feel like I have failed

[harrypotternerd]

I went to the dr today because i have been having a lot of panic attacks. I was diagnosed with PTSD early last year and I am going through family court at the moment. Everything just feels like it is too much. The doctor has prescribed valium and I feel like I have failed. I feel like I should not have to be medicated to deal with life.

Same here. Not the PTSD but severe depression. I never wanted to rely on medication but now it is my saviour. I am on Duloxetine and it is the only thing keeping my head above water and enabling me to raise my daughter. I'm surprised they have given you Valium before anti-depressants? Have they offered counselling? Do you have kids? X

I have 4 kids, I go to counselling but it is just when I am getting really stressed that the panic attacks start. He said to get me through the next few days (I have to see my abusive ex to exchange kids) to have valium, He wants me to come back to get a proper plan in place. DP has been quite worried and was asking me to go to the doctor after he saw me have a panic attack yesterday

Sorry a bit a bit of tough love here..

I have to be medicated to deal with life.. I am a manic depressive
My DP has to be medicated.. she is diabetic..
My sister has to be medicated ... she has MS

It's all a matter of understanding that mental illness is simply that... illness. You are not a failure for taking medication to deal with illness. If people who took medication for illness didn't use them. we would be in the middle ages and people would die from all sorts.

This is the illness talking not you that's what it does to people.It's not being a failure to take the tablets,far from it it's a positive step forward in helping you & helping those who love you.
Please give them a try they could really make a big difference to you at what already is a difficult time of your life.

Please please know that you haven't failed in any way. And please try and be very kind and gentle with yourself at the moment - imagine how you would help a friend in the same situation. You are brave to write about it here, and brave to ask for help.

I have suffered with anxiety pretty much all my life and know how wretched it makes you feel. If the doctor thinks you need Valium to get through the next few days then he is probably right, but definitely do go back and get a longer term solution sorted, there are many options available now that can help you.

Do keep posting here, there are many who have been through what you are going through and will offer support and advice.

As different says people take medications for lots of reasons, would you feel like a failure if your GP prescibed you insulin for diabetes, its just the same.

PTSD sucks, I've recently recovered from it myself. Definately see your GP again, make sure your referals are to people experienced in trauma as traditional talking therapies can make PTSD worse. ( I have personal experience of this with the psychologist I saw :-( ) My personal reccomendation is for Eye Movement Integration ( EMI ) which resolved my PTSD in 1 session. Another similar therapy that seems to be more mainstream is EMDR.

Other things that helped me were EFT (emotional freedom techneque ), meditation, mindfulness and exercise.