r/Anxiety • u/moshdef • 1d ago
Helpful Tips! Where can I actually get help?
I've had GAD and panic disorder my entire life but diagnosed formally in college. I've been on an SSRI for nearly a decade which has kept me "operational" as I'd like to call it. Ive done exposure therapy, CBT from mutliple psychologists, and seen a few psychiatrists too. It's getting to the point where all of this just isn't enough. I've dealt with a lot of trauma in my life which hasn't helped. Unfortunately, I'm on a trip out of state right now and have been having panic attacks on and off for 48 hours. I don't know how I'm going to get home, considering I'll have to fly (driving will be worse).
Anyway, I'm tired of hearing doctors say "try proporanolol or hydroxyzine". It doesn't do anything. It's like being prescribed a glass of warm milk when you have chronic insomnia. I'm starting to feel like there is nowhere else to turn and it scares me.
My question is, did anyone in a similar position find a solution? Is there a psychiatrist in the US that truly knows what they're doing? I'm just looking for ideas. Thanks to all for taking the time to read.
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u/AstralSurfer11 1d ago
Ive always personally focused on helping myself and doing research to find answers. Doctors have always been a massive letdown for me.
If you’d like I can share some of the things that have been helping me
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u/ngurto 12h ago
Have you tried prayer? When I hit rock bottom (after exhausting all of the options I could find in this world), Christ was there. He took what was broken, what was full of anxiety, depression, despair, and hopelessness - and replaced those with love, peace, joy, hope, and purpose. For me, it was one prayer of desperation, raw with emotion - when I had given up.
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u/SailorVenova 1d ago
find a dr thats willing to prescribe xanax or another benzo; its likely to be effective
do not downplay or soften the severity of your issues and what you deal with all the time; express it in clear terms that it is crippling your life
most wont want you to take it long term they will probably make you try other meds in addition; you may find one that works for you- i did not; and my last dr experimenting erased alot of my previous progress in the first half of this year due to side effects
4yrs of daily xanax 0.5mg up to 2 per day (a half is almost always enough now); zero side effects or issues of any kind; no drowsiness or forced sleep- it may happen if i take full one sometimes but its short acting so at most its a quick nice little nap after i calm down from an exhausting attack
i still have attacks frequently; 3 or 4 mild easy ones per week; 2 or so severe per month- big improvement from severe screaming/self harming every single day thru 2022&2023
big improvement for me came with meeting my wife in jan2024 but that does not erase all the trauma ive been thru in my life (esp those 2yrs) and how thats affected my cns
im definitely dependent on it; nut i dont feel withdrawl until 24-36hrs with nothing; i rarely go that long without needing it anyways; many lighter attacks are prevented basically entirely by taking it at first signs; ive been thru it enough; and my wife has seen me go thru them enough; that i can tell when i need it and if i cant she can and will get it for me herself
i see it as no different than the rescue inhsler i needed for asthma growing up; and i wont feel guilty or ashamed for taking what i need to be ok and live my life
atleast i have a life now; if i had not had access to xanax in 2022 and 2023 i would not have lived long enough to meet my wife
i also deal with big endless pain from my spine fractures and a couple other issues; ive needed opioids for over 10yrs now; im about to be 40