Posts by David Bishop4

Kenneth Scott41 said:I realize this is completely off-topic, so I’ll probably get a nudge from the admin to move this discussion elsewhere.

The thing is, I’ve managed to improve my own mood without all the fire, the smoke, or those 4,000 different carcinogens. I ended up picking up an e-cigarette—something that isn't even technically classified as a tobacco product since there's no actual tobacco involved. 🙂 It doesn't really harm my health and there’s no lingering smell, which I suppose is a win for my physical well-being and a bit of a courtesy to my partner, who used to be a smoker.

So, did that actually help you quit for good? Where did you pick that up, and what kind of damage did it do to your wallet?

fadedbear92 said:I’ve been on Klonopin for a few years now—was actually a total Xanax addict back in the day—but I finally managed to kick it thanks to propranolol.
Klonopin acts as an anticonvulsant, but it's also frequently used in psychiatry to help stabilize mood—though its chemical makeup actually includes components that provide an anxiolytic effect too.
I’m actually pretty happy with it—though, if I'm being totally honest, xanax is still my absolute favorite when it comes to anxiolytics (talking about anxiolytics specifically, not mood stabilizers, of course)—but I definitely wouldn't want to go calling for that little devil again. Not a chance!😲🙄

Fadedbear, how long were you taking Xanax, and roughly what was your daily dosage? I just realized you mentioned it was 15 years... I'm having such a brain fog moment today...

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Sophia Moore38 said:N/A

Believe me, I went through every single one of those same fears before I even got pregnant...
During my pregnancy, my doctor had me taking some mild anti-anxiety meds just once in a while.
Looking back, I honestly don't know how I managed to handle it all so well.
You develop this incredible, almost superhuman strength, I promise you.

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I truly admire your courage; I don't think I could ever find it in myself to go through that...

I would love to, honestly, but with my mental health being such a mess and living in a shared apartment
where my roommate is constantly getting on my last nerve, it's tough.
But man, I’d give anything to have one little bundle of joy...

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I’d love another one too, if I weren't the way I am... A child is an immense joy, but it's also an enormous responsibility, and if you have the same genetic predisposition toward instability that I do—it’s just snap! You break like a dry twig.

We really are just fragile souls out here...

By the way, I'm 31 years old.🙂

Good for you! I really hope I can make that happen someday. I'm 27 now, I have a boyfriend, and naturally, thoughts like these cross my mind all the time.

I’m feeling a lot of anxiety regarding panic attacks, and honestly, I’m terrified of the actual labor—I keep worrying about how I'll manage to breathe when my anxiety kicks in and my chest feels so tight.😢What if I struggle with my mental health after the baby arrives? I'm scared that if I'm not in a good headspace, I won't be able to provide the care my child needs...

Some of you at least have children to look forward to. As for me, I find myself constantly wondering if I will ever be able to experience that part of life...

Gerald Torres2 said:Unless things go sideways—then life just keeps moving on without us. 🙂

Haha, that's true, but I'm telling you, we have to overcome this—it's simply a necessity. We have to keep our heads up!

Gerald Torres2 said:Yeah, that's exactly it. There was a stretch where I thought I was doing okay—like, manageable—but it doesn't last forever. Life always finds a way to knock you sideways again eventually.🙂

Joe, I hear you, but at the end of the day, we're all fighters, and we'll find our way through this too. 😉

Gerald Torres2 said:My husband basically had to physically drag me everywhere just to keep me from losing my mind completely. There were times when I could barely even speak; I'd be mid-sentence and realize I was drooling without even noticing. It was incredibly embarrassing...
And he wouldn't let me stay stuck in that cycle until I hit another wave of severe depression. I mean, there were days where I couldn't even get out of bed; I just sat there crying...
Eventually, my husband pushed me to stop spiraling, and I did, but the underlying illness didn't just vanish.

