[motoxmom]

First of all I want to say hello...and thank you for being such a friendly forum for those who need to be strong.

My Background (in short): I have suffered from mild anxiety pretty much all my life. I guess that set me up for a life long battle of mental weakness. After "hiding" my secret for so long and working in a management posion ...in otherwords having CONTROL of my issues.... I recently LOST CONTROL. I cant hide anymore and all my family and friends found out this summer during a weekend that I had a FULL BLOWN panic attack. I suffered many life changing experiences within this past 1 year and my self taught cope skills got too weak......

Now that the "cat" is out of the bag and everyone is "concerned" I feel paranoid. I have recently gone back to the DOCTOR for a prescription that I took 10 years ago (Buspar) and after 3 months the stuff is not working. I tried Cymbalta, Lexapro and Effexor...all three threw me into nightly panic attacks !!!! This has forced me to start counseling (with my hubby) as of yesterday. I cried and cried and cried and they told me I have PTSD with depression.

NOW : So now I am on Buspar 15mg 2x day and Librium as needed. I see a therapist, a general doctor, and can not work because I have so much stuck in my head that I can not concentrate. I have a very hard time driving, do not do social stuff anymore, and prefer to stay in my comfort zone all day long. SEE the meds I am on do not work !!! Thank god my hubby is trying to be supportive. BUT my kids do not understand why mommy can not go to their sporting events anymore...

QUESTION:
I am curious what meds work best for PTSD because the counselor is telling me to go get a script for Valium or Xanex and stop taking Buspar. I prefer natural remedies maybe Clarocet??? I have got to get some relief soon. Thanks for your help !!!!

[thelostone]

i have ptsd, panic disorder with agoraphobia, some ocd, and possibly did. the only meds i take for these are klonopin during the day which has helped with the overall anxiety quite a bit, but i still have panic attacks when triggered, and restoril for sleep, otherwise i don't sleep more than 2 hours a night. therapy is the best bet because it gets to the root of the problems to help deal with them. meds are just a way to help you function, not a cure. but i would definitly talk to your dr about something other than buspar at this point, even just xanax or something for when it gets unbearable. jmho

lost

[PleaseHelp]

I have PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I take Buspar, Clonazepam (Klonopin), and Paxil. The Paxil really helps with everything. I am not a big advocate of Paxil, however it seems to be helping.

Are you seeing just a regular doc or pdoc? (Psychiatric doc)

[motoxmom]

Thanks... I am seeing a general doc, and a therapist. I have another appointment next week to possibly change the meds. I would like to not take anything but the Librium does helps me alot. Busper does not do much at all anymore.

For PTSD I take clonidine and klonopin. Here's some info on meds for PTSD.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000901/1035.html

[Capp]

usual disclaimer of jmo/jme

I do understand your hesitation about taking meds, but they do not have to be a long term thing; however, that is sometimes necessary and there is nothing wrong with it.

It's important to get your symptoms under control then get your support system truly in place. When you are struggling just to get through the day, it's so very hard to think of anything else...and sometimes that doubles the guilt we may already have.

My SO has had significant improvement on Zoloft...as have others in his support group. He takes Klonopin for sleep.
His therapist is considered a pioneer in the treatment of PTSD, and he has helped my SO a great deal.
Here is a link with information put out by the Veterans Administration. The physicians, therapists, and patient work together to find what is of the most help.
Civilians and military alike are seeing benefits with these treatments.

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/MENTA...entforptsd.asp

I'm going to say something now, and I've no wish to offend you but I think it is the right thing for me to do...

You used the words mental weakness and coping skills got too weak. Weakness has nothing to do with what you are going through, and you may need to upgrade your coping skills but they are not weak.
You've shown a tremendous amount of courage in being honest and wanting things to be better. Please don't belittle yourself because you are having a rough time right now...
Perhaps your therapist can help you think of something to tell your kids that will reassure them...

Best wishes,
Cap

[ScaredSad]

I take propanolol and it works wonders!

[pachyderm]

You might look at this link for resources:

http://www.traumacenter.org/

Bessel van der Kolk is a leader in the field, especially regarding helpful medications, I think.

[Greg77733]

Hi, from the very being I thought the same thing as your T told youstop busbarand do valium. It is perfect for panic attacks.

[PleaseHelp]

It really all depends on how your body responds to the medication.

Some people do very well on one kind of medication, while it has no affect on others. Unfortunately it is trial and error to find the medication that best works for you.

The medications help with the symptoms that you are dealing with. However, to get to the root of the problem and have closure the only real thing that works is therapy.

I hope this helps. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.

[Capp]

There is much good information that has been given to you...
A good variety as many of us have benefited from different treatments...
Perhaps after reading through some of the material, something will "ring" with you...speak with your therapist and together you can plan your treatment protocol.

My best wishes for you to find the best direction for you. It does get better, and I hope you'll continue to share with us. There is so much that we learn from each other...newbies have taught me just as much as the oldtimers.
One of the best lessons about trust came from a ten year old boy casually talking to me.

Peace,
Cap

[phoenix7]

Hi,

I have PTSD, from which i got depression and at my lowest ebb self-harm - I take avanza which helps with the depression, panic attacks and sleeping - i take it at night and it puts me to sleep - wake often but sleep more than i used to - it also has a sedating effect so that calms me a bit - taking valium at night at the moment but that's only because i have an anniv of my event coming up - getting sleep really helps with coping mechnanisms - and there are no weak one's only different ones that work for different things - congratulations on seeking help - that can sometmes be the hardest thing to do - and it does get better - somtimes very slowly but therapy helped me a lot - talking about things that i thought made me stupid and pathetic and weak with my therapist made me realise that they were none of these things ....hmmm i may still come up with the stupid one's i hope things improve for you soon - P7