Mental Health Anxiety and Medication

[PieceByPiece]

I can't keep going on like this. My anxiety is through the roof.

Nearly four years ago, I was prescribed Propranolol 40mg for panic attacks. It was working great for me, and I had no problems. Although now my anxiety is constant, but gets proper bad every so often that it leads me to self-harm. (Terrible, when you think before now I was almost three years clean!). I'm not having panic attacks, but just a terrible anxiety, so I find the propranolol useless (as it's used for to deal with the symptoms of panic attacks, like rapid heartbeat, sweating, ect).

The Dr. who prescribed it left over 2 years ago and I haven't seen a doctor (unless emergency or med review) regularly since then, because none of the other doctors I've seen are understanding where mental health is concerned. I'm even thinking about changing GP Surgeries.

When I went for a med review, I managed to sum up the courage to tell the Dr. about my debilitating anxiety, which had been so severe that I've self-harmed on multiple occasions.

She told me that they don't like feeding people up on medications and prefer to try to deal with it in the therapy way. So she referred me for CBT.

I was discharged from Mental Health Services in 2010, and since being discharged I have made exceptional progress. The entire five years I was under the care of a psychiatrist I never made an ounce of progress, and then they eventually discharged me because "there was nothing more" they could do for me. I sorted stuff out on my own, in my own time, in my own way with total control - and it worked.

Having CBT would be like walking back 5 years in time, since when was I moving backwards? It's totally out of the question. Yes, they help some people, but not me.

I'm also on Fluoxetine (Prozac), and it helps control my depression/low mood.

What I was from the doctor is for them to prescribe me an anti-anxiety medication to take as needed.

There's no point changing anti-depressants because my depression is well controlled on Fluoxetine, and what would be the point to send me through withdrawal of it, just to change to another SSRI for solely my anxiety?

So, I'd like to try something like Diazepam (I've never taken Benzodiazepines). I know it's addictive and there's risk for tolerance/dependancy to develop, but I think the benefits outweigh the risks (i.e, self-harm) at the moment. I think I'd only need 2mg (lowest dose), and probably use it a maximum of around twice a week - so again, this would lessen the risk of tolerance/addiction because I'm not using it daily or at high doses.

Then as time goes on, I think it would be used less (maybe once every two weeks). Eventually, I'd be going months without needing it but just have some "just in case".

Also, I've never had problems with alcohol/drug addictions. I don't smoke, or drink alcohol.

I'm worried if I don't get something, I will stay where I am and not continue making great progress, and fall even deeper into self-destructive behaviours, which of course nobody wants to happen.

I'm seriously considering changing GP Surgeries, as over the years I've exhausted all GP's at my current surgery and none of them seem understanding.

Does what I'm saying make sense? I honestly don't think what I'm asking for it too much.

 

[luthien]

Idk why it won't let me pm you but kik me at dilweeed

 

[jammin83]

Benzos are a terrible idea if you are dealing with self-harm. They have been known to increase suicidal feelings and self harming behaviors in those that don't have them to begin with. So you'd probably best stay away. Honestly, you aren't missing out on much. Most people that take benzos regret ever even starting them. The withdrawal is hell and it can take years to fully recover from a serious dependency. Since you have never used drugs before, withdrawal would be really hard for someone that isn't used to dealing with drug abusing indiscretions. They are really only good for short-term use for the most part after that they stop working for most people.

It sounds like you have good intentions and I know anxiety sucks bad. You may benefit from something like tenex, clonadine, or even something like CBD oil. They are all less harmful than benzos and even SSRIs can be. Please don't take this as me trivializing what you are going through but I would encourage you to take a more holistic approach when dealing with these types of feelings. Counseling, diet, exercise, CBT, DBT, spirtuality, etc. Drugs are only one part of that piece and, IME, nothing ever works for that long so you may want to consider alternatives. Even SSRIs can cause self-harming behaviors, so be careful with that.

Best of luck.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2047018/

 

[SixBuckets]

I've tried some antidepressants that "fixed" my depression but didn't touch the anxiety. It wasn't until I tried a few more that I found a combination that would do both.

I know changing meds is scary enough even when you don't have an anxiety condition, but trying a different SSRI or SNRI might make a difference? I think your first job is finding a decent psychiatrist, tho.