xanax

Although I have no particular history of anxiety, recently I have suffered what I regard as severe anxiety -- not just generalized anxiety, but concerning a particular issue.  I find that I cannot think about anything else -- pretty much from the minute I wake until the minute I go to sleep.  It is draining and I hate it.  My wife says "you need to get your mind off this; it is destroying you."  I try -- I want to, really -- but I can't.  It is interfering with pretty much everything else...  And because I have no history of anxiety (more than usual), it is new to me and I am not sure how to deal with it.  I saw a psych and he prescribed .5 mg Xanax, "as needed".  He said I could take it up to every 4-6 hours.  I took one pill at 6 pm and it made me feel better.  But then the next day, the anxiety was back.  I am afraid to keep taking Xanax because I don't want to become addicted to it or reliant on it, and I have heard that once you start, you tend to need more of it and then it is hard to get off.  And anyway the pill  might make me feel better but it won't address the underlying cause of the anxiety.  Any advice about Xanax? Thanks!

Thanks Packer.  (I have a football signed by Bart Starr in my home office; looking at it right now!)

This is all very new to me.  I have never had depression or anxiety -- never been to a therapist or psychiatrist before this month --  never even thought about it.  The recent events hit me like a ton of bricks and I am very scared (I have participated in the healingwell prostate cancer board for a couple of years  - a terrific group of knowledgeable and helpful people -- so I know how good healingwell can be, which is why I turned here when I needed advice).

I have seen psychiatrist only once.  I feel like I need to see him every day.  But -- as I guess is typical -- it is only once a week. 

I did not get to talk with him about why Xanax and not some other med.  I guess Xanax is the fasting acting.  But from what I have read, also among the most addictive.   Maybe that is only for people who take a lot of it, or take it for a long time??

I also am not sure why he suggested .5 mg.  I guess I would have started with .25mg -- the lowest dose - and see if that works.  I will discuss that with him later this week when we meet again.

Today I decided to go without the Xanax, since I dont want to take it every day.  It was hard -- especially at work where I need to be on top of my game and in control and authoritative, etc.  Will see how tomorrow goes.

My wife is sort of annoyed by how I am feeling, and wishes I would just get over it.  (So do I).  But it isn't so easy...

I am sorry for whining, especially as a newcomer here.

 

Thanks for the kind welcome, Cat. (For some reason, this thread is not showing when I click on the anxiety/panic forum -- I must have my settings off in some way -- will need to figure that out).

I know I will need some sort of therapy. Whether it is CBT or something else, I don't know. I just don't have the experience. I guess I will ask my doc.

Right now, I am trying to figure out how often to take the xanax. The doc says take it "as needed." But I don't know how bad the anxiety needs to get before I should take the pill. I really don't want to over-use xanax, and create more problems for myself. Also, I have this nagging feeling that the xanax is not addressing the underlying issue -- so just sort of a band-aid.

The particular concern I have is consuming my thoughts nearly every minute of the day. I try to think about other things -- read the paper or do my work or listen to the radio -- but inevitably my thoughts come back to the issue I am facing. (Sorry to be vague about what the issue is -- it is just sort of personal and I don't want to write about it). Is it unusual to have thoughts like this that consume nearly every waking minute? Oh, I suppose it is not really every minute. I get breaks for 10 minutes or so. But then it is back to the same issue...

I am afraid if I take xanax to deal with this, I will be taking it all the time becuase when the medicine wears off, the thoughts will come back and then i will need another pill... Really not a cycle I want.

medved Hello and I hope your anxiety is tolerable today.  As long as your Dr. has prescribed the Xanax I would take it to help you control your anxiety when you feel you are unable to perform your activities of daily living due to anxiety.  At the same time I would use every tool you can find and work hard at learning to accept and control your anxiety and as you get better start decreasing how much Xanax you take.  The Xananx is a short term fix and what I wish for you is that you will beat the anxiety with therapy and many of the other methods offered in our resources above. Think positive thoughts, leaving no room for failure that you "just can't do this."      

medved

 

You took a chapter right out of my book.  I have always had anxiety and was dx 30 years ago but with medication, therapy and a lot of acting I managed to keep it hidden from my peers.  When I am really anxious my hands will tremor and I cannot tell you how often people would comment - "geez are you nervous or what ?"  I would blush and wish I could just run away.  My hubby, who is my biggest support, beomes upset with me at times as I have depression to go with the anxiety and he doesn't understand why you can look like all is well one minutes and be in the throes of anxiety the next.  He will ask me "what is wrong now?" I have heard the "get a grip line" to often over the years and if only it was that easy. 

