New User 2014
02-13-2014, 09:10 PM
I've had Panic, Depression & OCD for 14 years, in that time I have lost my entire life, I can barely leave the house, lost everything else (relationship, friends etc)
In those years though I did get my life back after a major panic attack that landed me in the hospital, I couldn't be alone, never, I moved in with my mom who became my safe person, where I went she went. I completed 2 CBT courses & with the help of my mother I got most of my life back, I could leave the house alone, drive by myself etc. Now, years later I am stuck again, except now I live with my dad, more supportive but works daily, leaving me lonely & extremely bored on a daily basis.
Right now I am on a cocktail consisting of
1. Effexor 375mgs (newly prescribed 3 months ago)
2. Remeron 45mgs
3. Clonidine .6mgs
4. Clonazepam 3mgs per day (although I take more if outside & I feel an attack coming on)
Tomorrow I have to tell my psychiatrist if I want to continue on the Effexor or try something new, I've been on it for 3 months, 3 weeks ago I was severely depressed & suicidal, daily thoughts of suicide, that has passed, my main question is "should I feel triggers of anxiety as soon as I leave the house if the Effexor is working?"
As soon as I walk out the door I feel butterflies in my stomach, soon if the anxiety worsens I get sweaty hands & then I reach for another Clonazepam, which I take 3 of 3 hours prior to leaving my house for any reason, I do this so that the Clonazepam has had enough time to be in full effect, so that adds to my frustration, I am on 3mgs of Clonazepam prior to leaving the house & yet the second out the door I feel anxious, this is while being accompanied by my father who has become my safe person.
I see my dr every 2 weeks, and when I do this I have support workers drive me there, because these workers aren't my "SAFE" person I take up to 10mgs of Clonazepam, again up to 3 hours before my appointment, I realize this is a lot, but it gets me there & back. I worry that I will become tolerant of even this high of a dose.
My main question is should I change my Effexor for something else? My OCD is out of control, although I can live with that, my depression really relies on my boredom level daily, but my anxiety requires 3mgs of Clonazepam just to leave the house, with me usually reaching for more as needed, I used to have a life, anxiety would rise I would take a xanax or clonazepam & that would do me for the day, just 1 & that was in a matter of once a month, not 3 a day or more everyday.
Should the Effexor be doing more to lessen the anxiety? any help is greatly appreciated....
In those years though I did get my life back after a major panic attack that landed me in the hospital, I couldn't be alone, never, I moved in with my mom who became my safe person, where I went she went. I completed 2 CBT courses & with the help of my mother I got most of my life back, I could leave the house alone, drive by myself etc. Now, years later I am stuck again, except now I live with my dad, more supportive but works daily, leaving me lonely & extremely bored on a daily basis.
Right now I am on a cocktail consisting of
1. Effexor 375mgs (newly prescribed 3 months ago)
2. Remeron 45mgs
3. Clonidine .6mgs
4. Clonazepam 3mgs per day (although I take more if outside & I feel an attack coming on)
Tomorrow I have to tell my psychiatrist if I want to continue on the Effexor or try something new, I've been on it for 3 months, 3 weeks ago I was severely depressed & suicidal, daily thoughts of suicide, that has passed, my main question is "should I feel triggers of anxiety as soon as I leave the house if the Effexor is working?"
As soon as I walk out the door I feel butterflies in my stomach, soon if the anxiety worsens I get sweaty hands & then I reach for another Clonazepam, which I take 3 of 3 hours prior to leaving my house for any reason, I do this so that the Clonazepam has had enough time to be in full effect, so that adds to my frustration, I am on 3mgs of Clonazepam prior to leaving the house & yet the second out the door I feel anxious, this is while being accompanied by my father who has become my safe person.
I see my dr every 2 weeks, and when I do this I have support workers drive me there, because these workers aren't my "SAFE" person I take up to 10mgs of Clonazepam, again up to 3 hours before my appointment, I realize this is a lot, but it gets me there & back. I worry that I will become tolerant of even this high of a dose.
My main question is should I change my Effexor for something else? My OCD is out of control, although I can live with that, my depression really relies on my boredom level daily, but my anxiety requires 3mgs of Clonazepam just to leave the house, with me usually reaching for more as needed, I used to have a life, anxiety would rise I would take a xanax or clonazepam & that would do me for the day, just 1 & that was in a matter of once a month, not 3 a day or more everyday.
Should the Effexor be doing more to lessen the anxiety? any help is greatly appreciated....