Can a gp prescribe me something other than anti d's?

[Purplerainbow2]

Trying not to drip feed or make this really long and boring, was on anti depressants for a long time on and off 10 years, due to how I was being treated by my first husband. So I'm not new to to them. Due to issues happening I couldn't control went to gp 6 months ago asking for something to help me 'cope'. He put me back on anti depressants, sertraline I think. The side effects were horrific for me, not mild. Anyway I came off them as they made me worse. Life is unbelievably stressful at the moment. I'm having major issues with ds1 with school and his own mental health and I'm getting no support with it. I'm finding every thing is getting on top of me, I feel like I have blinkers on. I can't focus on anything, can't motivate myself to do anything. My life is revolved around ds and school. He is only there part time at the moment and sometimes not there at all. So I do the school run, by the time I've got back out washing out etc it's time to walk back to get him. Then give him lunch, another chore and time to walk back to get my other dc. Then the usual evening routine. I know this isn't forever but I'm constantly in a bad mood? Everything and everyone (including dh as he is useless at the moment) is really annoying me. My family are useless and no support whatsoever. I have a great friend but she has her own health problems.

If I go back to the GPs, can they give something that isn't anti depressants?

[Purplerainbow2]

Bunp

[NanaNina]

You could try a different AD - there are lots more than Sertraline. I think a GP can prescribe propranol for anxiety. Do you think it's more depression or anxiety or a mixture of both. Sounds like you have an awful lot on your plate. You should be getting help with your boy - how old is he. Are you thinking it could be AS or something like that. Is DH usually useless or particularly so at the moment? Sorry to ask so many Qs.

[Wolfiefan]

I had CBT. They can also prescribe reading. You can get books from the library on prescription. Courses eg on low mood. And of course different ADs.

[Psycobabble]

I spent a long period on anti ds and luckily no longer need but I do get bouts of feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything sometime and I have found St. John's wort to work very well with no side effects ( for me personally) no withdrawals etc so maybe look into that however speak your gp first and you can't take them as well as anti ds although I'm reading as though your off them now though ?

also as another poster suggested councilling and other behaviour therapies also work well

[Purplerainbow2]

Thanks for responding. I don't know, I think the anxiety is just so high at the moment. I'm normally a grin and bear it sort of person but at the moment I just can't be bothered? I obviously am doing every I have to etc and I'm eating etc. kids say I'm a great mum (although I doubt this)

Iv had sertraline and citalopram before and don't like the side effects or the sort of 'bland' feeling it gives me?

Ds1 has -ASD and just been diagnosed with dyslexia aswell. I have the attendance board involved who to be fair have been ok. They are trying to help. School have turned their back on me really. They say ds has no problems and he's fine. Yet he says he 'can't cope' with school, so there are obvious things they are missing. He has been under Camhs since he was 4 but they are useless. He is having therapy by a new person which is great but obviously not a quick fix for him. Dh isn't 'useless' per se, that's probably unfair of me. This is what I mean! The small things are really getting to me! He annoys me just walking into the room! Iv told him what I need from him, he says ok, then makes an effort then it stops. I know I'm hard work, he withdraws when I get quiet, but I need the opposite and Iv told him that.

[Purplerainbow2]

Sorry x post. Iv had cbt before, did online things they gave me aswell as books!

And no I'm not on any at the moment. At johns wort Iv not tried but that interferes with the pill? Not that that's really a problem at the moment.....

[Psycobabble]

Ah right I didn't know that re pill ! ( not that that effects me )

I used to be on citalopram for anxiety mainly but also depression at times to . They worked well for a while but in the end I just felt flat all the time so I know the feeling you mean !

With the St. John's wort ( max strength) I feel it allows me to feel a lot more "me " and everything is more manageable however I'd say I only have bouts of feeling mildly down and stressed mainly simply down to everything I have to do and it can get on top of me and they do help.

I had cbt in the past which worked well for deep rooted problems causing anxiety etc but I think aside from that you sound like just general day to day life is really grinding you down and while it would be better for you if you felt mentally strong enough to cope with it all I do wonder if there is any practical stuff you could do to ease the pressure ? Is there any time you could take for yourself to relax or enjoy doing something out the house for example ?

[Purplerainbow2]

There just isn't the time to be honest. As I said, I do the school run 3 times a day, I make sure I walk so I get the excercise! Between these school runs there isn't really time when I need to get all the house stuff done. I love to paint and was considering painting something although I'm not great, just enjoy it. So I have intentions and when I think right I'll go drive to get resources (live in small town) I just then end up failing and not doing it! I had started to ride my big but that involves taking it in my car and driving to somewhere safe and scenic (I don't like riding on the roads) but I can't do this mid week because of the things I mention above.

[Purplerainbow2]

And yes flat is the word!

