Anxiety

[unicorn]

We went to the therapist Thursday. During the session she asked me and then got a consent form to speak to Tiff's psychiatrist. They do sometimes to keep up to date on Tiff. She said she wants to consult with him about Tiff and anxiety. Then she asked if I would be willing to try some anxiety medications or alternate methods to aleviate some of Tiff's anxieties. One alternative method she suggested was hypnosis or acupuncture (both are done at her center). I am worried and have no knowledge of any of this.

Does anyone have anything to share with me?

[misty]

I know nothing on the subject, but heres a few things I found for you to look at:

users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/anxiety.htm

79 patients with anxiety were treated with acupuncture. A sub group of 19 were given a combined treatment of acupuncture and hypnosis. The patients were both referred and self referred..............


www.healthyplace.com/communities/anxiety/christine/treatments_anxiety_alternatives.asp

Acupuncture has a relaxation response with decreased heart rate, lowered BP, stress reduction and increased energy and tissue regeneration. It has been shown to produce a calming or tranquilizing action that is of particular interest to people in states of stress.............


www.triroc.com/sunnen/topics/hypn&anxiety.htm

Hypnosis finds its most common clinical utilization in the treatment of anxiety and its related states, not only because of anxiety's prevalence, but because hypnosis has such a clear role as a potent anti-anxiety agent. In this chapter, we will examine hypnotic behavioral approaches to anxiety...........


www.hypnosisdownloads.com/downloads/phobias_fears/article/anxiety-relief.html

Using Hypnosis as Anxiety Relief
If you have found that stress and anxiety have started to seriously affect your life, it is important that you look into getting fast, effective anxiety relief. Suffering from stress and anxiety can seriously affect your quality of life, and without effective treatment will simply fester and get worse. .............

A lot of people have started turning to hypnosis as a form of anxiety relief, as this method enables you to address the root of the problem and deal with it. This is a fast and effective method, which has been successful for many. If you are looking for a simple anxiety relief method, you could find that hypnosis works for you.

[katiekat]

Not much Uni,but I will tell you that several years ago I started taking Effexor for anxiety and it was one of the worst mistakes I ever made.I dont know about other meds but when anyone asks my opinion about it I say stay away. I cannot get off of it.When my Dr prescribed it for me I was going through a rough time,my grandmother had just died I was stressing. After about 6 months I tried to stop taking it. FOUR years later I still have to take it because of how sick I get when I dont. First I get a headache and nausea then I get this feeling I cannot really explain. Kind of like I move my head but my brain stays still. Also a shock like feeling in my brain. My Dr told me this is very uncomaon however when I googled it I got about a million hits. They even have a name for the feeling I get -brain zaps. I started out on 75 mg a day and now have it down to 37.5 mg every 2 days. But as soon as Im late with a dose I know about it. Just my personal experience-Id look into alternatives to medication.

[jj]

Uni, personally I'd go with acupuncture but Tiff may not like that idea - you can always tell her she'll look like a porcupine for a little while. LOL If you go for hypnosis just make sure if it is a male doing it that you are in the room, if ya know what I mean.

My X was hypnotized to help him quit smoking and he did for about 6 months. Whether it was the hypnosis or his personal belief in it that helped him quit, I don't know.

I do believe acupuncture is a legit method of decreasing pain and all kinds of things. It isn't quackery.

I'd try those before the anxiety meds.

[jj]

By the way Uni. My Mom is on Lorazepam, an anxiety med. It is not a controlled substance and she has had no side-affects. I don't think it is very addictive at all. I know it is a totally different thing for a elderly person and a child but there may be some safer anxiety meds out there if all else fails.

[unicorn]

Thanks everyone! Katie I am so sorry to hear about your experience. That is really scary. Since we were in just the talking stages, I don't know what med that they would want to try. Of course like with the ADHD meds, I had printed out and researched most of them before she even started on them. I will be doing that too for anxiety meds. I like the acupuncture route. I do think it has great benefits. Don't know much about hypnosis. I was thinking about that for me and my horrible fear of heights. I can't even stand when someone else takes Tiff close a high ledge. I hyperventilate. I certainly don't want to manifest that fear in her. She has no fear of heights what so ever.

JJ lol about the porcupine look.

Misty thanks for the links, I'll check them out and keep you posted.

[puzzled]

unicorn I just want to throw this out there, but guanfacine is commonly used in ADHD children for anxiety issues as well as the hyperactive component of ADHD symptoms. It is not an anxiety med, it is a blood pressure med that is used off label for anxiety, aggression, moodiness, calming of hyperactivity, etc....

Chase has been taking it for about 3 weeks, and I find that he is mellower, and just easier to be around now....you don't have to walk on eggshells...(let's just all forget about the playground fight...LOL...we really don't know how fast he would have blown if not for the guanfacine.....)

I just wanted you to be able to add this med to your research, it apparently works to calm by lowering the blood pressure....just a tad, which makes sense, because when you are stressed it raises, right?

[unicorn]

Thanks puzzled! I will add it to my research. Glad it is helping Chase.

[lisacap]

Be careful if they want her to try Busbar, Christian lasted 3 days on it, where it was very nice to see him immediatly involve himself and not back down, and fit right in, the anxiety that he did have turned him into a child who didn't have a care in the world, and thought that he was king of the hill....it worked a little to well and he was on the lowest possible dose that they could give him...

[unicorn]

Thanks Lisa. Will add it to the list.