Meds and Therapy

[Surrender]

Hi - I have had anxiety/depression for a long time.  I stopped meds some months ago because i thought they were making me worse.

A year down the track and my life is totally out of control.  Looking back i should have sought medical help instead of stopping all meds.I have been feeling guilty for feeling extreme anxiety and depression.  People see i am sad and say things like "geez what have you got to worry about"? Look at all the disasters, etc around the world.  The worst is that i don't have anything big to worry about (although i have had to deal with a few close people passing the last couple of years) but i can't help feeling everything is a struggle.  I am either very angry, very sad, having panic attacks, compulsive irrational persistent thoughts etc and I don't have a reason to feel like this.

I have had lots of different therapy over the years and have finally found someone i really trust and I enjoy this particular type of therapy (ACT). Although I have been in therapy for a while it has been very frustruating as i am not really making much progress.  My therapist suggested i go back on ADs and continue therapy.  Some days i can put some of the skills i have gained from my therapist into practice but most days i really struggle with overwhelming thoughts/feelings/emotions and can't find space in my head to practice what i have learnt.  I also don't sleep much.

Just wondering if people have found taking ADs whilst in therapy has worked for them.  Will i be able to hopefully carry these skills over when and if i come of meds again?  My issue is: Whilst i am on ADs I am more motivated and focused and able to practice the skills but will these skills be as easy to practice without meds?

Thank you for your thoughts.

[Jacko777]

Hi Surrender,

Great questions mate. 

I was prescribed AD's, started cognitive therapy and got off the AD's after a few months. You definitely will be able to carry your new skills over when you are off the meds. Practice your new methods of thinking as best you can and it will become your new mindset. It might not always be easy though, some things will be harder than others and you will learn and grow.

Have you tried meditation? It has helped me greatly to train my mind to focus on the positive and not on the negative; powerful stuff! It could really help you right now, just a little meditation each day can bring you calmness and personally I  think it would help you with your 'overwhelming thoughts'. The more you can divert your attention to the positive, the better.

Jack

[Surrender]

Hi Jack

Thank you so much for your response.  What you are saying is very encouraging.  That is what i needed to hear......that i can carry my new skills over when of the meds. 

Yes i love meditation - have completed a number of mindful meditation courses and attend Buddhist meditation when motivated to go.  Also my therapist guides me through meditation when very distressed - she usually tapes these and forwards them to me to practice at home.

Earlier this year i did a 6 day live in meditation/emotional wellbeing course and by the 6th day i could really feel the difference.  The problem was that when i came back to the real world - i had some difficulty keeping in this head space and intrusive thoughts became overwhelming once again and i became very frustruated with myself.  Sometimes i can't fall sleep all night long, when i do fall asleep i often wake up with a jolt unable to breath (i guess like a panic attack).  This freaks me out.

I am hoping that by going on AD i will get that bit of focused headspace and use this to develop my meditation practice as well as my acceptance skills.

Jack, you have really motivated and given me brand new hope - thanks very much!  I am going to do a meditation now. 

[Jacko777]

Oh thanks! My pleasure, thanks for the reply, you have had some lovely positive experiences with meditation, I hope you are having a good one now!

I find that if I am feeling challenged I will benefit from some daily meditation. And as you know, it doesn't matter if your mind is all over the place when you practice meditation, that is exactly why you are doing it, any attempt at focusing the mind and relaxing will bring benefits. 

Jack