Stress Center Peer Support

I have been in a very, very long stressful situation for 5 yrs. Now I developed this anxiety disorder in October. My doc wants to prescribe zoloft. i currently take xanax so i can sleep at night (.5-1mg/night).

I DO NOT want to start taking antidepressants too but my doctor said "whats worse?.. feeling suicidal, not being able to cope.. or antidepressants and some possible side effects?"

Good question!! I got the prescirption last week but didnt fill it. then today i was feeling better in the morning but suddenly had a horrible meltdown, feeling suicidal, out of control, etc. and thinking.. maybe i should get some antidepressants??
I dont know if i should "hang in there" or try to get help thru meds. Any thoughts??

oh, in addition.. the meltdown happened after I felt fine this morning and was doing this program, journal, audio session 1...
then i went for a bike ride (big step for me) and started falling apart.

I am also on zoloft and klonipin, and I have alot of body symptoms. I wake up every morning with a stomach ache. It has lasted for the past month. I don't like taking the meds, but I feel that I need them.

Hey LauriKay. I feel the same way about meds. I refuse to take them. I just feel like they 'mask' the real problem. If you decide to take them, I would say to pair it with therapy definitely. Because therapy helps to get to deeper issues that you can work on resolving. Meds alone could just mask the problem without offering any type of resolution to your issues. So if you decide to take them, don't feel bad about it. I'd just pair it with therapy. Therapy is a GOOD thing. Hope this helps.

thanks to you both for feedback.

Linda, how long have you been on zoloft? what other body symptoms do you have?

Meds are scary things. Of course I didn't mind self medicating for years but some how that was different. I am beginning session 12 today but all through this program I have been wanting to get off the only med I take and that is klonopin . How do you get off the stuff? I am doing much better and don't want to crash. Suggestions ? Dave L.

LauriKay,
So sorry about your situation. I'm responding because I care. Just be very careful with the Xanax. Don't want to add to your anxiety but it's a very addictive drug. I've been taking it for years and within the last month I have seen NP and doctor's for ear infection and throat infection and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). I've been overmedicated with antibiotics, decongestants, etc. AND my Xanax dosage was altered by mistake. So I've been a mess for amost 5 weeks. My doctor wants to throw antidepressants,and/or tranquilizer, or hynotic drugs in the mix and I too have resisted. Now he wants to send me to a psychiatrist which my insurance won't cover. Not sure what I'm going to do but I need my current doctor for the time being to prescribe the Xanax until I can find someone who will help wean me off of it. This doctor says "you'll have to take meds all your life." Can't wait to find another doctor and pray he'll be better for me.

Any advice for me out there will be appreciated.

Hi LauriKay:

This what you say your doctor said:

my doctor said "whats worse?.. feeling suicidal, not being able to cope.. or antidepressants and some possible side effects?"

I think you need to discuss this further with your doctor. I am going to copy a specific portion of a link I will provide. Read carefully:

Worsening depression and severe abrupt suicidality that are not part of the presenting symptoms may require discontinuation or modification of drug therapy. Use caution in high-risk patients during initiation of therapy. Prescriptions should be written for the smallest quantity consistent with good patient care.

Here is the link:

http://www.livingnaturally.com...5A#Contraindications

Considering the information found on this site, I would question the knowledge and competency your doctor and of the medications he is so sure and confident will help you with the depression and suicidal thoughts you are say you are having.

I am just shaking my head.

It seems most of the people here are young and just don't know how to advocate for themselves or ask the pointed questions that must be asked of any person.

Many others either are content to deal with the side effects they have grown accustomed to or do not know of alternatives, or don't care to know about alternatives such as many that can be found here:

http://webhealthclinic.com/Bat...rally/?source=Zoloft

Or they are stuckk in their foolish thoughts of: "Don't tell me what to do!"

If you don't want someone to tell you what to do, why are you here in this program? The program is loaded with stuff you need to do.

The posts here all inquire what to do. So isn't it logical that you only think you do not want to be told what to do, and really do want to be told what to do? and are really here to change they way you think?

Don't mind me, if I seem frustrated, I will be just fine. I am just thinking out loud. I want you to get better, and to change your way of thinking so you can get better as safely as possible considering the true possible options.

In the mean time, I have nothing but love of all of you and will pray that all I do or say serves to help on your path to recovery.