Please any suggestions?: I have been... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Please any suggestions?

Hope4me1 profile image
18 Replies

I have been struggling with the level of my anxiety and I just don’t know what else I can do. I have been using all the tools like mindfulness, meditation, therapy and I have been taking Klonopin and Prozac for a while now. I have trouble sleeping more now and just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how I can feel the calm I used to love and be so grateful for. I wonder if I increase my Klonopin just until I can lower my anxiety to a manageable level and then slowly decrease it again when I am feeling better. I am using .5 mg right now. My goal is to not depend on Klonopin at all as I have in the past. It’s just that my anxiety is so hard to control at this point. My meds dr is so hard to get in touch with between visits. At one point he did suggest I go to .25 mg 3 x daily. But I’ve not tried that at that time because I felt I didn’t need it. I can only tolerate 10 mg of the Prozac every other day. If I take more it increases my anxiety. I have been taking the Prozac for over 20 years now and I am usually fine with just that. Things have changed now.

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Dkdfree profile image
Dkdfree

See if you can message your Dr. or his nurse that you need assistance with your meds,asap. And discuss whats going on. Tell him you need things switched up.

Hope4me1 profile image
Hope4me1 in reply to Dkdfree

I wish it was that easy. I have left numerous messages to get back to me. He hasn’t. Seems I can only see him on the appointment we have made. I had an issue with the meds at the pharmacy where they could only fill a partial order. It took a week and a half to modify the order and only after they reached him. He is only in the clinic 2 days a week. I’m not sure why. I think he juggles various clinic locations. It’s really hard in this area to find reliable psychiatrists and sometimes there are none available. This, as you can imagine has brought my level of anxiety to something very hard for me to control.

Dkdfree profile image
Dkdfree in reply to Hope4me1

I can only imagine.... well start by calling the clinic and ask to speak to who is in charge,the head honcho.... and explain. You have to be your own best advocate when it comes to your health. These Dr.'s are not always the end all be all... be strong🦸‍♀️

Hello! Thank you. I know anxiety is unimaginably terrible. This may sound ridiculous but helps me immensely... celery juice. It is high in natural folate which is extremely hard to get in today's diet. I got a genetic test one time and can't get any from processed carbs. I think it actually hurts I used to get so anxious it hurt! was shocked to find out it was my diet. I didn't think I ate poorly or anything. Maybe try a Whole30 diet to find out what food may be hurting you. This helped me so much! Or keto/paleo or something? Talk to a a nutritionist or naturopath. I am sorry for your suffering. I hope you figure out the answer and feel better soon!

in reply to

I recommend organic even if possible.

Hope4me1 profile image
Hope4me1 in reply to

I do eat organic whenever I can. I’m only eating healthy foods and taking care of myself any way I can. When I have this kind of anxiety, I am mostly very nauseous and can’t eat much. So I eat only nutritious foods. Thank you for your input.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to

Tell me about celery juice for folate please. What form to you get it in? Must it be juiced, or do you know if fresh celery a good source? Also, must the juice be raw, or is bottled juice okay?

in reply to Nothing_but_books

Hello! I used to use a juicer but just bought some powdered freeze-dried organic celery powder that I'm going to tryso it may be easier and hopefully more sustainable for me.

in reply to

My naturopathic doctor recommended raw and it's much cheaper than bottled but it's honestly a pain for me but it helped my health and mood immensely.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to

Ya, I could blend it, but I know I wouldn't stick with doing it every day.

Pineapple1986 profile image
Pineapple1986

My only suggestion is to find a different medication. It seems like whatever you are on is not helping. I have GAD and Zoloft has helped me so much better. I had to take Kolonopin only for the first month to help me stabilize and help me sleep. Continuing doing all of the mindfulness staff and working with doctors is the only suggestion. Easy or not. See other doctors, get their opinions, compare. Trial and error. Everyone is different, but I am convinced that with the right approach you will be able to figure it out!

Hope4me1 profile image
Hope4me1 in reply to Pineapple1986

I have talked to my therapist since and a few other people. I have a couple of different meds I want to try. Propanol is one. This is a non addictive med that works well for anxiety. And Buspar to boost my Prozac. I am feeling better today partly because I feel I have choices and hope for the future. Thank you for your input!

Pineapple1986 profile image
Pineapple1986 in reply to Hope4me1

Awesome! You do have it! I have been in those places at least 3 times in my life with severe insomnia and panic, and got out! Thanks to my support group, to me believing in me and in a better future which is absolutely, absolutely possible! The road is not easy and it sucks, but there is a way out. I definitely suggest people spend every penny to support their mental and physical health. Consult with multiple specialists and try different meds and never give up! All the best luck to you. Btw I find an issue with Klonopin a problem of an addictive mind. I have been on it 3 times in my life and always got off of it and never looked back at it at all. I know I will take it if I absolutely need it, but it seems like most times if meds are taken as a crutch and not as something that will fix all issues without an individual doing the work, then it becomes dangerous.

Hope4me1 profile image
Hope4me1 in reply to Pineapple1986

I agree with you on the Klonopin. I don’t ever take too much. But I’d rather not take it at all. I have been completely off not long ago and my goal is to get there again and never go back.

I'm sorry you are going through all this. I take Diazepam. I know it can be addicting for some, but I have been on it since I was a teenager and I'm not addicted... I just depend on it (there's a difference) My anxiety has always been so severe. I take 10mg twice a day and it helps tremendously. Klonopin made me depressed, Prozac made me manic, but everyone is different. I would switch psychiatrists. Luckily you have lots of options when it comes to meds, so please never lose hope! Sending you love and warmth. I hope you find some answers.

Hope4me1 profile image
Hope4me1

Thank you for responding. I felt much better today. We have a shortage of psychiatrists here in my area right now. My meds dr is a psychiatric nurse. I tried to find another dr but I was told I would have to wait at least a month. When you have severe anxiety you need to know you are supported. When I talked to my therapist this week she and I talked about this at great length and put my mind at ease. I think that’s why I am finding peace after a long bout with my anxiety. I know I have other choices of meds and that makes me hopeful as well.

The_Color_Blue profile image
The_Color_Blue

I think it may benefit you to consider a new therapist. Not all therapy (and therapists) are created equal. Even if those you've seen are perfectly credentialed, it doesn't mean they are the right fit for you. Look for something you haven't done before (CBT is often used to anxiety - but there is EMDR< psychotherapy, and other concentrations). Perhaps you find someone with a PhD who specialized in anxiety disorders in adults. The point is, it's difficult for us to tell who will fit our needs at the time, but there is someone out there who is a complement to your needs and connecting with that person will help bring you the relief you seek.

Hope4me1 profile image
Hope4me1 in reply to The_Color_Blue

I have called my insurance to see who else they covered about a month ago. So I got a name and they work for a Behavioral Health Clinic in my area. After I was assessed and put into the system I was told there were no therapists available for one on one; only groups! And the psychiatrist wouldn’t be able to see me for at least a month! I am told there is a shortage of help in mental health in this country right now. So I went back to my original therapist and was honest with her and told her that I didn’t feel supported by this facility and she and I thought of ways to rectify that. Mostly it’s communication with my meds dr. And she is going to do everything she can to help out. (She does have a PhD, too) So you see I’ve done all I can. My therapist is very sweet and she is knowledgeable. I am a tough case in that I am sensitive to medication and have had an ongoing problem since I was 10. It wasn’t addressed until my late 20 ‘s. I have a lot of work to do.

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