anxiety !!!

Konakona

I had my surgery already, nodes clear, 1,5 cm of DCIS and Mucinous IDC, that's all I know so far. It has been a loongggg two month of pure anxiety hell to get here, but instead of getting better it seems to get worst. I am taking Xanax, prescribed by my doctor, but worried about the adiction part but really I go into panick mode without it.

How often do you guys take antianxirty pills? Am I over doig it?

TB90

Hi Konakona: So sorry that you are experiencing so much anxiety. So many of us do. I did fine initially and then crashed a year later. They called it a delayed reaction. As though cancer is not enough, but then some of us suffer also from disabling anxiety. My dr. put me on clonazepam that you take every day, same dose, same time. Unlike the faster acting benzos, you do not really feel the clonazepam kick in, but after awhile, I was feeling much better. Xanax seems to be the drug mentioned most often on these boards and is in the same family as clonazepam, Ativan, etc. They can be very effective, but are meant for short-term anxiety. Like for up to four to six weeks. Well that just does not cut it for most of us. Then a dependence kicks in (very different from addiction) and either they become less effective or the dose has to be increased.. A lot of people end up staying on these meds not because they are working any more, but to avoid the very unpleasant side effects of withdrawal. Discontinuing these drugs can be VERY difficult and create the same symptoms that we originally went on them for. So although they are absolutely necessary during times of extreme stress, please discuss with your dr. your fears of dependence and the longer term plan. My psychiatrist suggested a withdrawal schedule that almost killed me. When I researched this further, I saw that his recommendation was very ambitious and would cause SE's for most people. I am now putting myself on a very slow schedule. It could take 6 months to discontinue. But I have suffered enough and refuse to suffer unnecessary anxiety. It is dreadful and my heart aches for you. Please use these drugs to bring yourself relief, but be informed and include your dr. in your concerns and plans. I have very mixed feelings right now about my use of clonazepam, but am hopeful about eventually discontinuing it. All the best in managing your anxiety through this very challenging times. (((hugs))))