Hi,
I've posted my story in various sections in this Board ("Hearing Disorders", "Inner Ear Problems", "Anxiety" and "Sleep Disorders") in search of help to get me through this impossible time. I had a Sudden Hearing Loss the beginning of February for no apparant reason (Dr. figures it was a viral infection on the auditory nerve) which had put me into a state of anxiety pretty much from the first day. I was on a Steroid (Prednisone) for ten days. During that time I was also put on Xanax to help me get to sleep, since the anxiety and side effect from the steroid was keeping me from sleeping.
Anyhow, I've been on .5mg of the Xanax for sleep which I've been taking every night since then.
Although the Xanax helps to get me to sleep, at the beginning it was only keeping me asleep for a few hours before I'd wake up and need to take a quarter of a tab to fall asleep again. Now over two months later, it only keeps me asleep for an hour and a half or two hours! I've taken nothing during the day for the Anxiety and suffer horribly with attacks of Anxiety, Panic and as of the past couple weeks,, horrible Depression has come over me!
My General Physician tried me on Trazodone in conjunction with the Xanax and even though I only tried it for a couple days, it did'nt get me anymore sleep, just made me groggy and have a headache! He also suggested I start on "Lexapro" for the Depression and Anxiety. I've read to many scarey things about Lexapro and AD's in general and told him I did'nt want to get heavier into the "drug regime", especially on AD's.
He got upset with me and said I'm "paraylized" with the depression and anxiety (since I can't function) and I'm just being "self destructive" by not following his suggestion. I'm planning on going to a Clinical Social Worker (not a physchiatrist - don't need any more drug prescriptions) although I know just "talking things out" is'nt a cure in itself. I've tried Valerian extract, recently been trying Magnesium Citrate to help me sleep and adding high potency "B" complex to my multiple vitamin diet.
The past two days I've tried taking half a Xanax (.25mg) around noon and another half around early evening to see if that would help me to slightly function through the day and night without being too heavily dependant on drugs. It takes the "edge" off of the Depression and anxiety very slightly although for only a few hours each time. At the same time I've decreased my dose of (.5mg) of the Xanax to (.25mg) in an attempt to wean off the nightly dose and hopefully using the Valerian or something similar to get me to sleep "Naturally" while hopefully regaining my sleep pattern. So far (for two nights) using only half my Xanax with two or three "Valerian" gets me to sleep but still I only sleep for an hour and a half or two hours then I either fall back to sleep on my own, or take another couple of Valerian (hope I'm not overdosing the Valerian).
I'm in a position where my business has failed a while back which caused quite a few heartships over the past three or four years. However after suffering losses on account of it, I had'nt fallen into this HORRIFIC state of Depression and Anxiety till my hearing problem started. I'm stuck in a very small house day and night, since my wife and I are down to only one vehicle now and she uses it for work, and from the moment I wake up till virtually the time I go to sleep, I'm stuck in here like a prison cell! I wake up with INSTANT depression and can't find things to do to keep me busy and have no desire to do anything! I see no way out of this mess, I don't want to be on Anti-depressants, yet the small doses of Xanax help only a LITTLE! I do go out and "walk" several times a day for the excercise but that only helps a little! For the past week I've had constant shortness of breath and feel the depression growing as the feeling of "HOPELESSNESS" becomes overwhealming!
Sorry to go on and on but I've become a MESS and feel like I'm sinking FAST and can't find or see a way out! My wife (although very stressed herself) has helped me as much as possible by listening to my worries on a daily basis, given me a neck or shoulder massage to relieve some of the tension and just been there as support. Now however, she is at wit's end with all this and gets very frustrated and tired of hearing it constantly and seeing it only getting worse! I only get her upset by talking about it although, I find it hard to stop (it's become all encompassing). However I realize knowing how much she HATES her job and adding to that, the current situation here, how much this has to be driving her nuts also!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE!!
Any helpful suggestions are MORE then appreciated! My best wishes for all those who are suffering through similar NIGHTMARES!

MMS1

I've read to many scarey things about Lexapro and AD's in general and told him I did'nt want to get heavier into the "drug regime", especially on AD's.
He got upset with me and said I'm "paraylized" with the depression and anxiety (since I can't function) and I'm just being "self destructive" by not following his suggestion. I'm planning on going to a Clinical Social Worker (not a physchiatrist - don't need any more drug prescriptions) although I know just "talking things out" is'nt a cure in itself. I've tried Valerian extract, recently been trying Magnesium Citrate to help me sleep and adding high potency "B" complex to my multiple vitamin diet. MMS1

I myself am not a big AD advocate. I have seen first hand what they can do for a person as well as what they can do to a person, and because of this, I understand and share your fears/concerns. However, what concerns me more, is your doctors attitude about the fact that you prefer to do this "drug free"!! So not nice!! Seeing a therapist is a smart move, and you don't appear to have any delusions about what to expect by seeing one. Talking can help, but you're right in the fact that this isn't neccessarily your cure.

