Had a talk with my doctor today...

[[co...]]

I told him I've been having a difficult time tapering from 3 mg of diazepam and he said its because of my "underlying anxiety disorder" and the fact that its so hard to quit is because the true source (my anxiety) has been left untreated. In his mind, if I wiped out the anxiety, tapering would be tolerable. Then of course he wanted to put me on an antidepressant.

 

I strongly disagree with this. My anxiety levels were significantly lower for several months but every time I'd cut my dose I'd experience insomnia, extreme fatigue, brain fog, ect... These symptoms were primary. While my anxiety was secondary. And if I was anxious it was mostly because of the primary symptoms.

[[Be...]]

That's a doctor's stock answer when they don't believe these benzo's cause damage:  Your underlying condition is rearing its head, blah, blah.  They have their blinders on and won't admit these drugs cause problems for ppl.

[[Da...]]

My Dr told me it was all in my head, which ironically he is right about. I'm in the same boat as you I cut from 4mg to 3mg 5 days ago and I do have some extra anxiety. Maybe you should try cutting using liquid if you are having problems. Just remember that insomnia and extra anxiety can be expected and brain fog as well. Just take your time and make sure you only cut when you feel stable.

[[sa...]]

I told him I've been having a difficult time tapering from 3 mg of diazepam and he said its because of my "underlying anxiety disorder" and the fact that its so hard to quit is because the true source (my anxiety) has been left untreated. In his mind, if I wiped out the anxiety, tapering would be tolerable. Then of course he wanted to put me on an antidepressant.

 

I strongly disagree with this. My anxiety levels were significantly lower for several months but every time I'd cut my dose I'd experience insomnia, extreme fatigue, brain fog, ect... These symptoms were primary. While my anxiety was secondary. And if I was anxious it was mostly because of the primary symptoms.

 

My doctor said once that when I am off benzos that I will not be able to tell the difference between my general anxiety and rebound anxiety. How clueless she is.

 

GAD anxiety is a playful puppy, withdrawal anxiety at it's worse for me, in the past, was a so so horrible.

 

She also wanted to put me an antidepressants because it's anti-anxiety affects. No thank you.

[[co...]]

Yeah I've tried the antidepressant route to "help my anxiety." I tried the SSRI, Lexapro, and an SARI, Trazodone. For me, Lexapro was a nightmare and Trazodone was like throwing back 8 glasses of alcohol and then existing in an awful hangover the next day.

 

I'm tired of psych meds and I don't like the mentality of "keep taking them despite the side-effects, it has to get worse before it gets better." I know antidepressants can help some people, I'm just convinced I'm not one of them.

[[el...]]

Amen, I am half convinced doctors and the pharmaceutical industry are grooming us for our golden years filled with dementia caused by early years of benzos and antidepressants! A never ending cycle of money.

What did our ancestors do? Is anxiety a 21 century invention?  If god forbid the lights went dark in America how would heavy benzo and antidepressant  users survive the mass withdrawal from no meds?

[[Te...]]

I think I would talk to my doctor one more time. In that talk I would ask him to transfer my records to my new doctor...you know...the one that actually listens to what I say?

[[co...]]

I have a same boat. My doctor persist that my anxiety is coming from my head, etc etc and keep giving me more meds. So what do I do when this is over, will my GAD return and they prescribe me with other benzo? It is popping out from my head. I think we need to take time for that, change doctor if it possible.

[[Fr...]]

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or an expert. I took Xanax for a long, long time, believing that with it I was normal, even great; without it I was close to a nervous breakdown.

 

I believe what the doctor says to a degree, but only to a degree. Anxiety drove most of us to take a benzo in the first place. And we all likely remember how bad it was and so stay on the benzo for fear of returning to that state. And, when we quit, we're going to find our anxious make-up still there. HOWEVER, the anxiety I felt going through withdrawal, and the actual physical symptoms, were from the benzo. Withdrawing from the benzo kicks-it-up several notches and makes it like an endless, menacing cloud with few and small windows to bright, blue sky. The doom and gloom ends there. On the other side are larger windows, brighter, bluer skies and a renewed sense of fight over flight. We neither want to return to an anxious state or return to using a benzo to treat it (flight). We want to fight. The heightened anxiety you are feeling is withdrawal from benzo, regardless of how low a dose you're on. When you're done, you'll find your own anxiety there, but it's a purring kitten with sharp claws in comparison to that growling, stalking tiger. And your desire to fight it, not flee, will be stronger than ever.  Why do I believe this without having any medical/neurological background or even a great understanding? Because we are meant to have brains that function the way they do ... we are meant to respond the way we do. We're a sensitive lot and we can also learn to manage it.  For some of us, we may end up on an SSRI. It's less than ideal, of course. HOWEVER, I wouldn't even consider an SSRI until I'd completed a benzo withdrawal and was off for quite some time and gave my fight and my body's ability to heal itself a chance. After all of these years taking Xanax, I did manage to learn something about myself, life, stress and I plan to finally employ all that I learned. I must harness the determination I found to quit the benzo and use it to manage my anxiety.

 

[[co...]]

Amen, I am half convinced doctors and the pharmaceutical industry are grooming us for our golden years filled with dementia caused by early years of benzos and antidepressants! A never ending cycle of money.

What did our ancestors do? Is anxiety a 21 century invention?  If god forbid the lights went dark in America how would heavy benzo and antidepressant  users survive the mass withdrawal from no meds?

 

Yes! I truly believe our human bodies haven't caught up to the world we live in. I don't think it's natural to go to school, work full time, raise children, eat copious amounts of junk food, and stay connected to electronics all day.

 

No wonder people have anxiety and depression and other psychiatric illnesses. If we could actually move at the pace our bodies wanted us to, relax, and spend quality time outdoors, there'd be a lot less "anxiety."