You really went through the ringer... I have no doubt you'll eventually find the right medication that works for you, but I know how terrifying that period of waiting and trial-and-error can be when you're feeling this unwell. Just please, don't give up. I had a similar experience during my first panic attack; I completely shut myself inside the house and curled up in bed, unable to even step out into the yard by myself. After starting medication, I was fine for about five or six years—I didn't need any anti-anxiety pills and could manage my nervousness on my own. Clearly, therapy was also necessary, because here I am, right back at the beginning.

Gerald Torres2 said:I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I ended up having sex multiple times a day just to cope. The anxiety was absolutely unbearable—it was constant for two months straight. Basically, instead of the "adjustment period" people talk about when starting an AT&T medication, it felt like everything just went south immediately. I was taking 3mg of Xanax a day just to be able to walk without shaking uncontrollably. To make matters worse, I can't even remember most of what happened during those two months. Here’s a true story: I was driving through San Francisco with my boyfriend, and he suddenly goes, "Hey, look! The Colosseum!" I hadn't even noticed the building until he actually stopped the car and pointed his finger at the massive structure right in front of us. 😂
In short: Seroxat is definitely not for me. 🙂

Oh, it definitely sounds like it wasn't for you! 🙂 But I really have to commend you, though—given how rough things were, the fact that you were still functioning and getting out and about is impressive. Seriously, bravo. I tend to be a bit of a homebody myself, and when I'm feeling under the weather, I just want to hide from the world. That's why, as soon as my meds wear off (God willing, they work), I head straight to psychotherapy.

Timothy Wood38 said:Nothing too terrifying on my end regarding side effects—just feeling a bit drowsy for a few hours after taking the meds, which eventually turns into this restless energy and a slight tremor. And, well, there are the sexual side effects, but since I'm single, I can't really complain about that part. I've been on 60 mg of Prozac and 30 mg of Paxil for about two weeks now, and things are looking up slightly.

That sounds like progress. For me, the drowsiness wore off pretty quickly and the nausea has subsided significantly, but I dealt with some intense anxiety and restlessness yesterday and the day before. Honestly, I shouldn't have tried to tough it out for so long; I should have just taken my Xanax right away. I'm only on day eight of the AD, and I recently increased my dosage to a full tablet.

I believe we need to take a moment to step back and look at the broader implications of this discussion. It isn't just about the immediate surface-level arguments, but rather how these shifts impact our long-term stability here in the States. When I listen to what wiredskipper45 is suggesting, I can't help but feel there's a significant piece of the puzzle missing from that perspective. While I respect the intensity of the debate, I find myself leaning toward a more cautious approach, much like how one might navigate a complex regulatory change in Washington. We have to consider the ripple effects on everyday Americans before we jump to conclusions. kaže:
Ugh, I honestly can't deal with Zoloft anymore. It nearly wiped me out over the course of just two months while I was on it. It’s wild how much these medications can vary—it feels like they affect every single person in such a completely different way.🤷

What exactly happened there? Was it just some minor side effects, or did you feel like the medication wasn't actually working for you?

Timothy Wood38 said:My doctor, who’s been practicing for over 30 years, tends to lean toward Paxil for anxiety, though, well, everyone's biology is different, isn't it? For me personally, a combo of Paxil and Prozac actually worked wonders. I’ve recently restarted that exact pairing, and I'm crossing my fingers because it completely cleared my anxiety the first time around. Now, mind you, mixing Paxil and Prozac isn't exactly standard practice—it's quite a heavy-duty approach. The thing is, both medications inhibit the same enzyme involved in their own metabolism, so when you take them together, the concentration of both drugs in your system ends up climbing higher than usual.

Well, that sounds like great news! 🙂 I know it's effective for panic attacks as well, so I am hopeful that it will work for me too. Did you experience any significant side effects when you first started taking it?

Gerald Torres2 said:I’m just asking again because it feels like I’ve been completely ghosted here. Seriously, people, I need some help over here.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:Honestly, I don't feel like the AT&T has even started working yet.
My doctor wants me back for therapy once all my tests are cleared, but I don't have my brain CT scheduled until April 24th. By the time those results actually land on her desk... I won't see any real relief until May. Just my luck..

