Anxiety, Addiction, etc.

[PillJunkie85]

Hi,

I started off with depression years ago. Then when the Cipralex stopped working, I realised with my doctor that it wasn't depression anymore, but bad anxiety. My doctor put me on 150mg of Effexor. That didn't help, if anything it got worse. For weeks I had this tightness in my chest. I was really stressed, couldn't deal with anything. One night the pain got really bad and wouldn't go away. I threw up a couple times and nothing made the pain go away. I had to go to the hospital to get an anti-nausea/pain shot in my *** lol

So I went to my doctor and he reduced the effexor to 37.5 mg, and I'm also on on 20 mg of Celexa as well as 2 pills of Clonazepam per day. I am feeling better in terms of anxiety. I don't feel that pain in my chest/stomach area anymore. The only bad side effect is that I'm tired all the time. Sometimes I feel sort of like a zombie. No amount of sleep is enough.

My real problem in the last year or so is drugs and alcohol. I am not a regular user, but before my doctor switched my meds, my anxiety was so bad that I needed to smoke weed at least twice a day just to get out of bed, and concentrate on studying so that I wasn't so anxious all the time. Before that, it was alcohol. I was drinking quite often. I have also gone through phases of taking pain killers and other drugs (aka whatever I can get my hands on), like Tramadol, Oxycontin, Codeine, methodrone, cocaine, mdma, ketamine....etc. I think all of this drinking and drug taking on and off is due to the fact that I just want to feel good, normal, happy. Drugs take my mind away from how I feel. Which is either upset, or anxious. I honestly don't know how to deal with this, but I would imagine this is not the most effective way.

[RubyWitch]

You're definitely correct that the way you are trying to deal with your problems is ineffective. In fact, it is, without a doubt, only exacerbating them. It is very good that you realize this since admitting we have a problem is the first step in fixing it.

Please make an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist who will first give you a correct diagnosis of what you're dealing with. They will get you on the right medication(s) and help you learn to deal with your issues without turning to street drugs to make you feel "good" or "normal." With the correct medications and talk therapy, you will soon regain the life you believe you've lost.
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia