Posted by Viridis on November 20, 2003, at 2:56:26
In reply to Re: panic attacks, posted by vanessa33 on November 19, 2003, at 11:45:06
I don't buy the idea that it's all depression. That view seems to be widespread, and is fueled by the pharmaceutical companies that keep pushing the latest antidepressant for anxiety. Yet, all of the "antidepressants" I've tried have made my anxiety worse, and really haven't helped with depression.
I told my current psychiatrist that my depression seems to result from anxiety, and he agreed that this is likely for some people. Treatment with an anti-anxiety med (Klonopin) did much more for depression than any SSRI etc. ever has for me, and it worked immediately.
I still experienced another kind of depression (much milder than that which I experience when I get very anxious, and qualitatively different); addition of Adderall (for ADD) helped a lot with that.
The relationship between anxiety and depression is controversial and seems to vary among individuals. But for me, the worst depression always follows a period of intense anxiety/panic attacks, and knocking out the anxiety with a benzodiazepene is the most effective strategy by far.
poster:Viridis
thread:281039
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031116/msgs/281553.html