Aa
Xanax for Anxiety?
After all of the recent events; moving and trying to cope with my boyfriends addiction.. I went to the doctors for what I thought was a heart problem, turns out I have anxiety. I started having panic attacks about two months ago... The doctor prescribed me xanax. I'm not sure if it's addiction creeping up on me, but I think about taking a xanax (granted it is only .25m) every day... almost as if I am waiting to have a panic attack or... almost... hoping. I feel like all of the things that have happened over the past two weeks, I may be trying to escape from and that is exactly what it does. I don't feel helpless when I take it, I don't feel depressed... I don't feel much of anything. I think I would just like input on this drug and any advice. Thank you all so much.
Thank you all for your advice. I told the doctor that I only wanted something for the attacks... so she said I can take one .25 mg daily or as needed. I'm trying to put a day at least in between because I have an addicting personality down to where I get my hair cut. I usually can figure out where the fine line is but with everything that has been going on.. it's been very hard on me & the last thing my children need is another absent parent... even if I am right next to them.
In re reading your post; it's great you came here and asked, and are aware enough to question yourself. My suggestion, run from them! Talk to your Dr about something not as dangerous.
I stopped pain meds Jan 2nd. But I had a 19 year RX for Xanax, which ironically I never abused, and didn't feel I needed to quit those.
Well, a few months back my Dr just up and moved out of state. No Xanax. I was freaking out. I have such bad anxiety. Panic attacks, general anxiety, the works.
Well, I haven't ever bought meds on the street, but prob could have found Xanax if I tried. But I didn't. Instead I read what to expect from wds, until I could find a new Dr. But what I read scared me to death. Not the wds, but what being on it was doing to my brain. It scared me so badly, I decided to stay off, and not find a new dr. Scary decision, as I said, it was a 19 year daily intake of 3 1mg Xanax.
My withdrawal was horrible. I was seeing things. Hyperventilating. Not sleeping. But the scariest was I didn't know reality at times. It's so hard to explain, but what I read about what it was doing to my brain.. I think it compounded my fears. I can't put into words how I felt. For weeks. I thought I had brain damage. I was not in check with the world. I laid in bed, covers over my head, truly believing I was insane. Thank God I had people to care for me. I couldn't function. I even needed fed.
I stopped these ct in 08 for a year simply because I felt my anxiety was ok. No wds then. I don't know why this time differed. I do know I'm not healed. I have memory problems big time. And have lost my ability to think on my feet. This is not from opiates. My brain was still ok after stopping those.
I don't post much anymore, but wanted to tell you, before you get in to deeply, read, and educate yourself on what this does to your mind. Please.
I will be honest. I couldn't even bathe myself.
Ironically, my anxiety skyrocketed of course, but now it's back to my levels that it was on the Xanax. I still can't sleep more than 2 hours. I have no idea how long I have been off. I remember posting here during a rare, lucid moment about it. I could rarely use the Internet during the first few weeks. I tonight people could still "get" me. I wouldn't tell anyone know about my thoughts during that time except a Dr. Because I was insane. But I hope pouring my heart out helps somebody here on at least making their minds up to do mega research before taking these.
I use Vistaril, Clonidine, and Valerian Root for anxiety now. And it works just as well as the Xanax did.
I never got a "buzz" from Xanax, but do believe if I did, and was new to them like you are, it would have just become a new addiction. A hundred times worse than opiates.
Good luck to you!!
Well, a few months back my Dr just up and moved out of state. No Xanax. I was freaking out. I have such bad anxiety. Panic attacks, general anxiety, the works.
Well, I haven't ever bought meds on the street, but prob could have found Xanax if I tried. But I didn't. Instead I read what to expect from wds, until I could find a new Dr. But what I read scared me to death. Not the wds, but what being on it was doing to my brain. It scared me so badly, I decided to stay off, and not find a new dr. Scary decision, as I said, it was a 19 year daily intake of 3 1mg Xanax.
My withdrawal was horrible. I was seeing things. Hyperventilating. Not sleeping. But the scariest was I didn't know reality at times. It's so hard to explain, but what I read about what it was doing to my brain.. I think it compounded my fears. I can't put into words how I felt. For weeks. I thought I had brain damage. I was not in check with the world. I laid in bed, covers over my head, truly believing I was insane. Thank God I had people to care for me. I couldn't function. I even needed fed.
