Going Off Meds And Picking Up Another Habit?

[missd84]

I've been off Lexapro for a couple weeks now when I ran out on refills and have no insurance so just weaned myself off the best I could on my own. I also haven't been in therapy for 3 months for the same reason. I feel like I've been doing alright but now when my anxiety rises, I seem to not be able to handle that feeling again of losing control. I don't like it at all. My head gets foggy, heart racing, and feel like I'm gonna explode. It can be from the smallest thing too, which is bothersome in and of itself.

One night last week, I decided I'd go buy a pack of menthols to calm me down. Occasionally in college, I would get a smoke from my roommates and it would help. Luckily, I never got addicted or became a smoker. However, since going off my meds and not having any therapy at all, I have started to crave them. I know it's not a good habit to start and I actually think it's quite disgusting but I don't know how else to cope. Anyone else have this experience or something similar?

 

[ronin47]

I actually took up abusing OTC drugs during a period where I was not in therapy or taking medicine. I would swallow or even crush and snort things like allergy medicine and dramamine to help myself relax. One night after a particularly stressful week, I took 12 pills all at once. The next morning every muscle in my body was limp, even my face. People would ask me questions and it would take me 3-5 seconds to reply. My reply may or may not have been relevant to what they asked me. I went to my morning class but I sat there and faded in and out of conscioussness.

Pretty sure that was the last time I used Benedryl for a while.

Obviously not being in therapy is not ideal, however if that's what circumstances dictate I would explore different ways of coping that are healthier for you. Maybe jump down and do some pushups when you feel the anxiety coming on?