My Experience with Xanax and Psychiatric Care
After reading many posts on this topic, I felt compelled to create an account and share my own experience. I have been taking Xanax for 18 years to manage my bipolar 2 disorder, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. My daily dose is only 1.5 mg, but it has been crucial in allowing me to function despite my mental health conditions.
My trauma history, including sexual abuse as an infant and experiencing a natural disaster at age 4, has hardwired my brain’s fight or flight responses. While I have no control over these responses, Xanax has helped regulate them and keep me sane.
My longtime psychiatrist recently retired, and I now coordinate my care with my primary care physician since there are no psychiatric specialists in my rural community. He has no issue continuing my prescriptions, but I worry about the increasing scrutiny and restrictions on controlled substances due to the opioid crisis.
If I were to suddenly stop taking Xanax, even at my low dose, I would experience severe heart palpitations and feel like I’m having a heart attack. This drug has been life-saving for me, and I am frustrated that those who benefit from controlled substances like Xanax are often punished for the actions of those who abuse them.
For those struggling to find medical care that meets their needs, I urge you not to give up. If necessary, seek emergency care to prevent life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Good luck to all who are navigating this difficult journey.