MaineJaybooJazz
New member
Today was my 3rd psychologist therapy, and my first psychiatrist meeting. First of all, my diagnosis:
Social Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Paranoia
And the medications I was today prescribed:
Depakote 250MGS [30]
Ativan 0.5MGS [10]
Valium 10MGS [30]
Zoloft 50MGS [30]
My reason for seeking therapy and medication was for my overbearing anxiety. It prevents my day to day activities outside my home. That said, I am not happy with what was prescribed to me, and here is why:
Before seeking help due to lack of financial means, I experienced high anxiety [to the point of numbing in my hands/feet] and actually visited the ER probably a total of 3 times. I was prescribed Xanax at the ER, and they helped. I was also given Xanax by a family member when they were with me and I would experience a panic attack first hand. So, basically after that, I was by means of it being available to me through a friend, self-medicating with approximately [and no more, never an increase] 2 2MG Xanaxes a day.
No I did not tell me psychiatrist this [some judge and therefore won't prescribe what I need when in fact the only reason I self-medicated was because if I didn't, I wouldn't have been able to handle my anxiety]. I did however, point out that I did receive it at the ER and through a family member when needed and it helped, alot.
But I'm not some junkie who is out for Xanax, I am someone who just wants to get a grasp on my anxiety the right way. I am actually happy with receiving Valium as it works for me and Ativan for fast relief. What I am not happy with is how many I was given. So basically I would like to know this: would telling my psychiatrist about the self-medicating myself hurt my credentials or help them as she may up my meds? What I would be extremely happy with and have my anxiety in check would be:
Valium 10MG [60 or 90 a month]
That is at the most 3 a day but I would be happy with just 2 a day.
I would be fine without the Ativan as the Valium would nip it in the bud, but the fast relief does help. She seemed to be promoting Klonopin and how it's great and more in her grasp, though I explained I was on that by a doctor twice [15 and 23], and neither time did it help. She also noted that she didnt want to continue with Valium if she didn't have to but that would really hurt me if she didn't at our session next month because that is the main thing that will help me!
So, how do I [or do I even] explain to her that I would feel my anxiety would be easily managed with Valium at least 2 or at the most 3 times a day? Even if that means cutting out the 10 Ativan [which isn't a lot at all considering I have self-medicated with that and had to take 3 0.5MGS to ease my stress].
Please tell me the best way to go about explaining to my psychiatrist that 2 or 3 10MG Valium a day I feel would better handle my stress and keep it in check [no self-medication needed] without sounding like someone who is just wanting a pump of meds [as I do not take them for recreational use; I have 4 kids and I take them to keep my anxiety in check because i know how horrible it is and I become to those around me when I am on edge.]
Update:
I called.
In shock, I found that my psychologist has moved without any notification to Oklahoma and now I have a new psychologist and need to make an appointment. Secondly, I spoke to a nurse, explained that I could do without the Ativan if I would be allowe two 10 MG Valium a day. She called back after speaking with my psychiatrist with this:
"It shows she has you on BuSpar [God please no. Tried this before, it did not work at all]. However, she said just continue taking your Valium 10MG once a day [half in the morning half at night]."
So, what does this mean? I'm automatically going to be told no for a increase at my next appointment Dec. 1st? No way am I taking BuSpar, and she kept pushing for Klonopin since she said sh has "a good grasp on it and can prescribe me a high milligram". I would really love to be prescribe 2 10MG Valium a day - reason: THEY HELP! They help more than anything I have ever taken. Any advice on why she didn't approve my upping of meds? What to do if she recommends Buspar? And if Valium isn't an option - what MG of Klonopin may help considering I've been precribed 0.5MGs in the past once a day and 1MG twice a day and it does not help me.
Confused. And sort of baffled.
Social Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Paranoia
And the medications I was today prescribed:
Depakote 250MGS [30]
Ativan 0.5MGS [10]
Valium 10MGS [30]
Zoloft 50MGS [30]
My reason for seeking therapy and medication was for my overbearing anxiety. It prevents my day to day activities outside my home. That said, I am not happy with what was prescribed to me, and here is why:
Before seeking help due to lack of financial means, I experienced high anxiety [to the point of numbing in my hands/feet] and actually visited the ER probably a total of 3 times. I was prescribed Xanax at the ER, and they helped. I was also given Xanax by a family member when they were with me and I would experience a panic attack first hand. So, basically after that, I was by means of it being available to me through a friend, self-medicating with approximately [and no more, never an increase] 2 2MG Xanaxes a day.
No I did not tell me psychiatrist this [some judge and therefore won't prescribe what I need when in fact the only reason I self-medicated was because if I didn't, I wouldn't have been able to handle my anxiety]. I did however, point out that I did receive it at the ER and through a family member when needed and it helped, alot.
But I'm not some junkie who is out for Xanax, I am someone who just wants to get a grasp on my anxiety the right way. I am actually happy with receiving Valium as it works for me and Ativan for fast relief. What I am not happy with is how many I was given. So basically I would like to know this: would telling my psychiatrist about the self-medicating myself hurt my credentials or help them as she may up my meds? What I would be extremely happy with and have my anxiety in check would be:
Valium 10MG [60 or 90 a month]
That is at the most 3 a day but I would be happy with just 2 a day.
I would be fine without the Ativan as the Valium would nip it in the bud, but the fast relief does help. She seemed to be promoting Klonopin and how it's great and more in her grasp, though I explained I was on that by a doctor twice [15 and 23], and neither time did it help. She also noted that she didnt want to continue with Valium if she didn't have to but that would really hurt me if she didn't at our session next month because that is the main thing that will help me!
So, how do I [or do I even] explain to her that I would feel my anxiety would be easily managed with Valium at least 2 or at the most 3 times a day? Even if that means cutting out the 10 Ativan [which isn't a lot at all considering I have self-medicated with that and had to take 3 0.5MGS to ease my stress].
Please tell me the best way to go about explaining to my psychiatrist that 2 or 3 10MG Valium a day I feel would better handle my stress and keep it in check [no self-medication needed] without sounding like someone who is just wanting a pump of meds [as I do not take them for recreational use; I have 4 kids and I take them to keep my anxiety in check because i know how horrible it is and I become to those around me when I am on edge.]
Update:
I called.
In shock, I found that my psychologist has moved without any notification to Oklahoma and now I have a new psychologist and need to make an appointment. Secondly, I spoke to a nurse, explained that I could do without the Ativan if I would be allowe two 10 MG Valium a day. She called back after speaking with my psychiatrist with this:
"It shows she has you on BuSpar [God please no. Tried this before, it did not work at all]. However, she said just continue taking your Valium 10MG once a day [half in the morning half at night]."
So, what does this mean? I'm automatically going to be told no for a increase at my next appointment Dec. 1st? No way am I taking BuSpar, and she kept pushing for Klonopin since she said sh has "a good grasp on it and can prescribe me a high milligram". I would really love to be prescribe 2 10MG Valium a day - reason: THEY HELP! They help more than anything I have ever taken. Any advice on why she didn't approve my upping of meds? What to do if she recommends Buspar? And if Valium isn't an option - what MG of Klonopin may help considering I've been precribed 0.5MGs in the past once a day and 1MG twice a day and it does not help me.
Confused. And sort of baffled.