Back On Medication For Panic/Anxiety

[no_surprise]

My feelings are mixed. I know, full well, that the time had come when I needed to come clean to my pdoc and let him know how I'd experienced triggers and was, again, feeling intense anxiety and insomnia. My thoughts were racing...the dreams started along with the weird sleep patterns that had me going almost directly into a dream-state.

Now in the early stages of being back on an AD for mild depression and waiting for it to work. In addition, back to using klonopin after the whole titaration thing where I was pretty much off this drug.

I feel so frustrated for having to to back to medication. My pdoc recommends the meds as I am a "good responder" and have periods where there are no symptoms after a time on medication. My worry is the klonopin. I don't like having to use a benzo.

Am not sure that the therapist he recommended is understanding of the whole PTSD or, as I am beginning to understand, the C-PTSD. I think, in reality, I am becoming more drawn to a holistic type therapist. However, I am not finding one. As mentioned, I had a wonderful therapist before I moved.

Anyone with recs for finding a good therapist for PTSD is appreciated. Not even support groups in this area.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Have you tried Sidran? Just google it and you should be able to find their website. They have a referral service for finding a therapist. You call, give them your location, and a few days later they email you a list of therapists who treat people with PTSD. Then comes the fun part of calling all those therapists. There are all kinds of therapists registered with Sidran. You just have to weed through them to find the holistic ones. I saw a holistic therapist once, and I decided it was not for me. But everyone is different, and different types of therapies work for different people. Good Luck!

 

[Marlene]

I was on klonopin for almost a year and after the tough time I had getting off of it, I understand your reluctance to restart. At the same time, when my anixety kicks up to full boil (like Friday at work) I really wish I had something I could take for those times when it starts again. It's such a balancing act for me.

If there's a university close to you, try calling their psychology department and see if they can recommend someone. That's how I found my therapist. Or call a local VA hospital and ask them if they have someone they can recommend.

Lisa

 

[kers]

If meds are the piece you need to get back to living a life you enjoy, then they are a welcome support (not a crutch). I am planning on reducing my meds with my doc and he warned me that I may find the need to go back on them. Sometimes our brain chemistry is so messed up that it keeps needing the medications. That's not shameful, it's a fact.

I found my therapist via the PsychologyToday website. I searched based on location, and then read the descriptions each therapist had written and looked at the pictures. Mine isn't even a PTSD specialist, but he's had experience with treating it and he has a kind, accepting philosophy that emphasizes mindfulness and he's not rushing me to get through the healing.

This is a hard journey, looking for good help, but finding the right person can be so helpful.

 

[WhiteFlag]

I can relate. I too had to wean of the benzos, and only have had to take a mild one occasionally since, when things get 'bad'. The ADs have never seemed to work for me. I am afraid the new T will prescribe me benzos again as I am afraid I will become dependant, but it was actually the only thing that worked for panic for me...so I'm also afraid he wont! I have read that the right medication with the right therapist works twice as well as either alone; medications will help to alleviate symptoms faster but not for good whereas really good therapy is meant to work to reduce symptoms for a lot longer and give you mechanisms to reduce symptoms yourself in the long run. But we still have to reduce the symptoms down to a manageable level before therapy works...so don't be too hard on yourself and I won't on me either, ok? :-)
Be good to you- and remember that we are injured but can heal; we wouldn't feel bad about getting treatment if we had to take Cancer treatments!
All the best,
WF