I have severe anxiety and I am 50 years old and it is untreatable so far.

[dannyout]

I have had anxiety since as long as I can remember from the age of 3. I am now 50 years old and my anxiety is worse than ever and remains untreatable. I am currently on ativan 4 times a day. I just got a new psychiatrist who told me he does not prescribe benzodiazepines. So once again I am going to go off benzos and I will land in the hospital as I have had to do many many times in the past because of going off of benzos. Going into a psych ward is the last thing I want to do ever again. Does anybody know of any pill besides a benzo that can help my anxiety?

[brice1967]

Research canibinol....  

[Paxiled]

I assume you mean marijuana, which for most people susceptible to anxiety causes anxiety.  I know for some it decreases it, but many of us on here got our first anxiety attacks while stoned.

[Paxiled]

First, get a new psychiatrist.  This one isn't for anybody.  For some people benzos despite being addictive and being very hard to stop taking etc. may be the only solution.  A better solution because it's not addictive is to take an antidepressant; when they work they also work all the time, not just for a short time.  But there's no guarantee they will work, they also have side effects, and they can also be very difficult to quit.  You're already addicted to the benzos and everything bad they do is already going to happen to you, so for you there's no reason to try to avoid that obviously.  Get a new psychiatrist.  In the meantime, think about antidepressants and you do have to keep trying therapy and lifestyle changes that might make a difference long-term.

[dannyout]

I really think I've tried every antidepressant that's available. The only thing that works or Klonopin or Xanax or Ativan. Even though I have been taking 4 milligrams a day of Ativan for the past maybe several months or so I still have anxiety nightmares and a nervous all the time and cry all day every day. I am all alone in this world. I have no family support whatsoever and I only have one friend who lives a half hour away from me. I am so lonely and discouraged at this point I don't know what to do. I need serious help. And I need somebody with a little bit of compassion in the psychiatric circus. I am so sick of being a clown in the psychiatric circus.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Have you ever called the distress center in your area because they have people who will listen to you?

[Paxiled]

I will say this -- tapering off klonopin is no picnic.  But this new information provides a different story -- the benzos don't appear to be working very well.  But again, if this is the best you can do, well, it's the best you can do, and if the psychiatrist has no better option for you other than to leave you untreated because antidepressants haven't worked, it's your choice, not his.  I'd still find a different psychiatrist.  In my experience, any psychiatrist who takes insurance is probably a hack -- the good, thoughtful ones don't take it.  It's a mess of a health care system, but that's been my experience.  I've had my life ruined by an insurance psychiatrist who didn't have a clue how to use the meds he was dispensing and you don't want that.  But the final decision on this is yours, and you also get to change docs.  Now, about those antidepressants -- tell us which ones you've tried and maybe we can think of some you haven't.  And if you're truly completely medication resistant, you might try natural medicine.  There's a lot of tools in the kit out there.

[dannyout]

Yesterday I came to the conclusion that I am going to check into a detox center to get off all psych meds. If not all then at least the benzos. I am sick of this Vicious Cycle in and out of hospitals changing medications all the time mean unsympathetic psychiatrists and counselors who don't know what the heck they are talking about half the time. My wish and hope is to get out of this psychiatric circus and be a clown no more in it!!

[AnxiousNoMore]

You say he wants you off benzos. What does your psychiatrist say he wants you to do?

[dannyout]

He wrote me a prescription for Klonopin for a two month supply and then he's going to taper me off of the Klonopin. I don't know why he just doesn't taper me off the Ativan which I am currently on. And he said if I want benzos to find another doctor and I waited 3 months for this appointment with this man. I am so upset and so scared to death of having going into another psych ward. Every time I go into a psych ward that put me on ativan anyway. And then every time I get out someone wants to take me off of it. My body is a friggin mess from all of this. So once again I have to feverishly search for a psychiatrist appointment with another doctor somewhere. I've been through most the places in my area and other places there's like 5 to 6 month waiting.. I am at a complete and total loss once again. Scared to death. Sick of anxiety I hate it I'm sick of crying and feeling sad all the time.

[dannyout]

He did mention Celexa which is a antidepressant. Not good for major anxiety. More for generalized anxiety.