• Replies 11 replies
  • Subscribers 88 subscribers
  • Views 1239 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Medication

Judetheobtuse

Does anyone here take medication to deal with anxiety and burnout?  I was on an antidepressant for years but stopped about 4 months ago. However it has been suggested by my gp (via a psychiatrist) that I take venlafaxine.  However when I took the first tablet I felt terrible so I decided not to take any more. Apparently venlafaxine can help with social anxiety and similar stuff which I thought might help me to be more social and less awkward. All this was suggested before I got diagnosed too, so I am not sure it still makes sense to use - however I had a diagnosis of GAD which may have been caused by the autism and associated problems. 

I don’t feel any better or worse off the antidepressants so I am not sure they were doing much anyhow. I use diazepam for anxiety at the moment which are useful but doctors seem to think they are as bad as heroin so getting them regularly is almost impossible (but there are ways). I have also tried pregabalin which did nothing at all for me, literally. 

I try to manage the anxiety via exercise- I have a dog so I do a lot of walking and I also like cycling and running. But occasionally I get breakthroughs of anxiety- especially if I have to go somewhere new or use public transport. I used to self medicate with alcohol but that ended badly. 

has anyone had success with anything?

Parents

  • Interesting. There seems to be a theme here. I too have been on various antidepressants and and had CBT etc. many times.

    When I finally realised I am autistic I was on mirtazapine but immediately weaned myself off slowly and after discussion with and under guidance from my GP. What I found was that the mirtazapine appeared to delay burnouts and meltdowns. However,  I cannot be sure of this. 

    Personally, I have found mindfulness and relaxation exercises very useful to head off meltdowns. I have also learned relaxation exercises to the extent that I can just switch relaxation on in a moment. Taking myself off to somewhere quiet and dark also helps or a walk in the countryside or park. I have also accepted that my brain works very hard and fast for short periods but it needs to rest more than fir others.

    Hope this helps.

Reply

  • Interesting. There seems to be a theme here. I too have been on various antidepressants and and had CBT etc. many times.

    When I finally realised I am autistic I was on mirtazapine but immediately weaned myself off slowly and after discussion with and under guidance from my GP. What I found was that the mirtazapine appeared to delay burnouts and meltdowns. However,  I cannot be sure of this. 

    Personally, I have found mindfulness and relaxation exercises very useful to head off meltdowns. I have also learned relaxation exercises to the extent that I can just switch relaxation on in a moment. Taking myself off to somewhere quiet and dark also helps or a walk in the countryside or park. I have also accepted that my brain works very hard and fast for short periods but it needs to rest more than fir others.

    Hope this helps.

Children
  • in reply to VLD

    I was on mirtazapine too. I didn’t really feel it helped my mood but it did make my head a little clearer - like I had more control of thoughts and urges. But I put on 8 or 9kg and eventually decided  the benefits didn’t warrant the extra weight.

    Once I weaned myself off I lost the extra weight quite rapidly but I have also since realised that I didn’t burn out while I was on it and i am now back in a burnout cycle.