Stress Center Peer Support

Hi,
I have done a program several years ago, and it has helped me a great deal. Since then I have used the skills, but with time they seem to go away..
This past year has been really horrible for me, I lost a friend of 20 years, I broke my leg, it is not healing like I hoped - 7 mos later, that caused me to stop dancing, the activity that brought me most balance in my life, and in 6 weeks I am going to start conducting an orchestra, first time conductor. There were more losses this past year, too many to write here, but the result is, that I cannot make myself get going, I have so much to do in next weeks, and am completely overwhelmed and am experiencing bouts of anger, and that is just terrible when it affects the people around me. My therapist really thinks meds are necessary at this point. It is scary to me, never done it before. The program helped, but now I even can't really think I can afford the time to spend on the program. Reading the posts I see how helpful it is, and yet, I am so low energy now, that I don't see where I can fit it. So, to make a long story short, what is the opinion on starting medication. I feel depressed and anxious and scared about the future and being "found out" about what a fraud I am.. I know that I totally scare myself, yet cannot stop it.
Thank you for any help.
Unia

i would suggest meditation...it CURES ALL

Hi Unia,

First take a deep breath, and try to relax a bit. I KNOW, it's hard. Second, medicine isn't the end of the world. It's not something that u have to stay on forever, maybe just until u feel better. Bottom line is, from here u can only get better. If u feel like everything just requires too much at this time, why not try a med that can help u get over this hump in your life? Good luck and keep us informed of ur progress, k?

-Becky

Maybe you could try doing the program again Just as a refresher course Good Luck and God Bless

Originally posted by abbette:
i would suggest meditation...it CURES ALL

abbette, do you mean meditation, or medication?
I already do meditation.
Unia

Originally posted by beckyl:
Hi Unia,

First take a deep breath, and try to relax a bit. I KNOW, it's hard. Second, medicine isn't the end of the world. It's not something that u have to stay on forever, maybe just until u feel better. Bottom line is, from here u can only get better. If u feel like everything just requires too much at this time, why not try a med that can help u get over this hump in your life? Good luck and keep us informed of ur progress, k?

-Becky

Thank you Becky for your kind words. They helped me feel that I am not all alone. I will keep you posted.
Unia

Hi Unia -

Change is hard for people without anxiety and depression. Add those two to the mix and for some if can be almost impossible. I stuggled w/ the meds vs. no meds question for years before I finally gave in. The important thing to do if you do begin the meds and feel better is to continue with learning coping skills that are in the program. The medication will treat your symptoms, the program will help change the behaviors and teach you to deal with other facotrs that cause the anxiety. There is no shame in medication. And Beckyl is absolutly right, you don't have to do it forever, but if you do decide to go that route, I would make a commitment for at least a few months. It's common to start feeling better, toss the medication in the trash, relapse and say, see! Medication doesn't work. It's not a cure, it's a tool.

I wish the best for you.

-K

I agree with lovephob. I used to be terrified to be on medication and also had some medications that just did not work but now I am on good medications and they are allowing me to be stable enough to focus on learning the skills in this program. I wish u all the best and God Bless

Hi Unia,

I was on Klonopin for a year. I came off of it in February. It was the only thing that helped me when nothing else did. It is a good short term fix, but in the long run, it's still best to learn the skills we need to cope without meds. Klonopin really calmed me down when my panic attacks and anxiety were out of control, but here I am still looking for a way to deal with life on my own. Coming off of it was fairly easy for me, but I hear it can be addictive and difficult for some.

Thank you all so much for your invaluable input! It gives me courage to try meds, and I totally understand about the importance of learning skills, that can help me for life. My hope is, that meds could help me to recover momentum to regain the energy, so I could go ahead with my life and not to be so anxious about the possible outcome, and - of course - in my mind it is always most bleak, negative one.. Anybody out there can identify with those thinking habits? I long for the day, when they are in my past..
Unia