Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 385172

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Rebound anxiety versus original disorder

Posted by Glydin on September 1, 2004, at 8:37:37

How does one really go about determining the difference?

I am of the opinion I have this "thing" called anxiety. I will probably deal with this "thing" all my life. Whenever I am off meds I do well for a period of time and find, generally due to a situational catalyst, I need to restart. I have found the symptoms to be no worse or less than my original findings years ago and do accompany a reason for why they re-emerge. I have no problem restarting my med and find it is as effective as I've come to expect it to be with no real change in dosing.

I just wonder how others view rebound due to not treating the problem (off meds) versus a thought that the problem is just part of our makeup.

Insight would be appreciated.

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder » Glydin

Posted by chess on September 1, 2004, at 10:14:28

In reply to Rebound anxiety versus original disorder, posted by Glydin on September 1, 2004, at 8:37:37

someone correct me if i'm wrong, but "rebound anxiety" is when you discontinue a medication but then you feel symptoms that are worse than the ones you were originally treated for (i.e. you were given a benzo for moderate anxiety but after discontiunation of the benzo you have high anxiety), "rebound anxiety" and "withdrawal" are similar in that you suffer after discontinuing the medication because your brain has become dependent on the medication.
You don't mention any worsening of your symptoms from discontinuing your meds, so I would think what you're experiencing is a return of the same level of anxiety that your med was working well for (and if you felt it during use of your med it would be called "breakthrough anxiety", which is why many psy docs prefer using benzos with long durations of action like klonopin and xaxax-xr)

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder

Posted by Buckeye Fan on September 1, 2004, at 10:29:29

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder » Glydin, posted by chess on September 1, 2004, at 10:14:28

You are correct about "rebound" chess.
Glydin is describing a different type of rebound.
If I understand.... the same struggles eventually come back to set up shop after the discontinuing of medication.

Then medication is taken...the problem subsides
or is masked, only to reappear in a cyle-like manner after discontinuing medication.

Do I have it right Glydin?


 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder

Posted by Buckeye Fan on September 1, 2004, at 10:39:52

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder, posted by Buckeye Fan on September 1, 2004, at 10:29:29

Sorry to post again so quickly...but I thought I might add that I have been off Effexor for 3 solid months now...so I am officially "back to my Old Self" before taking an AD several years ago for aniety disorder.

Most of you know that the trouble with your "Old Self" is exactly what I think Glydin is
decribing.

I am older, a bit wiser..and I understand the who, what and why of my anxiety. I now understand WHY my personality is geared in this fashion..and recognize why Zoloft, Effexor and Xanax mask the
problem when taken as directed.

The trouble is....what now?

I do not want to be on AD's...and I do to want to feel like this. I thought the lack of motivation was due to the blunting of the Meds.
Maybe its not....maybe its just how I am.

I havnt given up...but I do see why some resign
themselves to self-medicate.

Ive had several good counselors,and both Zoloft and Effexor masked the anxiety and improved my mood.

I guess I am surprised that even after KNOWING intellectually the WHY of my struggles....no final answer has come after years of research, questioning and medication on my part.

To medicate or not to medicate..that is the question~

Any suggestions?

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder

Posted by Glydin on September 1, 2004, at 12:12:40

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder, posted by Buckeye Fan on September 1, 2004, at 10:39:52

Thank you both for your input.

I needed some reassurence that my rationale seemed correct to others.

Klonopin is great for me and I have avoided pitfalls and I'm a veteran user. Most of the time, I am prefectly fine with the idea that there is a lifelong illness present and a lifelong treatment facing. However, there is a little grain of me which still has trouble making peace with the illness being present and what I have to take that works to make me "normal". I'm lucky in so many ways in finding effective treatment. Lucky -- I feel. Satisfied and accepting --- that needs some work.

I really don't think I'm masking a problem. I think I'm righting a malfunction of my fight or flight system which just likes to go haywire.

Even armed with all the knowledge about myself, my disorder, my med --- I have times that wishing it would go "poof" isn't something that seems to want to go away.

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder » Glydin

Posted by olysi79 on September 1, 2004, at 18:03:40

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder, posted by Glydin on September 1, 2004, at 12:12:40

Hi there. My thoughts are this... with mental illnesses, whether they be depression/anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc are that your body changes as you get older, hence so does the chemistry... things that may not have been as bad when you were young may now in fact be worse or better, it just depends on chemistry changes. Anxiety may be an ever present monster in life, but it's severity and frequency will depend on your life cricumstances and/or your chemistry... if the "brew" is just right, you will occasionally have severe problems. What can balance that out is knowledge and wisdom that you acrue as you get older that can help in treating your illnesses.
Just my thoughts


> Thank you both for your input.
>
> I needed some reassurence that my rationale seemed correct to others.
>
> Klonopin is great for me and I have avoided pitfalls and I'm a veteran user. Most of the time, I am prefectly fine with the idea that there is a lifelong illness present and a lifelong treatment facing. However, there is a little grain of me which still has trouble making peace with the illness being present and what I have to take that works to make me "normal". I'm lucky in so many ways in finding effective treatment. Lucky -- I feel. Satisfied and accepting --- that needs some work.
>
> I really don't think I'm masking a problem. I think I'm righting a malfunction of my fight or flight system which just likes to go haywire.
>
> Even armed with all the knowledge about myself, my disorder, my med --- I have times that wishing it would go "poof" isn't something that seems to want to go away.

