Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 103006

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Why would a stim help anxiety?

Posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 14, 2002, at 0:25:12

Hi,

I am amazed. I have had anxiety issues for 8 years or so, nothing disabling, but at times scary. I have taken xanax, klonopin (still on that one) Prozac & Zoloft (some dr's don't like benzo's) I got a rash with Prozac, went from 120-150 in 6 months on zoloft..I also quit smoking that year, so it was a combo effect. I am down 15 lbs now, due to exersize (I spelled that wrong) and weight lifting 5 days a week.

Anyway, low and behold I was diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago. Tried a med that did not work..Provigil, now I am on 10 mg of adderall xr 1x a day for 10 days now. I swear it I am a different person. I am much calmer, more focused, less irritated, and my overall anxiery had dropped tenfold. I was so afraid the opposite would happen. Oh, and I am not hungry! I have the same appetite I had when I smoked. Maybe that will help me get back to my normal weight.

Has anyone else had this experience? I never would have guessed this big of a difference after all these years. I am 41 years old.

Thanks for your imput.
Viki

 

Re: Why would a stim help anxiety? » Spongemomsquarepants

Posted by IsoM on April 14, 2002, at 1:43:56

In reply to Why would a stim help anxiety?, posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 14, 2002, at 0:25:12

I know for a certainty why stims calm me. Perhaps it may be the same reason for you too.

On stims, my mind isn't racing about, jumping hither-skither from one unfinished thought to another. Nor do I have trouble remembering what I'm trying to do or why. My mind feels more organised. Hence, I feel much less frustrated. Lessen the frustration & you lessen the irritation. It makes for a happier, calmer person, namely me. :-)

 

Re: Why would a stim help anxiety?

Posted by beardedlady on April 14, 2002, at 6:35:24

In reply to Re: Why would a stim help anxiety? » Spongemomsquarepants, posted by IsoM on April 14, 2002, at 1:43:56

Aha! This explains why I was so happy on phentermine years ago (and why I've always been a speed freak). I felt like I was getting lots accomplished, felt my mind was more focused. (I also drank two, count 'em, two 2-litre bottles of caffeinated diet coke EVERY DAY!)

Problem is, when I started taking it again after my daughter stopped nursing, I developed panic. I have not taken any stimulants (except very strong coffee) since then.

Go figger.

beardy : )>

 

Did It Help You Keep Your Place Tidy Then? (nm) » beardedlady

Posted by IsoM on April 14, 2002, at 11:27:08

In reply to Re: Why would a stim help anxiety?, posted by beardedlady on April 14, 2002, at 6:35:24

 

to beardedlady

Posted by katekite on April 14, 2002, at 14:50:34

In reply to Re: Why would a stim help anxiety?, posted by beardedlady on April 14, 2002, at 6:35:24

Hi I'm curious what stimulant you experienced panic on. I was told at my appointment, where we settled on ritalin, that response to each stimulant is very individual and if you are panicked on one you won't necessarily be panicked on another. That one might have to try all of them. I do know from my past that Wellbutrin was perhaps the worst drug for me, got me the closest to suicide I've ever been due to agitation, and yet it is commonly used for ADD. Just wondering if perhaps your metabolism changed a bit with having a kid and curious what would happen with other stimulants. Your description of how you feel on caffeine alone makes it seem like trying all of them might be worth a try. Have you considered it?

Meditation of course is excellent too :) I saw that in another thread I think and I'm a meditative bird watcher like the other poster.

kate

 

phentermine. » katekite

Posted by beardedlady on April 14, 2002, at 15:24:46

In reply to to beardedlady, posted by katekite on April 14, 2002, at 14:50:34

I'm great with caffeine, but I don't have ADD or ADHD. I had to quit because of migraines. As for the phentermine, it didn't really cause panic; it caused insomnia, which caused me to panic because I had a baby to take care of, and I wasn't sleeping. Sorry I can't be of help.

beardy : )>

 

Re: Why would a stim help anxiety?

Posted by PinkPearl on April 15, 2002, at 1:40:00

In reply to Why would a stim help anxiety?, posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 14, 2002, at 0:25:12

Hey Sponge, (great name!)

I take Adderall XR for ADHD too. And it is just as wonderful for me. As IsoM said, it allows me to collect and organize my thoughts (which also greatly relieves my depression). Instead of thinking, "oh my gosh, my house is so messy, there's no point in cleaning it, I don't know where to begin...", I now think, "ok, I have 20 minutes, that's enough time to put on a load of laundry and sort through the mail."

In brain studies of people with ADHD, the parts of their brains responsible for impulse-control, orderliness, focus, self-control, etc. are shown to be receiving too little electrical stimulation. So the stimulant actually just increases the electrical impulses up to within a normal range for those people.

There is a misconception that stimulants will "hype-up" everyone who takes them as if they were on "speed". But for the people who need a boost in these "self-control" areas of their brains, it only works to normalize them.

Maybe your anxiety was due to one of these areas of "understimulation".

Hope this helps. Good luck.
Pearl.

 

Re: Why would a stim help anxiety? » Spongemomsquarepants

Posted by JohnX2 on April 16, 2002, at 2:29:07

In reply to Why would a stim help anxiety?, posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 14, 2002, at 0:25:12

> Hi,
>
> I am amazed. I have had anxiety issues for 8 years or so, nothing disabling, but at times scary. I have taken xanax, klonopin (still on that one) Prozac & Zoloft (some dr's don't like benzo's) I got a rash with Prozac, went from 120-150 in 6 months on zoloft..I also quit smoking that year, so it was a combo effect. I am down 15 lbs now, due to exersize (I spelled that wrong) and weight lifting 5 days a week.
>
> Anyway, low and behold I was diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago. Tried a med that did not work..Provigil, now I am on 10 mg of adderall xr 1x a day for 10 days now. I swear it I am a different person. I am much calmer, more focused, less irritated, and my overall anxiery had dropped tenfold. I was so afraid the opposite would happen. Oh, and I am not hungry! I have the same appetite I had when I smoked. Maybe that will help me get back to my normal weight.
>
> Has anyone else had this experience? I never would have guessed this big of a difference after all these years. I am 41 years old.
>
> Thanks for your imput.
> Viki


Glad your luck on Adderall was better than mine. Adderall made me a raving maniac. I think it GAVE me ADD symptoms. Plus I lost my job (became an overconfident beligerent asshole), and overgambled in the stock market, and talked incessently, could not sit still for the life of me. Phew....

Best to you,
John


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