hpdw

While abiding with forum rules I wanted to put across my personal past and present situation with medications that involves mental health .
Over the years I have tried various SSRI's ( anti-depressants) at low doses for anxieties such as health anxiety ,social anxiety ,panic disorder ,general anxiety disorder (GAD) I was too sensitive to the side effects and couldn't tolerate them . I was addicted to benzos in the 1990s so very wary of those .

Recently I have been given a prescription for diazepam to take if and when required . ( I took 6mg last night ) , not a huge dose but let let me sleep .

My point is this . I have always been against medication for my anxiety and mild depression but I am thinking of re-visiting the idea that if they worked and give my body and mind some relief ( a break from worry , fear and anxiety ) then surely this would be a good thing .

I am awaiting an appointment from the drugs/alcohol addiction people who are actually able to prescribe and decide that what my GP is doing regards mental health is or is not the right thing .

Yes ,yoga ,mindfulness,swimming,walking, healthy eating , meditation ,and other natural therapies are helpful but I never seem to get round to any of them with exception to my slimming club through which I have lost 17lb .

Im hoping that once I get my appointment they will maybe have a plan that works for me and even might suggest some new medication that is available .

We will see

Dustitoffman

Hpdw

I was a person that would never think of taking antidepressants.

However I had an experience in my life that I could not cope with.

I lost control of myself, fear and other emotions for the first time in my life ruled over me and there was only one path available.
Antidepressants, at this point in my life it was like everyone and everything had formed a que and were stepping up in turn to give me a kicking!

I got through the all of this and was thankfull for the antidepressants that I had.
I was also thankfull to be rid of the antidepressants as soon as I could after because of all of the side effects. The whole process took much time and time is something that we never have enough of!

I am not for or against!

Wishing you well. Dusty😎

hpdw

In my first post I stated "mild depression" looking closer at myself over the winter months I would change mild to moderate .

Dustitoffman thank you for your input .

Forward12

I have been dealing with mental health issues for as long as I can imagine and taking an SSRI and benzo as prescribed.
There are some with lifestyle changes that can get things together, though for those with severe symptoms, medications are needed, and useful.

entropy1964

You were addicted to benzos in the 90's. Diazepam is a benzo. Benzos are for short term use, usually, and are very addictive.....they are simply put alcohol in pill form.

jhonnyspa

Benzos might be ok if they are prescribed in a controlled setting and with addiction counselling. Cognitive behavioural therapy is a good treatment if you work at it.

Forward12

If there was booze in a pill, all us drunks would all be on them.

Anna

I agree that talking to the addiction doctor and getting another opinion on what your GP prescribed is a good idea. As you know diazepam is a benzo drug so getting more information is a good plan.

And, just a reminder to all, we cannot offer any kind of medical advice.

MindfulMan

Many alcoholics are cross addicted to benzos.

I was given klonopin to get off of alcohol and ended up addicted to the klonopin. Withdrawal was the worst I've ever had until my final bender last year of booze and sleep meds.

I am very wary of benzos, particularly if I've been addicted before. Great that you're only considering taking them under the care of an addiction specialist. My understanding is that long term medication of anxiety is difficult because most anxiolytics cause tolerance and lose effectiveness over the long term....definitely true of benzos.

I think there are other medications besides benzos and SSRI ADs. I learned a lot of cognitive strategies in IOP group that have proven VERY useful in managing anxiety. I can tolerate SSRIs, but only at low doses. The sexual side effects are the worst for me, but they can also push me into hypomania.

Please let us know what the addiction doc says. I'm very curious.

Andante

The problem with broad-brushing benzos as "alcohol in pill form" is that it's simply not true for everyone. It's true for some folks, and more likely to be true if you've had a history of alcohol addiction, but it's far from being the cut-and-dried universal truth that you imply.

