Doctors won't prescribe medication?

Doctor's won't prescribe me xanax or ativan, which is what I feel I need. At night I drink myself to sleep because that seems to take off the edge. I would drink during the day too, to take off the edge, but people have negative views on alcohol. In fact, I might have a drink soon to alleviate some stress, perhaps I can think clearly again.

Doctors tell me it's a band-aid. I'm appalled. People need ban-aids when they can't function. I've been through a lot.

How do I change doctors and go about getting the medication I feel I need?

They will gladly prescribe SSRI's, a drug that makes me tired, can't think, and doesn't alleviate any symptoms.

I drank a lot to get rid of my stress but te doctors are right. It is only a band aid..it will only make you feel better for the time being and then you will be in the Same position you were. Alcohol is not the answer. But maybe if you didn't look for alcohol being the answer, you will be able to get the help you seek. Start by helping yourself first. It's hard I know, but think of it like " I can continue this path and prolonge this, or I can get on the right steps and change my life for the better" we are all here to help as much as we can. We have all experienced the same stuff. I really hope you can find the help you need with the doctors as well.

Most doctors will not give xanax are ativan for ppl can become hooked on them quickly&things don't turn out so good,drinking isn't helping take it from someone who knows drinking only covers the problem ir don't fix the problem in fact it makes it worse. Have you ever tried benadryl without the drinking two benadryl with a glass of water can help releax you&get you to sleep,are vistril wich doctor has to write a request for do your best to stay away from xanax&ativan they are not good on helping one recover 109% from PAD best of luck to you.

Drinking to solve anxiety after a while makes it worse. I myself have anxiety and it took three major panic attacks to finally find out what was going on. I went to the e.r. after the third and they ran a gambit of test and told me nothing was wrong. I had another milder panic attack at work and went to urgent care and told them everything and they ran all the tests again and said it could possibly be a panic disorder so they gave me .5mg ativan. I took it more than I should've and ran out but they said I needed to see my PCP to figure out something long term. Went to my PCP and he asked me a copious amounts of questions and refused to give me ativan even though I told him it helped and he said I needed to see a therapist. So I spent the money on the therapy sessions and still had panic attacks so the PCP ran more tests and refused to give me ativan still. I told him the therapist told me some strategies to get through/avoid panic attacks but they didnt always work and I cant just pull off the road or leave work for ten minutes to stretch and do yoga and count to one hundred as I breath deep and I only wanted it as a last resort and he still said no. It took my mother, I was 19 by the way, giving him an ear full to give me ten .5mg ativan so I didnt cut my hand off at work or crash my car if my anti anxiety techniques didnt work. Long story short I thought I found the source of my anxiety and I felt great dor a few months but low and behold its back and im fighting through panic attacks frequently in class and I moved out of state from my PCP and and urgent care clinical cant do anything long term for me. All you can do I kind of just accept it and avoid stimulants of any kind and excessive alcohol use, And nicotine if your PCP is denying you care

Also, SSRI's and alcohol don't mix (I've tried)

If you're drinking whilst taking the SSRI, you are giving your body conflicting messages and not really letting the medication do it's thing. I drank heavily for 15 plus years and haven't been drunk for 5 weeks now, so I know what you are going through mate. It's hard dealing with issues plus alcohol but it is achievable, but only you can make that decision.

The above posters are right, the alcohol is a bandaid but not a long term solution. Good luck in your journey.

I too used to drink alcohol to take off the edge. Having been on lexapro for 3 months I can now say I avoid alcohol is possible since it increases my anxiety after the alcohol wears off. I'm currently trying to wean off my benzo and it is not easy.