I hope it’s okay for me to do my introduction in this thread. I’ve actually been a silent part of the community for awhile, but since a mee change I’ve been struggling a little, so am seeking out support and info wherever I can.

I’ve been paired on lithium and fluoxetine for 10 years now, and it totally turned my life around. I had A pdoc change recently and she is very against this combo bc she says it was causing me to be hypomanic (which I really don’t mind, bc I rather enjoy it, but I understand why she needs to adjust it). But ever since she removed it about 8 weeks ago, I have terrible anxiety and these weird crying spells and irritable flip outs over nonsense things (e.g., a coworker was mildly rude, so I went back to my office turned out the lights and punched the wall and cried for a half hours. Just way over the top ridiculous reactions like that, that I can’t explain why I feel that way).

I looked up some natural anxiety reduction techniques and have had some help (like removed caffeine, started these diaphragmatic breathing exercises, etc), but it is still so bad and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to lose my job. I really dislike the typical anti anxiety stuff they give me, like Xanax or Valium or whatnot, bc even .5 mg just puts be right to sleep. Are there other medicines I can ask the doctor about? There is this constant gnawing in my stomach, even if I’m not actively worried about anything. It’s like my body constantly thinks I’m in danger, even if I’m just sitting on my couch doing a crossword.