Xanax Making Me Overly Emotional?

[screen-name]

So I haven't been on here in a while. I got my PTSD diagnosis less than a year ago and I've been trying to wrap my head around it.

Anyway, this week my doc gave me Xanax (3 times a day) to help me stop dissacociation so much. I started it yesterday.

I have been more anxious. This morning I woke up an cried uncontrollably, then fussed at my bf, then cried, then felt bad, and now I'm tired and don't want to handle what i need to do today.

*note I also lost my job on Monday.

Had Has anyone else had overly emotional issues with Xanax? Do I just need time to adjust or should I go back for a different med?

 

[Mim28]

Each person reacts differently to medication. While you certainly have a lot on your plate right now I would recommend you call your doctor and tell them how you are feeling. You didn't mention if it was prescribed by a primary doctor or a psychiatrist. I would speak to your psychiatrist about your reaction

 

[Justmehere]

I'm so sorry you lost your job! That alone could explain it. Sometimes people also have paradoxical reactions to meds - be sure to call your doc today and let them know.

Any effort done to stop dissociation is very likely to an increase in emotions.

Because it's stopping you from dissociating them away.

It's called the numb-flood cycle. Stop being numb, and for awhile, people will feel flooded. The key is to not numb them out again or they will just flood again.

Ongoing benzo use like xanax is also likely to lead to it not working very well to reduce anxiety, so you may also be experiencing the drug losing its sedative anti anxiety effect over time... but since you are just starting it, I expect the emotions that you are used to dissociating out after something horrible happens like losing a job is now something you can feel.

Low dose naltrexone is becoming the new standard medication to decrease dissociation because it doesn't wear off over time like benzos do and is a little more gradual.

It will also lead to feeling more emotions because they are not being dissociated out of awareness.

Therapy, grounding skills, mindfulness, and other supports can help reduce emotional dysregulation and reactivity - and to be able to tolerate them with less distress - Really important stuff to learn how to do, especially when facing a new major life stressor like job loss. :hug:s to you.

 

[Silver.]

Also a thought I haven't seen mentioned. You are going through a lot right now, and I know for a lot of us women, hormones tend to exacerbate symptoms. So if you are in a tough part of your "cycle", then it could be making things intensified. Just something to think about?
It can take people a while to get used to taking a benzo, so it could be your body adjusting to having a new "potent" medicine in it, but I am with Mim at double checking with your prescriber just to make sure that you aren't having a bad reaction to it. Applying the skills that JMH has said is going to be beneficial to you considering you have just had a major change in your life.
Do keep us updated on how this is going for you? Gentle hugs if you accept x

 

[screen-name]

It was a psychiatrist that gave me the Rx.

Emotional flooding makes sense and I can try grounding with them. I use that to help with dissacociation. It had just gotten so bad that I wasn't getting stuff done like I need to in order to live/work. I have never tried it for emotions though.

I really hate having to try so hard just to live through a day. I think I'm a little mad about the diagnosis and that this may be forever.

 

[screen-name]

Also a thought I haven't seen mentioned. You are going through a lot right now, and I know for a lot of...

My boyfriend mentioned my cycle too lol. This may be TMI but I'm irregular and have been for more than a year (I've been to my GYN for that) So I never know if that's an issue until after the fact. Still it's possible.

 

[Mim28]

I'm sorry screen name. You are going through a lot and I have also found myself flooded with emotions at times. It's hard when we are trying to balance it all and keep it together. We are here for you.

 

[Silver.]

It had just gotten so bad that I wasn't getting stuff done like I need to in order to live/work.

This is completely understandable. When things are really hard, we can't even think of the tools that we know help us because our brains are on overload. In October, when I was feeling pretty stable, I made myself a WRAP (wellness recovery action plan), that thing has been so insanely helpful. I can open it when I am just in the pit and feeling hopeless, and there is a list of my triggers, and my tools to help me get stable and back on my healing path. Something to think about in the future when things get on even keel perhaps?

edited: not TMI we all go through it, and it's hard when you can't be predictable with your cycle. But good on you for checking in with your OB because that can be hard for a lot of women and they tend to ignore/put off what's going on with them

 

[Mim28]

Love that idea Silver. I need to do that immediately!!! Can you expand on what you've included in your plan?

 

[Silver.]

@Mim28 I used a few websites to help me out, I will email you the links so I don't hijack the thread x

 

[screen-name]

Thanks everyone. I've been told, since June, that I have PTSD. It took a few medical opinions for me to belive them. The reason I even went to a therapist to begin with is because I started losing chunks of time in my memory. Basically I've been told that I was coping how I'd been since childhood and the stressful 2 years I had sort of broke my ability to cope.

Now I'm trying to learn how to put it back together. Luckily I have a sister, a great dad, and a boyfriend who is trying his best to understand.

I will work on a plan in the future. Right now I don't know triggers really. I normally just have something hap

 

[Mim28]

Thank you!!!!