Posted by torachan on May 26, 2008, at 0:04:54
In reply to effexor not helping but making things worse?, posted by shadowmon on May 25, 2008, at 19:00:59
Shawdowmon, I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I was on Effexor for many years, then dropped it and found I needed to increase my benzo usage which somewhat suggests that the Effexor did something for my anxiety, but I ultimately felt the same as you, constantly tense, so I dropped it. Trying it again because docs don't like prescribing higher doses of a benzo, if at all, but I'm finding out the reasons why I stopped it. The stuff just doesn't work for anxiety. I know I may get some flack for saying this but in my mind it's true. Those drugs are NOT FOR ANXIETY. And pretty soon I'm going to make this more than clear to any doctor I encounter in the future.
Now while I do agree that benzos are not an "ideal" long term treatment approach for GAD, they, the medical science establishment have yet to find an effective replacement. It's as simple as that. Unfortunately the research seems to be focussed on treating Depression, while largely ignoring Anxiety. There are reasons for this I'm sure. Here's another statement which may receive some flack; I'd much rather deal with Depression on a daily basis than Anxiety. In fact, I do deal with depression pretty much daily as a result of my constant anxiety. It's at a lesser degree, but still depression. Anxiety eats you from the inside out; chronic anxiety KILLS due to chronic stress. And don't say depression kills through suicide because I've contemplated suicide many, many times due to chronic anxiety.
I'm not demeaning the pain depressives go through, I'm just venting that anxiety is being looked over in the name of depression, and docs are pushing anti-depressants on us, which are not designed to treat anxiety properly, because they have no alternative. In a way, I'm pissed off at this whole Bipolar/Depression rage in the medical community. I'm suffering as a result and it's not fair. Anti-depressants are NOT effective for anxiety!!
End rant. Sorry if I offended anyone.
poster:torachan
thread:831109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080519/msgs/831164.html