CarnationsL
No not the benzos with the longer half life. They just need a longer period to wean off. They work by reducing the amount of information going to your brain which is normally controlled at the junction of each one of them. There are thousands if not millions of these controls that I call guards that the Benzo eliminates the need for. When you quit a benzo they have to be awakened and put back in place. Ativan with a short half life is like quitting cold turkey every day once you pass the four week or so period. My therapist would not recommend ativan and actually prefers diazepam because it is mild and proven with few side effects and the advantage that it is also a muscle relaxant. I had a lot of trouble with Ativan but still have some diazepam for emergencies, Once or twice a month.
Antidepressant are not addictive in the true sense of the word. You will be the problem, people become dependent on them to function and take them even when they don't need them just in case they do. A good doctor will cut back your dose as soon as you look like you don't need them.
SSRIs are only of use if you have a definite use for them. Other wise all you get is the sedative effect. There are different classes of anti depressants depending on which chemical they work on. Tricyclic anti depressants are mood stabilizers and work on dopamine and often work when SSRIs don't.
Anti depressants and anti anxieties are there to keep your mind in the right frame to absorb the CBT etc. You can stay on them for ever but you will never get the freedom that you will from doing the programs slowly and thoroughly.
Now should you switch? In my opinion, No. Add it, yes. Unless you are one hundred present positive your anxiety is caused by depressant it will leave you open to panic. The two are often taken together in the smallest possible dose for the benzo and a regular dose of SSRI since it is working on chemical and the benzo is working on thought which can vary. SSRIs can make you suicidal if you are under twenty six or susceptible. This only lasts in older people for around two weeks. They take up to six weeks to work also. Think on this is there something in your life making you so sad you have crossed over into depression or do you have anxiety because you are sad and it is causing negative thought.
I have stopped my tricyclic because although I am still sad that is all I am. Some of my anxiety I get from helping other people who are panicking. Sort of a kind of exposure. It is seldom bad enough to need the diazepam.
I hope this is enough information so you can make a decision. Parts of the program will be hard to do and even cause you pain but they are necessary, and this is where the medication will help. I am living (surprisingly) proof that burying negative thought with positive works. My therapist says that journaling is the best way to do this and I agree.
Again if done with care and an open mind medication is safe and a big help, but won't cure anxiety. It only puts you in the right frame to do the program.
Any thing I can help with you only have to ask.
Here for you.
Davit.
