Okay, my T wants me to go to my GP to ask for a prescription for xanax as needed for my PTSD.

I am too scared to make the appointment.

Ironic, no?

[Fuzzybear]

((((((((((( earthmama ))))))))))))
I know how you feel... hope it goes smoothly (good that your T recommended it, so its likely the GP will cooperate)

[ECHOES]

I take it as needed, earthmama. It's been really helpful.
What concerns do you have, if you want to share that?

Feel free to PM me if you wish!!

If it is medically called for that's what it is for. I was on it for 17 years & now have switched to Klonopin.--Suzy

I am just kind of scared of going to the doctor. I need a xanax so I can go and ask for xanax. Argh!!!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by earthmama

I am just kind of scared of going to the doctor. I need a xanax so I can go and ask for xanax. Argh!!!

I hear ya! I had a very hard time asking my doctor for something to help with my anxiety. I felt she would not believe me that I needed something, and would just tell me to buck up or something. When I finally did tell her, she was very professional, asked my symptoms, and definitely thought medicine would be helpful. She has heard this from many patients before and prescribed many times for this. So although I thought wanting medicine for anxiety was out of the ordinary, from her perspective, it wasn't at all!. She wanted to put me on an anti-depressant that was good for anxiety too, but I resisted. So she gave me Xanax. I like it because I can use it on an as needed basis. With ADs, you have to take them every day (and many cause weight gain, which I don't need). I found the lowest dose of Xanax is really too strong for me. I have used them mainly at night to help sleep, taking a half pill. In really intense times, I have taken them during the day, but very rarely since they make me sleepy. I think I am more sensitive than the average person, though. (Also, I took one before a very intense time and it made me really zone out/dissociate. I couldn't remember a thing afterwards.)

One thing that was hard for me was to make an appointment specifically to request anxiety medicine. So I went to see my doctor for something else (a more "legitimate" physical complaint), and while there, I began the anxiety conversation. This made it easier for me.

Good luck, earthmama. This is so hard, I know.

[multipixie9]

Dear Earthmama,

I understand fear and I also use some xanax. What would make it easier for you to go to the doc - since you can't use xanax to get there? Is there someone who could go with you or drive you there and help? Could you write down all you want to tell him and give it to him so he will hear what you need and you won't have to say as much?

I wish we lived close by and I would take you. It is an effective med for anxiety. Just be wary enough of it to never put all your trust in it, it can be physically and psych. addictive. I just began to use it again recently and it did help me, especially when I used it first to travel out of the US to Italy. I wanted to go and was terrified too, oops!

I do care and hope you can work this out. It may make things a bit easier for you. I know life's been tough lately - and maybe even before lately?

Leslie and Her Pixies

[Dani]

I definitely know how that feels, I'm always scared to make drs appointments which is why I don't go very often. But try to tell yourself that it's for something that can really help you. I take xanax sometimes for my anxiety and it helps so much. So I really hope you can get the courage to make the call, just try to breathe slowly and tell yourself that it'll be okay.

[iamtwilight]

(((earthmama))) i hope you can do this! leslie gave some good advice. do you think you could take someone with you? or some thing that makes you feel safe. i used to take a panther made of jade with me to exams, dentist's etc because i thought it would bring good luck.

xanax is a very good med for anxiety just as long as you take it as described. otherwise you could get addicted and that's a fairly difficult situation.

btw, did you guys know xanax was originally specifically for panic disorder?

katie

Thanks for all of the good advice. I had a really extra bad panic attack last night, and I am still feeling the after effects of it this morning. When that happens, I SO wish I had the xanax....but then on the days I feel fine, it's too scary to go to the doctor.

I am going to try to look at my calendar and figure something out this week. I don't know if I can take a friend (I wish I could!!!) but I will do like Katie said and take SOMETHING that I find soothing. I might print this thread and take it, actually!

[trippinmickey]

I with you on that. I hate going to the doctor so even have to call and make a apointment sucks . So I have someone else do it for me makes it much much easier takes away all that stress and this way im not thinking about it .

I was talking to a friend who has a child with learning disabilities & the school is required (rightfully) to make accommodations for him in regards to test taking & other things. He is very noise sensitive so he takes the test alone in a room & is allowed extra time & he has a reading problem, etc. & I thought about my "disability"--anxiety & panic attacks.

I had been putting off an necessary trip to my internal medicine doc to get my cholesterol & blood pressure checked to see if the medications she has put me on were working. I was supposed to return 3 weeks after my last appt. which was 9 mos. previously. I made the appt. for 3 weeks but kept getting so much anxiety 2 days before the appt. (I had started crying in the reception/waiting room & became very anxious & agitated & embarrassed & was so afraid that that was going to happen again so I kept avoiding going) that I would cancel & reschedule for a month later figuring "I would be fine" then.

