As a person who has dealt with severe anxiety and depression for almost 40 years I decided it is time to post an alternative site to the common opinion that "drugs are bad". As a Vietnam veteran with problems dating back to childhood. For example, bed wetting, nightmares, and other primary symptoms of childhood maladjustment, I feel it is important to document the experiences that have finally given me peace and success in my adult years.
As a teenager I was always willing to try any combination of chemicals that might relieve me of mental anguish, however transitory. Cough syrup, marijuana, LSD , opium, barbituates and a variety of unknown psychedelics provided transitory but temporary relief. After a relatively short sentence to a state prison for sales of LSD, I decided to work vigorously to get my life on track.
For approximately 20 years I underwent psychotherapy, delegating a substantial amount of my earnings as payment. My therapist was a dedicated professional who met me in his office multiple times in the middle of the night when I was suffering with severe anxiety with no additional charges.
During this period of time I had a prescription for Tranxene that I used very sparingly during crisis situations. My therapist believed drugs were but a last resort.
As my my career unfolded I had an attractive opportunity to move several hundred miles away from my therapist (by then early 40's age range) for a substaqntial increase in salary.
Anxiety had not been completely resolved and I soon found myself expressing my mental anguish to a new primary physician.
This posting is notable in it's brevity and lack of detail but time pushes me.
I have recently been using Valium as a anti-anxiety agent due to it's long half-life compared to Serax which I had been using.
What a difference! I am back on track with very low level anxiety and no necessity for additional medication.
