Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi, can any one help? I was diagnosed with PTSD more than 3 years ago but I am only having counselling for it now. What I need to know is whether people obviously here think medication like sertraline is the best thing to calm anxiety or whether something else is more suitable it's driven me round the twist for weeks. Am I just panicking? I don't really want to take antidepressants. What else can I do and does anyone on here know what am anti anxiety medication is instead and can they name some? Thanks.
1 like, 10 replies
katehippy sam18386
Posted
Hey Sam! Welcome and I hope you found this site as useful as I did.... how come you were diagnosed 3 years ago and no help since?
I've personally no knowledge of PTSD but the meds I've been on for the last few years treat a combination of depression AND anxiety, which is really useful if you're finding it hard to leave the house/ overthinking to the point of panic or paranoia. It's called Duloxetine or Cymbalta.
Is the counselling working for you? Remember you can always request someone else if you're not getting what you need!
All the best sweetheart xxx
sam18386 katehippy
Posted
sam18386 katehippy
Posted
Hi kate, thanks very much to you and everyone for trying to help me. I ended up in hospital after being in so much pain. I may have developed diverticulitis which stems from having ibs, my doctor's and the hospital are in the process of sorting this out. I think once my health is right I'll feel much better. I keep taking the medicine and hopefully I'll be ok. I'm trying to avoid medication I am working with my doctor to find out what is best. Good luck to you all.
hypercat sam18386
Posted
UKSteve sam18386
Posted
Medication alongside counselling is highly effective for stress related issues.
It can help get you in a better place allowing you to get the best out of counselling sessions and exploration of the issues that trigger your symptoms and hopefully to get in top of them and put you back in control.
There's a heap of options available to you from immediate relief anxiety meds to longer term anti-stress/depressants.
Acute anxiety or panic attacks can be helped by short term /as needed medications such as benzodiazepines. (Diazepam, Lorazepam, Alprazolam). Effective but not good for long term use because of addiction loss if effect
Unless your anxiety is debilitating your GP is unlikely to offer these other than for a short course as a "band-aid).
Antidepressants are the choice for longer term use and can be equally as effective as benzos once you build up a therapeutic level and your doctor can adapt the right one depending on your symptoms. Many people dont want to go n these because if the perceived stigma of the term "depressant"
They are not just for depression but valuable for stress & anxiety related issues.
Sertraline is a good start for PTSD its quite a mild AD for most
Others on option specifically for anxiety are:- Citalopram, Paroxetine, Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine.
Unlike benzos they will help your whole mood rather than just numbing the anxiety feelings.
They are much safer in the long run than relying on quick fix benzodiazepines.
Alternatively you can try some OTC stress relievers such as :
5htp, St John's Wort, SAMe, magnesium , if you want to leave off the pharmaceuticals at this point in time.
Theres no harm in trying anything, you can always decide its not for you.
sam18386 UKSteve
Posted
Hi and thanks for everybody's response now I'm clear what she's suggesting have since spoken to my counsellor who is going to help me. I have refused antidepressants so far won't take them no matter how hard it gets! Thanks though the alternatives are great!
sam18386 UKSteve
Posted
I'm sorry I seem to be ignoring people but I was assaulted twice and that's my reason for having ptsd as diagnosed 3 years ago and according to my counsellor I don't have depression with ptsd just panic attacks. Don't know what I do now I feel very confused.
katehippy sam18386
Posted
Hmmm, that's annoying! Ask your counsellor if you can get CBT , it's REALLY helpful for getting your head around past experiences that are hurtful and keep surfacing.
I would say it's as good as antidepressants, if you don't want to go down that line. It's tiring though, like learning how to breathe again - but so worth it!
Keep us updated lovely xxxx
sam18386 katehippy
Posted
Hi kate, won't cbt be confusing if I am having counselling with a ptsd specialist?
katehippy sam18386
Posted
Hey, sorry for not replying sooner! It sounded like your counsellor wasn't thinking along the lines of PTSD, but solely anxiety? I would still ask about CBT because it could be really helpful with your symptoms as you've described them. I was surprised during my treatment of the crossovers... I was experiencing depression and anxiety but actually benefited from a diagnosis of OCD on top of that? The OCD wasn't something I'd thought about but actually made sense.... I was stuck in a loop - not performing tasks or anything, but caught in the same pattern of disruptive thoughts day after day. I can't tell you how much it helped - alongside the medication!
Keep going angel, you can absolutely do this!! xxx
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