[WantToGrow]

I recently went through the diagnostic process for ADD/ADHD because I thought that maybe that was what was responsible for the anxiety and depression I had experienced all my life - inability to organize, keep a clean house and car (both are garbage cans, order moving towards disorder at all times), confusion, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, losing things, feeling I haven't lived up to my potential, poor-self esteem, social awkwardness, etc. I tested too well to be deemed ADD, but the doc did find that I had OCD and GAD along with situational depression. I do get very anxious about my inability to tackle necessary tasks like cleaning, cooking, starting difficult projects that I need to do, etc. I have been depressed all my life, too, and had bulimia starting in my mid-teens through about five or six years ago, and I am 49 now.

So, he referred me to a psychiatrist to get meds, and she sort of reigned things back around to focusing on the depression since my self-esteem is in the dumps.

I had been on Effexor for quite a few years, but between that and birth control, I finally had had it with having no sex drive and my body being pretty unresponsive, so went off of both (slowly, for the Effexor, of course!). Turns out I'm in menopause as well, and irritability and anger are heightened these days as well, though I have always been impatient and easily frustrated.

I feel I didn't get much from this psych doc - she is starting me on Viibryd, which I am reading is more for depression, but I do get very anxious and feel my fears keep me from living life more thoroughly and satisfactorily, primarily fear of social situations, fear of being perceived as awkward and boring or uninteresting. I don't experience panic disorders or have fears of germs or things like that, but I do prefer to stay home where I am comfortable, and am not working, which makes me feel a lot of guilt about not contributing or achieving anything of meaning. I am also under a lot of stress with two ancient pets coming to the end of their lives and another younger dog who is recovering from knee surgery and requiring a lot of rehab care - when things get overwhelming with regards to these guys, I tend to get really angry and fly off the handle. Same with being up against a deadline, such as trying to whip the house into shape for visitors.

Her spiel was that the treatment for depression, OCD and anxiety are the same, basically, that the same meds treat all of those things. She then went on to recommend that I tune in to Oprah's Super Soul Sunday and read stuff by Sean Achor.

I have always been a more scientific minded person (did get my BS in Biology) and religion has never resonated with me - I'm agnostic or even atheist, haven't decided. My mom is religious and tried very hard in our childhood to install faith in my siblings and me, but it never stuck. I have tried to embrace religion and God in the past, when I was very depressed, but again, it just didn't work out. My husband is enraged that this doc is pushing spirituality as an answer, since he is like me in - a scientist by profession and an atheist.

I will be entering therapy again with someone else so yes, I know, drugs aren't the only answer and haven't been in the past, but I am hoping that this time I can see if a med that doesn't negatively impact sex drive and weight will help me navigate my way to being a happier person.

My husband thinks I should find another psychiatrist.

Will Viibryd help with the anxiety, too, and now that I've started it (today) should I just stick with this psych doc for awhile and see, or should I find another?

[stopdog]

Do you also have a therapist?

[pbutton]

I was given Viibryd for anxiety. My pdoc said it somewhat like taking an antidepressant combined with Buspar. It didn't affect my sex drive, which was a relief after Zoloft.

[sunrise]

I suggest sticking with the psych doc for now. It doesn't sound like she's prescribed anything inappropriate for your issues. Hopefully the viibryd will help. Would you be able to tell her the religious suggestions do not resonate and ask if she has secular suggestions? That's the main thing I would fault her for, not the med.

[WantToGrow]

Thank you, sunrise - that makes sense to do :-) I do have an appointment with a new therapist. Not looking forward to the work that will need to be done, but past therapy didn't work, more the talk it out kind, and I'm hoping this time it will make the difference. Just tired of being "me" and wanting a better, happier life. Maybe the meds will help me get down to business.