Danny's Studs wrote:
SEC has a point there Gal. But I do hope you can get rid of it or at least manage it. I am on daily medication for anxiety/depression, on half a tab of the lowest possible dose available. I would prefer to be on none but I am pleased I have it as low as this. I may try and move to a half every other day soon, and hopefully then move to none. It's not easy, life's not. I am not recommended you get medicated but definitely get advice, it is way too hard without help.
Go get 'em Gal!
going pill free is always good if it works for you, but i take the view that if you need to use a walking stick and you've gotten the hang of it, why chuck it away and hobble? mental health is the same as physical health, you use whatever aids you need to keep you going. I far too often see folk who say they are fine dropping their meds... and going off the deep end shortly after when they hit the smallest of speed bumps. caveat of this is their mental health may be a lot more precarious to begin with, anti-psychotics being a different kettle of fish to anti-anxiety meds, but it's not exclusive to proper balls out schizophrenics, good friends with anxiety have not stuck to treatment plans and have fucked up as a result. obviously, if there are side effects then it's more of a toss up but if you've gotten down to the lowest dose going it may be a placebo effect that keeps you stable. if you've had events happen during that time that you've managed then odds on you are in the position where you can ditch the meds. sensible reduction plan though, just do it slowly and mind how you go, keep a stock on hand for if you notice the blue seeping in as a back up. I remember jeebus (i think) saying that there was a particular view on a regular walk that he was able to use as gauge for his mood - try and identify something similar as an early warning marker. it's a balancing act, and factoring in anything that life throws at you along with artificially tampering with your brain chemistry makes it one that you are the only expert on.
glad the CBT worked for you gal, general opinion is that you need a refresher every couple of years - because let's face it, it's reprogramming decades of learnt behaviour and that shit goes deep. booze is the worst fucking answer but it's a pretty good band aid. have had some shite go on in the past year or two which has upped my booze intake significantly, and my tolerances as a result. caning half a bottle of gin and remaining upright and coherent is not something i should be able to do. it's no longer used as a band aid, but damn is it difficult to get gently tipsy without looking at the bottle and wondering where the fuck it's gone.