How to get back to normal with depression and anxiety. Benzos?

LoveLau · August 2020

I need practical advice. 3 years of anxiety and depression and fear... antidepredsants didnt work. Are benzos the answer? Got off them now want them back. Trying DBT. Meditation, ice bags on my head, paired muscle relaxation. Bible study, prayer thru the day and night. Feel good at night and in afternoon. In morning very bad. Dr tried many meds with bad mental side effects. I must be doing something wrong. Seeing psyc all these years and women going thru this doing much better. If you have conquered this let me know how. Below is advice from moffit cancer center. Yes good advice but i dont know how to implement it. Living with fear but i do believe i am ok physically. Read lots of books on bc, anxiety and depression. I want to live a good quality of life. Fear is in my way especially with pandemic. Bless you for your thoughts.

Studies have shown that breast cancer patients, after completion of therapy, seek to move on and return to a "normal way of life." Studies show that a desire for "normality" is a key factor in coping with breast cancer. Reminders of cancer were found to cause fear and increased insecurity. Therefore, when searching for one's "new norm," it is important to take it one day at a time and find coping mechanisms that work, which will be different from patient to patient. For some, it may be finding enjoyment in activities they engaged in prior to diagnosis, taking time for appreciating life and expressing gratitude, volunteering, etc. Of prime importance, studies have shown that accepting the disease as a part of one's life is a key to effective coping. Equally important is one's partner's acceptance of the disease as well. Studies suggest women focusing on mental strength to allow them to move on with

beep7bop · August 2020

I don't have answers wish I did. I am trying to deal moment to moment. On top of going thru breast cancer and reconstruction last year I lost my 43 year old son june 24 2020.

Krose53 · August 2020

I have had anxiety most of my life. I'm sorry antidepressants have not worked for you. I just changed to Viibryd, a new one, with great results and no side effects. It's important to give your antidepressant at least 8 wks to see how you feel. The best thing I ever did for my anxiety and this includes medication is one on one behavior modification therapy. Search out a therapist who specializes in this and has lots if expierence Make sure you are comfortable with him/her. It takes work but it's yields such great results. In the beginning I needed to go weekly.I hope you feel better soon. I understand how devastating anxiety and depression can be.

Krose53 · August 2020

I have had anxiety most of my life. I'm sorry antidepressants have not worked for you. I just changed to Viibryd, a new one, with great results and no side effects. It's important to give your antidepressant at least 8 wks to see how you feel. The best thing I ever did for my anxiety and this includes medication is one on one behavior modification therapy. Search out a therapist who specializes in this and has lots if expierence Make sure you are comfortable with him/her. It takes work but it's yields such great results. In the beginning I needed to go weekly.I hope you feel better soon. I understand how devastating anxiety and depression can be.

Krose53 · August 2020

Beep,I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the pain.

Bookpusher · June 2021

beep, my sincere condolences on the loss of your son.

Salamandra · June 2021

Everything about mental health is so individual, from our psychological make-up to the way our bodies process different meds.

Some people are just very unlucky and many meds don't work for them, or have intolerable side effects. You AND your doctor can be doing everything right, and still not having success.

If you don't have confidence in your health care team (psych, therapist, family doctor), then definitely look for others. But if you do, then you may just have to continue the path of trying different meds and lifestyle changes until you find what works for you.

Personally I found the book, "Loving what is" to be very helpful. I also find that what I think I am worried about is sometimes a mask for something else I'd rather not face or that seems even more overwhelming. One of my weakest links is sleep. I always struggle with it but when I can prioritize it and get enough of it, it does help make everything else more manageable. I use benzos on and off to help with sleep and for me I really appreciate having them in my arsenal and would say they are worth trying. I will be using one tonight because I have a work thing I am worried about tomorrow, but I know I need my sleep. But that is all me and your path may be very different.

Please don't heap blame on yourself on top of the anxiety and depression.

DutchieGirl · June 2021

I too had severe anxiety and needed help in a big way. Our cancer centre has an excellent counselling program and I signed up. My therapist tried me on Effexor and that was so bad I had to go off in less than a week. I then tried Escitalopram and that has been amazing for me. Benzos only provided me with short term relief and I needed something that offered ongoing support.

I truly wish you the very best, Lovelau. I hope you can find something that works for you as I know first-hand what a difference that can mak!

Racheldog · June 2021

Part of moods (at least my own) are when I feel crappy during treatment and/or very tired. It is hard to have a good outlook or even feel like getting back to normal when treatment----be it chemo,surgery, radiation or other----take you down to feeling like hell. Or waking up in the middle of the night with a scared feeling about the future. Do others feel this way sometimes? From being someone so active and productive this has shaken up my world.

How to get back to normal with depression and anxiety. Benzos?

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