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[Penguin]

Hi Penguin

Glad to hear you've got an appointment, shame it's such a long wait. I've been seeing a psychiatrist and psychologist for nearly four years for my depression and anxiety. I don't take anti-depressants, too many bad experiences put me off. As an alternative to Valium you could try 0.5mg clonazepam (Paxam), it has similar effects but maybe not as sleepy (although it does help me sleep if I'm having racing thoughts), it also has a longer life span than Valium, so you can take it long term. I also use 2.5mg olanzapine, I think it's an anti-psychotic but a very low dose. I also take CBD oil for pain, which massively helps my general anxiety. I've just gone from peri to post and the anxiety and panic attacks are terrible, I completely understand your fear of going away.

Thanks for your reply. My brother in law who is a doctor has also suggested clonazepam as the closest possible thing to diazepam and that doctors are more willing to prescribe long term. Either that or an anti psychotic so i will look at the one you mentioned.  My ssri isn't even touching the sides at the moment, I might as well be taking a sugar pill. Would you mind me asking what type of anxiety you were diagnosed with, as I think they only give clonazepam for some types, although I'm hoping a private psychiatrist will be more flexible than the NHS as their prescribing guidelines are very strict. I seem to have a mix of health anxiety, OCD and panic disorder.

I could actually see someone from the same clinic on 29th Feb, but he has nowhere near the same amount of experience as my first choice person so I am trying to hold out.

[Nas]

Arya Underfoot,
Could I ask what CBD oil you take for anxiety and pain please?
I too ( like Penguin and so many ladies on here) am also trying to find a way through the roller coaster which menopause brings.

Penguin, really hoping you manage to relax a little, once you are away. Thinking of you x

[CLKD]

Anxiety is anxiety .......... I don't know why 'experts' try to make it something that it ain't 

It's the Fight/Flight response, however knowing that doesn't stop anxiety surges taking over  .

Postcard please ;-)

[Penguin]

Anxiety is anxiety .......... I don't know why 'experts' try to make it something that it ain't 

It's the Fight/Flight response, however knowing that doesn't stop anxiety surges taking over  .

Postcard please ;-)

When I'm there and I know I'm okay, I'll post on the holiday thread!

Yes agree re anxiety, but the NHS guidelines unfortunately categorise (and often in quite an out of date way) which is why GPs have limits on what they can prescribe without referring you on. It's annoying, especially when I know what has worked for me.

[CLKD]

<wave>

[Arya Underfoot]

I have no idea what my anxiety diagnosis is but I think the main reason I was prescribed those medications was the severe state of mind I was in and the fact I refused to try any further AD's because I was worried about increased anxiety and suicidal thoughts. I'm sure a doctor would prescribe these for you since the AD's aren't helping. We really need a little extra care at this time of our lives and sometimes that means taking medication, we can't be strong all the time.

In regards to CBD oil, I've tried various combinations, 25 CBD, 25 THC, 100 CBD(4 THC) and now on 200 CBD(8THC). I found the 100 CBD to be the best for anxiety, gave me about 8-12 hours relief per dose. I ended up increasing to 200 purely because of my pain. THC is better with pain but it doesn't improve your anxiety. The whole medical cannabis is still very under researched and it's very much trial and error with the doses. Also getting the balance right between the CBD and THC is different for everyone. There's also a bunch of other compounds in cannabis that there really isn't a lot of knowledge about. It really saved me when I was at my lowest point and it got me off opiates, so I definitely recommend.

[ElkWarning]

Hi

Yes, I have, but not for a long time.

3 x 10mg diazepam daily for two weeks. It's a reset. Not what you were asking, however, does indicate dosage levels required when I'm shaking myself to bits.

In terms of daily, if anyone finds one that works, is love to know.

[Penguin]

Hi

Yes, I have, but not for a long time.

3 x 10mg diazepam daily for two weeks. It's a reset. Not what you were asking, however, does indicate dosage levels required when I'm shaking myself to bits.

In terms of daily, if anyone finds one that works, is love to know.

