just cant seem to keep my head above water
 

For almost 2 years I have been struggling with anxiety and depression. I see a neurophycologist once a week, take xanax, trazodone and the max dosage of zoloft but still can't feel normal.

I didn't have any of these issues before my TBI. Is this common? Will this ever end? Can I be normal again?

Have you tried hormone analysis and a good nutritional supplement regimen?

If the brain is not getting good nutrition, the meds are just trying to mask the problem.

Have you checked out the drug interaction info for your drugs. Trazadone and Zoloft are listed as highly problematic. Xanax and trazadone are listed as moderately problematic. Xanax and Zoloft were listed as minor interactions.

Is your neuropsychologist prescribing these?

Or a GP?

I am of the firm belief that only a psychiatrist should be prescribing these powerful drugs. Once they have been established at effective, maybe a non-psychiatrist can renew them. I found an alarming difference in how the different medical specialties understand psychotropic drugs.

My psychiatrist was a specialist with the symptoms I was having. The first psychiatrist, upon understanding my symptoms, referred me to the second psychiatrist, who was excellent, until he retired.

I take max dose paroxetine (Paxil) for both the anxiety and depression. My primary issue is the anxiety.

I see the neurophycologis to help deal with all the changes and trials since my accident. I have a phyciatrist who prescribed the xanax trazodone and zoloft. I see him every 2 months.

I'm on a no gluten, no caffeine, no processed foods and no processed sugar diet. I also take vitamins and supplements - fish oil, magnesium, folic acid, etc.

I'm trying to do all the right things. I just can't get rid of the rain cloud that hovers above me. Is this normal?

How is your sleep?

Do you get restful sleep without interruption? No waking up during the night?

What about the hormones?

They can be a direct cause of depression.

Are you taking good B6 and B12 supplements? Not just the amount in a multi.

How about MSG and soy products, Textured Vegetable Protein? Glutamate is in lots of foods.

If the drugs are not working, why doesn't your psychiatrist try something different? Different people respond differently to psychotropic drugs.


My best to you.

I haven't slept more than 5 hours at a time in the last 2 years - its one of my big issues. I take melatonin every night.

I take extra B6 and B12 daily.

I don't eat stuff with soy or things that I don't know what they are.

My phyciatrist has been slowly upping and changing my meds it has helped some but hasn't fixed the problem.

Are you being treated by a psychiatrist (shrink) or a physiatrist (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)?

Your spelling leaves me wondering.

Have you had your hormones tested?

Thyroid, progesterone, estrogen, testosterone (yes, even in women), DHEA, Insulin,

I have reactive hypoglycemia. My blood sugar can get low during fasting ( 5 hours after a meal). I need to eat a low glycemic meal before bed so my brain can sleep. Your fasting glucose level may point this out.

Just a though out of left field. Sometimes, the brain struggles to metabilize normal blood sugars so it needs ketones. Upping your intake of ketogenic foods may be worth trying. Coconut is a ketogenic food. The ingredient desired if this is a problem is MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides). Read about ketone bodies.


My best to you.