I stopped these ct in 08 for a year simply because I felt my anxiety was ok. No wds then. I don't know why this time differed. I do know I'm not healed. I have memory problems big time. And have lost my ability to think on my feet. This is not from opiates. My brain was still ok after stopping those.
I don't post much anymore, but wanted to tell you, before you get in to deeply, read, and educate yourself on what this does to your mind. Please.
I will be honest. I couldn't even bathe myself.
Ironically, my anxiety skyrocketed of course, but now it's back to my levels that it was on the Xanax. I still can't sleep more than 2 hours. I have no idea how long I have been off. I remember posting here during a rare, lucid moment about it. I could rarely use the Internet during the first few weeks. I tonight people could still "get" me. I wouldn't tell anyone know about my thoughts during that time except a Dr. Because I was insane. But I hope pouring my heart out helps somebody here on at least making their minds up to do mega research before taking these.
I use Vistaril, Clonidine, and Valerian Root for anxiety now. And it works just as well as the Xanax did.
I never got a "buzz" from Xanax, but do believe if I did, and was new to them like you are, it would have just become a new addiction. A hundred times worse than opiates.
Good luck to you!!
very understandable about the anxiety. glad you went to the doctors. I had such severe panic attacks during my husbands addiction I was hospitalized quite a few times, they thought I was having heart attacks and/or strokes.i had debilitating migranes for years that keep me in bed for 3 or 4 days at a time while trying to care for my 4 children.
try to only take it when you feel anxious. dependency can happen pretty quickly. if you take it as prescribed for a bit it should be ok. how much did he give you?
I too had Xanax during his addiction. I thought it was best to go on a anxiety meds. I used Effexor and was on it for 10 years. it is for generalized anxiety disorder. I worked really well for me. I used the Xanax when I feel extremely panicky.
go for counseling, talk and vent as much as possible in a safe environment, go to alanon, exercise, eat healthy, make sure you get plenty of rest.
hugs, debbie
try to only take it when you feel anxious. dependency can happen pretty quickly. if you take it as prescribed for a bit it should be ok. how much did he give you?
I too had Xanax during his addiction. I thought it was best to go on a anxiety meds. I used Effexor and was on it for 10 years. it is for generalized anxiety disorder. I worked really well for me. I used the Xanax when I feel extremely panicky.
go for counseling, talk and vent as much as possible in a safe environment, go to alanon, exercise, eat healthy, make sure you get plenty of rest.
hugs, debbie
I would say that it depends.
Yes, those feelings of wanting to escape and feel numb are in the minds of us addicts. But I will say that as someone who suffered majorly intense panic disorder for many years, you also may be so anxiety ridden right now that your medication is simply doing its job. If you are taking the medication and its taking away your anxiety, that's what it was prescribed for. It's very hard in my opinion to know which way it goes from the outside looking in.
If you are very concerned about it, maybe speaking with your doctor can help. Are you prescribed to take it daily? Or just when you feel an attack coming on?
I hope I didn't confuse you. I think it's really great that you are aware and asking ahead of time if you may be at risk for developing a problem. I just wanted to say Don't put too much pressure on yourself if it may just be simply doing its job for you right now.
Take care:)
Yes, those feelings of wanting to escape and feel numb are in the minds of us addicts. But I will say that as someone who suffered majorly intense panic disorder for many years, you also may be so anxiety ridden right now that your medication is simply doing its job. If you are taking the medication and its taking away your anxiety, that's what it was prescribed for. It's very hard in my opinion to know which way it goes from the outside looking in.
If you are very concerned about it, maybe speaking with your doctor can help. Are you prescribed to take it daily? Or just when you feel an attack coming on?
I hope I didn't confuse you. I think it's really great that you are aware and asking ahead of time if you may be at risk for developing a problem. I just wanted to say Don't put too much pressure on yourself if it may just be simply doing its job for you right now.
Take care:)
I lost ten years of sobriety after a PhD aware of my sobriety, prescribed Xanax for depression. Extremely addicting, long half-life, memory loss, debilitating detox.
PM me to chat ifmyou'd like.
Mendingnow
PM me to chat ifmyou'd like.
Mendingnow
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
