Generalized Anxiety Disorder

[Firestarter1069]

I was just at the doctor today for a wellness check up. Took the advice from a friend I haven't seen in almost a year. The first thing he said to me was, "Are you feeling ok"? He did not know about anything I've been through recently. I told him I'm up and down and asked him why he would ask that. He told me you look like you've lost a lot of weight, which I have. I'm pretty good at keeping myself in decent shape, I play softball in the summer and play some basketball in the winter, my weight is usually 180-185 but since October I'm down to 160-165. Physically I feel fine but since my ex left my appetite has decreased dramatically which explains my weight loss.

 

Apparently after a few tests and an interview with an onsite psychiatrist I've been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD). Tests results and the interview revealed I've had this for quite some time. While I was with my ex the signs of GAD were masked. I guess after the break up they came on a little stronger. They put me on Ativan, 0.5 mg 3 times a day for the next 2 weeks then I'm to go back for reevaluation. I've taken it before but only at night for insomnia a few years ago. Since everybody reacts differently to meds I'm wondering how this will affect me during the day. Has anyone else had experience with daytime Ativan use?

[HereNorThere]

I have lots of experience with daytime benzodiazapine use, lol. Just be careful with it because over time, you can develop a dependence and the withdrawals a bear to deal with.

 

With that being said, it's VERY effective for anxiety if used as directed. Of course, there can be some fatigue and irritability/crankiness when you first start. If you find that it's making you too tired, try a half dose instead. Also, if you find yourself too tired to work/study/whatever, a nice cup of coffee will help counter the drowsiness a bit. Just be careful because too much caffeine can cause anxiety.

 

My advice is to read, read, read about anxiety and panic attacks and use your time on lorezapam to build effective coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. It's kinda hard to think about anxiety when you're in the midst of it, but once you've calmed down enough to have some moments of clarity, use introspection to think about what's causing the anxiety in the first place.

 

This is not a long term, everyday type medicine. Use it as a tool, but don't go too far out on it. The "magic" will eventually quit working, so don't get to that point. Learn how to calm yourself down. Learn how to decide which thoughts are of importance and which one are not.

 

Right now, your "danger, alert" fight or flight response is being triggered at such a high rate, it's effecting your life negatively. The medicine will help you to calm the signal. That's okay, but once you do calm it down, learn how to do it yourself.

 

I sugggest reading about the amygdala, GABA, fight or flight response and how we evolved to be naturally anxious people. It's a gift from your ancestors that keeps you from being eaten by lions. Without it, you wouldn't be here. However, you gotta learn to control it.

 

Good luck and I hope that helps.

Edited December 12, 2014 by HereNorThere

[pink_sugar]

I use Buspirone as it's not a heavy narcotic and just helps with daily anxiety without major side effects. Ask if it would be right for you.

[whichwayisup]

Tests results and the interview revealed I've had this for quite some time. While I was with my ex the signs of GAD were masked. I guess after the break up they came on a little stronger.

 

Read up on anxiety and understand what it is and learn not to be afraid of it, get control of it instead of it controlling you.

 

Counseling is so important! CBT, cognitive behaviour therapy is a well known kind of counseling that is very helpful for those who suffer from anxiety disorders. You may not need meds after all. Talk therapy (finding out what your issues are that led you to anxiety) includes exposure therapy (facing your fears slowly), learning and understanding anxiety, learning how to cope and process things in a more positive way, changing your ways of thinking, meditation, yoga, and learning more about you along the way. I stand by CBT 100%, what you (general you) put into therapy is what you get out of it.

[Satu]

You shouldn't take Ativan or any other benzodiazepine for an extended period unless your doctor gives you a concrete reason to.

 

Experiment with self-soothing behaviours that can reduce anxiety. What works varies from person to person, but there are things that will work for you, if you experiment a bit. Stretching and breathing exercises work for a lot of people.

 

Don't drive yourself too hard. Don't demand perfection from yourself. Be easy on yourself.

 

Talking (to the right person) often helps. Keeping everything inside doesn't.

 

The right kind of therapy can help a lot.

 

I used to suffer quite badly with anxiety, but changing the way I relate to myself and how I spend my time has brought a lot of relief.

 

You'll find your own way forward.

 

Good luck.

[Maleficent]

Sometimes doctors prescribe meds but you don't have to swallow them without asking any questions. Benzodiazepines such as Ativan are highly addictive and are usually not taken on a regular basis. It takes about 30 minutes to kick in so it's the kind of medication you take when you're having an attack. It is not meant to be used to control your anxiety regularly. If you need something to keep your GAD under control, it's not a smart pick...

