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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
OCD AND ANXIETY
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
OCD AND ANXIETY
by buddy1, Oct 24, 2001 12:00AM
I AM 34 AND HAVE HAD OCD FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I WOULDNT
SAY I SUFFER FROM IT, UNTIL NOW. I HAVE HAD BOUTS OF SEVERE ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACK FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. WAS ON PAXIL FOR ABOUT A YEAR, FELT GREAT, CAME OFF, HAS WICKED WITHDRAWALS.
NOW, THREE YEARS LATER THE ANXIETY IS BACK FULLY. MY NEW DOCTOR
HAS SAID THAT MY OCD IS THE CAUSE OF MY ANXIETY AND PANIC. SHE RECOMMENDS PROZAC OR ZOLOFT.HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF OCD LEADING TO ANXIETY AND PANIC SYMPTOMS? IF SO, WILL COGNITIVE OCD THERAPY HELP RELIEVE MY PANIC? I AM TRYING TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT THE SSRI PILLS. I DO, HOWEVER, TAKE XANAX.CAN THESE DISORDERS BE CONTROLLED WITHOUT MEDICATION OR SHOULD I NOT FIGHT IT?
MY FEAR OF MEDICATION IS HIGH, HOWEVER A FEW WEEKS AGO I TOLD MYSELF I WOULD TAKE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
THANKS
SAY I SUFFER FROM IT, UNTIL NOW. I HAVE HAD BOUTS OF SEVERE ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACK FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. WAS ON PAXIL FOR ABOUT A YEAR, FELT GREAT, CAME OFF, HAS WICKED WITHDRAWALS.
NOW, THREE YEARS LATER THE ANXIETY IS BACK FULLY. MY NEW DOCTOR
HAS SAID THAT MY OCD IS THE CAUSE OF MY ANXIETY AND PANIC. SHE RECOMMENDS PROZAC OR ZOLOFT.HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF OCD LEADING TO ANXIETY AND PANIC SYMPTOMS? IF SO, WILL COGNITIVE OCD THERAPY HELP RELIEVE MY PANIC? I AM TRYING TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT THE SSRI PILLS. I DO, HOWEVER, TAKE XANAX.CAN THESE DISORDERS BE CONTROLLED WITHOUT MEDICATION OR SHOULD I NOT FIGHT IT?
MY FEAR OF MEDICATION IS HIGH, HOWEVER A FEW WEEKS AGO I TOLD MYSELF I WOULD TAKE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
THANKS
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Oct 24, 2001 12:00AM
, Oct 24, 2001 12:00AM
Cognitive therapy can be quite effective. I understand your reluctance about medication, and I share it. You might think about combining cognitive therapy with a temporary augmentation of zoloft at a relatively low dose, or an increase of xanax instead, but be careful about weaning yourself from xanax when the time comes.
Member Comments (4)
by kell26, Oct 24, 2001 12:00AM
As a fellow OCD friend, I suggest the med Luvox over all else. I found it to be mild to my system and extremely effective in helping my OCD. I too suffer with bouts of anxiety, and I fully believe it is connected to the OCD. Please consider Luvox, you may have the same luck as I. Good luck :)
by SHOTSY, Oct 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: rayyt
You need to consider the possibility that what your perceiving as anixety may be withdrawal from the Zanax. It is a short acting drug. And alot of people have trouble when it leaves the system. Do you feel better after you take a Zanax. This may be the cause? Try going to the addiction forum because alot of people have had similar problems with their med.
by Thomas, Oct 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: rayyt
My experience with Xanax withdrawal was several weeks of unfocused terror. Long-acting benzos like Valium or Klonopin cause less severe withdrawal symptoms than short-acting benzos like Xanax and Ativan. Xanax leaves the body so quickly you have a real chance at a seizure along with the anxiety. I had three Xanax withdrawal seizures before I figured out what was going on. I was able to safely taper off benzos over a few months using good ole Valium.
