I've suffer with my mental health, specifically health anxiety, social anxiety and agoraphobia, for 25 years. I am 40, so that's well over half my life.
I'm neurodiverse, which means a lot of traditional therapies don't work with me. CBT, for example, didn't work at all - I've had four courses of it throughout my life. Psychotherapy didn't turn up any hidden demons from my past, the simple fact is that I was born different, and living in a world dominated by neurotypical people is very very stressful to me.
I've taken: venlafaxine, sertraline, citalopram, Prozac, mirtazapine, Amitriptyline, Valium, sodium valproate and pregabalin. Probably more. All prescribed at different points and am now pretty much stuck on Venlafaxine, because it's so hard to wean off of. I have just got off mirtazapine, as it wasn't having any effect and has made me dangerously obese.
A few weeks ago a new GP at my surgery prescribed me some propranolol, initially to get me through the mirtazapine withdrawal, but potentially to help with ongoing anxiety. Oh my GOD. This stuff actually works. I take a tablet before a potentially stressful situation eg the supermarket, and I might have the thought 'I don't like this, this is scary' but my body doesn't react to that. My heart doesn't race. My bowels don't contract. My head doesn't spin and my ears don't ring. So I have another thought and carry on until I hit the checkouts. Job done.
I'm elated and can see a certain degree of freedom in my future now, but I'm a bit angry - why has it taken so long to be given effective treatment for my anxiety? I've spent the last two years crippled by anxiety, it nearly cost me my marriage. I could have been given these meds years ago.