Medication

The only successes I've had come from lifestyle changes. No pill will fix circumstances.

Wearing ear plugs in noisey places, wearing soft clothing, avoiding heavily flavoured foods, escooter to work (,to avoid train stations & the like), but the biggest improvement has come from following a committed meditation practice. It's taken about 5/6 years to really commit to it enough so it's the just the way I live now.

Changed my life. Not kidding

I've spent so much time researching medications that I thought would help but anything that's addictive scares me too! I can't imagine taking it at that amount but if it gets others through, who I am I to judge?  It's their choice but I personally wouldn't recommended it.

I've never had such a bad meltdown, I think it couldn't resolve because it was self targeting, which has never happened in a meltdown of mine. They have always been triggered by an external factor, and that factor has been the target in the episode.

Because it affected work, it made me seriously consider if I was truly coping by never taking any medication for it my whole life.

To be honest, reading the forums on people who take diazepam scared me! I'm worried about taking a 5mg once every couple of weeks/months, but some non-autistic people take 40mg a day just to take the edge off life!

I've got a few Diazepam prescribed over 2 years ago. I took them initially but I have an addictive personality and knew it would end badly. I've kept them for true emergency situations and thankfully, sticking to routines I've not had to take them. I've been tempted recently due to the work situation and other events but not succumbed. 

Sorry to hear you got to such a low point, they're a a last resort for me personally but it's nice to know I've got a back up.. I'm glad you aren't taking them regularly despite the temptation which I know so well. 

I had a mega meltdown 7 months ago in which I wanted to kill myself, and was on a hunger and water strike for 2 days. I eventually came out of it and wondered what it was all about (triggered by a rather small thin but I couldn't find a solution).

During that time, I was seen by 101, NHS Walk in after they closed, the main hospital, and then my GP, who assigned me SSRIs. still being in meltdown mode, I wouldn't take the prescription out as it required paying and drinking/eating. 

Once I was out of the meltdown, I was asked why I hadn't taken the prescription out of the pharmacy in a follow up appointment with the hospital the next day and also with my GP a week later. I asked both of them (after conversations) if they thought I was depressed after speaking to me post-meltdown, and they replied 'no'.

After a fair amount of research, I suggested to my GP going on a course of lower strength diazepam for 'if and when' I felt an episode about to kick off (my heart feels like a coiled spring before I go off on one so if I am quick to react and take the medicine before I refuse to take it, I can maintain 'pre-episode' state at worst, and avoid the episode completely at best.

A few months later I moved up to 5mg, as 2mg was not really enough. Diazepam is a very addictive substance, I think it is effective in controlling my episodes to a point, but I also have to consider whether I can manage myself before taking one. 

Even though I don't take them daily, or even weekly, sometimes not for a couple of months... It's funny, because I seem to crave one just before a meltdown or when I am stressed and a bit on the edge...It must be how a smoker feels. I can see how easily it is to become addicted to them if you don't have the mental strength to leave them in the pack when you don't need them.

Hi Everyone

I've taken them before and they do help a  bit, especially with that awful feeling in your stomach. It's a coincidence you mention them as I have a few left and will be calling the surgery for more. I'd stopped taking them but as mentioned, work is so stressful I'm going to take them on the days I have to be there.

Writing this and receiving  all your kind words and advice has been lovely and made me feel part of something.

Thanks to you all

Hi

I take a beta-blocker called propranolol which I can take whenever I can feel my anxiety increasing which helps quite a lot. I think it is primarily prescribed for blood pressure but my GP prescribed it for me because it can also be effective for helping with anxiety and other medications had not worked.

I mostly take it if I think I could be heading for a melt down. My GP said to take one or two tablets whenever I feel I need to, although I think the overall limit is 8 tablets a day. I use it especially at work or public places. Sometimes I take it before the anxiety is severe and it helps keep it at a level I can control. It might not work for everybody but might be worth mentioning to your GP. 

Hope you find something!

Same here.  That's because addiction counselling is largely aimed at dealing with the symptom, not the cause.  That's been my experience, anyway.  It sounds to me like you're a good way down the route to self-acceptance, and being able to say 'no' is a really big deal.  Stick up for yourself.  Remember the 'kick' you got from saying no and go for it again.  That's addictive, too!  I've been a pushover all of my life.  But not any more.  It's not a tangent.  It's your topic, after all.  And what you say is relevant and important.  Keep thinking and acting this way.  It's better than any drug!

Thanks for your support. You're right, it does help in the evening to have a few drinks. It's become a ritual too, starting more or less at the same time. I've had addiction counselling for it but you won't be surprised to know it didn't work.Nothing seems to work and now after all these years I know why: I'm autistic and having a hard time accepting it but I'm slowly coming round to the idea that other than the anxiety it's not all bad. For the first time ever when asked to do something at work I said NO and it felt rather good. I've always been a pushover but work has been so chaotic lately I'd just had enough. I'm stooping now before I start ranting about it. Sorry for going off on a tangent, it's a bad habit of mine.

With the greatest respect to GPs, many of them haven't got a clue about autism, and their go-to response is to prescribe medication.  You are not weak if you drink.  Try not to think of it that way.  You are using something that helps you, which is what most people would do.  You are in fact strong because you realise that this isn't the proper answer and you are seeking alternative ways of helping yourself. So don't be hard on yourself because you are making a conscious effort to help yourself.

Thank you, one psychiatrist told me the same about antidepressants not being suitable. When I mentioned this to my GP he was unaware and said to stick with what I'm currently taking. I've tried CBT and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) which is mindfulness based but I just revert to type .I think it's because I go off on tangents and can't concentrate..I'm going to try a monthly support group to see if it's any help. I've got a further appointment in July at the clinic where I'll raise the issue about meds. They're aware that I drink regularly which I'm not proud of but I'm weak and it calms me down and gets me to sleep.

Appreciate your reply!

Hello there.  No is my answer, and certainly not with any form of antidepressant, most of which I found either had undesirable side effects or simply made me feel doped out.  I have read that these types of medication aren't suitable for autism anyway as they are designed for neurotypical brains, which we of course don't have!  I have taken valium at times of high anxiety, but even they don't seem to do much.  For many years, I self-medicated with alcohol, which I certainly wouldn't advise.  The best therapies I've ever had have been talking ones like support groups, peer groups, and forums like this.  it helps me to feel not so alone in the world, and not so weird.  Have you tried any alternative things like meditation, mindfulness, etc?  They have been helpful to me too.  I am a firm believer now in trying to get through life with an unmedicated head, but I realise that this isn't for everyone and it isn't always easy.  There are many related threads on this subject which you may find it interesting to look at, if you just search on 'medication' or look at the list on the right.