Battling Anxiety all my life....started with OCD....Now GAD

[Jacobriley]

Hello and thank you for accepting me into your support group. I truly appreciate all your honesty and support. Ever since I was a child, I suffered from some type of anxiety. It started with OCD. In my 20's, I sought out help from Vanderbilt University. I was put on a SSRI, Clonopin, Ambien, and later, Adderall and Gabapentin. I have tried numerous times to stop these medications. I have successfully stopped Zoloft. I am upset at the practitioners who did not tell me about the physical dependency the benzos carry with them. I am able to stop the others no problem, but struggle with the clonopin (0.5) 4x daily, and Ambien (10 mg 2x a night). I am VERY upset with the doctors who put me on these medications in my 20s. Thank you for listening to my story. I have 3 children, two 6 years olds, and a 10 years old (got off all meds during both pregnancies, but suffered during the twin pregnancy and after my first pregnancy). Any support on similar situations, so I don't feel alone, I feel grateful for. I am 47 years old and married to a very understanding man. I also have a wonderful psychiatrist who deals with helping people get off medication. He also has his psychopharmacitical (sp?) MD. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

[Agora1]

Hi Jacobriley, I came off 30 years of Benzos with the help of my psychiatrist who specializes in benzo dependence/addiction. He uses the Dr. Heather Ashton method of withdrawal.

It's a safe but long withdrawal according to the length of time and dose you were on.

I came off them safely and feel great. If you type up the doctor's name, it will show you the schedule that is used. Please only have your doctor put you on it and support you. xx

[Jacobriley in reply to Agora1]

I truly appreciate you letting me know there is light at the end of this tunnel I seem to be in. Did you have withdrawal issues on the dose you were on? I seem to have them. I truly wish I knew these things before I started on them in the first place. I was 22, and trusted the head of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center when I was a graduate student there. My doctor now uses the Ashton Method as well. I'm SO happy you feel great now!! Thank you again for your support and for sharing your story.

[Agora1 in reply to Jacobriley]

It's interesting Jacob in that the doctor who prescribed Xanax is a brilliant doctor at a teaching hospital. He put me on 0.25mg only once a day but the length of time I was left

on them made me dependent as well as they no longer worked.

I did have withdrawal issues. It took me 2 years to wean off and then another year to allow my brain to heal as well as learn to make it's own chemicals. I knew the day that

everything turned around for me. It was an "aha moment" that I called it and I knew I

was going to be well. Jacob, the feeling is amazing to feel alive mentally and physically.

I wish you well. Sounds like you are in good hands my new friend xx

[Jacobriley]

Thank you for you great suggestion! I truly appreciate your kindness.