Posted by jay on August 23, 2002, at 4:03:56
In reply to Re: one more thing, posted by Pattisun on August 23, 2002, at 1:52:43
Ok...I sort of understand what you are saying. I hope you understand I beg to differ. There is some (actually, a fair bit) evidence that taking consistent, long-term (indefinite) medication causes many of the important changes in many parts of our brain to deal with mental illness, and especially stress. As far as suffering long term effects of benzo use...I haven't seen much in the way of research on that. Used properly, they are one of the safest meds out there. It's been about 9 or 10 years for me using them regularly, and they have saved me when *nothing* else could..period. I *can* tell you of the long-term effects of untreated anxiety, besides major reduction in quality of life, is also possibly suicide. You can't get any worse then that.Would you ask someone with high blood pressure or congestive heart problems to just take their medications once in awhile? No, of course not....but your theory fits in here because as with those problems, you have to make some lifestyle changes also.
But, first things first...and that is the anxiety has to be brought down. If after so, and this can be determined by a person and a good doctor, other medications can be added to deal with both anxiety and anything from Bipolar disorder to depression. (Of all shades.)
Then, all of the books, the 're-learning', and changes can be utilized by a person who has been properly medicated, and feels somewhat well. "Proper" medication(s) may be hard as hell to find, but benzos are a good start. I think doctors are FAR too conservative with the half-dose, one-pill-at-a-time thing. Suicide is often (not always of course) the result of improperly or undertreated prescribing. I just doesn't seem the 'politically correct' thing to do, for a doctor to use all of the tools they have been given knowledge to use.
Sorry for my rambling...it's just my opinion. FWIW..
Jay
poster:jay
thread:117455
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020821/msgs/117479.html