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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

College Student with Generalized Anxiety

phatass said:
sure i didn't read the whole thread... if you' looking for benzos you'll get em... but as u prob know, benzos often numb anxiety but make depression worse... i could go on but i won't
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Yes, I know what your talking about far too well. Numbing anxiety is correct. They basically numb all your emotions and eventually you need more to numb your emotions and then eventually no matter how much you take you just become lazy and depressed. When you try to get off them you have to actually deal with emotions and that is a bitch because you've forgotten what they feel like. It causes more anxiety. And then you relapse and go through the same thing.
 
I never got why people say benzos numb anxiety, they remove it some for me, but they don't seem to numb me out. Benzos are great, they relax me, they sedate me, they allow me to not give a fuck (sometimes, only to a point), they make me less aware, but I don't really think they numb me. Opiates on the other hand do make me numb to anxiety, nervousness, but that is a whole different deal. But really, people talk about benzos numbing them, and unless the doses are really high, I just don't feel it.
 
benzos for me are like a time machine. i take them and then suddenly its 12 hours later and ive no idea what ive been doing. pointless for me.
 
The time machine thing I can relate to, and I DO like it. It lets me get through the day, and then forget about it. I still don't get the numbed out feeling, I have felt "sedated" to the point where I don't really give a fuck, so yeah I guess if I take enough I am sort of numbed, but it doesn't seem that benzos numb feelings across the board.
 
Tramadol worked really well for both of those problems in my case. If you're in USA, you're bound to get a drug.
I think you will get an SSRI first, probably Zoloft, perhaps Prozac, or maybe Lexapro.
 
As someone with a psych degree, and who has had depression and anxiety, and been on both benzos and ssri's I would recommend you try some therapy before trying antidepressants. Really therapy is the best option because it allows you to tackle the issues that are causing the anxiety and depression and gives you strategies to deal with the symptoms. It is definately worth trying first. use the ssri's as a last resort.

I'll just give a quick rundown on ssri's if you want any further info I'll be happy to elaborate.

They take a couple of weeks to a couple of months to start working. during this time alot of the side effects will be at their most severe. however, other longterm side effects won't show up until a couple of months after use. Initially some of the problems with ssris are that you may have an increased amount of suicidial thoughts, also insomnia, agitation and anxiety can increase.

There is debate about how effective antidepressants actually are. I found them to be moderately helpful, but the most helpful thing in stopping my depression and anxiety was to deal with what was really making me unhappy, and changing some things around in my life. SSRIs will only deal with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, they won't cure it.

Some of them more longterm effects of ssris are greatly lowered libido, difficulty orgasming, numbing your emotions, becoming apathetic, weight gain.

Also, they are very hard to give up. I'm tapering off zoloft now, and am half my usual dose. Some of the withdrawal symptoms are pretty uncomfortable.

As for benzos, most guys have already pointed out there problems. resist the temptation to abuse the xanax. Going through benzo withdrawals is fucking hell.

Even if you are going to take the drugs, at least get some therapy in the meantime.

Also, what the guy said about exercise is pretty true. really good for depression. talk to friends and family about problems really helps too.
 
psytaco said:
the most helpful thing in stopping my depression and anxiety was to deal with what was really making me unhappy, and changing some things around in my life. SSRIs will only deal with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, they won't cure it.
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^I don't know if everyone considers the source of major depressive disorder to be as external as you seem to.

but concerning therapy, absolutely. if the situation is severe enough to require a ssri, the need for therapy is clear. and ssris as a last resort only, yes.
 
What about Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA's) like Amitriptyline? My personal experience with Amitriptyline is that they work better than any SSRI or others that I have tried (Mianserine / Effexor / Zyprexa / Bupropione(sp?) / Trazodone).

Just mentioning those, maybe someone with more experience or knowledge could add some information about them.

-- Peace o/
 
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