[Psycobabble]

Arghh I know it's so hard to find the time sometimes !! Could you do the housework after dc in bed some nights ? The two of you just blitz it ?? Even if you can just have half hour in the day with a cuppa and a book some time to relax ?
Can dh watch dc on a night so you could do your painting ?? Is there any classes for it near you ?? I know it can be hard to commit to the time especially with anxiety when your not sure if you may even feel up to going so I'd find myself getting anxious about the fact id made plans . Can't win !!!

Deffo go back to gp because with a handle on your anxiety Itl be much easier to manage the day to day stuff and possibly to make longer term changes were possible

[Lolimax]

I'm in propanolol and it certainly takes the edge off the anxiety. It also helps knowing the tablets are in my bag just in case iyswim?

[Purplerainbow2]

Ds1 is up about 5am and I don't sleep amazingly so when they go up and I'm down again by 8pm I'm far too tired to do anything plus our house is so open plan that the noise would wake up dc anyway so that isn't an option!

loli, do you not take them regularly then? Just as and when?

[Lolimax]

Hi purple. I've had anxiety all my life but at the moment I'm in charge rather than the other way around. I've also weaned myself off citalopram as I honestly don't think it was doing anything.
Having come off them my brain has suddenly woken up, as has my ability to cry which is lovely.
Right Propanolol. They've given me 20mg to take at 7 hour intervals but I tend to only take a dose in the morning (along with everything else, I have a couple of other non related health issues) then find they keep me going all day. I have a stressful job but I'm coping fine, as I am with a chronically ill but as yet undiagnosed DH. I find no side effects either. A young GP put me on them and another questioned them but they work for me. I do think there's a psychological aspect to knowing I have them to take a 2nd dose later in the day but it's very rare I need to.
Hope that helps!

[Purplerainbow2]

Thanks loli. It seems the gp are happy just to hand out the happy pills all to easily. Last time, it was 'here you go' even when I said I didn't really want to go back on them. I just want to go prepared this time as to other options? Iv tried kalms stuff, did nothing except lakes feel more tired!

[Lolimax]

Good luck when you go back to the GP.

[Purplerainbow2]

Can't get a doctors appointment for ages! Anything else I can try OTC?

I will ask about propranolol, anyone take anything else similar that isn't an anti d?

[Lolimax]

Have you tried mindfulness?

[Purplerainbow2]

Yes I have lolimax

[Trickymoments]

Lolimax can I ask what differences you feel coming off the ad's? I have been taking fluoxetine for 2 years & don't feel it's doing anything for me. I still have terrible health anxiety, generally a worrier & it has killed my sex drive! Like you mentioned I don't seem to be able to cry properly either, it's very weird.

I have got propranalol too and am wondering if I could manage with just that.
Sorry to hijack your thread OP

[Purplerainbow2]

No problem tricky! I was the same on fluoxetine. Iv been ona few types. How do you find the propranolol ? Is it like the anti d's that you have to take same time each day? Where you have to wait for effects? Or is it a when you need it? I still can't get doctors appointment!

[Trickymoments]

Hi Purple. The gp gave me the propranalol when I had a panic attack a while back. They are 5mg each & she said just take one when I felt anxiety symptoms. I just keep them in my bag but haven't had to take one since. I think I felt better just knowing they were in my bag if I needed them.
They definitely stopped the physical symptoms of anxiety but not the emotional ones so my worries are still there. Maybe that's what the ad's are meant to treat but if they are it doesn't seem to be working for me!
I started cbt last night so will give that a go but I'm actually starting to think this is just the way I'm always going to be. I so wish I wasn't.

[Purplerainbow2]

I know exactly what you mean.

Maybe they won't let me try that then. A lot of my problems are very deep rooted. I just can't cope at the moment. Iv been through a lot but at the moment I have so much stress it's making me physically ill and I just want something to help me through it...: to chill me out? Help me cope and not over react? Perhaps that's not something the gp can give me? I don't know much about drugs!

[Lolimax]

Me again! I've noticed the propanolol have taken the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety away but in turn that seems to have toned down the emotional side. Since coming off the citalopram I have noticed I need to take them every day though.
Life without AD's is liberating but odd. My brain is functioning better without a doubt. I'm making connections better. However I'm also quite short tempered and have a low idiot tolerance, not great in my job.
I've started to try and loose weight and exercise to take back a bit of control of my life (and nothing fits me). Hopefully that should also help.

[Trickymoments]

Thanks Lolimax. Do you think the ad's can lead to weight gain?
My plan was to try & start exercising regularly, eat better, try & cut right down on sugar etc and hope that this would help with my mood without the ad's. Truth is I haven't done these things yet as I can't seem to find time to sort myself out. I'm either at work, at home giving full on attention to demanding 4 year old & grumpy 8 year old or knackered/asleep!

How do you fit in exercise Lolimax?
I feel like a failure that I cant even manage to do that.

[Purplerainbow2]

I feel exactly like that loli, 'low idiot tolerance'! and so short tempered.

Tricky do you walk to school or is that feasible? I'm the same with excercise, but I walk the school run (but it isn't far!) thorough housework is excercise! Especially if you put on loud music whilst doing it!