Hi

[conlib]

I have suffered social anxiety since the age of 17 when at first I couldn't leave the house. Whenever I tried to I would Physically throw up numerous times amongst other things. I tried all the relaxation etc etc but avoided medication. I've been through hell all my life. I didn't take the easy option when I met my wife, which would have meant walking away and now have 2 children.

The situation has nearly split us up and it came to a point about five years ago where I had to seek medication. The doctor put me on cipralex which, after a while done wonders for me and for the first time in 25 years I felt somewhat free.

I stopped taking the medication around three years ago and have been relatively ok since up till about six months ago when the anxiety started bubbling away in the background. On the whole, I am still okay but it feels like it's building up and has resurfaced on occasions.

I am going the doctors on Monday for a chat, now I don't really want to go back on long term medication but will if it is the best way forward. Last time he prescribed the medication, he also gave me some tablets (can't remember what) but I'm sure, forgive the terminology if incorrect, they were benzos. I never ever took one of theze benzos but just the fact that they were there was a big, big help psychologically so I don't know whether to ask him if I could go down that route. I know I won't really need them that often if at all but if I am not on the long term medication, I know I will need to take these benzos on the odd occasion. Maybe once a month, 2 months possibly, maybe not at all as it might help psychologically like last time.

So the question, cipralex or benzos, what do you think? Obviously the doctors decision may suay it no matter what I think.

 

[Ashiene]

You should know that if you want to rely on medications, you will have to take them for the rest of your life, which is going to cost so much that a large part of your income would go towards sustaining your medicine supply.

Which is why I went cold turkey and overnight I stopped my medication because I could not afford to pay hundreds of dollars for medication knowing I would need to keep taking them to feel better because SAD is an incurable condition that can only be managed and its effects/symptoms reduced, but never completely removed or eliminated. Medication only works temporarily which is why we need to keep taking them. And as a drug addiction, the more you take, the more your body relies on it to feel good. Once you stop taking it (due to being unable to afford paying for it anymore), you will sink into a massive depression like I did because your mind is forced to be removed from what keeps it sane.

I would suggest stop medication completely. And only go for CBT or other therapies. CBT is a mental technique to combat anxiety which you will learn and apply throughout your life. Like the saying goes: Give a man a fish (medicine) and he will eat for a day (feel good for a day). But teach a man to fish (CBT/therapy) and he will eat for a lifetime (lifelong CBT application).

 

[onecellinthesea]

Hi Conlib, welcome to the forum! I'm sorry to hear about your issues with SA. I have no experience with medication for anxiety but I too would recommend CBT as a way of combating SA as it gives you the tools you need to deal with the anxieties yourself. It worked well for me. Good luck

 

[conlib]

Hi Ashiene

As I said, I went through most of my life without medication using the likes of cbt but when you go through the barriers and go on the likes of a 2 week holiday and don't eat or drink for the 2 weeks nearly killing yourself and becoming suicidal, you will try anything.

The cipralex stemmed my anxiety when I was on it and as soon as I felt ok I stopped it straight away.

I'm just worried that if I do nothing now while I'm relatively ok for the most part, it will build up and get out of hand again. I have a 2 week holiday booked for August and it's already playing on my mind.