Anxiety and depression

Does anyone know how to help me? I've had anxiety for 5 years. Medicine doesn't work. Has anyone gotten off medicine even though they were still feeling bad. Crying all the time. I want to get off medicine.

[HearYou]

Dear Trees2357,

You have been having a rough go of it, haven't you? I am really sorry about that ....and your medications do not seem to be working. You want to get off your medication, but are wondering what that would be like and how one does that. I really don't have an answer for you, but maybe your doctor does. You mention sometimes your husband wants you on medicine and sometimes he wants you not to take it. That must be frustrating and confusing.

All I can do is what I did when something like this happened to me. I kept a journal of when I took my medication, made a note of the time and how I was feeling. Then each two hours or so I would how I was feeling....better or worse or the same. I also wrote down what I ate, how much and the time I ate. Also wrote down how I slept or not or if I had a nightmare and what it was about.

I brought that journal and my HUSBAND to my next appointment. I told my doctor I was in trouble and let him read my journal....which he/she can read quickly, saving time as it would have taken me forever to try to tell him/her verbally. I let my husband tell the doctor what how he had seen me acting too. Sometimes the combination of my journal, my husband, and the doctor listening, made a change. Could be my RX just wasn't the right combination for my body, brain or mind and needed to be changed. Or I needed to change something in my diet or other medications that I take for other reasons, OR, maybe it was time for a consultation with a different doctor.

You have been through hell and back during the last 6 months and ask for help. Thank you for doing that. We are here.

So, my reply to all your posts is just telling you would I have had to doi sometimes over the years to get the help I needed. You may think you have no control, but you do. You are a powerful woman to deal with your situation all this time. Now I am just suggesting how you might want to use your power and control to get what you need. Please be calm and review your journal before you go to your next app't so you are not crying, but are in control and can listen and answer and tell your doctor something is not right, and what could it be.

If the doctor says the problem is your husband, tell him changing to another husband is not an option. (We must find some tiny bit of humor in our situations, or maybe we would all give up.)

Please write again and tell us what happens. Please.xxx

[Hidden in reply to HearYou]

I've been doing this for 5years. I don't know how much longer I could go on. I tried to get a new psychiatrist but having a hard time

[HearYou in reply to Hidden]

I have dealt with this since 2000. Didn't say it was easy, said you had the power to set change into motion. You stop telling yourself you can hold on; you can, you can even move forward. What obstacles are there that you can't get a second opinion? Not get another psychiatrist now....no one likes to buy "a pig in the poke". How about asking for and getting a second opinion from another doctor. You can make this happen. Tell your brain to stop thinking so much about how bad things are and how hard it is to start getting a change. Tell it to just be quiet and let you focus on how to solve your situation bite by bite. Tell it to play a new tune instead of the same old tired song. You deserve better. And all of us are here for you.

[Hidden in reply to HearYou]

I tried that but I had no luck. I tried everything. We don't have many psychiatrists here and I don't know which ones are good

[HearYou in reply to Hidden]

Not being nosy...being concerned. Are you in UK and have to wait for the health care system there?

[Hidden]

I'm so scared. Cried all day

[HearYou in reply to Hidden]

Yes, anxiety and depression can do that. Crying releases some natural chemicals for us. Is your husband of any help in searching for another doctor?

[b1b1b1]

Perhaps you should consider calling an emergency mental health line, or going to the hospital. It does sound like you are in very bad shape right now and just need some extra help to get you through. Do you have parents, close friends or siblings you can talk to now for help? That would be another alternative.