I have used a benzo (Ativan) sparingly as part of my anxiety management for several years since quitting drinking, and in fact have reduced my dosage over time as my need for it has decreased. It doesn't make me "high," and I've never experienced any urge to take more than prescribed -- in fact, I take less.

I recognize that my experience may be unusual, but it's probably far from unique. That's why I think it's rarely a good idea to single out any particular substance or medication for demonizing.

daredevil

hpdw,

It sounds like you got a good team of doctors to discuss this with, including doctors who specialize in addiction. I hope you update us, and best of luck with your appointments.

hpdw

These referrals depending on where they decide to place me as there are 4 or 5 support groups depending on the severity or substance abused can take up to 3 months as the waiting list is huge but I will keep you informed of the outcome.
Also the support offered includes many options . Could be group therapy ,one to one , mediation(s) or a combination , they have day centres who arrange outings and activities such as cooking , woodwork etc etc .
Since I do not have what I could call a real pal maybe this human contact( outside my home) would do me the world of good especially knowing that everyone is there for the same reason which is to help with addictions and emotional issues .

August252015

Briefly- specifically to the benzo "discussion" here, I have had similar 'success' as Andante. My benzo use has in fact been prescribed and controlled closely (at the same 1mg dose) since I was past the Antabuse and into sobriety a bit. My dr has never increased the dose, and only adjusted my other meds, and I always have "extra" pills at the end of the month.

As far as other meds I take and my stance on them in general is that they are an excellent choice for some of us. That said, those related to my alcoholism- ie Antabuse (disulfram) that I took for the first 90 days of my sobriety, and campral for cravings that I took for the first year and a half or so, are just some of the tools in my program to maintain a successful recovery.

I also take sleep meds (nightly as prescribed).

It's a personal decision, and for me, one made with an addiction-versed psychiatrist (who also does counseling) - and with whom I am honest about my consumption. I have an historical inclination to take more than prescribed, or take things more often, so this last part is critical.

hpdw

Thanks August , your responses as always are very helpful .

I am keenly waiting to see what my treatment plan will involve as clearly even although I have been coming across as "doing well the past while " I am not . I worry too much and I sometimes dread what the future holds in certain areas of my life .
Granted , no one has a crystal ball but I take it a few steps further and let my imagination take me to dark places .

August252015

Glad I can be helpful hpdw! The "what ifs" and our imaginations can be very powerful, huh?

I would also add to the discussion here - using pain meds. I have my first injury- a back one, I can only attribute to what I thought at the time to be a minor fall in yoga some 2-3 wks ago- (no surgeries, yet - thankfully) and after two visits to the urgent care (the day I was finally in I-can't-walk- pain) and then yesterday a week after when I had certain symptoms warned about and the pain had re-escalated. I will see an orthopedist next week.

During all this- and I'd expect at 41, future situations as I age, having been an athlete, then a drunk who fell a lot, ha- I have been prescribed two different rounds (one, the first wk and now a different this second wk) of meds including a pain med and an anti-inflammatory, plus last week another med I forget. In light of my alcoholism (and I did share this w the drs I have seen, plus they are in network with my other team, so all have access to my med history and rx usage past and present), and that historical inclination to over-take meds, I had my husband read through all the paperwork and chose to self-report my taking them to him, at the correct times (or spaced out longer) for all. I was pretty easily able to stay on track though it's tougher now because I am SO sick of the pain.

Others I know have simply refused to take any pain meds of any kind with injuries, even serious ones or surgeries.

This is another personal decision- ideally IMO and IME made with good drs and our honesty- where I need to put my sobriety first while addressing the pain/situation.

hpdw

I had a bad experience years back with codeine based painkillers and ended up addicted to them and remember the uncomfortable aches and stomach problem coming off them so these days if I get a headache or something I take paracetamol only . Mild- moderate pain is a strange thing , what iv'e noticed if I sit and focus on it I stay in pain but if I go and do something useful and forget about the pain it goes away .

I hope your pain reduces soon .