Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I've suffered with panic/anxiety attacks for about 6 years. My first doctor put me on zoloft, paxil, effexor I had so many bad reactions from them I stopped going to the doctor all together because I didn't trust them anymore. I used alcohol to give me some relief from them. After a while that didn't work so I quit drinking all together. I then tried some herbal remedies, with a little success (probably a placebo effect). I thought I had it cured until this insomnia thing kicked in. So I finally went to a new doctor, she did all kinds of blood tests and politely told me "there is nothing wrong with you physically, however I think you should see someone for the proper medication." Until then she gave me a prescription for Ativan and made an appointment for me to see a psychiatrist. So my question is... why can't she treat this? Isn't a Psychiatrist just going to prescribe me the same medication that she would? I need to get rid of these attacks already, I'm almost completely non-functional and I feel so bad for my kids because they need me. Has anyone out there tried all of the above and had no success?
deleted_user
The Ativan does work for my anxiety, although it makes me tired, i havent tried the other anti-d drugs....but there are alot of them for a reason, cause everyone is different.....so they keep coming out with new variations or whatever. I feel your frustration for sure though, i've been non functional since i started having anxiety attacks......it really stinks. hang in there and keep trying to work towards a solution.
deleted_user
I have not taken ativan but with the way you are feeling it would probably be better if you saw a psychiatrist more so for the anxiety to see if there is some other ideas he direct you to.your medical dr can only give you specific neds where the other dr is more focused in the area of anxiety and or depression and other issues.
limogesguy
I've only tried valium and lexapro and have had good success/few side effects with each. The reason your md probably wanted you to see a shrink is that some md's, in my experience are hesitant to prescribe psych meds and want someone else to deal with it. Even though my shrink (psychiatrist) would make an awful therapist (that's why I have a therapist), he does know his stuff on psych meds and does a great job of giving me all the pertinent info on meds differences and letting me decide which I'd like to try, at what dose, and telling me that if I feel I want to switch, just to give him a call (I don't mean to say he's irresponsible, b/c he's not; it's just that he doesn't mind letting the patient make some choices, and that's a lot better than having an md who gives a patient x or y and acts like it's some kind of a gift from on high).
deleted_user
A Psychiatrist studies psychiatric medicine for nearly four four years. an MD for three months. That tells you something. However there are good ones and bad ones both sides. Hope you get a good one.
deleted_user
psych meds can be very comlicated and react differently in each and every person. that's why you should see a psychiatrist. kind of like when someone has a heart problem, they see a cardiologist cause that's their specialty.
deleted_user
A psychiatrist can also talk to you about issues. Hopefully, you'll find a good one. They are out there but few and far between has been my experience. Drugs ease the pain but there are always side effects. Love is the best cure. Creativity and life purpose are also effective.
ECC
I see a therapist and take xanax when things get out of control. Seeing the therapist has helped me get at the root cause of this latest anxiety episode. I highly recommend it. I rarely take the xanax now. I didn't need a psychiatrist. My regular doctor prescribed the meds. Everyone is different but in my case the meds wouldn't have worked alone.
deleted_user
My md was willing to prescribe psych drugs for only a short time. He explained that he is reuired to do follow-up on side effect on a specified schedule but isn't qualified to treat the problem. In other words - if I get a cut, I can put a bandaid on it and keep putting a fresh one on it. But if the cut doesn't heal, something else needs to be done.
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