[[co...]]

I have a same boat. My doctor persist that my anxiety is coming from my head, etc etc and keep giving me more meds. So what do I do when this is over, will my GAD return and they prescribe me with other benzo? It is popping out from my head. I think we need to take time for that, change doctor if it possible.

 

I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing GAD and Panic Disorder. And I agree I'm tired of medication always being thrown at the problem. No one is willing to get to the source.

[[co...]]

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or an expert. I took Xanax for a long, long time, believing that with it I was normal, even great; without it I was close to a nervous breakdown.

 

I believe what the doctor says to a degree, but only to a degree. Anxiety drove most of us to take a benzo in the first place. And we all likely remember how bad it was and so stay on the benzo for fear of returning to that state. And, when we quit, we're going to find our anxious make-up still there. HOWEVER, the anxiety I felt going through withdrawal, and the actual physical symptoms, were from the benzo. Withdrawing from the benzo kicks-it-up several notches and makes it like an endless, menacing cloud with few and small windows to bright, blue sky. The doom and gloom ends there. On the other side are larger windows, brighter, bluer skies and a renewed sense of fight over flight. We neither want to return to an anxious state or return to using a benzo to treat it (flight). We want to fight. The heightened anxiety you are feeling is withdrawal from benzo, regardless of how low a dose you're on. When you're done, you'll find your own anxiety there, but it's a purring kitten with sharp claws in comparison to that growling, stalking tiger. And your desire to fight it, not flee, will be stronger than ever.  Why do I believe this without having any medical/neurological background or even a great understanding? Because we are meant to have brains that function the way they do ... we are meant to respond the way we do. We're a sensitive lot and we can also learn to manage it.  For some of us, we may end up on an SSRI. It's less than ideal, of course. HOWEVER, I wouldn't even consider an SSRI until I'd completed a benzo withdrawal and was off for quite some time and gave my fight and my body's ability to heal itself a chance. After all of these years taking Xanax, I did manage to learn something about myself, life, stress and I plan to finally employ all that I learned. I must harness the determination I found to quit the benzo and use it to manage my anxiety.

 

NeedsRelief, congrats on recently jumping! That's very exciting and I wish you well in your journey off benzos!

[[be...]]

My old doctor once gave me just 3 mg of Paxil (liquid) and I went into a hypomanic state immediately. It was gone after a few hours and I was back to normal. I told him this and he said, you must be bipolar. Then I said no way. This was chemically induced mania. Don't you get the picture that these meds cause other mental conditions? He just sat there and said nothing. That's one reason why I hate SSRis so much, and him, as well.

[[Ao...]]

Benzogirl

 

My previous doctor said the exact same thing... He gave me antidepressants and  when my mind raced and I couldn't sit still..... he said ' you have bipolar '. He actually reinstated the drug again " just to see would it affect me the same way" .  l being so ill at that time I let him.  So my question would be .... ' who is more ill ? That doctor or me? '

[[Te...]]

My old doctor once gave me just 3 mg of Paxil (liquid) and I went into a hypomanic state immediately. It was gone after a few hours and I was back to normal. I told him this and he said, you must be bipolar. Then I said no way. This was chemically induced mania. Don't you get the picture that these meds cause other mental conditions? He just sat there and said nothing. That's one reason why I hate SSRis so much, and him, as well.

 

"My old doctor" is a key phrase...don't mean age, but as in 'no longer' I hope...sometimes it's hard to separate the professional you may have grown up with from the professional who REALLY doesn't have a clue...and, sometimes, it's liberating to do so...!

[Guest [Mi...]]

After reading Robert Whitaker's "Anatomy of an Epidemic," it's doubtful you'll find any doctors who have a clue.

 

Using AD's and stimulants as a diagnostic tool for bipolar is nothing new - they've been doing it since the MAO's. Problem is, there's now a TON of people on AD's. Also, the newer AD's are more potent in my experience.

 

Took me 30 years to figure out that that's the wrong way to diagnosis bipolar. 

[[bu...]]

"... it's doubtful you'll find any doctors who have a clue.

 

 

 

Wrong!

[Guest [Mi...]]

"... it's doubtful you'll find any doctors who have a clue.

 

 

 

Wrong!

 

You found one? I haven't.

[[Be...]]

I had a therapist diagnose me as bipolar after talking to her for half an hour.  Duh?  I've never been diagnosed as bipolar in my life and all of sudden at age 52, I'm bipolar.  She was nutty.  Said so many dumb things to me.  I called her boss and told him to get that diagnosis off my record, it was wrong. 

[[co...]]

I told a few medical professionals about my experience with the SSRI and they pondered if I was bipolar. Interesting that I've never had a manic episode in my entire life but the SSRI supposedly "brought it out of me." I don't believe I have bipolar disorder.

[[Fl...]]

SSRIs send my anxiety through the roof and make me throw up.

[[Be...]]

I took a small dose of Celexa once early off and had a horrible dream that someone was shooting me with a gun. 

[[Cl...]]

My Doctor insists on me taking Efexor XR, no way!!!, I took it once or twice and left it as suggested by BBs...he thinks I am taking it, in my last visit he doubled my dose and said "it would be impossible for you to taper if you were not taking Efexor" ...

[[Fl...]]

;)love it.  I was on Effexor too and felt much better when I got off it.

[[be...]]

Benzogirl

 

My previous doctor said the exact same thing... He gave me antidepressants and  when my mind raced and I couldn't sit still..... he said ' you have bipolar '. He actually reinstated the drug again " just to see would it affect me the same way" .  l being so ill at that time I let him.  So my question would be .... ' who is more ill ? That doctor or me? '

 

THE DOCTOR!!!!