Looking for advice...

[Natron247]

I am a healthy 34 year old male that is in good shape, work out regularly, and have never drank, smoked or done any drugs.  The one thing I do have is an anxiety order.  Generalized Anxiety to be exact.  I have anxiety for no reason at all which baffles me and keeps my mind going nuts most of the time.  For the better part of 10 years my issue was controlled through paxil or paxil cr and a little bit of Clonazepam.  Over the past year, my anxiety has gotten much worse and paxil doesn't seem to work anymore like it did.  Over the past 5 months I have come off of paxil, switched to Lexapro, switched back to Paxil CR upping my dose (50mg) to see if that would work.  Clonazepam was increased to 1mg at night and .25mg in the morning and afternoon.  Still the anxiety came...  About 2-3 months ago my psychiatrist started me on Remeron which almost helped immediately.  After a month I started to come down on the medication I had went up in.  Currently I am on Remeron (30mg), Paxil CR (12.5mg) and Clonazepam (.25mg at night and .375mg in the am).  Starting two weeks ago (after being stable for a month) my anxiety broke through yet again.  I know that I have read to go back up to your most recent stable dose and stay there, but I just don't want to diminish in what I have accomplished on coming down in my medication.  Clonazepam also scares me.  Could I just be suffering from Clonazepam tolerance right now and my body is wanting more?  Would this end if I just kept weaning off the Clonazepam?  I'm at the crossroads.  I don't want to take more medication, but I also don't want to feel heightened anxiety 12 hours a day.  Any advice?

[Natron247]

I have just started CBT recently.  Only one visit so far so they were just "collecting my info".  I have bought many books on anxiety, purchased programs (Linden Method) over the past year in hopes of conquering this myself.  My trouble is actually pin pointing what is causing my anxiety.  I have had a great life (childhood, marriage, etc.).  Nothing really stands out as a trigger to me.  CBT therapy is something I am going to pursue, but it is difficult for me to think how I am going to control my anxiety in between visits (1 week).  Also, my wife isn't a big fan of my medication.  In fact, she thinks that some of my issues may be from it.  I appreciate your response.

[mammo]

Be careful of natural supplements they come with their own side effects, and you need to know what to take with what.  But I do think therapy would greatly benefit you.  Most of us have a "root cause" for our anxiety, usually something traumatic from our past that we never properly dealt with and have forgotten about.  Therapy can get to the bottom of this so you can deal with it and move on.  It can also teach you coping skills, relaxation techniques, and how to think in a more positive manner.  Anxiety is extremely frustrating  and with medications it is often trial and error as to what will work best for us.  Don't be so hard on yourself for needing to go back up on your medication.  Anxiety is just like any other medical condition that requires daily medication to control the symptoms.  Don't get caught up in the thinking that because anxiety is a mental issue....you should be able to handle it on our own....because we can't.  Why live with this extreme anxiety when there is help?  I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!

[AmbassadorofAwesome69]

What makes you so anxious?  If you're going to a psychiatrist, shouldn't he be working on the core issue as opposed to just changing my medication.  My answer?  Go to the health food store and find something natural.  Then, TALK everything out and find out the core issue of your anxiety.  Save you money in the long run because, honestly, as I'm sure you know, psychiatrists aren't cheap.  The longer he (or she) adjusts your meds, the more money he (or she) gets.