What's the point!!!

[WhiteTiger84]

What is the point? I'm so scared and depressed I suffer with H\A and have done for 11 yrs! Although I had bouts of it not all the time. I had a full 8 yr period practicaly anxiety free! I had a bad bout six months ago and my meds where changed from venlefaxine to lexapro, the lex worked enough for me to live well without hardly any anxiety but i never felt as good on them as i did on the ven. I have been a lot more tired, short tempered and not as able to cope with every daynstuff as well. Anyway just bfore Christmas my partner had to go to his home country for 2 months  (he's due back at the end of this month) Then there was Christmas to deal with ect... So i ended up back down again! I can't move forward, i have been refered to a phsyciatrist but god knows now long that will take! Then  i will have a med review which is what I really want, but until then i.m stuck in this hell! I've also been refered.for CBT again on a waiting list! I just see my future of always coming back to this hellish plave and thats what scares me, it affects my whole family when im like this and i dont want them or.me to keep going through this! All i ever see on here is people saying just live the best you can! I dont want to do that i want to be free of this hell! Also i dont think my partner deserves someone like me, he could have a “normal“ person. He doesn't understand either so can'z be much help, so what.do i do? Im in so much mental pain i don't know where to turn can anyone give me so reasurance in any way?

[gcalex]

I don't think a person can rely on pills to beat health anxiety, or any anxiety really.  It takes much more than that.  If you can't get CBT right away you can certainly do it on your own, there are many workbooks and online resources available including some identified on this forum.  It's your thinking, not your biochemistry, that is the source of the problem, but with effort we can influence our own thinking in a positive way.  Also many people find help in exercise, medittaion, relaxation, etc.

[WhiteTiger84]

Thanks for your reply Gcalex, i will look in to trying some cbt and exersize ect, thank you.

[gcalex]

Try Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.  Also look at meditationoasis online.  Sometimes just trying to lower the volume on the central nervous system can help.  Also I forgot to mention breathing exercises.  I have a post on those someplace, they can be helpful.  Andrew Weil advocates them as the single best treatment for anxiety.  There are lots of ways to chip away at things.  Personally I am a huge believer in moderate exercise. 

[nj]

This is a good workbook series too:

http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=53

[WhiteTiger84]

Thank you both, it really helps to get support on here, have either of you got to the point of being able to cope with your anxiety so its not like crippling?

[laura124]

I agree that a pill will not fix all your issues!  We live in an age of pharmaceuticals where doctors have become "pill pushers".  I worked for a doctor many years ago and even then the pharmaceutical companies would load the doctors with incentives and perks to prescribe their meds.  And BIG perks like whole family luxury vacations to Hawaii.  So remember, YOU are your best advocate.  I was seeing a psychologist a few years ago and she taught me so much about the brain--even more than graduate school did.  She told me the brain can be re-trained into a more healthy thinking pattern.  But it takes much motivation and determination.  I think we all have the ability to change our unhealthy thought patterns--its how much effort we are willing to put into it.

Also, as far as anxiety goes,  I'm a big believer of trying to recognize the source of stress and anxiety in your life and TRYING to do something about it.  We live in an age of complex living arrangements, living above our means, trying to keep up with material objects, etc. I'm all for simplifying your life if at all possible.  Obviously, some things are beyond our control, but trying to change the things we do have control of could make a big difference in our lives.

Now to practice what I preach.....

[sixpack]

my brother in law is a psychiatrist.  he can't STAND the pharm reps.  he tells me that when comes out of a room or comes to a new hallway, he stops and peers around to see if any of the 'vultures' are waiting for docs to happen by.   HE finds the way the lady reps fawn and touch him to be really CREEPY.

[laura124]

I worked for a neurologist and OB/Gyne and we actually had to schedule appointments with those reps. Some of the doctors really strived for those perks offered.  It's scary!  SP, good for your brother in law that can see through all the crap and treat the patient on their individual needs!

[gcalex]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/your-money/23iht-wbdrug.1.8445704.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOW8LNU2hFE