Advice needed

gonzoscoce

Hi guys,just wondering what to do.

So I have anxiety and ocd for over 15 years.I'm 33 years old and physically healthy male.I coped with it fine and was never on any medication.However last year my mother and father passed and it got worse 10 fold.I quit working and barely left my home.

Last october I decided to get help and visited my local gp.To even go was a massive step for me and I thought the beginning of an end to my living nightmare.
However,the doctor prescribed me prozac(lowest dose) and xanax(.25mg) and told me to come back in 8 weeks.Nothing changed and the only time I would get light relief for maybe 3 hours was after 4 xanax.

So in december went back and told him i'm exactly the same so he changed my meds to sertraline(lowest dose again).I also told him the xanax were not strong enough only lasted me 10 days each month.He said he couldnt up the dose as he gets reviewed regularly and hse very strict on benzos.

6 weeks later same story no relief from my anxiety or ocd.So he puts me on paxil 10mg.That was a month ago and absolutely no effect.In fact when I collected the prescription the pharmacist asked me what my issue was and when I said ocd she said 10mg wont do anything for ocd.

Here's my problem,there's only 3 ssris and none of them had any effect.Also changing doctors is not possible as he's the only doctor in 12km radius and he's named on my medical card.To change doctors can take up to 8 weeks according to hse website.Counselling and cognative behavioural therapy didnt do a lot for me either in my early 20s.

Is there anyone who had had similar issues and found something that worked for them,
thanks very much

dar100

We can't give advice. Maybe a referral to a psychologist/psychiatrist may be beneficial, they will explore your history through an in dept assessment, and hopefully develop a treatment plan based on your individual needs (as opposed to just medication).

All the best, don't let your past experience of therapy and medication put you off. These things can take time to get better, the main thing is that you have taken the first steps in the right direction.

Lavinia

As dar100 said we cannot give any advice..
Just it seems to me that no medication helps you OP, I would consider counseling and finding a therapist you can work through your issues with. Since it got worse since your parents passed away it may be really helpful that you talk with someone who can listen and help.
Your GP does not seem to be the one .. I am sorry to say, but that is how it looks to me from your post..

Condolences from me for loss of your parents in such a short period of time, it must be hard to cope..

Do you have any siblings?

JuliusCaesar

This is the Psychology forum and your question is more for Personal Issues.

However a referral to your local mental health services would give you access to psychology and CBT. You are not the same person you were in your early 20s. The only treatment with supporting evidence to prove it works are CBT-type therapies.

See our sticky on How to find a Counsellor/Psychotherapist/Psychologist, to find out how to find properly qualified and experienced CBT therapists.

Moving to Personal Issues, and their forum charter will now apply. JC

Merkin

Medical advice is not allowed here so I'm afraid I'm going to have to close the thread.