Posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 18:50:29
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed, posted by fca on September 29, 2006, at 17:26:09
Wow, I am in too dark of a place right now to really understand most of this. I'm sorry...
SSRIs are really hard for me to take in general. I've tried Effexor, Paxil and Zoloft for periods of 2 months or more and was taken off of them because they seemed to make me more unstable then to actually help me. Celexa made me bounce around a lot less and I believe that is why I was put on Epival. I think the Doctor believed that Epival would help balance out the effects of the SSRI so I would stop bouncing?
I should probably also state that my lungs are absolutely horrible now. I take Symbicort (a turbo-inhaler) twice a day. I have also found out within the last 6 months after having an MRI done on my head and my spine that my Cerebellum grew in abnormally over my lifetime. That's causing a lot of problems with my vision and my balance. So taking all of that in together, getting intoxicated on anything is a serious no-no for me even before taking anxiety into the equation.
I have no idea what CBT or ERP are. My MD doesn't believe I need any Therapy which I seriously disagree with. I'm scared and need to talk to somebody (other then myself) about this but my family doesn't even believe in mental illnesses. Talking to them about anything makes me feel worse.
They simply don't understand anything about what I'm going through. I'm beginning to fully grasp that right now considering that there are really only 3 people prominently in my life at the moment. My Father, my Brother, and my Father's girlfriend. Right now, my father's girlfriend is out of town putting her Dad into a pallative care hospital (he's dying from cancer), my Father is out of town golfing till Sunday and I have no idea where my brother is. I haven't seen anybody since yesterday morning and am not expecting to till Sunday.
> I have an anxiety disorder with some OCD features--you can find some posts of mine(fca) on SIAD where I just saw a post of yours. I am glad you are getting as much information as possible. It does sound as if there is some OCD in your thoughts and behavior. The only real test is if your obsessive thoughts and or compulsive behaviors interfer with your daily life. It certainly does sound as if you are experiencing a great deal of anxiety. The good news is that medication for both anxiety disorders and OCD is often quite similar: I see you are taking Epival--have you been diagnosed bi polar (with mania) or are you using it off label. It is a pretty potent drug with potentially difficult side effects. If you are Bipolar this is out of my league so ignore what I am saying except for cbt/erp and healthy living.
> Common protocol includes:
> 1)SSRIs (higher dosage for OCD than depression or anxiety) alone or SSRI and possible benzo as needed during initial titration or until side effects are minimal--with a history of substance abuse your are less likely to receive a benzo--historically preferred SSRIs for OCD are paxil, prozac, luxox--I am not sure it really makes any difference--BTW--you can easily move from one to another wwith little problem as long as you have not discontinued one before starting the other
>
> 2)SSRI plus benzo or other anxiolytic on a regular basis or until anxiety is dampened and symptoms are under control
>
> 3)A TCAs or other drugs--
>
> 4) Who knows--but plenty of options
>
> The important thing to remember from my perspective (as a 35 year sufferer with mostly successful experiences and 40 years in the MH profession)
> 1) Good CBT and ERP are extremely important
> 2) Give the meds a chance--6-12 weeks at least before switching--response for OCD tends to be longer--higher dose can be quite important
> 3) If they are not working do not be afraid to switch
> 4) No matter how good the meds are you need to do the things you need to do as much as is humanly possible for you--work, school, some social life, exercise, blah,blah,blah
> 4) Stay in CBT and/or ERP as long as necessary and refreshers are usually necessary and important
> 5) Alcohol and drugs a no no--any temporary relief displaced by almost inevitable rebound anxiety etc--if you really are completely clean and sober benzos can be helpful--they are discouraged as a first line response but.....you are already taking them.
>
>
> Probably more than you wanted and I apologize if so--perhaps to simple minded
> However--my best wishes and good luck fca
poster:MCush
thread:690211
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/690291.html