My anxiety is killing me but SSRI's don't agree with me

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ponies
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05 Oct 2010, 6:13 am

I don't know what to do :-(

I have terrible anxiety but SSRI drugs don't agree with me at all. They make me feel absolutely awful and weird. I think I've posted here before about it.

Has anyone here got experience with those stress vitamins they sell at the drug store? The ones that are supposed to be a combination of a few different herbs such as valerian etc.

Would this work, or go towards helping me feel better? or are they a joke and don't work at all and just a money making scheme.

I have tried seeing a psyc (or two) in the past and don't feel ready to go down that road again after such bad experiences the last few times.



StuartN
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05 Oct 2010, 6:25 am

ponies wrote:
I have terrible anxiety but SSRI drugs don't agree with me at all. They make me feel absolutely awful and weird. I think I've posted here before about it.


SSRIs are not good treatment for anxiety - it assumes your anxiety is driven by depression and the SSRIs are effective in treating the depression, which is probably not true for someone with ASD anxiety traits.

There are drugs that treat anxiety (benzodiazepines etc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiolytic) that are more direct and have less side effects.

Regular exercise and good diet are essential. Recognizing the cause of anxiety and recognizing your own anxiety symptoms is important - there are courses in anxiety management.



azbluesgal
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05 Oct 2010, 7:20 am

StuartN wrote:
ponies wrote:
I have terrible anxiety but SSRI drugs don't agree with me at all. They make me feel absolutely awful and weird. I think I've posted here before about it.


SSRIs are not good treatment for anxiety - it assumes your anxiety is driven by depression and the SSRIs are effective in treating the depression, which is probably not true for someone with ASD anxiety traits.

There are drugs that treat anxiety (benzodiazepines etc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiolytic) that are more direct and have less side effects.

Regular exercise and good diet are essential. Recognizing the cause of anxiety and recognizing your own anxiety symptoms is important - there are courses in anxiety management.


sympathy for the devil :lol: when i worked at the weekend detox clinic, the xanax people had the worst symptoms of withdrawal even 2 weeks after their last dose. personally, i am no expert, having used ETOH for years as a sedative. maybe a pall peen hammer (get some Joe Bonamassa) will straighten you out. I am putting my shoes and socks on and heading out for my 2 1/2 mile walk, then some coffee, cannabis and dextromethorpan.
Why AM I anxious this morning??? Appointment with new primary doctor - fired the other one last month. peace, Zig



y-pod
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05 Oct 2010, 6:58 pm

I suffer from anxiety disorder, too and can't take anti-depressant. Actually developed allergic reaction to some of them. I don't know much about vitamins, but I have taken some steps to improve my general health and nutrition and it seem to have helped. I gained a few pounds and feel better over all. I don't get sick easily any more, and don't get pissed off by annoying people as much.

I don't know how old you are or if you cook for yourself. But I suggest look into better nutrition and improve your general health. Eat more meat and fat, as every meal if you can. :)



Mama_to_Grace
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05 Oct 2010, 8:54 pm

Look into Inositol. It is also known as vitamin B8. It is getting good results for anxiety relief. A few of us moms over on the parents board are using it with our children with AS. You can find out more by searching for Inositol and anxiety.



Callista
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05 Oct 2010, 10:40 pm

Sunshine can help. For some reason, light hitting your skin and retina tends to have a positive effect on most people. (Don't go into sensory overload over it though; wear sunglasses if you need them.)

If your anxiety is primarily physical, you might ask about beta blockers. These are basically substances that will make your heart rate more steady and stop you from getting on-edge so quickly, and their effect has more to do with the physical than the psychological. They are also used for high blood pressure and some cardiac arrhythmias, and reasonably safe because they are so widely used (high blood pressure is common and beta blockers are a common treatment).

There are some drugs designed specifically for anxiety--the benzodiazepines--but these are only for short term use because people develop a tolerance and then they don't work anymore. For extreme cases there's the option of using an antipsychotic medication as a tranquilizer (doesn't always work, and shouldn't always be tried)...


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