Hello all,
First post here. I'll be honest, I don't suffer from PTSD, however the community here seems to be very educated and I'm hoping for some help with past experiences. I hope you don't mind.
I've been putting up with stress and anxiety for years now. Around 4 years ago, I had an extreme case of agoraphobia after losing my job. I never completely overcame it, I started a new job and the symptoms seemed to get better but the anxiety was always there. I was diagnosed beta blockers that just didn't help, I feel it made me worse.
Since then, I've been putting up with panic attacks on and off. 2 weeks ago, I had a bad panic attack which caused me to leave work early on Monday morning. My doctor put me back on beta blockers, even after advising him it causes me more anxiety. At the weekend, I couldn't function correctly at all. My normal favourite time is saturdays and sundays, as I get to spend this time with my son. On this particular Saturday, the anxiety was so bad that I could hardly speak to him. I was an absolute mess, so I decided to call the out-of-office doctor. He could hear how wound up I was, and he prescribed me 7x 2mg Diazepam tablets.
My wife collected the prescription that night and brought it home. I took 1 tablet, and the amount of relief I felt... I can't describe. I was back to normal for the first time in years. My wife commented how the colour had returned to my face, and I felt I could speak and do normal things with my son before bed. I felt that the drug had worked a small miracle, thats the relief I felt.
I called my own doctor the following Monday, and I described to him how relieved I was to get this tablet (keep in mind, I'd never taken a benzo in my life). He advised he would prescribe me a full box, 2mg, for when needed for anxiety.
I returned to work, didn't take any pills, and was hopeful the relief I got on that Saturday night was enough to allow me to return to work, as my mind and body had gotten this so needed break. Within about a hour, I was feeling pretty bad. Anxiety had crept up, and I was looking for exits to run out the door. I brought a pill with me incase this should happen. Now, I know how bad these tablets can cause addiction and dependance, so I decided to break a tablet in half, so I was only getting 1mg of Valium. It helped take the edge off.
3 out of my 4 working days this week, I have felt I need to take the 1mg of Diazepam to see me through. I try not to, until it gets to the point where Im either gonna take the half pill or leave work. Before I do, I cant even go outside to take a break.. Im outside for 2 minutes and want to rush back to the safe haven of my computer. My colleagues were noticing this also.
I've been using the initial prescription pills I got from the on-call doctor, Im yet the open the box I was prescribed by my own doctor.
Today, for example, its the weekend and Ive got my son again. I feel like i'd like to take a 2mg tablet, as I felt anxious when I woke up this morning and drove to pick him up. I don't want a repeat of last week.
The reason I'm posting, really, is the worry of dependance and addiction. I understand there are people posting here with severly difficult experiences and times, and my short 1 week doses of Valium will likely make a lot people laugh or turn their noses up. I'm worried about developing a habit where I'll need more and more to feel normal. I think I also need reassurance that the small amounts im taking, and trying space these out for when I really need it, will not have a severe adverse effect.
Has anyone with similar experiences with low doses of valium able to comment on this or discuss your expeirence?
Again, I apologize if I shouldn't have really posted on these forums. I am aware that people here are dealing with a lot more than I am at the moment.
Thanks.
First post here. I'll be honest, I don't suffer from PTSD, however the community here seems to be very educated and I'm hoping for some help with past experiences. I hope you don't mind.
I've been putting up with stress and anxiety for years now. Around 4 years ago, I had an extreme case of agoraphobia after losing my job. I never completely overcame it, I started a new job and the symptoms seemed to get better but the anxiety was always there. I was diagnosed beta blockers that just didn't help, I feel it made me worse.
Since then, I've been putting up with panic attacks on and off. 2 weeks ago, I had a bad panic attack which caused me to leave work early on Monday morning. My doctor put me back on beta blockers, even after advising him it causes me more anxiety. At the weekend, I couldn't function correctly at all. My normal favourite time is saturdays and sundays, as I get to spend this time with my son. On this particular Saturday, the anxiety was so bad that I could hardly speak to him. I was an absolute mess, so I decided to call the out-of-office doctor. He could hear how wound up I was, and he prescribed me 7x 2mg Diazepam tablets.
My wife collected the prescription that night and brought it home. I took 1 tablet, and the amount of relief I felt... I can't describe. I was back to normal for the first time in years. My wife commented how the colour had returned to my face, and I felt I could speak and do normal things with my son before bed. I felt that the drug had worked a small miracle, thats the relief I felt.
I called my own doctor the following Monday, and I described to him how relieved I was to get this tablet (keep in mind, I'd never taken a benzo in my life). He advised he would prescribe me a full box, 2mg, for when needed for anxiety.
I returned to work, didn't take any pills, and was hopeful the relief I got on that Saturday night was enough to allow me to return to work, as my mind and body had gotten this so needed break. Within about a hour, I was feeling pretty bad. Anxiety had crept up, and I was looking for exits to run out the door. I brought a pill with me incase this should happen. Now, I know how bad these tablets can cause addiction and dependance, so I decided to break a tablet in half, so I was only getting 1mg of Valium. It helped take the edge off.
3 out of my 4 working days this week, I have felt I need to take the 1mg of Diazepam to see me through. I try not to, until it gets to the point where Im either gonna take the half pill or leave work. Before I do, I cant even go outside to take a break.. Im outside for 2 minutes and want to rush back to the safe haven of my computer. My colleagues were noticing this also.
I've been using the initial prescription pills I got from the on-call doctor, Im yet the open the box I was prescribed by my own doctor.
Today, for example, its the weekend and Ive got my son again. I feel like i'd like to take a 2mg tablet, as I felt anxious when I woke up this morning and drove to pick him up. I don't want a repeat of last week.
The reason I'm posting, really, is the worry of dependance and addiction. I understand there are people posting here with severly difficult experiences and times, and my short 1 week doses of Valium will likely make a lot people laugh or turn their noses up. I'm worried about developing a habit where I'll need more and more to feel normal. I think I also need reassurance that the small amounts im taking, and trying space these out for when I really need it, will not have a severe adverse effect.
Has anyone with similar experiences with low doses of valium able to comment on this or discuss your expeirence?
Again, I apologize if I shouldn't have really posted on these forums. I am aware that people here are dealing with a lot more than I am at the moment.
Thanks.