I have heard wonderful things about magnesium, so if it seems to be helping, by all means keep it up!! Vitamin B's (preferably Biotin) are also great for dealing with depression. Add to that some Omega 3's (fish oil or flax seed oil), some Omega 6's (borage oil or evening primrose oil) taken in a 2 "3's" to 1 "6" ratio and you will have rounded out the "supplement angle" for treating depression.

As for other treatment options, I have found through a lengthy experience with my husband, that seeing someone outside the "standard medical realm" is a more productive and supportive route for someone who would prefer to try alternatives instead of prescribed meds. My husband recently sought out the advice of a Doctor who practices Environmental Medicine. After 24+ years of an AD & therapy rollercoaster (with no amountable success), his "EnDoc" discovered he was allergic to a handful of foods. Once these foods were eliminated from his diet.....his depression dissapeared. While this may not particularly apply to you, it serves as a substantiation, of sorts, as to this type of medical practice. I have come to see that doctors who practice "unconventional medicine" have a tendency to only rely on "drugs" as a last resort. Based on the theory that there is a reason for everything, they tend to spend more time looking for the cause of the problems, than just providing relief for the symptoms. Environmental Docs, Homeopaths, Holistics, and Alternative Med Docs will all offer you more natural paths of healing.

I hope this helps you in some way. It worked wonders for us. I hope you find your answers, and ultimately your course of healing.

All my best,

mj

Thanks mj,
Yes, I've added the high potency "B" complex to my "Centrum", as well as an additional 250mg of E, "Cod fish oil", "Alpha-liopic Acid (for it's cell regenerating and helping in nerve damage in order to possibly aid in my ear problem) as well as the "Magnesium Citrate" (at bedtime). I just need to get my body back in a normal sleep pattern which can only happen if I get off the Xanax I've been taking for two and a half months right before going to sleep.
As I say, it's helped to get me to sleep but keeps me waking up hourly or every couple hours (not good for the nerves or to get my ear healed!). I am SO FED UP not only with my doctor being against anything but his way which is the AD's routine, but also from reading the COUNTLESS threads on this board, which people are being put on drug after drug after drug and then having no luck,, they go to other doctors and go through the whole DRUG REGIME all over again!! It's quite depressing reading all these posts, especially when most are not getting the desired results or worse,, are getting terrible results!! Then there's the addiction problems, the weaning on, weaning off, side effects, no effects,, fears, the comfort of being on "drugs" all your life,, it's very, very FRIGHTNING! My doctor, like so many others, says he can't endorse or give advise on "Natural" products since they're not FDA approved! Yea,, but it's fine to put people on all these "Mind Altering", "synthetic", "ADDICTIVE" and frequently DANGEROUS,, "FDA APPROVED" Narcotics!!!! As long as the drug companies have you hooked and are making money,,, Who cares, Right?
This is why I'm still searching for a safer, more "NATURAL" way of dealing with these very "real", and very "disabilitating" anxiety, depression, and insomnia problems I've suffered for the past two and a half months, before it gets worse, or I wind up getting in this NIGHTMARE which for so many is a life of "drugs"! I've gotten very "little" to "little" relief so far on the natural remedies I've found, however, I'm also getting "very little" relief on my Xanax! Although, all I've really tried so far is "Valerian extract capsules" and capsules with mixture of "Valerian, Passionflower, Hops and Chamomille". Maybe I've been taking too many and become "immune" or maybe still need to find something more effective. So,, with your suggestion, hopefully I can find someone who specializes in Natural remedies and treatments. I know they're very hard to find and "rare", which is a problem. Should I just look in the phone book under the "titles" you listed or is there some kind of "localized organization" or "group" that recommends these types of specialists?

Thanks so much for your views and your help! All my best to you and your husband!

MMS1

MMS1,

In all actuality....they are not as hard to find as you might think. You can try the phone book, or try running a search on the internet for docs in your area. We learned of ours through a local chiropractor. You may also consider trying an allergist who is informed of the allergy/depression & anxiety connection. An off the wall place to try for a doc recomendation is a local health food store. They could also be extremely helpful in helping you chose supplements or alternative remedies.

As for a few things to try in the interim......there is a drug (prescription) called Ambien that is great for helping with sleep problems. I am not dismissing your views on "no meds", and believe me when I tell you I share in your feelings immensly, but I have used this on occasion and have had great success. If used as directed,(and for short durations)they are non-addictive. If you're interested in another "natural" product, you may want to consider melatonin. An added thought, my mom has had success with Tylenol PM. (she's another anti-med person)

Not sure if this was the exact info you were looking or hoping for...but hope it helps you. Let me know how you do......

All my best,

mj