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Suggest Treatment For Depression With Socio Phobia While On Adderall And Xanax

Posted on Wed, 3 Aug 2016

Question: I have problems that have led me to hating life and I can't shake them. I have no friends. I don't go out. I am scared of being around others in social settings due to feeling insecure. Uninformed. Out of touch. Feel I've totally changed within past 7 years. I can't focus nor get things completed. (Work I can but have been doing it 20 years but it's harder to focus and stay on coarse. I'm sad and lonely. Feel I need adderall and xanax. Took address couple times from a friend when I was down and out and it made me feel less strained to talk and communicate. I got tasks done instead of doing something for 10 minutes then moving on but getting nothing accomplished. I just felt good about myself. Nothing else has done this before. And I am at a very low point to be writing for help. And xanax...idk..to help calm my anxiety being around people. My son's are grown and gone and I still miss them like crazy. (33,26 24)Never see them nor talk to well maybe twice a year. Just want to die feeling so strong sometimes but I know it'll get better. This Hermit in hell just needs help . I have not one friend. So tired of being alone.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
it is depression with social phobia and it can be treated

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.

You have narrated your symptoms very well. It seems that you are having depression with social phobia (social anxiety). It can be treated. Lack of concentration can be part of depression likely. Some possibility of attention deficit disorder (ADD) is there and evaluation of that needed by psychiatrist. Sometime ADD co-exists with depression.

Treatment of your problem includes both medicines and psychotherapy.

In psychotherapy I prefer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).In mild cases only CBT is sufficient. In moderate to severe cases initially medicines and then CBT is added. And later on medicines stopped gradually.

In medicines SSRI group of drugs (fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram) are main stay of the treatment. There are other group of drugs as well with different mechanisms and excellent results.
Benzodiazepines group of drugs (clonazeapm, lorazepam or etizolam) are used initially for short duration for fast symptomatic relief.

You have already tried prozac but not helpful. I recommend paroxetine or mirtazapine in your case with psychotherapy. In benzodiazepine instead of xanax I prefer clonazepam for anxiety. It has low dependence potential and more sustainable improvement due to its long half life than xanax. You can ask your doctor about these options.

If diagnosis of ADD is established, adderall can be added otherwise treatment of depression and anxiety will solve your problem of lack of concentration.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Priyanka G Raj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (5 hours later)

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
welcome

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.

In future if you wish you can contact me directly on this site with following link:

http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki

by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions.

Take care and wish you good health.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj