Medication guilt
in [Panic]
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From: A on 24 Sep 2006 22:58 Hi friends, I take three medications for my anxiety, panic, and depression: Lexapro 20 mg, Wellbutrin 100 mg, and Xanax .5 mg as needed. This combination has worked very well for me. The Wellbutrin was added by my pdoc after my depression began creeping back last winter and early spring. We had also thought that if I could wean up higher on the Wellbutrin, I might be able to cut back on Lexapro, since I have issues with my weight and also sometimes feeling sleepy in the afternoon. But I became too jittery and sleepless when we raised the Wellbutrin to 150 mg, so we returned to 100 mg and left the Lexapro at 20 mg. Now I am having these weird feelings that I "shouldn't" be on so many psych meds. I "should" be "braver" and cut back on the Lexapro. Lexapro has given me so much of my life back, I am reluctant to try tapering off it. I can now drive on highways again and do other things without fear of constant PA's. I feel much more centered and happy, and little things don't drive me nuts with anxiety constantly. I have been able to de-clutter many parts of my house by getting rid of stuff I had obsessively collected and stored for decades. The Wellbutrin kicked my relapsing depression in the butt last spring, and the Xanax is a trusted and proven help for situations that make me extremely anxious or panicky. So why do I have this guilt about taking three psych meds? I need to stop this silliness, because I'm doing quite well and don't need to beat myself up for using these tools against AD, PD, and depression! xxoo Anne -- ========== Please DELETE this text block when replying! ========== Contact the moderators at: asapm-board(a)stump.algebra.com The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm ========= This notice is added to each approved article ==========
From: Deirdre on 24 Sep 2006 23:13 A wrote: > Hi friends, > > I take three medications for my anxiety, panic, and depression: Lexapro > 20 mg, Wellbutrin 100 mg, and Xanax .5 mg as needed. > > This combination has worked very well for me. The Wellbutrin was added by > my pdoc after my depression began creeping back last winter and early > spring. We had also thought that if I could wean up higher on the > Wellbutrin, I might be able to cut back on Lexapro, since I have issues > with my weight and also sometimes feeling sleepy in the afternoon. > > But I became too jittery and sleepless when we raised the Wellbutrin to > 150 mg, so we returned to 100 mg and left the Lexapro at 20 mg. > > Now I am having these weird feelings that I "shouldn't" be on so many > psych meds. I "should" be "braver" and cut back on the Lexapro. > > Lexapro has given me so much of my life back, I am reluctant to try > tapering off it. I can now drive on highways again and do other things > without fear of constant PA's. I feel much more centered and happy, and > little things don't drive me nuts with anxiety constantly. I have been > able to de-clutter many parts of my house by getting rid of stuff I had > obsessively collected and stored for decades. The Wellbutrin kicked my > relapsing depression in the butt last spring, and the Xanax is a trusted > and proven help for situations that make me extremely anxious or panicky. > > So why do I have this guilt about taking three psych meds? I need to stop > this silliness, because I'm doing quite well and don't need to beat myself > up for using these tools against AD, PD, and depression! > > xxoo > Anne Anne, I don't know if this applies to you or not, but there is a possibility that you were more accustomed to feeling depressed and anxious, and that feeling happier and less anxious is still somewhat UNfamiliar. If that's the case, you might want to re-create the known by cutting back on medications that work. It sounds odd to call depression a comfort zone, but for some people it really is, at least temporarily. I know this theory has proved true in my life on more than one occasion, so I thought I'd just offer it as something to consider. In the meantime, keep taking the meds. They work. Exoexoexo Deirdre -- ========== Please DELETE this text block when replying! ========== Contact the moderators at: asapm-board(a)stump.algebra.com The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm ========= This notice is added to each approved article ==========
From: highanxiety on 25 Sep 2006 00:05 A wrote: > Hi friends, > > I take three medications for my anxiety, panic, and depression: Lexapro > 20 mg, Wellbutrin 100 mg, and Xanax .5 mg as needed. > > This combination has worked very well for me. The Wellbutrin was added by > my pdoc after my depression began creeping back last winter and early > spring. We had also thought that if I could wean up higher on the > Wellbutrin, I might be able to cut back on Lexapro, since I have issues > with my weight and also sometimes feeling sleepy in the afternoon. > > But I became too jittery and sleepless when we raised the Wellbutrin to > 150 mg, so we returned to 100 mg and left the Lexapro at 20 mg. > > Now I am having these weird feelings that I "shouldn't" be on so many > psych meds. I "should" be "braver" and cut back on the Lexapro. > > Lexapro has given me so much of my life back, I am reluctant to try > tapering off it. I can now drive on highways again and do other things > without fear of constant PA's. I feel much more centered and happy, and > little things don't drive me nuts with anxiety constantly. I have been > able to de-clutter many parts of my house by getting rid of stuff I had > obsessively collected and stored for decades. The Wellbutrin kicked my > relapsing depression in the butt last spring, and the Xanax is a trusted > and proven help for situations that make me extremely anxious or panicky. > > So why do I have this guilt about taking three psych meds? I need to stop > this silliness, because I'm doing quite well and don't need to beat myself > up for using these tools against AD, PD, and depression! > > xxoo > Anne > Hi Anne. The shouldn't thing. That is easy. That is on Burn's list of cognitive distortions. You have to realize every time you catch it.. if you are telling yourself "I should" ..anything, first of all, it hurts, doesn't help.. but really realize that your concept of what you "should" do....Anne, is that some law written in stone somewhere or is that just some arbitrary trip you've laid on yourself? Are you an expert on how many meds an anxiety patient needs to be on? Realize that your should.. that's..just some idea that sounded right to you. It does not equate to the TRUTH. Truth COULD even be you could stand to be on another one, for