Agoraphobia Support Group

Ok, maybe he was a little nicer than that, but here's the deal.

I've been suffering through PD with Agoraphobia for just over a year now. 2 months ago I finally went to an MD to get checked out. I was referred to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist told me about this wonderful drug that was going to make me all better, called Paxil. He wrote me a prescription for 1 month and told me to come back in 3 weeks to assess.

So I went home and researched Paxil for known side effects, withdrawal issues, etc. etc. I'm a father of 4 young children, so I had to do my due diligence to investigate any risks, right?

I decided that the side effect risk was too high, and didn't fill the prescription. When I went to my second appointment with the psychiatrist, I explained that I felt the risk of side effects affecting my family life were too high, and wanted to explore other options.

He then, very politely, explained that he understood my position but that he didn't want to see me again if I wasn't going to take Paxil. He said I could schedule an appointment at anytime within the next year if I felt I was ready.

So... now what? I've been

slowly

getting better over the last 2 months since I had a physical condition resolved which was the root cause of my PD. But each day I'm still all over the place. Some days are good, some days are quite bad.

Should I look around for another psychiatrist? Should I look into natural remedies? Thoughts?

I like the neuropsychologist that I'm seeing.

She is working with me on techniques to help me relax.

Natural things-no drugs.

That is interesting. So basically your Dr. told you that if you do not agree to take a prescribed Medication that is a Anti-Depressant he will not continue to treat you?

I am wondering if that is ethical or not.

I would contact the AMA and find out.

Let me know what happens.

I don't know if the psychiatrist is necessarily "refusing to treat" me, as much as he's basically saying that the only treatment he knows is Paxil.

I've done the research and based on case studies where the patients had symptoms matching my own, 90% were cured in a year with Paxil, and the other 10% saw an 80% reduction in symptoms. I can understand why he's pushing it as the best solution.

Unfortunately, if I go suicidal and off myself, well, I'd rather not risk being on the wrong side of that statistic.

Damsel, I'd be interested in any tidbits you could share about natural relaxation techniques you're finding helpful.

How about bach flower remedies. ..They are natural and safe....I take aspen and mimulus ones.....also make sure you are doing all the good lifestyle choices like healthy eating exercise...pos thinking...etc...

If the prob interfere with daily func thats when med is usually combined with therapy for results....I just started a medicine after trying natural app for awhile so its too esrly to see big changes yet but im hopeful....i rec seeing a new psychiatrist for more options for you...call ard and see who has both knowl of natural and conventional options

Psychiatrists generally rely on the use of drugs to treat patients.

And around here don't even do much talk therapy.

So their technique seems to be give a drug... see how it works etc.

If you are not taking the drug he most likely sees no point in seeing you not that he wouldn't help if you got suicidal but that would mean a pill to correct that.

Could be they are all not that way but this neuro is the first person who has actually physically taken the time to work with me.

First she started with the deep breathing.

We are to do it 15 minutes twice per day.

Next the progressive relaxation.

You might look that up on youtube.

The idea of that is to teach your mind the difference between being in a tensed state and relaxed state.

We tense up and walk around that way without even realizing it.

The third thing so far is self hypnosis.

These are all exercises I am to do everyday to get my body into parasympathetic mode instead of sympathetic.

She said we do not need drugs to treat anxiety-but this is her feeling.

I have not shared that yet in order to not cause debate.

My impression is she would work with me either way whether I was taking meds or not,

I would look for a therapist instead of a psychiatrist. They focus on the non-medication areas of recovery. In fact, many people recover from agoraphobia with no medication at all.

As far as the Paxil, I wouldn't feel too bad about passing on it. Those statistics seem wildly inaccurate to me... if Paxil worked that well I think all of us here would be on it. I was on it years ago and it did absolutely nothing for me.

Therapy and medicine usually is needed when there is a big difference in how youre used to being...

Mind-therapy

Brain- Medicine etc

Body-relaxation etc massage chiro etc

I agree with Kevin. If you don't want a Anti-Depressant then see a Therapist or a Licensed Social Worker. Psychiatrists do push Meds.

When it comes to Meds it is a personal choice. There is no right or wrong. It is what you are comfortable with and it is your choice.

Agree w/ kevin, I see a therapist and he's not a pill pusher.