Since I was taken off lorazepam my anxiety is horrible. I have it like 5 days a week. It feels chemical. I've tried coping skills, but when it's severe, it is just something I have to wait for to pass. I'm not functioning well. I'm gonna see about going on buspar. I see a new pdoc on the 13th. If he offers for me to go on lorazapam again, I probably won't do it. Coming off was so hard. I don't want to go through that again.

I feel you can learn from hardships, they can make you stronger. But I'm not learning anything from this anxiety. Anybody have any ideas of what can be learned?

rose1985, have you ever used low dose Seroquel? I take a somewhat large dose of Seroquel XR and my anxiety levels have been pretty low, comparitively, for years. But when I do get some anxiety, I have used low dose of the regular instant release Seroquel as a prn medication. It has helped me. Even doses of only 25 to 50 mg. Doses that low, especially 25 mg, don't even make me tired anymore. I got used to it.

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

rose1985, have you ever used low dose Seroquel? I take a somewhat large dose of Seroquel XR and my anxiety levels have been pretty low, comparitively, for years. But when I do get some anxiety, I have used low dose of the regular instant release Seroquel as a prn medication. It has helped me. Even doses of only 25 to 50 mg. Doses that low, especially 25 mg, don't even make me tired anymore. I got used to it.

I can ask him about it. I just worry about weight gain. When I was first put on meds I gained 50 lbs on Seroquel. I still haven't lost it. Now I take 5 mgs of Zyprexa. Makes it hard to lose weight.

But thank you for the idea. I will consider it.

[~Christina]

Buspar seems to either really help or do absolutely nothing

Have you tried Gabapentin? My daughter takes that and it pretty much eliminated her anxiety.

Of course there’s also Inderal , low dose blood pressure Med but it helps with anxiety

BirdDancer brings up Seroquil and it can be really helpful.. straight Seroquil not the xr seems to has less of weight gain issue, but everyone is different of course.

When I was on Invega I had a very noticeable drop in anxiety/panic attack. It was a weight neutral Med for me.

I do think you should avoid going back on a benzo , you had a rough time getting off them.

There are some OTC supplements that do help some people. Might be something you could spend time on Amazon and compare a few and read reviews.

I know you struggle to shower but one of the fastest way for me to pretty much stop panic or anxiety is a hot hot shower. Maybe you can build up to that coping skill.

Meditation, mindfulness and distraction Distraction Distraction !

Keep using coping skills even if you don’t notice a change right away

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Buspar seems to either really help or do absolutely nothing

Have you tried Gabapentin? My daughter takes that and it pretty much eliminated her anxiety.

Of course there’s also Inderal , low dose blood pressure Med but it helps with anxiety

BirdDancer brings up Seroquil and it can be really helpful.. straight Seroquil not the xr seems to has less of weight gain issue, but everyone is different of course.

When I was on Invega I had a very noticeable drop in anxiety/panic attack. It was a weight neutral Med for me.

I do think you should avoid going back on a benzo , you had a rough time getting off them.

There are some OTC supplements that do help some people. Might be something you could spend time on Amazon and compare a few and read reviews.

I know you struggle to shower but one of the fastest way for me to pretty much stop panic or anxiety is a hot hot shower. Maybe you can build up to that coping skill.

Meditation, mindfulness and distraction Distraction Distraction !

Keep using coping skills even if you don’t notice a change right away

Thanks so much for all the ideas! I'm on gabapentin, it helps but wears off. I'm going to see about getting it increased. I'm on invega 3 mgs. I don't want to increase it bc of akathisia. I tend to get it with aps. I'm gonna ask about inderal and Seroquel, but that would mean I'm on 3 aps. Maybe I can change to Seroquel er at night and the instant release in the day. And get off Zyprexa. That idea just came to me.

I hope he can help. I'm doing a lot of dbt for my coping skills. I'm hoping to learn more with this new therapist. My last therapist was let go. She really triggered me so that's ok. I'm pretty new with this therapist still. I see her tomorrow and I'm hoping she has some ideas. I only see her twice a month.

Once again, thanks for the ideas.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by rose1985

Thanks so much for all the ideas! I'm on gabapentin, it helps but wears off. I'm going to see about getting it increased. I'm on invega 3 mgs. I don't want to increase it bc of akathisia. I tend to get it with aps. I'm gonna ask about inderal and Seroquel, but that would mean I'm on 3 aps. Maybe I can change to Seroquel er at night and the instant release in the day. And get off Zyprexa. That idea just came to me.


