I am in my mid 30s and my anxiety attacks first reached an unbearable level when I was 19.
Since then I have tried every therapy under the sun privately, and on 4 occasions have been to the GP to try different antidepressants or anxiety meds.
Each time the meds have been due to a trigger, 2 PNDs, a violent bereavement and a PTSD. Each time I have taken them for about a year and then come off without major problems, although not mentally feeling that much better. However the triggers have always been a kind of excuse; "phew, I can go to the doctor and blame my panic attacks on X's death" - it kind of makes it respectable and understandable IYSWIM.
I think I have reached a point though where I need to accept that there is something underlying all my various mental health episodes that I need to address. This will be hard as my support network is very small (birth family all in ruins and not at all secure; DH who just wants it all to go away and offers tea and small talk), but I think the time has come.
I am so tired of pretending that everything is okay - only DH and my best mate know the full extent of things and to everyone else I say things like "Oh, I was a bit blue after DC3 was born but the Dr had me right in 6 months".
Going to the GP for meds just feels like putting an Elastoplast on a gaping wound.
What do I do? Ask for a referral to a psychiatrist? What might happen after that?
For the record I have had CBT, counselling, hypnosis, EFT, regression therapy, repatterning therapy, psychotherapy (very helpful couple of years but we had to go without holidays or treats to be able to afford it), and all kinds of massage & associated therapies - craniosacral, acupuncture, shiatsu, even tried reiki and chakra balancing in desperation.
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Mental health
Lifelong depression & anxiety... Time to take things further?
10 replies
StripedTeapot · 07/11/2010 10:32
OP posts:
SkeletonFlowers ·
08/11/2010 00:11
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