Boy if I had a dollar for every time I said that, I would be a millionaire. Sounds like you have a lot going one, pain, new meds, and then PTSD and all the symptoms it brings. Sorry you are going through this. ((hugs))

It takes a while for new meds to start working as I am sure you have been told. You did not say how long you have been taking the new med? Perhaps it would be a good idea to check in with your doctor and just go over the way you are feeling, the panic attacks, nightmares and pain. There are meds you can take to reduce the nightmares which may be able to be added. Most of us take a cocktail of meds.

As for the counselling, it is like tearing off a bandaid. I is going to hurt for a while, but the pain eventually dies down.

We are here for support!

I've had bad luck with meds too. You might try additional things like walking, classes, support groups or something. Sometimes doing something different can really improve my mood.
Things get better but it takes a very long time. You have to keep working at it.

Rizen, I struggle to get to work and week ends I don't shower or dress most of the time. All of the things you mentioned are great ideas but I'm just not there yet.

Hi CC, I'm glad you seem better since the last time I was here. I haven't even started the Abilify yet. He just gave me samples. I am waiting until a day off to start it. I give all meds a 2 month run if possible. The last one (Cymbalta) disrupted my sleep cycle so badly I had to stop. SSRI's give me uncontrollable diarrhea. The Cymbalta worked great on my aches and pains though. I wish I could have stayed on it.

I am apprehensive about starting a new medication. This will be the third in 6 months. Over the last 2 years there have been about 9 different meds tried.

I am so sorry you are going through all this. I went through the same thing - except without the multiple meds. I was on Paxil for 10 years and it worked great but then it stopped working because the problem wasn't chemical it was emotional from my crap past. I did take Klonopin whenever I went to the dentist and it pretty much knocked me unconscious - until I got to the dentist, then it was like I took nothing at all.

I went a year in the state you are in now - maybe a little more than a year actually. Not sure that helps because I know it is different for every person. And your tdoc is right when he says it sometimes gets worse before it gets better - WOW! Is he right. The fear and terror was unbearable.

Have you thought of any alternate types of therapy like Reiki, meditation, flower essences that you can add to your traditional therapy? Reiki helped me a lot but I know it is not for everyone and it didn't work quickly. In all my healing I never found something that worked quickly.

I hope you have a better day today. It does get better. You will finally reach a point where you have processed enough of the crap emotions that you will start to feel better. I promise.

Take care

Will you be mad at me if I am grateful that you will always be you? I like knowing there are folks as messed up as me out there...

The Panic Attacks, et al, are a whole different story. No funus maximus. Definitely worth going proactive with those. I am another one who found more complications than relief in the med cocktails, but I have found lots of ways to manage the symptoms without them. Yeah, I will always be somewhere between eccentric and a total whack job, but I am sleeping well these days.

Gentle support while you sort your way through the options to find what works for your own unique dynamics, Cecil.

I made it through the day but had lots of tears when no one was looking. I had one of the worst emotional flashbacks ever while driving down the expressway at 60 mph. 4 lanes of traffic and no pulling over. Holy crap it was freaky. Did my best to talk myself down but didn't have a lot of success. I worked until 7:30 and am just settling down for dinner now. I am on vacation the rest of the week and see the tdoc tomorrow. He never replied to my email rant. I suppose that shouldn't annoy me but it does. I will take my first dose of abilify in the morning. Thanks for all the supportive comments. It has been a rough couple of months.

Cecil, sorry to be late, didn't know what to say---I'm in a weird spiral-ish place myself, and see my p-doc about meds this week---just know supportive vibes.

So glad you have some time off, get some rest, okay:-)