agitated couldn’t stop walking morning noon and night ,didn’t sleep for 20 days lost 30 pounds because I couldn’t eat or drink. I almost died . Now this is not a common reaction but I cannot take SSRIs. Period.

 

Yes, in your case, I could see them allowing you to have a benzo no matter what. But in most cases, the doctors have become very strict on not giving out more than a handful.

 

If someone has found a doctor who will give them more, rest assured that it's rare. But a good reason not to get used to them.

[Seraphim]

Yes, in your case, I could see them allowing you to have a benzo no matter what. But in most cases, the doctors have become very strict on not giving out more than a handful.

 

If someone has found a doctor who will give them more, rest assured that it's rare. But a good reason not to get used to them.

True. I have not increased my dose in 8 years. My dr wants to discuss my weaning and onto maybe Effexor when this pandemic is over.

[Jibralta]

I feel like if I’m laying there in bed for a long time, I have two options and I have to make a decision to choose the lesser of two evils which is 1) take meds which I would prefer not to take or 2) possibly lay there for hours and hours and feel badly the next day which I would never choose. So, it feels like taking the meds are the path of least resistance. But I don’t want to take meds every day.

 

I think that, if you're concerned about increasing your meds or taking them every day, you should examine why you think that option 2 is the lesser of two evils.

 

Of the two options you listed, it is the only one that increases your meds and the only one that can bring you to the point where you are on meds every day.

 

I understand the anxious what-if fears, like "if I don't get sleep, I won't be able to function tomorrow." But that's what anxiety is: Fear of what if. It's not fear of what actually is.

 

When you stop at what if, you never get to see what actually is. Those two things are not the same.

 

I suggest you challenge the veracity of your fears because, in this case, your anxiety is about to make you do something stupid. Think about it: you don't want to up your dosage, so you'd better up your dosage? Makes no sense.

 

If you're worried about dependency and addiction, this is your only route:

 

2) possibly lay there for hours and hours and feel badly the next day

 

Your body will fall asleep. You may have a couple of sleepless nights, you may toss and turn and worry about how you will function tomorrow, but your body can't overrule exhaustion. It will sleep no matter what you worries are. And you probably won't feel as bad as you fear you will the next day.

[Wiseman2]

Every university hospital and government site can outline the side effects of whatever medication you type in. Just a click away.

 

Obviously anything that is a scheduled substance has the risk of physical dependence, withdrawal as well as serious side effects and paradoxical effects.

 

All prescriptions come with tons of paperwork outlining all this. And...the pharmacist is qualified to discuss any of this. just a phone call away.

 

People do not want to know all this however because most scheduled substances have euphoric side effects.

[Leah33]

Yoga can change the DNA structure and modulate stress response if practiced regularly. Knitting also has many mental health benefits too.

[Seraphim]

Yoga can change the DNA structure and modulate stress response if practiced regularly. Knitting also has many mental health benefits too.

 

Is there science it changes one’s DNA?

[Leah33]

Is there science it changes one’s DNA?

 

There have been scientific studies.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317946#MBIs-reduce-production-of-pro-inflammatory-molecules

[Seraphim]

There have been scientific studies.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317946#MBIs-reduce-production-of-pro-inflammatory-molecules

 

I can see where it would help to change one’s moods but change DNA??

 

Either way yoga and meditation are out for me.

[smackie9]

Just so you know most anti-anxiety medication is only to be taken for a short time, like two weeks under the assessment of a therapist. What these drug companies don't tell you is that it can have and will have devastating effects with continued use. Many people end up even more anxious, confused, physically jittery, have behavior issues, lost of control/suicidal. Even when you stop taking the drugs, it continues to have negative side effects. It turns out patients need to reduce the use in very small increments over months to avoid those side effects. As I watched my grandmother and mother go through years of medication for their mental health issues...taking a pill isn't always the answer. It can be simple as lifestyle change. It's a no brainer things like drugs use (prescription or non prescription), alcohol, smoking, over eating, poor high sugar diet, lack of exercise, binge watching negative things like the news on TV/internet, stress and isolation can cause havoc on the chemistry in the brain.

 

By taking accountability for what you are doing now, and making full effort to make changes ie:exercise, eat healthy, keeping busy, and avoid toxic things, with reap way more benefits than any pill. Just have to get off your a$$ and do it.

[Seraphim]

Just so you know most anti-anxiety medication is only to be taken for a short time, like two weeks under the assessment of a therapist. What these drug companies don't tell you is that it can have and will have devastating effects with continued use. Many people end up even more anxious, confused, physically jittery, have behavior issues, lost of control/suicidal. Even when you stop taking the drugs, it continues to have negative side effects. It turns out patients need to reduce the use in very small increments over months to avoid those side effects. As I watched my grandmother and mother go through years of medication for their mental health issues...taking a pill isn't always the answer. It can be simple as lifestyle change. It's a no brainer things like drugs use (prescription or non prescription), alcohol, smoking, over eating, poor high sugar diet, lack of exercise, binge watching negative things like the news on TV/internet, stress and isolation can cause havoc on the chemistry in the brain.

 

By taking accountability for what you are doing now, and making full effort to make changes ie:exercise, eat healthy, keeping busy, and avoid toxic things, with reap way more benefits than any pill. Just have to get off your a$$ and do it.

I have had at least 5 years of therapy which helped immensely. I don’t sit on my butt. I just went from diabetic to non diabetic totally trough diet and exercise. When working a run after toddlers and pre schoolers 12 hours a day. I am not lazy or unmotivated and neither is my husband.

