psychiatrist too expensive!!! - what should I do? - Anxiety Message Board

abcdabcd · 12-06-2004, 07:38 PM

I have an an anxiety disorder - I get nervous a lot, and think the worst might happen all the time. example: driving, I avoid highways as much as possible, work - I always think I might get let go, sometimes my nervousnes gets in the way of work. I get nervous around people a lot, I can't look at people when I talk to them. I can't get close to people either without feeling nervous. So, I went to my regular doctor for this a while back since a psychiatrist is too expensive, and he put me on Xanax, which works good for me. I went back for a refill today (he did refill), and he told me that I should see a psychiatrist/therapist, I guess it's since he told me that they can be addictive. I told him that I've been taking 2 a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. I don't take them everyday, maybe a few days out of the week.

I checked around and psychiatrists are really expensive. I understand what my problem/solution is, I've been reading all over the net about anxiety disorders. What happens when I go back to my doctor the next time and he refuses to re-fill, since I'm not seeing a psychiatrist? It doesn't make sense to me, to see a psychiatrist since he's going to tell me the same thing that I already know, an anxiety disorder. What happens if he prescribes me something else that doesnt' work, or what if I find a psychiatrist to go to and he diagnosis me with something else and it's all just a waste of money. I've been on paxil and welbutrin as well when I thought I had depression (those didn't work at all), I just get nervous.

I've had advice from professional psychiatrists on the net about my problem, and have talked to people with anxiety disorders, but if I say that to my doctor he might not understand and honestly he's correct I could be getting advice from anybody, but so far it has worked for me.

Thanks

seriousperson · 12-06-2004, 11:40 PM

Well, if you can't get a job with top-of-the line health insurance tomorrow, there are 2 options with which I'm familiar.
First, often a regular doctor can prescribe something. It's amazing how much relief you can get from medications these days, even without expensive therapy.
Second, there are usually 'free' clinics and other community service organizations that offer "group therapy." I've never tried it, but my daughter thought it was better than the individual psychologist sessions she attended in the past.

By the way, if it helps to know someone else knows what it's like, many do.

hry33 · 12-07-2004, 12:18 PM

all the info you need is in books on overcoming agoraphobia, social anxiety dosorder and panic dosirder, see what the local library has in books and tapes

psychs, therapists, etc tell you basicly the same stuff but charge lots more and its often difficult to remember what they said, also theres often a long wait for the first psychs appointment

xanax is useful but you can become dependant on it if you rely on it too much, a psych would probably want you on an antidepressant such as paxil, look up the paxil site on the net, its promoted for social anxiety

xanax or any other valium type med will help you to carry out the advice and suggestions in the recovery books and tapes and goes well with an antidepressant

you may be able to find another doc who will continue to provide limited xanax or similar, older ones are more likely and stress that you arent a drug addict who has run out of drugs, as these often need a bottle of xanax or so a day

stay with us and read the other posts

howard678 · 12-07-2004, 07:32 PM

A regular doc gave me Xanax for work stress and kept refilling it. I was told the drug could be "habit forming" but no one cared to tell me about the withdrawal symptoms if you get hooked. 10 weeks after tapering off I tremor almost 24/7, panic attacks crop up, muscles squeeze. Did not even know what a panic attack was before I took these pills. I have flulike feelings, agoraphobia, cannot work, etc. and do not know exactly when I will get better. And I thought I had trouble before. Yes, shrinks are expensive but let me tell you that Xanax is too expensive for many people, at any price.

Graciecat · 12-07-2004, 07:56 PM

Howard I am truly sorry that you're going through what you're going through and I'm not making light of it in any way shape or form and I certainly don't want to offend you or start a fight or anything like that.

Yes, it is true that some people become dependent or tolorant to Xanax but it's also true that not everyone does.
Every single person is different and not everyone is like me who took Xanax every single day for 7 years without one single problem and weaned off of without one single problem either.
On the other hand not every person is like you either, not everyone who takes it becomes dependent or tolorant or has terrible withdrawels.

Like you I was given Xanax by my reg Doctor.
I took it because of my panic disorder, I was scared of everything I couldn't leave my house without feeling like I was going to pass out or die.
I had attacks that lasted for days on end.
Therapy didn't work for me CBT didn't work for me...nothing worked except the Xanax.
My Doctor did however tell me that tolorance or dependence and withdrawel might be an issue.
He also would only allow me to take 1mg. a day, but he told me if I could take less to do that but to never no matter what to take more...and I never did, in fact I never even took the whole 1MG....1/2MG is all I ever took.
Also the fact that you took it for stress and I took it for panic disorder may be the difference too.

Also like you, my Doctor refilled my prescription and for me I thank God everyday that he did.
Because if he hadn't I wouldn't be here to write this right now...I know that with all my heart.
The Xanax helped me at a time that I couldn't help myself.

Again, I'm not making light of what you're going through I can't imagine how hard it must be for you and I pray with all my heart that you'll come out on the other side of this and be just fine.
But the one thing I've learned through all of this is...What is right for one person isn't right for everyone...and it works the other way too...just because one person has a problem doesn't mean everyone will.