To think the doctor shouldn't refuse me my medication?

[lisaboob]

Hi,I've been a long time sufferer of anxiety for over 10 years.
A lot better now but still really anxious before a big event or a event that's out of my comfort zone.
My doctor prescribed me diazepam 2 years ago (28 tablets ) and they've just ran out.
Went to GP today and said no ..and offered me anti depressants.
I refused and left with nothing.
I use half a tablet before a big event etc hence why they lasted 2 years
Now I have things coming up this year and I'm going to have to cancel now.
Aibu to think this isn't ok?

It is not necessarily problematic. But the GP can not prescribe benzos over the long-term, which is what you’re asking for in maintaining ‘a supply’.

If you need them, go back every time.

If you won’t do that, ask yourself why not.

I've got the headspace app too which I try and use before the diazepam being my last option
It's hard when before the event (night before ) my stomach is in knots/feeling sick etc

I have in the last year been prescribed diazepam but it was to relieve a specific situation and was for short term use only. It’s a drug that’s because prescribed to help in the short term whilst you find coping strategies for the longer term. It doesn’t matter how many you’ve taken the fact is that for at least 2 years you’ve been reliant on this medication to deal with stressful events and there is no indication that this will stop in the future.

If 1 script has lasted 2 years it's not like they are popping them for fun.
That's a whole different situation.
Anxiety is real and sadly your Dr isn't sympathetic to real life anxiety.
Ignore the comments on here,people enjoy being mean to others.

What techniques were you taught during CBT?

Benzodiazepines as they are known are really addictive even in small dozes my hubby been on them for 5 years he initially got prescribed a two week doze but on and on it went. I would try something else because half a tablet will actually be doing not a lot for you more a placebo affect
Pity your doctor didn't think of this

@NoSquirrels I've never asked the doctor for a specific amount.
He gave me 28 last time.
If he had prescribed me 3-4 I would have been happy but he wouldn't prescribe any at all.

Have you tried to ask for one at a time, as you need them?

2mg of diazepam won't really be having much effect on you OP.
I take a 2mg tablet occasionally when I have a bad back. Mentally I don't notice it at all.

It's fairly easy to access different medications on the NHS.

You can find therapy privately. I had to do that, and have been seeing a private counsellor for several years.

@lexiconmistress we focused a lot on breathing techniques,my counsellor said a lot of the time when we are anxious we hyperventilate and don't realise also a worry time ..where you give yourself 20 mins to worry a day then if you get a worrying thought ...write it down and think about it the following day in your 20 min allotted time

Sorry OP but yes yabu.

I know anxiety is a shit, but taking valium whenever you are facing something stressful is no solution. Wouldn’t you rather your GP helped you find a cure, so you can cope with your feelings yourself without needing medication every time something stressful happens in your life?

I agree that anti-d’s aren’t the greatest solution either - but did your GP suggest anything else? CBT doesn’t suit everybody, as you say, but other therapies might help. It takes time but with lots of therapeutic treatments, you have to practice new ways of thinking a lot, like you’re doing an exercise, until it starts to work and become second nature. It takes time but the results can be amazing, and once they work, they keep working.

Could your GP refer you for more generalised therapy, rather than one-fits-all CBT?

@Badtasteflump of course I would but when I've tried lots of other things and still in the same position it's disheartening

@aprilanne, and my mother has had it prescribed on and off for 20 years for sleeping when she goes through difficult times and has been able to do without perfectly fine without them when she hasn't been stressed. She hasn't been on them for 5 years now but still have a pack somewhere in her drawers. Hasn't needed them.

Not everyone has an addictive personality.

He said we don't like to prescribe diazepam ...and no further explanation.

So do you understand now, from this thread, what the issues are and why they don’t like to prescribe them?

If you do, go back and make another appointment, explain what the specific short-term cause if your anxiety is (e.g. flying) and have more of a discussion about it.

But in general, it is better not to rely on diazepam as a regular coping strategy and that’s what you’ve been doing.

YABU. In fact you are refusing all possible other methods of help except for diazepam.

You are already an addict. GP saw what this thread has also revealed.

I know it’s disheartening OP . I had counselling for a long time, to get to the root of what had caused my anxiety in the first place, and then to work on retraining myself to unprogramme my automatic ‘panic’ responses. It didn’t seem to work for a long time, and even when it did, there were still ups and downs. But now I do honestly feel like a different person to who I was a few years ago.

I know anxiety is a shit, but taking valium whenever you are facing something stressful is no solution
But having a glass (or 2 or 3) a night as so many do is OK...

There are much worse addiction that people fall under to release stress and anxiety than taking a valium there and then.

I wonder how many posters telling OP that she is unreasonable couldn't function with a number of coffee cups and their glass of wine each day. Most of my colleagues do, but that's OK isn't it because so many people do it...

Meant to say, nobody is born anxious. We learn to be that way, for lots of different reasons. We can, therefore, unlearn it too.

I take Propranolol and it got me out of tachycardia today!!

Did you get any other coping techniques from your CBT?

Did your therapist talk you through mindfulness techniques? You could try two things:

1. take notice of the time, place etc and reassure yourself you're ok i.e. it is 18:01 on the 27 March 2019. I am sitting on a stable surface. I am warm and safe and I AM OK.

1. take notice of five things you can see, five things you can hear, five things you can touch or one thing for each sense. Take notice of your surroundings.

You can also do mindfulness exercises when you're calm to practice, there are a couple of good apps for that. Do the washing up and notice the temperature of the water, the feel of the dishes, how the soap smells etc

You can beat this.

I second this, for occasional anxiety why would you want to get hooked on a daily drug? Some really bad advice on this thread

An app I think is great is called Stop Panic and Anxiety, it's free on android and has guided meditations, an anxiety diary, lots of information about anxiety etc.

Shezow Anti-depressants are not addictive and so there is nothing to 'get hooked on'. Benzodiazepenes ARE addictive.

Meant to say, nobody is born anxious. We learn to be that way, for lots of different reasons. We can, therefore, unlearn it too.

Not true. Some neurological conditions like autism are anxiety driven. Some people have a chemical imbalance in their brains that causes anxiety. This is like telling diabetic people they can unlearn their disorder, too.