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Some of us take Xanax and I had to take one today. I don’t usually take one unless I feel myself sort of going out of control. Like hearing some news that may be a bit startling and not sure what to think of it and then my mind starts racing. So, what I want to know is do you ladies take this everyday or just as needed. Is this an addictive drug? That would be the last thing I need! Thanks in advance for your advice. Love you all, Claire
Clare, they are addictive. I don’t think one is going to hurt you at all. Just be careful. My mom has a scrip and she pops them like candy….I would not recommend that. I just do not want you to have trouble with it. Awareness is key.
Hope it works and you can calm down. I’m sorry you have had a tough day. Love you…
Oh yeah, I do not take them. I have taken my mom’s before and I have bummed from some a neighbor but I am afraid I would take them every day if I had them 🙂
Hi cbslife,
I take a half (so .25 mg) during the day only if I feel myself getting spun up (once or twice a week). I do take one at night to sleep. I have always had trouble getting to sleep and now also have trouble staying asleep…a little afraid of what life may look like if I’m also sleep-deprived! I have heard its highly addictive so I worry about the sleep thing, but not the daytime use since I was never a highly anxious person before all this. Hope that helps.
Amy
I take it at night also and sometimes with a sleeping pill. I just do not sleep. I have found that Xanax is the only drug that slows my mind down enough to fall back asleep when I wake up around 3am. I have taken it during the day but only because something got me crazy. I took a lot during the first month – not so much any more.
Claire,
I was prescribed Xanax to help me stop crying and let me sleep without nightmares after the “Bad” pic discovery. In the beginning I took 3 of the .25mg a day, and was started on Celexa. That was a lot for me, because as a rule I don’t take meds, but I was desperate because I was afraid I was scaring my children to death with all the crying and waking screaming every night. I knew if I left them after all that their imaginations would run wild, and I really thought I was so close to breaking point that consideration of their last days with me was a major concern. So, you do what you have to.
They are addictive.
I titrated down very quickly to one a day, and then, after SA moved to TX, I only took them as needed. Now I take 1/2 a tablet very rarely. After I had that down, I slowly discontinued the Celexa, as my side effects of nausea and tremors were prohibitive to my job search. Now I’m thinking that was a bit too hasty, still no job, but I’ve not gone back to Celexa.
I took a Xanax a day through SA’s visits at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I wouldn’t go all sobby on everyone and ruin the holiday. Other than that, I have had the last 30 of that prescription since October.
I use Valerian or Benadryl to sleep now if I need something. Unless I have a wicked nightmare that starts my heart pounding, then I’ll take 1/2 a Xanax. Those are so far between now, though.
Lynn,
Thank you for the post. That part about the panic nightmares being “so far between now” gives me so much hope! I have been afraid those will never stop. I am so ashamed at myself when I wake up screaming, and when I literally sob in my sleep. Now that I’m not sleeping with him, I’m worried the neighbors will hear and think I’m being murdered. I thought I was the only person in the world with this problem, and it’s been going on for so long…even BEFORE my first discovery. Several years before, actually. I guess my gut knew what my brain did not. The dreams were always about him cheating and lying. They were terrible, and I thought I was just plain batshit crazy. So did he. Then D-Day, and it turns out they were fucking true.
Has anyone else had that experience? It really, really unnerved me.
PS: To get back on topic (sorry — my brain is mush today!) Xanax doesn’t stop the nightmares at all. I usually take it during the day. It is absolutely tolerance-building. I’m sure there’s a scientific term for that. I just mean that I need more and more of it to have the same effect. I stopped taking it completely a few months ago, while we were in MC and I didn’t know he was lying to me. Since my December d-day, I have been taking it again. It helps the anxiety for sure, like nothing else. Plus, even if I only take a little Xanax during the day, a small glass of wine will put me right to sleep in the evening. What a blessing that pill is!
Most of the people I know who have a prescription for it say that it is situational and not something they were given to take every day. Of course, they do not live with SA’s- where EVERY day is situational!!!
I have only tried one about 5 times in my life. For whatever reason, about 30 minutes after taking- I am dead asleep! Unfortunately, I have a hard time waking up and even then, very groggy!! 🙁
annoy,
i also had dreams way way back about him cheating. my body and subconscious also knew what was going on. sad isn’t it? i also had a night mare where i woke up sobbing. go easy on yourself, it’s your subconscious mind. and who cares what anyone thinks! you just take care of yourself and don’t worry about what anyone thinks. xoxo
Thanks for telling me that, lisa. I was afraid to admit that for a long time. I thought it made me crazy, or maybe even that it made it somehow my fault that he was cheating.
And I’m sorry to admit I’m worried about what the neighbors will think. But I’m also worried they’ll think I’m being killed and will call the cops to my place. I’ve had this image of police knocking on my door after a nightmare, and asking if I’m being attacked. What am I supposed to say? Only in my dreams by my SABF? They’d take me to the funny farm for sure!
Here’s to a decent night’s sleep for us all.
I had nightmares galore. Before and after.
Claire, I hope you are feeling better. I have been thinking of you.
Clare, I have OCD and I have Xanax to take when I’m having an anxiety attack. I usually take a half a pill when I feel that familiar feeling, and it does take the edge off. On a daily basis I take 60 mg Paxil, which helps a lot, so the Xanax is just for emergencies. It is addictive, so I try not to take it unless I’m in wringing-hands mode. And it sounds like you do the same. For me, the type of anxiety that the whole SA crap produces is generally something that I don’t take Xanax for. It’s more for when I’ve got fears of catastrophes in my head, as my OCD centers around worrying about my son. I actually took half a pill yesterday, because I started worrying that he’d get the flu that’s going around..just glancing at the news was enough to set me off..and I felt a full-blown panic attack coming on. I’m just a ball o’ fun and am available for parties. xoxo
p.s. My heart goes out to all of you who suffer with not sleeping and the awful nightmares. What helps me sleep is probably the worst dietary advice in the world, but I eat a bowl of cereal every night and I think it’s what helps me stay asleep. I will pray for you guys that you are able to start getting a good night’s sleep. xoxo
Dear Clare,
I once read that the body knows what the mind cannot accept. I don’t know if that is true but it makes sense on some level. I had many nightmares.They all involved him with hookers.
Xanax is a fabulous drug and very addictive and easy to develop tolerance to. It works like nothing else for acute anxiety and relieves the sense of panic and feeling like you will vomit. It is great for helping you get to sleep as well but usually only works short term. It needs to be used very judiciously. My Dr would only give it if I were run over by a truck. Little does he know…. I was…by a MAC. Karen xx
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