all you know. Are the meds working? If your combination is working...then that's what you need. Sounds like maybe you are somewhere telling yourself that you "should" be able to handle anxiety without so many meds.. I'd just make an appointment and discuss with the doctor. See if you do NEED to be on 3 meds, if doc thinks so, then trust doc.. if you'd like to try less meds, discuss that, maybe you could do something different.. just talk to your doctor, but don't do the "should' thing without adequate information to back stuff up. Don't pressure yourself to get better on less if that won't work.. I wouldn't want to be on 3 meds either, but I'd probably take 5 if that's what it took to relieve the anxiety. I sure don't want to deal with that without proper meds. I did that before diagnosis. It won't happen again. Take care, Sally -- ========== Please DELETE this text block when replying! ========== Contact the moderators at: asapm-board(a)stump.algebra.com The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm ========= This notice is added to each approved article ==========
From: ~*LiveLoveLaugh*~ on 25 Sep 2006 11:46 "A" <hennypennynospam(a)cox.net> wrote in message news:hennypennynospam-2409062254300001(a)192.168.1.101... > Hi friends, > > I take three medications for my anxiety, panic, and depression: Lexapro > 20 mg, Wellbutrin 100 mg, and Xanax .5 mg as needed. > > This combination has worked very well for me. The Wellbutrin was added by > my pdoc after my depression began creeping back last winter and early > spring. We had also thought that if I could wean up higher on the > Wellbutrin, I might be able to cut back on Lexapro, since I have issues > with my weight and also sometimes feeling sleepy in the afternoon. > > But I became too jittery and sleepless when we raised the Wellbutrin to > 150 mg, so we returned to 100 mg and left the Lexapro at 20 mg. > > Now I am having these weird feelings that I "shouldn't" be on so many > psych meds. I "should" be "braver" and cut back on the Lexapro. > > Lexapro has given me so much of my life back, I am reluctant to try > tapering off it. I can now drive on highways again and do other things > without fear of constant PA's. I feel much more centered and happy, and > little things don't drive me nuts with anxiety constantly. I have been > able to de-clutter many parts of my house by getting rid of stuff I had > obsessively collected and stored for decades. The Wellbutrin kicked my > relapsing depression in the butt last spring, and the Xanax is a trusted > and proven help for situations that make me extremely anxious or panicky. > > So why do I have this guilt about taking three psych meds? I need to stop > this silliness, because I'm doing quite well and don't need to beat myself > up for using these tools against AD, PD, and depression! Anne, This is a very good post. You basically answered your own question too. Why change anything if it's working? If you had acid reflux bad enough and had to take meds for it, would you feel guilty? Certainly not. That's why there is medication out there. We take it to fix our problems... to cure the illness. Nothing wrong with that!!! ;) -- ?.??? ?)) -:?:- ?.?? .????)) Laurie ((??.?? ..?? -:?:- ((?? ?.? *~*LiveLoveLaugh, and hangin' in there!*~* Paddle together, bail, paddle; paddle, bail; paddle towards the land. ~Hawaiian proverb > > xxoo > Anne > -- ========== Please DELETE this text block when replying! ========== Contact the moderators at: asapm-board(a)stump.algebra.com The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm ========= This notice is added to each approved article ==========
From: weeks on 25 Sep 2006 13:44
Hi, Anne, Wellbutrin made me agitated even though it was showing signs of helping with my weight issues. I have been in this same situation about feeling like I was taking too many meds for treatment of my anxiety and depression. Technically, you are only taking the Lexapro and Wellbutrin daily. The Xanax is being used as needed. It seems like you have gotten back so much of your life that you need to ask yourself would it be worth it to give up one med and possibly let myself slide back "to where I was..." As someone else said, I feel you have answered your own question. I would continue taking the meds and enjoying all of the wonderful parts of my life. You have come so far in the driving arena and I know you would never want to find yourself going backwards in this area... smiles, Elise "A" <hennypennynospam(a)cox.net> wrote in message news:hennypennynospam-2409062254300001(a)192.168.1.101... > Hi friends, > > I take three medications for my anxiety, panic, and depression: Lexapro > 20 mg, Wellbutrin 100 mg, and Xanax .5 mg as needed. > > This combination has worked very well for me. The Wellbutrin was added by > my pdoc after my depression began creeping back last winter and early > spring. We had also thought that if I could wean up higher on the > Wellbutrin, I might be able to cut back on Lexapro, since I have issues > with my weight and also sometimes feeling sleepy in the afternoon. > > But I became too jittery and sleepless when we raised the Wellbutrin to > 150 mg, so we returned to 100 mg and left the Lexapro at 20 mg. > > Now I am having these weird feelings that I "shouldn't" be on so many > psych meds. I "should" be "braver" and cut back on the Lexapro. > > Lexapro has given me so much of my life back, I am reluctant to try > tapering off it. I can now drive on highways again and do other things > without fear of constant PA's. I feel much more centered and happy, and > little things don't drive me nuts with anxiety constantly. I have been > able to de-clutter many parts of my house by getting rid of stuff I had > obsessively collected and stored for decades. The Wellbutrin kicked my > relapsing depression in the butt last spring, and the Xanax is a trusted > and proven help for situations that make me extremely anxious or panicky. > > So why do I have this guilt about taking three psych meds? I need to stop > this silliness, because I'm doing quite well and don't need to beat myself > up for using these tools against AD, PD, and depression! > > xxoo > Anne > > -- > ========== Please DELETE this text block when replying! ========== > Contact the moderators at: asapm-board(a)stump.algebra.com > The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm > ========= This notice is added to each approved article ========== > -- ========== Please DELETE this text block when replying! ========== Contact the moderators at: asapm-board(a)stump.algebra.com The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm ========= This notice is added to each approved article ========== |