Hi...I guess I want to offer words of encouragement and to let you know “you’re going to be just fine.” I am 58 and have been on a wide variety of anti-depressants since 1990. Sometimes one particular kind simply didn’t work, or gave me side affects. I have found that about 4 different kinds of anti-depressants work just fine for me, (but at the correct dosages.) So, there have been rare times when insurance changed, or I’d been on a particular anti-depressant for a period of years and it ran its usefulness course, so I knew I could switch back to another one that worked for me. Of the 4ish that work for me, some just may have worked a tad better, but any of them were fine. Make sense?

The key is which one, at what dosage, and without side affects, works for YOU. 🙂

I’ve also been on Alprazolam (generic Xanax) since 1990; again nearly 30 years. I started with up to 3/day at .5mg way back when. Thankfully the very first doctor I saw understood that Alprazolam is absolutely crucial for a lot of people. THAT’S the kind of doctor you want to see.

You could line up 100 doctors about the issue of Xanax, and x amount would think you’re asking for Meth, x amount would be in the camp of “ok, but only at this dosage for this long,” some would understand certain people may need to be on it for their entire lives and that’s perfectly ok, and some are somewhere on that spectrum.

Personally, I came to terms with this ages ago that I will most likely have to be on Alprazolam for my whole life, and that’s A-OK. Same with an anti-depressant. Big deal. We wouldn’t ask a Diabetic patient to go off insulin.
They must take it to function well; so do I with my medications. 🙂

My doctors over the 30 years of course monitor my use of Alprazolam. That’s being good doctors. They can see I’ve never ever asked for an early refill. I’m stable on this med, which is a doctor’s goal.

Oh....and I’m one of the rare birds where my Alprazolam works great as my sleep med! So I take .75/night for that. Works like a charm. They tried everything for me to sleep (Ambien, Trazodone, the anti-depressants that have build in anti-anxiety stuff) but none of those worked at all.

Don’t be afraid to be YOU, because you are the only one who knows your body. If a doctor doesn’t feel right for you, or doesn’t listen, move on.

Note: My Head isn’t in the sand that some people become somewhat addicted, or totally addicted, to Alprazolam. But then, I think, we have to make sure we’re using the term “addicted” in its true sense.

For me, my two meds, just like my Levothyroxin, is necessary. Nothing more, nothing less. And I’m thankful for them. They keep me level. I do things like deep breathing, mindfulness, fresh air, watch something fun on TV, lay down, etc. if my anxiety is starting. And I’ve taken it so long that I know when to stay ahead of the anxiety the minute I feel it coming on, through these techniques & taking my Alprazolam.

I have gotten a lot out of a highly respected and highly studied blogger named: Therese Borchard. She runs “Project Beyond Blue.” Excellent forums on any type of mental health condition (I wish they could call it “brain health” because that’s what it is.)

And about that house you don’t like? Give it a year, and if it literally brings you down at that point, say adiós to it and find your happy place to live! During the year’s time, a lot may change. You may get regulated on your meds, find something fun to get involved in, volunteer, and find that, by golly, life there is pretty good. The Lord may put a special neighbor there for you, or vice versa...well you just never know.

Hope you had a huge cup of coffee while reading that! I didn’t expect to get on a roll. Haha 😂

I sure hope this was helpful. 😊