I am new to this board and would welcome any hope!

I have developed severe depression from a medication to help control seizures due to sleep disorder.

I am in such a lonely place right now. I am trying to get in to see a therapist tomorrow and PDOC to hopefully get on a medication to help me along.

For two years I have been suffering from Panic and anxiety, tried several meds and put on 40 pounds and have gotten every side effect listed. Tried several doctors and in debt for $60,000 due to medical bills.

Come to find out they are not sure they were even panic attacks. My last PDOC sent me back to my primary care doctor for additional testing as he was questioning my diagnosis of panic disorder. Had an EEG done and now they are thinking Seizure disorder.

Now I have anxiety and panic from all of this run around.

Sorry for the long post - just needed to vent I guess.

Any suggestions for a good med for depression and anxiety?

Hi "J",
Just wanted to say "welcome to the board". I'm sorry I dont have any advice on meds as I came to this board, looking for help with my mothers depression....but there are lots of people here who can help you.
This is a great place for advice, and for venting, so once again, welcome!!!!
Sorry to hear of your troubles, and your debts, that's awful!!! It's good you're seeing a therapist tomorrow....it's always good to talk to someone in person as well.
If you are feeling lonely, this is a good place to come to!!! There are good people here!!

Carsam :)

That's a lot to deal with all at once:( I think if you are able to put in the effort you should give cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt) a try. It would help you deal with all you are experiencing right now and is the most effective long term treatment for anxiety and panic. It is what healed me and if you do the exercises like the tea form everyday you are likely to achieve the results you want. I had really bad panic attacks before I learned how to catch and counter my thinking errors in a tea form and I am happy to report that I no longer have them anymore. See if you can find a cbt group to join in your area or start with a simple book like the one by sam obitz so you don't get overwhelmed from the start. Cbt is hard at first but gets easier if you don't overwhelm yourself at the start. Good Luck!

Lamictal is given for unipolar depression sometimes... and also for epilepsy. This would cover all the bases if it works. Stay away from Wellbutrin due to the seizure risk.

The pp makes a good point about cognitive behavioral therapy. It does wonders for anxiety and depression.

Survivor3 I'm glad you have found cbt to be as helpful as I have. It really is amazing that something so basic can hep anxiety and depression so well.

I started working with a great therapist and I am findng that CBT is great. Alot of work but well worth it.

I am going to go on meds but am going to continue the CBT to be sure I have the correct tools to function when I am off (an on) medication.

My therapist actually made me sign a contract to attend my weekly classes and bring in my homework. Like I was attending school which I thought was pretty motivating. She bought the book for me that we are working on together.

I really like it.

That's great J2006. I only check in here a few times a month these days but let me know if you have any questions etc. I was on meds when I learned CBT and I think that helped me take to the CBT better because I was pretty despondent at that time.
I had been on and off meds before but I didn't have the tools like the TEA form to help me when I weaned off before and had to get back on them. Once I weaned off the meds after CBT I have never looked back and feel better than ever:) I love the contract idea and all the work you put in now will pay off for years to come!

hiya all I am new on her today and am in need of knowing I am not going mad and there are other people who feel like I do at the present monent . please I welcome any hello s:angel:

well I never knew that about Lamactil, I have been taking it for epilepsy for over 10 years thanks for the info.
I am desperatly looking for some help with my depression and was trying to stay off prozac and am trying st Johns wort but I am drowning slowly

Thanks for your reply, it is so good to hear I am not going mad and
there is hope for light at the end of the tunnel I will just try to fight wanting to die hard.xxx

hiya. thanks for the advise and support this site has given me already, I am looking into cbt within my area and see if I can join a group to help gain strenght take care and talk soon

j2006,

What book are you guys working on? What are the assignments like? And how are things going in general?

You're fortunate to have found a motivated and structured therapist. I've been to several CBT's in NYC, and they were all rubbish - constantly forgot what we had talked about, didn't take notes, couldn't remember whether or not I was on meds, wouldn't follow up on assignments, etc.. I see a basic social worker now (its all I can afford) who listens real well and has good insight - but she, too, often forgets, doesn't take notes, and doesn't follow up on assignments. So I make my own assignments and goals and try them on my own...but would much prefer seeing a doc like yours.

Cheers,
R

It is called "THe Anxiety andPhobia Workbook" the fourth edition by Edmund j. Bourne.

Since money is an issue with me right now I can only go once a week. I have found a close family member that is working on the workbook with me.

My therapist is great but I just can't afford to go so much now. But i have the book and the motivation to get through. It really has allt he tools I need.

I am suffering hard with Anxiety along with depression so until i master some of the techniques i am going to have to go on meds for a short time. but that is ok for now.

It is so hard to find a good therapist. It took me 2 years.

I do have some agoraphobia's. going to the stores alone, driving alone. Both of those i did this weekend as part of my therapy. Next weekend I will go to unfamiliar stores and drive to strange places alone, etc.

I hope I have helped you some. There are some great books out there.

My cousin lives in NY and visits with a therapist she loves. Wondering if it is near you.

hiya. thanks for the advise and support this site has given me already, I am looking into cbt within my area and see if I can join a group to help gain strenght take care and talk soon

Good job Lindz. If you work at the cbt exercises everyday I think they will help you feel a lot better over time.

j2006,

What book are you guys working on? What are the assignments like? And how are things going in general?

You're fortunate to have found a motivated and structured therapist. I've been to several CBT's in NYC, and they were all rubbish - constantly forgot what we had talked about, didn't take notes, couldn't remember whether or not I was on meds, wouldn't follow up on assignments, etc.. I see a basic social worker now (its all I can afford) who listens real well and has good insight - but she, too, often forgets, doesn't take notes, and doesn't follow up on assignments. So I make my own assignments and goals and try them on my own...but would much prefer seeing a doc like yours.

Cheers,
R

Ruminator, you need to do the cbt exercises like the TEA form thought countering exercise every day if you want to get the full benefit of cbt. It's hard at first but really worth the effort. I used the book called Been there, Done that? Do This! by Sam Obitz but any cbt book should work if you do the thought countering exercises in them daily. Good luck!

How's it going Ruminator? I hope you are feeling better:)