can you get medication for stress?

[justjuanmorebeer]

I am under a huge amount of stress right now. My ex P left in July, we have a 3yr old dd and an unpleasant and turbulent situation regarding arrangements that is still not sorted out. I also have a really stressful job and after work days (luckily part time) sometimes I feel like my head is literally going to pop.

I don't think I am depressed and pretty sure this is not anxiety and the good thing is I don't feel like this every day. Just when more things happen in one particular day I feel really ill.

I was quite poorly with shingles recently which I know was brought on by stress. I am keen to not be ill again but I have so much going on right now I am not sleeping well and constantly exhausted.

Does anyone know of anything I could take on the days when I feel like my head might explode all over a wall?

Anyone?

Have you tried Bach rescue remedy? Or mindfulness? Lots of websites/ apps with short meditations- really helpful.

well, years ago benzos were prescribed, no longer because found to be addictive. have any MNs been prescribed medication specifically for stress? i'd like to know too!

Are you taking vitamins? Ask at Holland and Barrett etc.

If your stress is causing you to feel depressed or anxious (and tbh it sounds like it is) then you might benefit from medication. It isn't a short term fix though, they take time to work and are not without side effects.

I used to find rescue remedy really useful for times when things felt too much and i needed to take the edge off. For actual anxiety and depression it doesn't help me.

You might just be run down (the shingles) and would benefit from some vitamins, possibly B vitamins.

Maybe have a chat to your GP. Avoid things like St John's wort as if you start taking them you need to have stopped taking them for at least 2 weeks before you can start on many of the Anti-depressants available.

I take a multivit and iron tablets... no other medication. Don't find rescue remedy helps.

I don't feel bad every day which is why I am reluctant to ask for anxiety meds. I know these need to build up over weeks and months. Surely there is a short term and fast acting solution that could just be taken occasionally?

I think many people find alcohol does the job.

The thing that would be ideal all other things equal would be benzos like diazepam, as a PP has said. But you don't want to go down that path, as it could store up a whole world of trouble for you further down the line.

If you're having trouble sleeping, then a sedating antidepressant like mirtazapine might be the way to go, although maybe not if you need to be alert at work or have a safety-critical job.

Can you squeeze in some physical exercise into your day? Often that helps you get/ stay on an even keel.

I walk plenty as I do not drive so pre school run etc is all on foot. Used to have a gym membership before becoming a lone parent but not realistic now.
Would you take that antidepressant at night then and it helps you sleep? Does it make you feel calm?

My job is a teacher so no machinery etc but yes need to be alert.

www.simplynatural.org.uk/acatalog/info_281.html You could try these Passiflora drops. They are fast acting. Rescue Remedy never works for me either but this does.

I took a course of these last year and found them a good help www.boots.com/en/Lanes-Quiet-Life-100-Tablets_2295/

Yes, mirtazapine is a nighttime anti-d, but it has a few downsides, e.g., sedation the morning after so it mightn't be the one for you. It also causes significant weight gain. They definitely make me feel calm at night think 9 hours of unconsciousness

If you feel like you're not coping, do go and have a chat to the GP. They may have some ideas.

The other thing that's sometimes prescribed for anxiety are beta blockers. But again, not suitable for everyone and have their own downsides, including insomnia in some people which is not what you want. The upside to them is that they work pretty much instantaneously, and if they don't suit you you can stop taking them.

Given you've been ill with shingles recently, it could well be that you're still recovering. It can take a long time to get better. Really, you need some coddling and 'you time'; is there anyone who can step up (family etc??).

i had a small spot of shingles on my bottom and on the bottom of my foot. i didn't feel poorly with it but my doctor signed me off work for two weeks and was adamant i didn't go in. no where near as demanding job as teaching. maybe you could use some respite time.shingles is quite a serious illness

My DH is off work from stress at the moment and was prescribed Propranolol to start with, it really helped reduce his feelings of anxiety. Currently he is using antihistamines to get him to sleep, again not a long term measure - but something to help get back into a proper routine.

The more permanent actions have been sorting out stuff at work to reduce the causes of work (although it took a while until he was able to face doing that) CBT and counselling.
I'd suggest going to see your doctor. Good luck!

I have been hyperthyroid since Sept 2012.
Mostly my symptoms are stressy/angry/ overwhelmed. I have my thyroid meds to control hormone levels, but that's only one part.
I take Propranolol (beta blocker), which just slows heart rate to reduce anxiousness.
I have been prescribed Mirtazipine - made me extraordinarily angry. Moved to Fluoxetine, which is better, but not perfect.
I'm having surgery very soon, so fingers crossed this will change soon, although who knows what will happen then? Have you had your thyroid checked if this is unusual and regular?
Please see your GP to be on the safe side. I have always been quite stress driven, but this was something else entirely!
I do have Diazepam/Zopiclone for sleep when I really need it.

Benzos are generally only supplied as 1 or 2 weeks at a time. They can be addictive.
I use melatonin/antihistamines/valerian and try to rotate meds for sleep. Sometimes I can be pacing all night though - like now. Benzos are usually the better option than no sleep when it's really bad.
I think a lot of mine is psychosomatic now. I don't expect to sleep on Friday nights, and often I don't. Saturday nights I sleep like a baby. Weird!

I wondered if you were a teacher! The problem with teaching is there's no down time so you train your body to be in a stateof constant alertness (ffight or flight) !nd it's vital to find ways to unwind.

I had to stop teaching.... But that's a rather drastic solution and brings about other problems!!

Try yoga, really helps with stress, everyday if you can but even once a week makes a difference

Actually that is a good point about visiting your docs to get things like thyroid, blood pressure, iron stores etc measured. Just to check that there's no underlying thing contributing to the stress from your life circs.

Ok I will go talk things over with my GP. After reading about it I think beta blockers seem the most appropriate. Will see what doctor says.

you should also supplement with zinc as it is leached from the body when the adrenals are under stress. take it in the evening as it can help with sleep.

Propranolol is a beta blocker and I found it worked well for stress and anxiety. I didn't take it all the time, just on days when I knew I would be in a stressful situation. I didn't have any side effects.

I went through similar to you a few years back, I couldn't sleep and was anxious and it was affecting my job. In the end I begged my GP for sleeping tablets as I didn't want to admit I couldn't cope. One tablet gave me 4 hours total sleep and 2 gave me 8. I'd take them once or twice a week when I needed them the most - a packet of 28 lasted me 3 months. It really helped me cope just having a decent nights sleep.