Had it not been for this forum and some discussions I had a long time ago with some Freepers as well as prayer for answers when this happened she could have died. She was taken off all medications but Ativan and was OK within 24 hours. In walks a Shrink and doubles the Zoloft. Within one our of taking that pill she was in it again. They still didn't think. I went home and got on line and on search with Zoloft +Trazadone +Adverse reaction had thewers in seconds.
My wife has severe neurlogical and sensory damage. She is a quadriplegic. The SSRI's were giver her to help overcome a bad reaction to a medication a dentist had given her that put her in a COMA. She has taken benzodiazepine {Xanax} for 25 years now a low dose at .5mg three times a day.
I am disgnosed as having General Anxiety Disorder of non phobic origin. My sensory processing system is basicaly shot. They tried me on SSRI's about 16 years ago when this hit me. First was Paxil which blocked my bladder. the others gave me bad headaches, increased anxiety, irratibility, and headaches. My actual disorder or combination thereof has no given name.
A doctor took me off of them and on Xanax at .5mg four times a day and I can somewhat function. I also have seizure activity from the senory issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy does not work for this either. I've had this, Depression, PTSD, and OCB all at the same time with one triggering and feeding on the other. The Depression and OCB which was merely a compensation issue and was the first to leave. The PTSD took several years with a therapist. I had gone through a lot of bad things in a few years time.
The G.A.D. {name given for disability reasons} is a neurological issue caused in part by Inner Ear issues, hearing loss and severe Tinitus issues, vision issues including single eye functional, all combined which I've had since early childhood and was mistaken for ADD ADHD. Nope Ritalin sure don't help neither LOL. For some SSRI's are the only thing that works. For some like my wife and I benzodiazepines like Xanax are the only thing that work and all the text book writings about long term use and it not working didn't happen with us. For me it's the only thing that does work.
I am so grateful that you and your wife have medications available that help. I think these meds are of critical importance but I also see them overprescribed to people who are in bad marriages, life sucking jobs etc.
For those who have physical/chemical needs - sometimes there seems to be no chemical fix. I recall meeting an 19 year who had dark circles under his eyes - the result of 8 years of deep depression. He watched all his friends go away to school and he tried to go to but it was too hard with his depression. He had tried all the drugs, nothing helped. His pain was so palpable, I just wanted to hug him - as if THAT ‘cure’ had not been tried by his own mom!