Re: anxiety / depression

[Guest guest]

>> The xanax does wonders but I don't like taking it. <<

Just a note on Xanax. I've been taking it for years now for various

reasons and have learned a thing or two about it.

Physical addiction isn't a worry unless you're taking more than 6 mg.

or more a day, but phychological addiction can start with anything

above 1 mg. a day. Taking Xanax in doses as low as 1 mg. before

bedtime can prevent you from reaching full " REM " sleep, that is, the

" deep " sleep your body needs to actually renew itself.

It took me awhile to figure out why I could fall asleep for eight

hours, but then get up and feel like my body hadn't slept at all. I

mistakingly blamed it on the PA for quite some time.

If you're using Xanax for sleep you may be doing more harm than good.

Ask your doctor about Ambien.

Happy Holidays! Jim

[Guest guest]

I have been worried about getting addicted to xanax. My dr said I

need to take a lot more than I do to get physically addicted. I

don't take it to sleep. I could probably use something on some

evenings. I never attepmt sleep before I'm exhausted. I refuse to

try to sleep when i can't. It's too frustrating. Of course there

are the time that no ammount of sleep wakes you. I've learned to not

wait until i'm tired before i rest. I'm learning to deal with

needing more sleep. Recognizing that i needed more sleep and

changing my sleeping and living hanits after 20 something years was a

personal triumph. Proof that I could still exert my will over

myself. I'm taking my life back over again. I don't know how

yet... I know its not easy. But we all need to take back " control "

of our lives. For me, taking control is learning to fight and

simultaneously live with what ills and pains me.

I had a great day today. They are still possible. It was a cold and

painful day.... but somehow for some reason, today it didn't matter.

Well... it matters... but I'm not crying over it.... today....

just stuffing my face with a concoction I will bravely refer to as

homemade fruit punch. Its sooooooo good!!!!!!!!

For me, control just means knowing that I'm doing everything in my

power and ability to somehow enjoy my life. In the USA we beleive

that the " pursuit of happiness " is an inalienable right. Its not

just a right. Its a neccessity.

Be well

Ari

[Guest guest]

Hey Ari,

Have you talked to you doctor about Buspar? It's like

an antidepressant in that you take it everyday, but

it's an anti-anxiety drug. I take it with an

antidepressant, Effexor. I also take Ativan, as

needed, which is the same family of drugs as xanax,

but xanax is stronger.

Take care,

--- Ari Wilker <awilker@...> wrote:

> I went to a new psychiatrist today. I was given a

> prescription for

> paxil and I was told to take my xanax more often.

> " the anxiety is

> radiating off of you "

> The xanax does wonders but I don't like taking it.

> Taking it just

> proves that " i can't handle it anymore " . My former

> shrink had me on

> prozac. It helped some, but it was a waste.

> The new dr says that i need these drugs just like a

> diabetic needs

> insulin. just like i need the plethora of other

> medications i also

> take. i still can't but see it as a crutch. an

> admission that i am

> weak. my ability to " deal " with the pa and my other

> conditions once

> made me feel strong. special even.... wiser than

> my years.

> now i feel weak.

> i just want to feel better.

> ari

>

> Moderator note: Do what you need to do to feel

> better. If that means you need antidepressants or

> whatever, then take them.

>

> I felt similarly to you about taking my Zoloft.

> Because we're trying to get pregnant, one of my docs

> told me to wean off the Zoloft. I did that and was

> Ok for a while, and then KERPLUNK, my moods started

> spiraling again. After further discussion wtih my

> OB/GYN, we decided I coudl continue the Zoloft

> during preganancy, should I get there. I started

> the Zoloft again, and within ***24 hours***, I felt

> better.

>

> I truly believe my brain chemicals are just " off "

> and it's probably hereditary, given my family

> history. It's nothing that I did, could control or

> reflects on my personhood, anymore than a person who

> gets cancer is " bad " because a few of their cells

> went haywire and grew out of control. It's not a

> crutch. It's a miracle that I don't have to live

> like my grandparents did, living with chronic

> depression, year in and year out, miserable.

>

> I'll take hte meds, and be happy.

>

> Patty, moderator from OH.

>

>

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