 

However my husband was entirely non-functional passed out on the floor quitting jobs passed out on the floor quitting jobs before SSRIs. Now he’s completely functional with a fabulous career. My husband and I have been severely abused, hence our mental health issues. Then there is genetics as there is a genetic component for anxiety. My family for sure carries a genetic component through my father’s family.

 

I’m not saying that one should not be responsible for their life and should not eat properly or exercise. Far from it. But to say that it only comes down to exercise and eating good food and and eating bananas is going to dramatically change your life..... I’m not so sure that works for everyone. For instance I can’t eat crap loads of bananas. Bananas have a crap load of sugar and carbohydrates I would be right back into being a diabetic in three months.

[Wiseman2]

In the US controlled (scheduled) substances are governed by the DEA as well as the FDA, this includes everything from opioids to benzodiazepines. Every prescription written must, by law, state all the known side effects in the US. In the US practitioners must have a license to prescribe (or dispense) therapists are not involved in that.

 

There are mandatory requirements regarding prescribing reporting etc. "What doctors don't want you to know" is conspiracy talk on infomercials. Every doctor and pharmacist must report and account for every scheduled substance prescription. They are tracked and monitored to see if pharmacies or doctors are "pill mills" (often 'pain clinics') or if patients are "doctor shopping" to obtain scheduled substances.

 

Basically controlled substances have high abuse potential because of high physical dependency rates. This means the have a high street value. Many rehabs offer programs for benzodiazepines dependence in addition to opioids and a plethora of other street, prescription substances. Google it. many rehab sites actually have excellent basic info on controlled substances.

 

This is why pain and anxiety management on a more permanent basis for non-terminal conditions is so important.

Just so you know most anti-anxiety medication is only to be taken for a short time.

[Seraphim]

In the US controlled (scheduled) substances are governed by the DEA as well as the FDA, this includes everything from opioids to benzodiazepines. Every prescription written must, by law, state all the known side effects in the US. In the US practitioners must have a license to prescribe (or dispense) therapists are not involved in that.

 

There are mandatory requirements regarding prescribing reporting etc. "What doctors don't want you to know" is conspiracy talk on infomercials. Every doctor and pharmacist must report and account for every scheduled substance prescription. They are tracked and monitored to see if pharmacies or doctors are "pill mills" (often 'pain clinics') or if patients are "doctor shopping" to obtain scheduled substances.

 

Basically controlled substances have high abuse potential because of high physical dependency rates. This means the have a high street value. Many rehabs offer programs for benzodiazepines dependence in addition to opioids and a plethora of other street, prescription substances. Google it. many rehab sites actually have excellent basic info on controlled substances.

 

This is why pain and anxiety management on a more permanent basis for non-terminal conditions is so important.

Here in Canada too class C meds are strictly monitored. For instance I CAN NOT get my clonazepam before I am scheduled to get it . I must also attend physician appointments to be able to get the prescription. And if you don’t attend your physician appointments the government won’t even allow the prescription to be issued and nor will your insurance company pay their portion. Here too a therapist cannot prescribe anything only a psychologist, psychiatrist or medically licensed doctor. These are not legally obtained easily. Most doctors won’t even prescribe them anymore unless you have an extenuating circumstance.

[Wiseman2]

Exactly. These are all the checks and balances in place to help protect patients.

Here in Canada too class C meds are strictly monitored. For instance I CAN NOT get my clonazepam before I am scheduled to get it . I must also attend physician appointments to be able to get the prescription. And if you don’t attend your physician appointments the government won’t even allow the prescription to be issued and nor will your insurance company pay their portion.Most doctors won’t even prescribe them anymore unless you have an extenuating circumstance.

[smackie9]

I have had at least 5 years of therapy which helped immensely. I don’t sit on my butt. I just went from diabetic to non diabetic totally trough diet and exercise. When working a run after toddlers and pre schoolers 12 hours a day. I am not lazy or unmotivated and neither is my husband.

 

However my husband was entirely non-functional passed out on the floor quitting jobs passed out on the floor quitting jobs before SSRIs. Now he’s completely functional with a fabulous career. My husband and I have been severely abused, hence our mental health issues. Then there is genetics as there is a genetic component for anxiety. My family for sure carries a genetic component through my father’s family.

 

I’m not saying that one should not be responsible for their life and should not eat properly or exercise. Far from it. But to say that it only comes down to exercise and eating good food and and eating bananas is going to dramatically change your life..... I’m not so sure that works for everyone. For instance I can’t eat crap loads of bananas. Bananas have a crap load of sugar and carbohydrates I would be right back into being a diabetic in three months.

 

No offense but this thread isn't about you...this was for the OP and others that may want to have a good look at their own situation, what they are doing and what they could do to change. Results may vary yes of course, but I have noticed the public in general with this Codiv/self isolation is amplifying fear/anxiety and are looking for a "quick fix" to remedy it which is honestly dangerous/concerning.

 

The majority of us are well aware of your situation, and by no means is any of my advice ever directed at you personally. My advice is general, and not pinpointing at anyone.

[Seraphim]

No offense but this thread isn't about you...this was for the OP and others that may want to have a good look at their own situation, what they are doing and what they could do to change. Results may vary yes of course, but I have noticed the public in general with this Codiv/self isolation is amplifying fear/anxiety and are looking for a "quick fix" to remedy it which is honestly dangerous/concerning.

 

The majority of us are well aware of your situation, and by no means is any of my advice ever directed at you personally. My advice is general, and not pinpointing at anyone.

I know it is not about me . I am just using my example.

 

I am just saying there is not a natural solution for everyone.

[HeartGoesOn]

This thread has run its course...Closed.