I hope he can help. I'm doing a lot of dbt for my coping skills. I'm hoping to learn more with this new therapist. My last therapist was let go. She really triggered me so that's ok. I'm pretty new with this therapist still. I see her tomorrow and I'm hoping she has some ideas. I only see her twice a month.


Once again, thanks for the ideas.

Glad I helped a bit. You have good ideas about change in med times etc

Hope your new T is a good fit. Congrats on DBT it’s tough work but the pay off will be so worth it

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Glad I helped a bit. You have good ideas about change in med times etc

Hope your new T is a good fit. Congrats on DBT it’s tough work but the pay off will be so worth it

Yeah I practice a lot of radical acceptance and distress tolerance skills. I have a book on it.

I so far really like this new therapist. She's really young but really wants to help me. I'm really looking forward to seeing what all we can accomplish together. I'm holding off on trauma work, I need to get this anxiety under control first.

I love your new avatar pic. You're a beautiful person in and out Christina.

[fern46]

This might be worth a shot. My therapist recommended it. She takes it for anxiety.

Holy Basil: Benefits for Your Brain and Your Body

Originally Posted by fern46

This might be worth a shot. My therapist recommended it. She takes it for anxiety.

Holy Basil: Benefits for Your Brain and Your Body

Thank you for the idea. I will look into it. I appreciate your response. Thanks

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by rose1985

Yeah I practice a lot of radical acceptance and distress tolerance skills. I have a book on it.


I so far really like this new therapist. She's really young but really wants to help me. I'm really looking forward to seeing what all we can accomplish together. I'm holding off on trauma work, I need to get this anxiety under control first.


I love your new avatar pic. You're a beautiful person in and out Christina.

Thanks so much

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Thanks so much

You are welcome.

[unicornlady]

What dose of Gabapentin are you taking?

Originally Posted by unicornlady

What dose of Gabapentin are you taking?

1800 mgs.

[*Beth*]

What I've learned from anxiety is to breathe, remember to drop my shoulders, relax my entire body, and breathe evenly - until I can get the medication I need into my mouth. Truth

[sarahsweets]

Have you considered trying to get into a medical MJ program? I also have used valerian root as well. Its smells awful but sometimes works. I also want to echo what @BethRags mentioned. A lot of people think breathing deep is just meant to calm you down but its more about flooding your brain with the extra oxygen.

[daladico]

It’s possible that the Buspar will help! It has helped me significantly. As far as what one can learn from anxiety... it’s helped me to connect in deep beautiful ways with other people who suffer with anxiety. And this may be odd, but it’s opened me up to a spiritual journey and a completely new mindset of the world. I suffered for 2.5yr with severe anxiety... and it wasn’t until recently that I feel like I’m finding my answer. Truly accepting the anxiety has made a huge difference, as I kept trying to fight it & “beat” it, and that just made the anxiety worse. I highly recommend the book “DARE” by Barry McDonaugh... it has completely changed my relationship with the anxiety. Sending hugs your way- I hope you find your answers soon! <3

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Have you considered trying to get into a medical MJ program? I also have used valerian root as well. Its smells awful but sometimes works. I also want to echo what @BethRags mentioned. A lot of people think breathing deep is just meant to calm you down but its more about flooding your brain with the extra oxygen.

Weed makes me paranoid. But thanks for the idea.

Originally Posted by daladico

It’s possible that the Buspar will help! It has helped me significantly. As far as what one can learn from anxiety... it’s helped me to connect in deep beautiful ways with other people who suffer with anxiety. And this may be odd, but it’s opened me up to a spiritual journey and a completely new mindset of the world. I suffered for 2.5yr with severe anxiety... and it wasn’t until recently that I feel like I’m finding my answer. Truly accepting the anxiety has made a huge difference, as I kept trying to fight it & “beat” it, and that just made the anxiety worse. I highly recommend the book “DARE” by Barry McDonaugh... it has completely changed my relationship with the anxiety. Sending hugs your way- I hope you find your answers soon! <3

Thank you so much. I ordered the book. Thank you for the support.