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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
Went to see my counsoler today. When I came in she said, "How are you?" I said, "I'm allright," in an unenthused tone. After we went through what was bothering me, she asked if there was something more to what is making me feel "allright," and not good/happy, etc. I told her that around my menstural cycle my anxiety is pretty bad. I take Klonopin- .5 mg 1-3 x's/day and 300mg of Wellbutrin XL daily. She thinks my meds may need adjustment. I'm way too sensitive to the side effects of medication, so I'm a little scared of having a med that disrupts my quality of life- even if it is supposed to help it.
Going to therapy was a lot harder than I thought it would be. When I leave the building- I just feel overly emotional and depressed. I guess it is the "hashing out" of my deepest fears, anxiety, and sadness that makes it more real. I'm still in that state and have no reason to be upset, really.
She said it seems like I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and SAD (social) and depression. I knew that, but was glad she figured it out. This is so difficult today. I have days where i am able to talk to people and then there are days where I talk to them and then beat myself up later because I could not speak without stuttering or couldn't think of anything to say.
I'm sure this will pass. I honestly don't have it bad in my life. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and wonder what the heck was wrong with me. I'm tired of it. I need some encouragement today if anyone has something to say.
-d
Posted by AnotherAnon on April 5, 2006, at 16:46:26
In reply to ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
I agree...anxiety SUCKS! I'm used to having to deal with depression. I'd take depression over anxiety ANY DAY. Especially today. I find that sometimes it helps a little to just tell someone I'm anxious. Since they usually respond in a totally normal, calm way, it helps me in return.
Posted by Declan on April 5, 2006, at 17:08:10
In reply to ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
I'm passive/aggressive so for 20 years, almost without exception, and always in social situations, when I have been asked how I am I have said "allright". I think I got the idea from a Velvet Underground song where Lou Reed sings in an increasingly anguished tone "And it was allriiiiiight, it was allrighiiiiiit". Or maybe I'm just stubborn.
Declan
Posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 17:42:07
In reply to Re: ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME. » dimple, posted by Declan on April 5, 2006, at 17:08:10
> I'm passive/aggressive so for 20 years, almost without exception, and always in social situations, when I have been asked how I am I have said "allright". I think I got the idea from a Velvet Underground song where Lou Reed sings in an increasingly anguished tone "And it was allriiiiiight, it was allrighiiiiiit". Or maybe I'm just stubborn.
> DeclanThat's funny. Thanks for making me laugh. =)
-d
Posted by TylerJ on April 5, 2006, at 18:15:43
In reply to ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
> Went to see my counsoler today. When I came in she said, "How are you?" I said, "I'm allright," in an unenthused tone. After we went through what was bothering me, she asked if there was something more to what is making me feel "allright," and not good/happy, etc. I told her that around my menstural cycle my anxiety is pretty bad. I take Klonopin- .5 mg 1-3 x's/day and 300mg of Wellbutrin XL daily. She thinks my meds may need adjustment. I'm way too sensitive to the side effects of medication, so I'm a little scared of having a med that disrupts my quality of life- even if it is supposed to help it.
>
> Going to therapy was a lot harder than I thought it would be. When I leave the building- I just feel overly emotional and depressed. I guess it is the "hashing out" of my deepest fears, anxiety, and sadness that makes it more real. I'm still in that state and have no reason to be upset, really.
>
> She said it seems like I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and SAD (social) and depression. I knew that, but was glad she figured it out. This is so difficult today. I have days where i am able to talk to people and then there are days where I talk to them and then beat myself up later because I could not speak without stuttering or couldn't think of anything to say.
>
> I'm sure this will pass. I honestly don't have it bad in my life. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and wonder what the heck was wrong with me. I'm tired of it. I need some encouragement today if anyone has something to say.
>
> -d
I like your attitude, but I can also see that you're very tired of not feeling well. I agree with your therapist, it may be time for a med change.
Wellbutrin is a good AD, but generally not good for anxiety or social phobia. I believe combinations are a great way to go. i.e., maybe Remeron ( a great AD, and ex. for anxiety also) combined with an ssri like zoloft or paxil both helpful against social phobia. Also, an increase in klonopin would probably be helpful.
Please continue your counseling too. I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Also, hang out here and you will gain a lot of knowledge and good support. God bless you.Tyler
Posted by bassman on April 5, 2006, at 18:35:12
In reply to ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
The time to be concerned is when therapy doesn't affect you emotionally-then it is a waste of time and money. My experience was that I would be depressed the next day but slowly get lots better. I put in a previous post that all us anxious folks seem to be really sensitive to meds (and therefore are afraid of them!), but please don't let that stop you. The right meds do make all the difference in the world-certainly more than I could have believed.