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder

Posted by Buckeye Fan on September 2, 2004, at 7:48:21

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder » Glydin, posted by olysi79 on September 1, 2004, at 18:03:40

Olysi wrote
"Hi there. My thoughts are this... with mental illnesses, whether they be depression/anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc are that your body changes as you get older, hence so does the chemistry... things that may not have been as bad when you were young may now in fact be worse or better, it just depends on chemistry changes. Anxiety may be an ever present monster in life, but it's severity and frequency will depend on your life cricumstances and/or your chemistry... if the "brew" is just right, you will occasionally have severe problems. What can balance that out is knowledge and wisdom that you acrue as you get older that can help in treating your illnesses.
Just my thoughts
************************************************

Very good post.
Sometimes we forget that with time and age comes changes in both our chemistry...AND our ability to handle Life.
Looking back....I had subtle mental health issues during childhood,through the teenage years
and now into adulthood.
What's changed is my ability to handle it.

I suspect this is often the case with others, depending on ...as you put it..."the brew" being just right.
Many disorders are "discovered" during or immediately following a time of great Life Stress
that "triggers" a previously unrecognized problem.

Perhaps just as vitamin supplimentation is advantagous as we age....so it is with our chemistries and Medications.

"Masking" is not meant as a derogatory term...I use it to illustrate the underlying problem isnt "solved" while on AD's....it is controlled
by blunting the feeling of it.

Now if something were to be invented that could
allow our bodies and minds to produce the same chemicals as adults that we seemed to have had a children...that would indeed be the Fountain of Youth!

So I guess the AD's do "right a wrong" in our chemistry, in a way. If only they could do it more naturally and augment our bodies inate ability to keep balanced.

wishful thinking...I know

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder

Posted by Glydin on September 2, 2004, at 8:45:57

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder, posted by Buckeye Fan on September 2, 2004, at 7:48:21

> "Masking" is not meant as a derogatory term...I use it to illustrate the underlying problem isnt "solved" while on AD's....it is controlled
> by blunting the feeling of it.

~~~I did not take it as derogatory, just that my preception of what is actually occurring for me is different. I see it as my med was/is making that complicated system that's all part of the fear reaction thing was/is being made to function "normally". I also believe there are very few disorders or malfunctions that are "cured". I do believe there is decent treatment for any number of illnesses and the way this is accomplished is by altering function.


> So I guess the AD's do "right a wrong" in our chemistry, in a way. If only they could do it more naturally and augment our bodies inate ability to keep balanced.

~~~ The "righting of a wrong" is the way I see it and I try to see it as no different from a malfunction of our "physical" functions that we need chemical or other means of intervention to balance for good functioning and a good quality life. I stress, I TRY, as even knowing what I know, the stigma stuff and preceptions of society I still allow (at times) to influence my more evolved and correct thinking.

 

Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder » Buckeye Fan

Posted by olysi79 on September 2, 2004, at 14:41:26

In reply to Re: Rebound anxiety versus original disorder, posted by Buckeye Fan on September 2, 2004, at 7:48:21

I have to say that I agree with this... it is very true that mood disorders are often times discovered in times of high stress. The more stress one has, the more they react, and if there is a mood disorder hiding under the surface, often it's going to rear its ugly head the nand there... That's why people going on and off SSRIS face a higher risk of their mood disorders popping up in the intial period begining and after treatment in my opinion... there's chemical stress and if emotional stress compounds it, the mood disorder will show up stronger than ever. BP disorder is an example of this "chemical mischief" ... especially BP II... sometiems a person doesn't even realize they have it until stress brings them into an anxious/agitated mixed state, or antidepressants make them hypomanic periodically... not fun.


> Olysi wrote
> "Hi there. My thoughts are this... with mental illnesses, whether they be depression/anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc are that your body changes as you get older, hence so does the chemistry... things that may not have been as bad when you were young may now in fact be worse or better, it just depends on chemistry changes. Anxiety may be an ever present monster in life, but it's severity and frequency will depend on your life cricumstances and/or your chemistry... if the "brew" is just right, you will occasionally have severe problems. What can balance that out is knowledge and wisdom that you acrue as you get older that can help in treating your illnesses.
> Just my thoughts
> ************************************************
>
> Very good post.
> Sometimes we forget that with time and age comes changes in both our chemistry...AND our ability to handle Life.
> Looking back....I had subtle mental health issues during childhood,through the teenage years
> and now into adulthood.
> What's changed is my ability to handle it.
>
> I suspect this is often the case with others, depending on ...as you put it..."the brew" being just right.
> Many disorders are "discovered" during or immediately following a time of great Life Stress
> that "triggers" a previously unrecognized problem.
>
> Perhaps just as vitamin supplimentation is advantagous as we age....so it is with our chemistries and Medications.
>
> "Masking" is not meant as a derogatory term...I use it to illustrate the underlying problem isnt "solved" while on AD's....it is controlled
> by blunting the feeling of it.
>
> Now if something were to be invented that could
> allow our bodies and minds to produce the same chemicals as adults that we seemed to have had a children...that would indeed be the Fountain of Youth!
>
> So I guess the AD's do "right a wrong" in our chemistry, in a way. If only they could do it more naturally and augment our bodies inate ability to keep balanced.
>
> wishful thinking...I know
>
>


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