[mike2020]

Hi, My name is mike and I am new here. I have been trying for a very long time to get help with my anxiety, but I just can't find any. I am not depressed, I am not bi-polar, and not epileptic, I do not have fibromyalgia, and I am not a drug addict, but all of these labels and meds have been affixed to me and I get zero help for my anxiety. Over a decade of therapy, and I don't have one coping skill.

I am at the point where I feel I must start to embrace this drug addict label, because I cannot get effective treatment from the medical community. They would rather see me suffer than treat my condition. I just want the anxiety to stop, even just for a few days would be so nice.

I hate what I have become, and I feel the medical community has left me no choice but to fulfill this drug addict label and try to find relief. Not only am I mentally ill, but now I must be a criminal as well. What these so-called professions are doing to me is sick and twisted. No wonder people find comfort in death.

Sorry to be such a downer, and I hope my thread doesn't violate any rules here. Peace and love - Mike

hi, mike. are you seeing a therapist or a primary care doctor for treatment of your anxiety? my recommendation, if you have not already done this, is to get a referral to a prescribing therapist. be prepared when you see them and have a detailed list of anxiety problems and specific instances. also, you must ask the therapist about coping skills. examples of coping skills for anxiety include meditation, yoga, and exercise. (i find bike riding helps me!) perhaps the subject of drug addiction comes up because a lot of anti-anxiety meds are addictive. consequently, it's often best to be treated with anti-depressants. that decision, however, is up to your MD. please do NOT self medicate as that is very dangerous. good luck to you!

[IceCreamKid]

Hello and welcome. I am sorry you are upset and suffering so, but I'd like to offer a little perspective: I really don't believe that most medical professionals would rather see anyone suffer rather than treat someone's condition. It is more likely that some conditions just involve more suffering (and of course that is a personal perception) than others. If you have had a problem with drug use, there may be some tough love going on, too. But as far as epilepsy goes, it can have some serious consequences, so you don't want to just brush off any talk of that from a doctor. Another thing; your anxiety may be related to your drug dependency and if that is the case, it may be short-term, once you adjust to not taking drugs other than as the doctor prescribes. Addiction is its own prison; you want to do everything you can to escape its inevitable suffering. Have you attended self-help groups like NA? You might hear some valuable conversation about coping with anxiety there.

[Towanda]

Originally Posted by mike2020

Hi, My name is mike and I am new here. I have been trying for a very long time to get help with my anxiety, but I just can't find any. I am not depressed, I am not bi-polar, and not epileptic, I do not have fibromyalgia, and I am not a drug addict, but all of these labels and meds have been affixed to me and I get zero help for my anxiety. Over a decade of therapy, and I don't have one coping skill.

I am at the point where I feel I must start to embrace this drug addict label, because I cannot get effective treatment from the medical community. They would rather see me suffer than treat my condition. I just want the anxiety to stop, even just for a few days would be so nice.

Originally Posted by mike2020

I hate what I have become, and I feel the medical community has left me no choice but to fulfill this drug addict label and try to find relief. Not only am I mentally ill, but now I must be a criminal as well. What these so-called professions are doing to me is sick and twisted. No wonder people find comfort in death.

Sorry to be such a downer, and I hope my thread doesn't violate any rules here. Peace and love - Mike

Hi Mike, First of all, I loved the way you signed off your post. You don't hear people saying "peace and love"too much anymore and I miss it.

Mike, as a former alcoholic and addict myself, some tough love here. Why on earth would you choose to "fulfill this drug addict label?" Drugs and alcohol help you avoid life, avoid making choices to improve your life, to avoid doing the hard work to make your life better.

You say you've had a decade of therapy and not one coping skill? Why not? Do you honestly not want to get better? Are you subconsciously making the choice to live the life of an invalid, to wear the label "mentally ill" so you don't have to move forward, so you can stay stuck?

Mike, I'm not saying any of this to be mean. But I faced some of the same problems you're voicing and someone held a mirror up to me, and literally told me to choose life or death, if I kept on going the way I was. Since then, it's been six years of hellaciously hard work - therapy so difficult I thought it was going to rip my heart and lungs out at times. Times I thought I couldn't go on because of the way they kept changing my meds to get rid of the side effects which really F'd with my moods. However, I am now in school studying for a master's in psychology/counseling. My marriage is solid. I am sober from drugs and alcohol for three years. My life has its ups and downs but I am still here, and very happy that I am.

Sometimes it takes many therapists before you find the one who works for you the right way. I went through five. Look for a new T if necessary if you feel you're not making progress with the one you have now. Try a new pdoc if you feel the one you have is not listening to you, or if you feel you may have been misdiagnosed.

Whatever you do, DON"T GIVE UP!! And, don't give in to the dark side. Your life is worth much more than that. PM me if you want to. I care

Peace and love to you too

[tontoe]

Originally Posted by mike2020

Hi, My name is mike and I am new here. I have been trying for a very long time to get help with my anxiety, but I just can't find any. I am not depressed, I am not bi-polar, and not epileptic, I do not have fibromyalgia, and I am not a drug addict, but all of these labels and meds have been affixed to me and I get zero help for my anxiety. Over a decade of therapy, and I don't have one coping skill.

I am at the point where I feel I must start to embrace this drug addict label, because I cannot get effective treatment from the medical community. They would rather see me suffer than treat my condition. I just want the anxiety to stop, even just for a few days would be so nice.

I hate what I have become, and I feel the medical community has left me no choice but to fulfill this drug addict label and try to find relief. Not only am I mentally ill, but now I must be a criminal as well. What these so-called professions are doing to me is sick and twisted. No wonder people find comfort in death.

Sorry to be such a downer, and I hope my thread doesn't violate any rules here. Peace and love - Mike

hi mike, im sorry to hear you are felling so low, i would like to be here for you and help you to find away forward and going forward, perhaps it would be best if we chatted anddiscused this more tontoe you tack care talk soon

[-jimi-]

What kind of anxiety do you have?

[Rosie23]

Anxiety sucks. I have medication for it, but it just never goes completely away. So I save the meds for the days when someone or something triggers it.

Don't give up! Try relaxation CD's, yoga, meditation and a therapist to learn coping skills.

I have been thinking I need to do more than I am to combat it also.

Peace

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by mike2020

Hi, My name is mike and I am new here. I have been trying for a very long time to get help with my anxiety, but I just can't find any. I am not depressed, I am not bi-polar, and not epileptic, I do not have fibromyalgia, and I am not a drug addict, but all of these labels and meds have been affixed to me and I get zero help for my anxiety. Over a decade of therapy, and I don't have one coping skill.

I am at the point where I feel I must start to embrace this drug addict label, because I cannot get effective treatment from the medical community. They would rather see me suffer than treat my condition. I just want the anxiety to stop, even just for a few days would be so nice.

I hate what I have become, and I feel the medical community has left me no choice but to fulfill this drug addict label and try to find relief. Not only am I mentally ill, but now I must be a criminal as well. What these so-called professions are doing to me is sick and twisted. No wonder people find comfort in death.

Sorry to be such a downer, and I hope my thread doesn't violate any rules here. Peace and love - Mike

No, you do have a choice. Many choices.

You don't say where you have looked for help. Do you mean medical doctors only?

Do you have a therapist to help you? I found that therapy was the best anxiety reliever ever, better than Xanax.