Dealing with Anxiety/Stress

[kk1303]

This is a daily battle for me. I guess all the opiates I was prescribed really kept me calm and relaxed 24/7. I quit on Jan 16, and ever since, I have never felt so stressed in all my life! School is just killing me! I've never struggled so hard in school. I told myself I was going to give my brain a little time to repair itself before I considered taking antianxiety meds. Well, its been a month and a half and my stress level is still high. I have a couple questions...do y'all think I should wait longer before I talk to my doctor about this? What do y'all think about taking meds for anxiety/stress? I do not want anything addictive like xanex. I just hate being so stressed every day. What should I do?

[texaslady68]

Kk,

I know exactly what you are going through because I am going through the same thing.  I am 60 days out and have had severe panic attacks the past few months.  I think the main reason is we are used to dulling our brains and really not dealing with "real life" problems with our brain in it's natural state.  We lost a lot of our coping skills by NOT coping the way we should.

I talked to my doctor and he gave me a very low dose of xanax to take when i feel a panic attack coming on.  Mine were to the point where my heart was racing, I could not breathe, I had to sit down and put my head between my legs.  They were especially affecting me at work.  They have helped tremendously and I do not take them unless needed.  I sure do not want another addiction but could not live in the state that I was.

[ricart70]

I know you are short on time but exercise every day just 30 minutes really helps the anxiety and stress.   great job on staying clean!!

[MikeInFrance]

Hey hey...long time no talk...but i know you're  always around kepping an eye on things. ;)  Talking to your dr doesn't have to mean taking meds. So yeah...do it for sure cuz there can be alot of ways to overcome anxiety without taking a pill...addictive or not. discuss it with him/her and state what your concerns are and see what you can come up with. This will totally pass.... A few days ago you were feelin so good and were full of energy ..... It can't be like that everyday ....not for any of us. You have a full load right now in life and having to deal with this addiction issue simultaneously is tough: try to reduce some of the things that you're doing in hopes of reducing some stress too. I'm always here to talk to you Ok-kk? ;))