I believe we do get programmed to avoid people as their comments and actions cause us to feel more anxious and we take a big hit to our self-esteem. 

My therapists pushes me to put myself out there in the public, make friends, join book clubs go to the movies even if it means alone.................if I could I would not be sitting at home feeling bad or worrying.  Therapy works best for me along with my meds which continually need to be adjusted as my body seems to go through them quickly and they wear off.

Up until 6 years ago I did well and life was good but then for some reason I crashed and burned so I continue to have ups and downs and when things are up I pray that they will stay up and enjoy that I can do things I like to. 

Self talk helps me and my hubby is great support 99% of the time.  So I tell myself I am OK.  I am normal and I am working on buidling a stronger, more confident self than ever before.  I am always working hard at not trying to be a people pleaser but to accept that I need to take care of me first.

I understand your feelings well and will keep you in my prayers .

Kindly,

Kitt  

Part of my anxiety issues are rooted in control! My anxiety about my health certainly is...because it is one of the things that I can't fully predict, plan, or have total control over.

I have learned that ironically, letting go of it, and trying to have a more 'So be it' attitude is helpful...but that is of course a lot easier said than done!

Sometimes though, trying to control the anxiety just exacerbates it...accepting it, even as you try to overcome it is a good goal. Example...I am going to sit and accept that I am a mass of worry at the moment...but while I do that, I am going to do some deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation!

Good to see you continue to post, I hope it is helpful.:)

S.C.

Sorry you had a bad day.:(

I think that maybe you might want to look at this Xanax situation another way. The point of the Xanax is to give you a reprieve from the anxiety...you are right, it is only going to be temporary relief...that is why therapy is important, to get at the root of the problem.

The anxiety will return as the Xanax wears off...but you will have had some 'down time' for your mind and body, and that is worth it for your health right?  To run at full anxiety mode for extended periods of time is not good for anybody!

I highly doubt that someone who is so concerned about addiction issues, such as yourself, is going to fall into that trap. If you choose, use the Xanax for awhile...just for some breaks in the anxiety...while you work out the problem in therapy.

Just some suggestions to think about...ultimately the decision is yours.:)

S.C.

Hi medved. I read through the thread to get a sense of what you are feeling and going through. I am also going through something scary re a health issue and it has sent my anxiety through the roof. I'm getting all worked up and the constant anxiety has made my life a living hell. That said, I have taken xanax on and off for years. I did take lexapro for a while and it was an OK drug for me. I don't remember why we took me off of it. My brother is taking it now for stress and anxiety and it has helped him immensely. I wouldn't worry too much about the xanax. It's the stress & anxiety that you need to get a hold of right now so my take on this is to take the xanax and use it for what it's meant to do and that is to make you more relaxed and less upset. Stress itself is detrimental to the immune system and we tend to forget that. You seem to be in a cycle of worry. I have been there.

I noticed you put your father's cause of death and your PSA levels under your post. I am very familiar with this because my f-i-l died of P C at 84 and my husband and his brothers always had their levels checked and so on. Your levels are very, very low. They tend to climb as a man ages but it can mean absolutely nothing. The prostate
can have benign enlargement, prostatitis etc and that would send PSA levels up too but right now it seems to me that you have nothing to worry about. Is this on your mind a lot? If it is I do understand because I am a health worrier myself. Although I am a woman, I have 2 sons and a husband that I worry about but keep in mind that even with PC a man has many, many options for a complete cure.

Please take your meds and do try the lexapro. It takes time for SSRI's to work and you might have an adjustment period but it might be worth a try. I hope you feel better soon. I truly do understand anxiety 24/7. I am going through it right now. I know it's more than just uncomfortable. It also feeds on itself so do try to relax a little bit. You are not alone and you are not whining. Stress and anxiety are real and painful and more people than we know suffer from it.

I have been on many anti-anxiety agents and I always come back to Xanax (alprazolam) which I find to be the most effective on all the benzodiazepines that said all of the SSRI and SNRI's make my condition worse.