Dear Scott:

I was on Zoloft for about 17 years. I was prescribed it for the purpose of relieving my obsessive thinking- that was my main trouble at the time. I felt it worked back then, that it was like a pair of scissors cutting of the chains of obsessive thinking. I liked it so much that I had the psychiatrist up the dose to 400 mg per day. After years of that, he lowered it to 300 mg per day following some research results about a higher dose causing seizures. I was also on Clonazepam (Klonipin) which is a benzodiazepine for all those years, mostly 4 mg per day.

Looking back, my function in life did not improve whatsoever during those seventeen years. As a matter of fact, it got worse. My life circumstances got worse. But I did experience relief of subjective distress and there is the Placebo Effect, of course. I can share more about my individual experience with these and other drugs, if you’d like. But different individuals react differently and psychiatrists’ strategy is that of trial-and-error: try this, up it, how do you feel…more? less? something else…

Regarding your girlfriend, do communicate, come to agreements, and hold her accountable to what she agrees to do, as in the example I gave. If she doesn’t, you will have to move on. Really, there is no danger to you if the relationship ends, no matter how you feel about it. Neither the feeling nor the situation of that relationship ending is dangerous.

Your “journey towards success” is most important. It is a journey that requires much work and patience, lots and lots of patience. The process, the journey cannot be rushed. Take care of yourself in different areas: drugs if necessary, for relief, short term, I hope (particularly the benzodiazepines); CBT exercises/ therapy, being assertive in all relationships and selective of the people you interact with, choosing who is helpful and who is harmful to your well being. And please do post again, anytime. I will be glad to reply each and ever time you post.

anita