That's the goal. To get the dosage down. I managed to taper from two 0.5 mg pills down to just one dose before settling at 0.25 mg being enough. I really don't want to mess up this progress.

No, that sounds like a good plan. Just try to be mindful of your dosage and how much you are actually taking; once AT&T provides the details, hopefully, those requirements will continue to decrease.

Gerald Torres2 said:I’m just asking again because it feels like I’ve been completely ghosted here. Seriously, people, I need some help over here.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

I would love to be able to provide a clear answer, but I honestly don't know. In the past, I've used Paxil and Lexapro; the former seemed to be most effective for my panic attacks, but lately, the anxiety has been hitting me pretty hard again, so I've gone back on the Paxil. I am really hoping someone with more experience or expertise might chime in soon.

Brandon Lopez6 said:So far I've knocked back 13 Cipralex pills—7 halves and 6 wholes—and honestly, the side effects are finally starting to chill out. Now I'm just stuck waiting for that "magic" moment when it actually kicks in. 🙂

The only real headache is that I’ve been leaning way harder on my Xanax. It was a total nightmare trying to get down to 4x0.25mg, but now I’m up to 5 or 6 doses instead of staying at 4. 😢
I was actually hoping I could taper off the Xanax once the AT&T meds kicked in, but instead, I'm just taking more of it. 😠

Once the AT&T medication fully takes effect, you'll find yourself tapering down those doses little by little.
For me, 0.25mg doesn't really do much right now, whereas 0.5mg knocks me right out. Even so, I don't feel like it's fully settling my nerves. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the Paxil kicks in soon.

wiredskipper45 said:Yeah... honestly, my system barely recovered from the last round of nonsense and now we're back at square one. 🙂))
The other day—my doctor actually asks me, "What on earth are you doing to yourself?"

Hopefully things settle down soon. Thanks for the support. 🙂

Haha, well, that’s about the gist of it, isn't it? 🙂 We're all facing our own versions of the same struggles, more or less. I'm currently on day eight, and I still feel pretty terrible...
And please know, I am always here if you need any support too! 🙂

wiredskipper45 said:First day after last night's Mirage. I can't really say it "hit me" quite as hard as it used to. 😢 Though, honestly, maybe that's just because I’m feeling pretty rough right now... :/
Managed about three hours of solid sleep, then another five with those weird, disjointed naps and nonsensical dreams. Feeling a bit dizzy today.
I'm supposed to start my initial dose of Prozac today, too. But I think I'll hold off. Might be a bit much for my system to handle all at once. 😢

It should turn out fine; you really have to give your body some grace and time to adjust to all these different chemicals we're introducing. 😉

wiredskipper45 said:It has to improve. Things can't stay this dark forever... 😢

And then there's all these medications... I swear, ever since I stopped taking them, I feel more depressed than I did before I ever started the first round... it's like a cycle that won't end.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words. I'm crossing my fingers for you and hoping your treatment holds steady. Keep us posted, okay? Mostly. 🙂

I think I understand exactly what you mean; right now, I feel completely incapable of handling even the smallest tasks. Of course, I'll be checking back in—you guys aren't getting rid of me that easily. 😉 You too, please reach out. It always feels a little lighter when we can vent to one another and, God willing, share some wins along the way.😉

wiredskipper45 said:I'll give it a shot, thanks. 😉

this damn insecurity of mine... 🙂

You aren't alone in this; I feel the exact same way, and I'm actually heading back to an AD that worked wonders for me a few years ago. It just feels like the panic attacks are hitting harder lately, leaving me in this constant state of tension and dread. I'm just praying that this phase passes too. Good luck with your AD—we're going to be okay, we have to be!

Brandon Lopez6 said:Honestly, Xanax doesn't even give me any nausea or make me drowsy, and it seems to kick in way longer than just 2 hours🤔

I’m in the same boat, really. My level of drowsiness fluctuates quite a bit depending on exactly how much I take, and honestly, even the effectiveness of the dose seems to shift based on my headspace—it all depends on just how intense my anxiety or panic attacks are feeling at any given moment.