Posted by Sharon7 on February 6, 2009, at 19:56:22
In reply to Med doc, posted by posterchild on February 6, 2009, at 18:27:01
Hey poster child. It's good you reached out for advice. I have just learned to do that and it really is helpful.
Anyway, first, I have had my primary-care physicians in the past who were willing to prescribe AD's to me, but the dr I have now will not. She's not willing to do it because she knows it's in my best interest, so I respect her decision on that.
Have you tried any other type of natural remedies to help you deal with your anxiety and stress about school? There's so many things you can do. Yoga, meditation, prayer if your religious, deep breathing, massage. I realize though, you're a college student so you probably have a tight budget so the massage might be out! Therapy is a good outlet. I understand your not wanting to take the meds and especially if you did not have a positive experience before. obviously i don't know the history of your anxiety issues, but so many variables go into a decision about whether or not to go on meds. like is this a chronic recurring condition that has not been relieved by therapy (and depending on the extent of your anxiety and how disabling it is, a good therapist should be able to help you cope with this.
As for the meds, I'd say let that be your last resort. I am more than likely doomed to take them for the rest of my life due to the chronicity and severity of my depression, but I'm certainly not happy about it, but at the same time, very thankful because they help me a great deal as far as keeping the depression 'dark cloud' away.
If this is something you've been trying to work on with a therapist for a year, though, and are no better, and if you haven't tried or don't really have much confidence that any of the natural remedies would help, you may have to experiment with a low dose. Could be you need a little help while you're in school because of all the pressure you are under, but again, I have no idea if you have suffered with mental illness in the past. When you took the meds in high school, was that for this same problem?
I'm asking you so many ?'s. sorry. giving you the 3rd degree! lol. Not meaning to. Just want to get a clearer picture of how chronic, debilitating, and severe this anxiety is.
I assume you've researched meds or otherwise had a particular one suggested to you. It could be a regular physican would be willing to write you a prescription for it, depending on what it is. I don't know if ADD meds are much different than AD's, though. Could be you'll have to get them from a psychiatrist if you decide it's worth giving it a try.
Okay. Your fear of the psychiatrist (hereafter referred to as 'pdoc.') you said: "I really do not want to go to a psychiatrist. AT ALL. I do not like them, they scare me, and I REFUSE. The thought of sitting in that office gives me night terrors." This is probably an example of the anxiety you are experiencing with school, because there is absolutely nothing to fear about a psychiatrist. They are just like any other Dr as far as I'm concerned. I guess some of them do therapy, too, but mine, I'm in there like for 5-10 minutes just to check in and get refills. I don't know where the "terror" of the pdoc comes from; did you have a bad experience with one? Is it the sterotype of feeling like if you go see a psychiatrist, a SHRINK, that means you're crazy, because nothing could be further from the truth.
If you decide to try the meds and a regular dr won't give you a script and you have to go to the pdoc, if there's something 'creepy' about the one your T is referring you to, you can always go to someone different. Also, is there someone you love that could go with you?
Well, I guess that's all I got! lol! Sorry. I went on and on. I probably just kept repeating myself, but this is so long, I'm not going to take the time to proof read it (because I'd like you to get it before you graduate college!) lol!
I hope whatever you decide works out well for you. I'm anxious to see what the others have to say. (Hopefully they'll be able to say it more succinctly that I do !) Take care. Deep breaths!
- Sharon (o:
poster:Sharon7
thread:878555
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090129/msgs/878594.html