mom in need

[uncontroled]

hello i hope you can help me, i am 34 and have been trying to over come anxiety/panic disorder since my freshman year in highschool it took until i was in my mid 20's to get medication to help my parents didnt believe in such problems when i was younger i have tried zoloft, effexor xr and now i am on 80 m of prozac daily in 2003 i had a mini stroke during delivery of my 2nd son since recovering from that we had major financial trouble from med bills had to file bankruptcy and my anxiety has just spiralled out of control i dont go anywhere alone i have a nonstop headache all the time i have had chronic constipation for at least a year now had colonoscopy to check for any issues came back great and have just had a mri and resulted in herniated disc at c4 c5 c6 c7 with spurs and pinched nerves i stay so sick almost all day and have involuntary muscle spasms if i am not up doing something my hands shake no matter the activity all of this is taking its toll on me my family phys said i need to relax and things would level out and thats great wish i could but there is something majorly going on with me and i need help figuring this out its been plaguing me since childhood PLEASE HELP

[Paxiled]

Prozac does have a reputation of being the easiest to quit because of its long half life and one of the least affecting weight gain of the ssris, but they all have side effects.  Problem is, most docs, including psychiatrists, don't emphasize your need to communicate symptoms that arise after you start a med, so you kind of have to take control of this aspect.  But all your physical ailments could be caused by any medication, not just Prozac, and they could also be caused by something else entirely.  That's why it's important to find a psychiatrist who you can grill on their expertise, but you'll seldom find a regular doc who has this expertise just because they're not specialists in mental health problems.  That's all psychiatrists do, but again, that doesn't mean any give psychiatrist knows a thing or cares a whit about you.  Docs are like anyone else, some are much better than others, and when you don't know what's going on, you need one who's better and cares.  Just like when you've got a plumbing problem, most plumbers just aren't that great at what they do, so it often takes a while to find one who does.  Good luck.

[uncontroled]

i have tried to stress this concern with my doctor i get the run around and told that prozac is the safest out there but i have heard so many different peoples experiences with it and there has been more bad then good and maybe your right about seeing someone else but will that put me back to the bottom of all this again

[Paxiled]

Agree with all of above, but just want to add, some of your symptoms sound like side effects of medication.  For example the muscle problems are a common side effect of anti-depressants, and you might want to supplement with magnesium, since anti-depressants tend to interfere with its absorption and it's responsible for relaxing the muscles.  Same with headaches and constipation --again, these can be symptoms of illness, anxiety, but also of medication.  You might want to read a book by Hedaya called the Anti-Depressant Survival Guide that discusses some of the issues of being on anti-depressants, and you might also want to find a psychiatrist who has more expertise in these side effects than your average family doc.  You don't have to see them often, so in the end it doesn't cost that much.  

[RubyWitch]

Your doctor should be able to refer you to a highly qualified therapist in your area. If, for some reason, he/she does not know of one, call your local hospital or Dept. of Mental Health. They both usually have a "Doctor Hotline" and can refer you to someone affiliated with the hospital or clinic. It's usually better to try out a therapist who you have been refered to, rather than letting your fingers do the walking.

Please understand that the first couple of sessions with any therapist is a sort of "meet and greet" situation. They already understand this. For therapy to really work, YOU have to really like and trust your therapist. If you don't, you will go nowhere. If you decide that you aren't comfortable with the first therapist you see, do not hesitate to tell them that you just don't think the "fit" is right and could they please refer you to someone else. I know this sounds like a ghastly embarrassing situation, but in the world of therapy, it is just par for the course. They will NOT be offended and will often send you to someone who WILL be the right person for you. (After two sessions, they will have learned much about you and have a good idea of the type of therapist that would make you the most comfortable) Bear in mind that sometimes we have to "interview" a few therapists before we hit on THE therapist. I promise that you will know within that first 55 minute hour if you like and trust them. Do NOT stay because you are too shy or embarrassed to move on. This is YOUR health we're talking about and you deserve the best help you can get.

Aberdeen is a good sized city, you should have no problems finding the right therapist.
I wish you all the best and hope you'll stay in touch.
Peace
Greenlydia  

[uncontroled]

thank you so much for the advice and concern, how do i find a therapist i have only been speaking to my fam physican

[RubyWitch]

I am really sorry that you have so many issues you're trying to deal with and at the same time be a wife and mother. It's overwhelming and terribly stressful. I can honestly relate to what you're going through. There were times when I just wanted to get in my car and drive away, but I'm of an age where I know that isn't the answer. Facing our problems head on is the only way things will get better. They did for me and they will for you.
When MY world totally collapsed and I hit rock bottom, I went back to my therapist, who thankfully let me make payments, and dumped the entire load in his lap. I can't tell you how good that felt. To keep this short, what he and I worked on was putting things into what he called "P&P." Priority and Perspective. He showed me that I was running on an out of control treadmill which was harming me physically and that I was getting absolutely nowhere. We listed, in order of priority, what the most important things were for me to attend to first. I realized that I wouldn't be able to do anything if I didn't regain my health, both physically and emotionally. That became #1 on my list. I talked to my doctors, I got some answers, I got some direction in what I was going to have to do to regain my health and I set realistic goals. I got back into therapy. I got back on antidepressants. #2 ended up being to start dealing openly and honestly with our creditors instead of hiding from them. Once I did that, I realized they would work with me, within our non-existent budget, and the amount of stress THAT took off me was unbelievable!

Before this becomes all about ME, what I see in your post is a reflection of myself a couple years ago. Like you, I couldn't think straight and I needed help figuring everything out. I truly think you should get into therapy and get help putting your life back together. Figure out your priorities which will begin to change your perspective, set goals and face things straigt on. You can't fix everything at once, but if you keep chipping away at it, soon the chaos will end, your thinking will become calmer and some of your physical problems will get better because they are being driven by fear, anxiety and stress.

When we fall prey to chaos, it's a very hard road back. But the road IS there. For me, and hopefully for you, I found the map with the help of my therapist.
Write anytime you need someone to lean on.
Peace
Greenlydia