No way--the anxiety, of course, was worse, so cancel & reschedule for a month later & on & on until it had been 9 mos. & my psych meds provider (who I've been with for 10 years & love said enough is enough--you've GOT to take care of your physical health).

So she called the internal medicine doc & made "accommodations" for me. She explained I had been going through a rough time with anxiety & panic attacks & was taking Klonopin at night, but couldn't take it during the day except in very severe cases as it made me too sleepy to drive or function fully & described my fears of the waiting room & crying & requested that when I checked in at the desk I be put into the exam room immediately & that the nurse who comes in initially be told the details & only a nurse who would be sensitive to my "condition" be assigned to me as I would probably be crying!

The day before the appt. I was in a full-blown panic attack calling my psych meds provider & telling her I couldn't do it. She said the anxiety was only going to get stronger the more I avoided it & for me to come in & see her & if it was really necessary she would cancel the appt. the next day & for me not to make that decision.

I talked to her & she offered to come to the appt. with me. I felt like I was being really childish if she had to come in with me (I'm 54), but I appreciated that offer so much. I decided that with the accommodations already in place I had the best situation I was going to have & I'd better take advantage of it & I could stand the distress I was feeling for the next (by this time) 18 hours or so. I practiced my breathing techniques, mindfulness, etc. learned in my DBT group.

When I arrived I was treated like a princess!! I almost expected a bottle of fancy imported water & caviar! The I.M. doc is VERY thorough & actually spends about 45 min. TALKING to you before starting the physical exam & she does go through a lot with me because of my having a suicide attempt a couple years ago. So I was quite drained & asked her if I could come back for the actual physical exam! She agreed if I would actually come back. She took the blood tests & said she would set up the "accommodations" for me for my next appt. & gave me her private line phone # for me to call the day before my appt. to call ahead & remind her.

I bet if you have your therapist or whoever recommends you get the xanax script calls the doc & explains why she/he recommends it & "paves the way" it will make it so much easier. It sure helped me.

The I.M. doc also said one out of four Americans stuggle with mental health issues in their lifetime so not to consider myself an "oddity." I'll bet this doc sees a lot of patients that need xanax.--Suzy

[multipixie9]

Dear Earthmama and Suzy5654,

You ladies have got me thinking. Due to severe ritual and sexual abuse as a toddler I have a horrendous time doing yearly "well woman" check-ups for those uuuhhh, personal exams and mammograms. I do not think I have done either one in about 10 years (at least). The last time I got hysterical. Whew, I'm spacing out just trying to finish a thought. My darling Gen.Doc.is so good, but he won't do female issues with me to protect our relationship - due to how creepy my past is. Soooo, looonggg story short, I need to get the check-up and mammogram ( my mom died of breast cancer-which is just the icing on my personal cake of how awful this subject gets!!!) I have done surgery easier than I've done this sort of exam. My mom took me to an endocrine doc and put me on the pill because she said I wasn't developing quickly enough.....I think her real intention may have been something to do with the cult group her family was into.

Let me just say it once. I HATE that I am a woman, NOT that I want to be a man. I think both genders have severe drawbacks!!!

I really hope you guys will still speak to me after this. I am not attacking any of you wonderful people. I'd just like to resurrect my mom for 15 minutes and tell-her-off for some stupid stuff she put me through. Her family were into satanic worship freakness. I'm not sure I have an untwisted bone in my whole body. My mom died in 7 weeks from the time she found a lump because she wouldn't go to the doctor about pain she'd had for 18 months (from metastsized chancer in her bones)! My mom makes me look like the POSTER CHILD FOR GOOD MENTAL HEALTH.

I am still very angry with my mother for the inhuman things she did to mess up my life and my mind. Forgive me for saying this but I do identify with the Jewish people in the concentration camps. I felt hated, persecuted and my life was threatened(literally) by some abusers.

I'm quite the verbal tiger on line here in my anonymous little way. But I am scared spitless to trust a group of nurses and a doctor to touch my body in a diagnostic way. If I could wear dresses up to my neck and down to the floor, I would do it. I wear overalls more than any other kind of clothes and I have 12 pair of different ones because they are the hardest clothes around America - to wrestle someone out of!

I have quite the case of heartburn from my meds and my words. GRRRR!

OK, RANT OVER - THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME
Leslie and Her Inner Neurotic

Can't help you on the pic thing. I'm the least techno savvy person here, probably.

Sometimes it is amazing how well we do function when considering some of the things we have experienced as children (mine was nothing in comparison to yours; it sounds too horrific to even imagine) so we have to congratulate ourselves for how "successful" we are.

My best to you.--Suzy