Dear Icy:

I was on three psych drugs for 17 years and although at times I felt good about it, my life did not improve during those 17 years but got worse. So I am not a fan except for short term while attending psychotherapy and gaining insight plus learning skills to manage anxiety and regulate emotions. It’s been a bit over five years since my first good psychotherapy (I was then still on those drugs) and it’s been two years ten months that I am psych drugs free! I can’t believe it. I was told by the psychiatrist that “prognosis is poor” that I will have to be on drugs for the rest of my life.

So this is my little victory, okay, BIG victory. But I am still anxious, this very day. It takes forever to heal and I don’t know how much I can heal. Anxiety is very powerful. I think fear is the most powerful emotion. I am 55. You are twenty three years younger. I sure hope you get on what I call The Healing Path as well.

So while you are on those drugs, do the psychotherapy thing- sliding scale, low cost… with a competent therapist. Learn Mindfulness, learn the skills. It is a long road but I experience significant, a whole lot of better living being five years on my healing path.

Otherwise, things will be just as they are for you, at best, five years, ten years, twenty years from now. Different med combinations, up this, less that, something new and on and on and on. These drugs don’t make life better, other than at times feeling better, they don’t actually improve life circumstances, relationships, job..

Usually I am more focused answering threads, this evening I feel scattered. Post again, will you?

anita