[owl-hoot]

I have severe social anxiety, major depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) & romance phobia. My GAD has been very bad the last month and I've had to struggle with severe chronic anxiety for like a week at a time! I've had to take beta blockers and zopiclone to manage the symptoms. I don't cope well at all when I'm going through a bad GAD episode and frequently cry and feel suicidal because I can't cope with the severe anxiety symptoms. They are horrific.

I saw my GP in UK on NHS and she could see that I needed more specialized help for my problems so referred me to a psychiatrist. I saw him last Friday and was asked lots of questions. I stated my difficulties loud and clear but I still didn't receive the result I wanted. He informed me that he was not going to swap my anti dep meds as I've tried every major anti dep and to stay on venlafaxine, betas and zopiclone. He also said he wasn't going to refer me on for any more specialized therapy as I've had plenty of cbt therapy/counseling in the past and to just use the tools you've learnt from cbt and any free NHS courses you've been on. I couldn't believe it! I feel so ill with this anxiety and all the care and support is just left to my Mum who I live with and my bf on the phone.

Stupid NHS! What do you have to do to get some proper help! Arrrgghhh!

[owl-hoot]

I just wondered if anyone else suffered from week long chronic anxiety bouts? I have Generalised anxiety disorder and other mh issues. I'm told why I get them is cos of my major depression.

Are you trying to use your CBT and other tools to cope? SImply changing your meds isn't going to make everything go away and I think this is the message your psychiatrist tried to make.

In answer to your question, yes I have had anxiety last a week and extremely far longer. It is always a challenge. In my case however the therapy has helped me. I had to make a commitment to it. CBT was completed coming on 6 months ago but I still do the work weekly or as anxiety arises. My psychiatrist has in turn removed a medication from my mix as a result. Yes, I get it and often, but I use my skills to cope with it. I had a bad bout last week but I delved down deep and managed with a combination of my tools and talking about it.

[Skeezyks]

Hello owl-hoot: Well... the Skeezyks seems to be just generally anxious all the time... 24 / 7. I'm an older person & I wonder if some of it is possibly physical rather than psychological. I have this constant low-grade tremor throughout my body... also 24 / 7. I haven't sought medical treatment for it. The only increases in anxiety I experience are when little things (insignificant really) go wrong, I go ballistic for a couple of minutes or so. Then I spend the rest of the day feeling disgusted with the way I reacted.

I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time. I don't know how mental health services are provided in the U.K. I have the impression you can't just go to a different pdoc if one isn't helpful. Sometimes that can be difficult here in the U.S. too simply because often psychiatrists aren't necessarily accepting new patients. And then there are health insurance restrictions to be taken into account. But, at least, there may be the possibility of seeing a different pdoc if need be. I have the impression that isn't necessarily the case in the U.K. It must be so very frustrating! Anyway, I hope that you will be able to find a way to feel at least a bit better. Perhaps continuing to post, here on PC, can help?