Take care-things WILL get better, hard as it is to believe right this moment.
bassman
Posted by RobertDavid on April 5, 2006, at 18:52:11
In reply to ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
I too have SAD and GAD. Went un-diagnosed for years. As for wellbutrin, it's not known to be good for anxiety, I'm not sure why that would a drug your doctor would choose for you. I've tried it, just more anxiety.
What's worked for me is Klonopin, brand not generic(that's a long story, you can look at an above recent post on brand vs generics). The key with klonopin is finding the right dose which is typically somewhere between about 1 and 5 mgs a day for GAD/SAD. In my opinion, those that fail to respond on klonopin typically just never take a theraputic dose.
I take 2mgs at night. I played around with different doses, split doses, etc. and that's what's ended up working best for me. You may not be taking enough. You can always drop down if you want, just need to do it slowly.
So since you're already taking klonopin you might want to increase .25 to .5 every week or so and see if it tackles the anxiety better. Taking more at night helps with the sedation, helps with sleep and since it's got a long half life you may find you only need to take it at bedtime.
You probably will need another med to deal with depression should that be an issue for you. If you've failed to respond to other anti depressants you might try EMSAM which was just approved. I'll be trying it with klonopin to help with a mild depression I deal with (seems most that have GAD/SAD have some depression that comes from the anxiety).
Keep in mind all this is just my take, I'm not a doctor and everyone is different. That said I've been trying meds for anxiety for over 10 years after I got little relief from therapy (did get some insight though). For me, therapy alone was not the answer.
Good luck
Rob
Posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 19:22:41
In reply to Re: ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME. » dimple, posted by RobertDavid on April 5, 2006, at 18:52:11
i was prescribed the WB b/c of ADD, depression and it helped me to (almost) quit smoking. Forgot that tidbit. most ADD meds have a stimulant, which affects my anxiety.
thanks for the posts. they are super helpful!
-d
Posted by john berk on April 5, 2006, at 21:35:44
In reply to ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by dimple on April 5, 2006, at 16:15:33
Hi Dimple,
whenever i see my therapist, i always respond "pretty good", which she invariably knows means not so good, and that is where we begin.i almost always leave therapy feeling down, i don't know why, but it is emotinally exhausting most times. i find it hard to take advice, and she is usually right, so i have to go home and really think things out, then i usually feel better. i can't beleive how i one day talk to everyone and their sister, then the folowing day i have trouble saying hi!, it is perplexing at times.
i hope tomorrow is a better day for you, i have dysthmia, so i know everyday can be a challenge. Lou Reed also said in "Perfect Day" your gonna reap, just what you sow", that always seems like good advice, Lou Reed always seemed bummed out though. i'm rambling, have a good tomorrow...john
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2006, at 21:55:41
In reply to Re: ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME. » dimple, posted by john berk on April 5, 2006, at 21:35:44
A 30 odd year of anxiety is something I deal with. I use valium but recently I'm considering finding a doc who will endorse and use Ensam it's a patch can be removed so that relieves me about a drug affecting your liver and being in your body for days. Love Phillipa
Posted by Caedmon on April 9, 2006, at 16:49:31
In reply to Re: ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2006, at 21:55:41
A lot of people tolerate Klonopin well, but I never did. I know a lot of folks find it too blunting cognitively and emotionally. Maybe a different benzo and at a comparatively higher dose?
Wellbutrin is not bad. Actually it can be helpful for social phobia, although I'm not sure how GAD symptoms would respond. Ever try this little screener? I think it has some good ideas (and some misinformation, sigh):
http://amenclinics.com/ac/tests/subtype_test1.phpHope you feel better soon. Anxiety does indeed suck.
- C
also socially anxious, plus many other things
Posted by bassman on April 9, 2006, at 17:47:49
In reply to Re: ANXIETY really sucks. HELP ME., posted by Caedmon on April 9, 2006, at 16:49:31
Thanks, wow! That was really useful-and direction for meds. The results seem very consistent with my experience and also reminds me to stay away from more stimulating meds. Oddly, when I took Paxil, it felt enervating and my panic decreased dramatically. I just started taking Prozac and it's putting me to sleep. Maybe I shouldn't be taking Wellbutrin..
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