 

Talk to him about Effexor (generic name is venlafaxine).

 

Venlafxine is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs) type anti-depressants. In low doses (37.5mg to 75mg) it is used to treat GAD. (It is used in higher doses for depression -150mg to 225mg- in case you wondered.)

 

On top of that, rethinking your habits could help. Physical activity does wonders for anxiety. So will yoga/meditation, proper breathing techniques and healthy eating habits.

 

Avoid breathing from the chest and use your diaphragm to breathe from your abdomen too (you should fill the top of your lungs first (AKA chest) and then fill up your abdomen). You can most likely find thousands of videos on youtube...

 

One trick that helps me a lot when I'm having those days when I feel I could punch through a wall. 5 deep breaths.

I know it sounds silly but stop everything and 5 deep breaths.

 

I've dealt with GAD for over 20 years. Feel free to send me a PM if you have questions or want to talk about it.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Maleficent

[Els]

It's really odd to prescribe a benzodiazepine (which Ativan is) for long-term use in a patient with generalized anxiety and no insomnia/panic attack symptoms. This used to be the practice decades ago but there has recently been a shift towards using antidepressants instead, for good reason.

 

Long-term use of benzodiazepines should be avoided whenever possible, and I don't like that your doctor was giving it to you as first-line treatment given your description of your situation. Ativan won't even help your appetite. And based on my experience with benzodiazepines, their only real use is to knock you out when you need knocking out (eg. when you haven't slept for days or are having a severe anxiety attack). In fact, for me, they cause increased anxiety in between doses. What really helped with my generalized anxiety was a tricyclic antidepressant.

 

I think you should visit another doctor for a second opinion. A psychologist or one specializing in mental health issues if at all possible.

[LivingWaterPlease]

Firestarter, I have had a nightmare of an experience with Ativan. After I went through my experience and I began to talk about it with others I learned that many people have suffered greatly from this drug.

 

I can't emphasize enough the dangers of this drug for some people. Trouble is, you don't know whether you're one of those people or not until you find the drug has you by the throat, so to speak.

 

Mine was prescribed to me by an MD who is also a family friend.

 

I was on it for eight weeks before I realized I was addicted to it though I was taking a very small amount (1/2 of the smallest pill they make and taking it once every other day at first, or even every third day).

 

When I realized I was addicted and went back to the Dr. who prescribed it to find out how to get off of it he told me to just stop taking it. He wouldn't give me a plan to do so other than to write me a prescription for some other drugs to help me get off of benzos.

 

I no longer trusted him since he'd given me this awful drug so didn't fill the prescription he gave me for the new drug.

 

I then searched the internet for help and came up with a plan to gradually get off it myself.

 

It was hell is all I can tell you. Pure hell for about a year.

 

If you go to youtube and do a search on benzodiazepam withdrawal you can rest assured the videos you see are accurate portrayals of what a person can go through coming off of benzos.

 

Not everyone will suffer like this. But, I would never have thought I would be one who would. I cannot emphasize enough the suffering a person can go through trying to get off these things.

 

Since I've had this experience I've talked with others who have been through the same thing. And I've talked with others who are still on them and can't seem to get off of them.

 

It took me a full year to get back to normal after being off of them. And I suffered terribly 24/7 during that year. The Drs.(I saw about five other Drs.) did nothing but offer me more drugs, which I wouldn't take, for relief. I would have daily seizures and many other symptoms. You can find a long list of symptoms people suffer when coming off of benzos if you google for them.

 

Also, google Heather Ashton, benzodiazepam withdrawal and you will pull up many sites with her work on them. She has written what is called The Ashton Manual and also at one point had a clinic devoted to people who were going through withdrawal.

 

Heather Ashton is in the UK and I'm in the USA. I exchanged a couple emails with her and one thing I asked her is if she ever shared her knowledge about the dangers of these drugs with MDs. She told me she had lectured MDs here in the USA but they are very slow to recognize and accept the danger of benzodiazepams.

 

Since being off of benzos, though I was only on them for a few months, if I ever have anxiety now I treat it by exercising (walking is great for starters) and also with Valerian Root and Passion Flower herbs. There are also some great homeopathic remedies that work that I've used and I've even found an essential oil that helps.

 

Please do your due diligence and investigate the dangers of benzodiazepams. If I could save one person from suffering from this drug the way I did I would do anything at all to do so.

Edited December 13, 2014 by LivingWaterPlease

[FitChick]

Add some of those GABA stimulating foods into your diet everyday. Otherwise you will be dependent on a pill and more pills for life. Cheaper, too.

Edited December 17, 2014 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
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