30mg Mirt not working :(

[BubbleBonce]

Thanks all you lovely people for your advice. I think part of my problem is of my own making in that I have steadfastly refused to accept that this is anxiety - at least to the docs.

Main reason being I am scared they won't take me seriously - which they don't any way, plus the GP seems to think I worry all the time which I am not aware of doing.

I used to have health anxiety and spent hours reading stuff on the internet. I then had CBT which I had to pay for myself and it did get rid of that at least.

I am starting doing self directed support through the IAPT tomorrow. This has only just become available through my GP recently and I hope will make some difference. I've been through the mill psychologically and suffered lots as a result.

My hubby couldn't cope with the anxiety so we got divorced, I sold our house, moved and now cannot motivate myself to settle in at the new house. Maybe coz there's noone to do it for. My kids are now at uni and at home now, but go back in a few weeks and I will be all alone again.

So it's kinda complicated but I hear what you're saying about the Seroxat. I think I have asked 2 female GPs for it and both said the same. I doubt they have the knowledge to prescribe 2 a/d's at once. The one I am seeing had to get her book out to check about going up to 30mg mirt.

I spose I really haven't come clean with the docs and I need to work on that. I tell anyone else I have anxiety and that doesn't seem to matter. Not sure how I can get over being open with the GP. Any ideas.

Thanks so much. Means alot.
X

[ElizabethJane]

Hi again Bubble. It does sound as if your past history is quite complicated. I have been on two anti ds at once but this is usually something that psychiatrists prefer to monitor. Anxiety is very difficult to deal with. I have deal with it by taking the odd valium tablet. Anxiety was bad when I was withdrawing from mirtazapine so the dose was upped again. I find music very therapeutic anything that can distract from that horrible hollow feeling and anticipation and dread. I know that going off and trying another type of therapy isn't always the answer. I have had experience of my fair share of therapy. When I was depressed last Winter I was also seeing a osteopath for back and shoulder pain. I also talked to the therapist each week. This also seemed to help my anxiety and depression. Acupuncture is also something I will try if I become ill again. What I am trying to say is that the answer might not lie in conventional medicine. I have also had hypnosis but this is expensive and relies on you to practice self hypnosis techniques. I am not medically trained and these are my opinions based on my own experience.

[Deva]

Hi BB your story sounds very similar to mine. I'm not a medical professional but I'd say that it sounds as if you have both anxiety and depression. I too got help through IAPT and saw a good therapist who actually spoke to the GP on my behalf and got me a referral to a psychiatrist. It's very hard in 10 mins in a GP surgery to explain all that you are experiencing. You need to spend more time with someone discussing what you're going through and how best to deal with it. I think the therapy will help with that.

I've found that the therapists I've seen recently have encouraged me to read a lot about anxiety and now I feel that I can articulate better what it is that I suffer from. I also have found that the drugs help me to feel normal but it's only with the help of therapy that I feel that I can build a toolkit of things to help when the anxiety strikes.

In terms of not believing that you are being taken seriously I think that that's a symptom of our illness. Often anxiety comes with a whole host of miserable friends like depression and low self-esteem. Low self-esteem will make you believe that you aren't being taken seriously or that you don't deserve the attention and help you need to get better. If you're like me you'll be saying to yourself that asking for so much help is being self indulgent when there are people suffering with cancer or dying in floods. In the end it was therapy that helped me see that depression and anxiety are serious illnesses and cause terrible suffering. I knew I was suffering but I thought I was being weak etc etc.

Keep plugging at it: you deserve to be well and to be in a position to be hopeful about your future in your new house making a fresh start.

[BubbleBonce]

Great words and advice. Yes I do feel limited and struggle with the 10 min time constraint of GP appt. I had my IAPT appt yesterday and explained how hard I found that and getting my point across to a GP. That isn't helped by how ashamed I am which hasn't been helped at all by some Drs reactions.
After everything I said she said I might get stepped up to the next level of therapy straight away. She is also going to refer me to the employment specialist as I've been to a few job interviews lately and struggled with going blank/ not remembering things etc.

I was very pleased with it, was much better than I thought. I've got a few things to do like do myself a timetable of when I should do things as I've let everything go and haven't been able to get back on track.

I'm sure you're right about the depression too Deva. Trouble is my GP has steadfastly thought that it was just anxiety - like that's my problem and she didn't have much to offer - and said she didn't think I was depressed. Grrr.

I'll ask about adding meds at my next appt but am not holding out much hope. I think some docs know more about meds than others and are willing to try slightly different combos. For sure 2 at my practice won't do that.

Hugs

Bubble

edited to add: Oh yes and I ordered 2 of Claire Weeks' books. One just arrived with the post this morning so I have some good reading that might help too. Just looking at the titles says it all to me. This lady seems to know and understand.