Dealing with anxiety without meds?

Due to financial issues that cannot be resolved, I can't get my medications. I was on Effexor and was about to have Wellbutrin added because my depression and especially anxiety were not being relieved, but because I make "too much" money from getting financial aid (which I do not actually get, all of it pays for my tuition) I don't qualify for any programs in my state for reduced price medication. I can get it free when I'm actually in school (in another state), but over the summer I can't and there's absolutely no way I can pay for it.

I'm worried about what'll happen when the medicine I have now runs out. My anxiety was being helped some with the medicine, so I'm worried (adding to the anxiety!) that it'll come back full force once I run out. Is there anything I can do to calm it down without medication?

This might sound stupid, but years ago when I left a job I got a three month supply of meds in advance from my company, knowing that my coverage would run out when I was no longer employed by them. Is that an option? I don't think it is a good idea to go off meds "cold turkey" maybe you can use that argument.

A lot of docs have samples...Not sure what the Walmart stuff is all about (something about very reduced prices)...if you are affiliated with a church they may be able to help with costs...

Hoping you can find a solution...

I saw your post about the church before, but I'm not affiliated with one at all. Thanks for the suggestions. With some stores like Walmart and Target they have a program where certain generic drugs are only 4 dollars. It seems it would be a better solution to at least try one of these than for me to stop? But I don't know.

I think your right about trying before stopping...

I'm sorry, I don't have any ideas on dealing with your anxiety without meds.

But, in the future do what I do: Keep extras on hand. You can do this by picking your prescriptions up early(if you can). Also, skipping a day here and there will help you build up a supply. You can also take less than what your pdoc prescribes, everyday.

You should call your doctor who prescribed you the effexor and ask him what to do. Maybe he can prescribe you something cheaper, and mail the prescription to you. When I was a truck driver, I would sometimes pick up prescriptions written in my home state, in another state. A pharmacist told me prescriptions are good in any state. However, your doctor may not be willing to prescribe you something new without seeing you. But it's worth a shot.

Do you have enough left to start trying to cut back? Maybe one every other day?

If you google * walmart $4 drug list*, you can see which drugs are $4.

He does prescribe me them out of state, but he just calls them in to my pharmacy here. I have been trying to get in touch with him because I knew about Walmarts 4 dollar program, and I wanted to see if he would even consider letting me try one of those drugs, at least for the summer. Unfortunately, due to an overdose I took, there is no way he will prescribe me that many at a time. He was even nervous about prescribing more than 1 week at a time, but now he will do a month, at least. Thank you so much for your suggestions! I don't have any left, but I might try cutting back once I finally get back on something to avoid this again.

Maybe a local mental health agency can help with ideas?

http://www.ichope.com/index.cgi?toke...plmh-meds.html

Thanks for that link Perna. I will look into all of that!