Totally know what you mean. I felt the 5mg was enough to calm me down but I reckon I could have taken more. I am going to keep this post open for when I see the psychiatrist and will update with any and all information I get. Apparently its an hour long first appointment so I will have a list of questions with me. I am in desperate need of something for daily use, I've accepted that now. And possibly something to add in for acute episodes like this week. I have actually been doing a lot of reading and found a lot of people like me, with the same manifestation in terms of what I'm scared of and then the looping thoughts and compulsions that relate to it. Apparently ssri medication deals only with one part of that, making sure you don't lose serotonin, but I may well also have issues re dopamine regulation too which is why my body seeks the constant reward of checking to calm me down. That requires different drugs. And I think where the GP is limited is that they tend to give you one drug as a cover all. I have hopes that the psychiatrist will understand the different pathways involved and how they do / don't work together effectively in some people, and therefore know what combination will be best. It really does seem quite bespoke as in what works for one won't work for another. But everyone on here has been so kind sharing their experiences and what they've tried that I at least know where to start looking.
So anyway, long winded way of saying I'll be asking about diazepam for acute use, or an alternative, plus doses alongside something daily so keep an eye out in April as I'll either update this post or start a new one with everything I glean from my appointment x

[Penguin]

I have no idea what my anxiety diagnosis is but I think the main reason I was prescribed those medications was the severe state of mind I was in and the fact I refused to try any further AD's because I was worried about increased anxiety and suicidal thoughts. I'm sure a doctor would prescribe these for you since the AD's aren't helping. We really need a little extra care at this time of our lives and sometimes that means taking medication, we can't be strong all the time.

In regards to CBD oil, I've tried various combinations, 25 CBD, 25 THC, 100 CBD(4 THC) and now on 200 CBD(8THC). I found the 100 CBD to be the best for anxiety, gave me about 8-12 hours relief per dose. I ended up increasing to 200 purely because of my pain. THC is better with pain but it doesn't improve your anxiety. The whole medical cannabis is still very under researched and it's very much trial and error with the doses. Also getting the balance right between the CBD and THC is different for everyone. There's also a bunch of other compounds in cannabis that there really isn't a lot of knowledge about. It really saved me when I was at my lowest point and it got me off opiates, so I definitely recommend.

Thanks Arya Underfoot, yes that's exactly where I am, I don't want an increase in ssri as I have tried that twice and it made things so much worse. I wouldn't say suicidal but definitely felt life not worth living if it is going to stay like this. I want a bespoke approach now and, after your post, I read a lot more about clonazepam and I really like the sound of it so I hope its deemed suitable for me. Like you I probably need an anti psychotic too as I've read about the pathways they work on, with my limited knowledge. The brain is a complex thing.
Anyway thanks for your post, very helpful to know what you take and pleased to say we made it away for our weekend. Am there now and feeling generally okay. One episode of checking this morning but knocked it on its head so we're going out for a wander and maybe do a little tour.

[Penguin]

Ladies, just want to say a big heartfelt thanks to everyone!!! I can honestly say I've never felt and seen and as heard as I've felt these past couple of days. You lot really get it, don't you. And that makes me feel a lot more normal than I have been feeling - normal and not alone. You are all amazing, I've learnt so much and feel very supported. And I've made it for my weekend away! Staying off of Google but can't say I'll stay off here though as its a bit of a lifeline for me atm. Defo in a much better place today xx

[CLKD]

Used correctly under GP supervision Valium isn't addictive.  I never felt that I needed to take more than the 5mg at night prior to an Event but knowing that I was able to do so, helped a lot. 

[MinL hated it when I fell asleep mid afternoon during a daily visit  as I began to relax, my thought pattern was 'without my medication you wouldn't have time with your son' ;-).  She would wait until I was dropping off in the chair and then "Did U have an early start this morning X?"  Eventually I told her "My GP has advised that I sleep when my brain requires it".   The journey there was 2 hours at least so it had meant getting out of bed earlier than usual].


Propranolol helped me a lot, taken every night.

........ and breath Penguin, tnx for the update.  U can continue here by changing the subject line to alert us. 

[SarahT]

And don't forget to have a lovely weekend doing as much or as little as you both require. You know you can check in here if you need to - it's like carrying extra anxiety meds in your bag... You may not need it, but it's the reassurance it's there. Just In Case. Xx

[Nas]

And don't forget to have a lovely weekend doing as much or as little as you both require. You know you can check in here if you need to - it's like carrying extra anxiety meds in your bag... You may not need it, but it's the reassurance it's there. Just In Case. Xx

Love this… have a relaxing time Penguin ❤️❤️

[CLKD]

Did U survive the weekend ? 

[Penguin]

I did thank you. It was a bit mixed as I was still on high alert and had moved onto a different body part by Sunday morning, but there was also plenty of enjoyable times too and amazing food. Husband was great and we had some really good conversations about the future, life in general and also the best way to manage this. Surprisingly I slept really well, which is always the tricky bit with anxiety as it's usually hard to stay asleep and then the lack of sleep makes it all so much worse. But yeah, I survived and am glad we went!