Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 448500

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Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else

Posted by TommyIsland on January 27, 2005, at 2:22:03

It seems that all my years of depression and anxiety and problems are all the result of my "self monitored social status." When I feel confident I feel better and of coarse my mood is improved. I suffer from Obsessive thoughts that focus upon the constant evaluation of my personality and social standing. I am deathly afraid of not being confident and it has haunted me since the onset of my problems years ago around the age of 15. I am now 28 and suffering more than ever. I was a very very outgoing 15 year old with one major downfall personality trait: I wanted to be liked by everybody and did whatever it took to win over somebody who I felt didn't like or care for me to much or not at all. This obsession lead to a sort of paranoia which progressed into a downward spiral of obsession. For me: to be confident everyday and to not have to think about it or analyze it upon every social encounter of the day would literally be a cure for me. However, my world is the opposite of my dream because I live every second of my day evaluating my personality which leads to terrible self esteem and poor self confidence. I am currently taking 150 MG of Effexor XR and I have a prescription of Klonazapan for when I need it at .25 MG a pill. I very rarely use the Klonazapan. I also have a prescription for Wellbutrin but I have not taken it yet because I'm afraid I will have an adverse reaction. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Has anybody received any benefit from taking Wellbutrin by itself or along with Effexor Xr for the treatment of what I'm describing..........I guess you could call it SAD? Can anybody offer me advice on any med that has worked effectively to block out the obsessions and keep me in more of a relaxed state where I won't obsess about my personality and social performace 24 hours a day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,


Tommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else » TommyIsland

Posted by tensor on January 27, 2005, at 4:23:16

In reply to Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else, posted by TommyIsland on January 27, 2005, at 2:22:03

Hi Tommy,

how are effexor working for you? Do you benefit from it at all? How about side effects? I have very little experience about OCD. I do know that clomipramine, paxil, zoloft and luvox are often used as treatment. Many people have bad experiences from effexor, including myself. I believe OCD needs to be treated with a relatively high dose of one the meds(or similar) mentioned above. There's many experts on this board on this subject. If you suffer from social anxiety and ssri treatment seems to be inadequate, then clonazepam is an option well worth to consider, i think however that 0.25 is a way too small dose. You'll have to try what dose that suits you, i take 2mg daily for social anxiety.

Good luck.

/Mattias

 

Re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else

Posted by bart on January 27, 2005, at 8:56:15

In reply to Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else, posted by TommyIsland on January 27, 2005, at 2:22:03

I have a very similar story. I tried wellbutrin on top of effexor and it made anxiety much worse. However, delaying doses between the two meds at different times of the day works great. But, as you may know, there is also a social and cognitive aspect to social anxiety. And for me, I've been involved in drug and alcohol recovery programs that have given me much better tools for dealing with myself and life and also a fellowship where I could immerse myself into people and condition my brain to be comfortable with all that stuff. I still get the occasional hang up, but it's not the big deal it used to be.

 

Re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else

Posted by Optimist on January 27, 2005, at 10:56:38

In reply to Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else, posted by TommyIsland on January 27, 2005, at 2:22:03

Hi Tommy,

I've found dopaminergic drugs tend to greatly reduce my social anxiety. They seem to subjectively make me feel socially dominant, in an alpha male kind of way I guess you could say. It drastically reduces my internal thoughts of thinking what's the right thing to say, trying to relax etc... I can just be... and focus on the world outside, rather than being constantly preoccupied with how I feel.

I find Wellbutrin didn't help that much in that regard, but Vitex a herbal dopamine agonist was far and clear amazing for social anxiety. Unfortunatley it tends to poop out after a month, and I seem to get sort of a rebound depression afterwards. That's why I'm going to be trying a more stable dopaminergic like Parnate in hopes to gain a longer lasting social anxiety reducing effect.

Brian

 

Re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else

Posted by TommyIsland on January 27, 2005, at 22:56:03

In reply to Re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Something Else, posted by Optimist on January 27, 2005, at 10:56:38

Thankyou everyone for the great insights. My body has always been very strange in reacting to meds. Prozac and other Serotonin only meds never did a thing for me. Effexor XR being a dual reuptake worked amazing when I first took it but seemed to poop out over time. I wonder how much you can blame on the med pooping out versus if you just changed over time due to negative thinking, etc. Anyways, I've never tried a Dopamine only drug. Can somebody shed some light onto them and their effects for depression and social anxiety? Has anybody had amazing breakthroughs of success with Dopaminergic pills? Has anybody found only success with Dopaminergic pills versus Prozac or Effexor XR? I really need to get a grip on myself right now because I feel like I've totally lost my personality and it's really upsetting and frightening to me. Where is the funny upbeat guy that was the life of the party? The main difference between me a couple years ago and now was that I could be me and have a good time with people and not be insecure about my "performance" versus now I can't even be myself because I don't feel like myself. I'm so trapped in this world of insecurity that I feel like I'm having an identity crisis. I really really need to get help. Lastly, what in the world is Wellbutrin supposed to be good for because I have never seemed to read one positive aspect about it in testimony by anybody on this website and even on the web? It really seems like a waste of a drug.....all I ever hear doc's say about it is to combat sex problems from Effexor XR and other SSRI's........ Well anyways, any answers, experiences, or suggestions will be so greatly appreciated.


Thanks,


Tommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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