Anyone here tried counseling for their anxiety? I have called a psych doc and wanted to talk to her about alt. treatments for anxiety. Went to a clinic and all they did was hand me a script for effexor, didn't want to dicuss any other methods. The 1st doc said that effexor was what he used for patients with menopause and that was what I needed. T.

I have been going to counseling once a week for about 5 months and I don't know if it's truly doing me any better. My therapist is still in the process of finding out what the underlying cause of the anxiety is. We haven't begun to work on coping strategies, except, of course, for using Xanax as a 'circuit-breaker', as she refers to it. She basically says the drug stops the anxiety from worsening, but I would much rather learn how to deal with it without medication, as I am sure you would. All in all, counseling has been costly and time consuming for me, but it may be different for you so I don't dissuade you from trying. You could also try searching for local support groups in your area. A lot of people don't realize/believe how debilitating anxiety can be, but don't let that stop you thinking you may need help beyond a bottle of pills.

I really want to work through the anxiety and not rely on medication. I am afraid of meds because I seem to be sensitive to everything I take. Anxiety is ruining my life. I have it every single day and I am really tired of it! Can't have just one day that I can get up in the morning and not dread what might happen or not happen to me everyday. I want to get better for good. Thanks for your reply. T.

I too have suffered from what I call "menopause induced" anxiety. I have seen two counselors and a psychiatrist who had some helpful suggestions but nothing long lasting. My last resort was medication, which I hated, and gradually weaned myself from. At last I found answers when I discovered Christiane Northrup's books and a down-loadable book called "The Way Up From Down". I would boil my anxiety problem down to one thing - menopause - and have acted accordingly since figuring this out. I now take an adjustable dose of bio-identical hormones, along with a variety of supplements. I began acupuncture treatments today, which I had used successfully for an unrelated condition. I feel better than I have in months and only wish it hadn't taken me eight years to figure out!

Lynne

I joined a Women's Group through the Women's Center in our city. It is lead by a women psyc who is very interested and has done research on depression and exniety. It meets for 7 weeks and costs $45. It's not therapy per se, but is very helpful with a good facilitator in helping us figure out if this is situational depression/anxiety or chronic depression. It is also educational. Perhaps you could find something along that line for starters where you live. You will find that you are certainly not alone.:angel:

I am glad those things have helped you. I would not blow off medication though. It was the best thing I ever did. I got my life back. Although peri menopause has not been very nice to me, I am far better off on meds than if I were not taking anything. I am a teacher, I can work, and laugh about all my symptons. I could not do that before. Woman need to explore what works for them. Ann Gittleman's book was a huge success for me and I am now taking all kinds of supplements that are helping me. I woulld say explore all options before you say no to something. Marla20

Marla,
What are you currently taking for your anxiety? As I sit here I am overwhelmed with anxiety. I have chest pains and panic. It seems to be the worst when I ovulate. I want to get better but am afraid of taking AD and feeling more anxiety. I know I need help but don't know how to go about it. I cannot take hormones because of my occular migraines.

WOw!! Mine is also the worst when I ovulate and right after. I take ativan. Been off and on for 12 years. I can go 6 months without it and then I might need it for 4 days straight. I do not feel it is addictive for me at all. I had a script for a year and didn't need it. Now that I am in peri I need it more often.. I can work and function like a normal person. Sometimes I only need half of the lowest dosage, sometimes I need all. When i don't feel good physcially I start telling myself all these things are wrong with me and then I panic. It is one very bad cycle. The ativan calms me down. Marla20

I have had counselling and medications for 16 years, due to obsessive- compulsive disorder and anxiety. I was uncertain about taking drugs at first, then the doctor explained to me, I felt the way I did because I was missing the chemical it took to regulate my body. I needed to add it to feel normal again. To not add the chemical I needed, was the same as withholding insulin from a diabetic. I was at the point where everything was regulated, and I only saw a therapist every six months to reassure him and myself that all was well. Perimenopause came around and undid everything, so back to the therapist I went. It helps that he's known me for years, and knows what is normal behavior and what is not. I take Effexor and supplement with xanax as needed. I have taken xanax as needed for 16 years, and was at the point where 'as needed' meant hardly ever! Now 'as needed' means daily, and I'm not crazy about that, but I am still at the same low dose I was prescribed 16 years ago. I tried bio-identical hormones, but they did not work for me. They made me more anxious and depressed. I guess the point I'm trying to make, is medication can work, especially used in conjunction with counselling. I wouldn't go to a doctor that prescribed a drug and then just wrote me off.

I do have a script for Ativan but I was so afraid to take it. I would talk myself into taking it and then chicken out. I am so anxious that I grind my teeth everyday. I would like to feel calm at least one day a month. I didn't take the Ativan because I don't want to feel spaced out. I have two children, 12 and 9 and I have to be "with it" for them. I can't be groggy when I drive them to school. That's what makes me not want to take the meds. Marla, what supplements are you taking?

Roland,
I take ativan as needed. Like I said I am a teacher , I teach 3rd grade and I have three sons of my own. I am always with it when I am taking ativan. It can make me a little tired, but I will take tired over feeling anxiety. Marla20
I am also on Lexapro.

Marla, I thought about asking a doctor about Lexapro. Did you get any side effects when you first started it, like worsening anxiety at first? I heard that some AD's can cause you to have an increase in anxiety at first. I don't mind being a little tired on meds. I just react to every med I have tried to take in the past.

I too have anxiety from perimenopause. I have been on buspar for 3 years and now have started lexapro. It has caused some anxiety but I am on week 2 and it seems to be better. I tried celexa ( an older version of lexapro) and did not have anxiety. In fact it was too sedating. I also have xanax for breakthrough anxiety. I went over 20 years with no problems and then peri reared it's ugly head. I hope this stabilizes me so that I can function normally. Godbless:angel: