In this update, I share about a rescue med that works, ups and downs, and leveraging caffeine.
These weekly updates share life with OCD as part of my Mental Work Health project to reduce stigma around mental health, especially at work.
You’ll notice I’m trying a slighty different format1 this week. I enjoyed it—let’s see if you do too.
Something hard
A rescue med that works
Getting a rescue med that works for me was a difficult journey through all four of my psychiatrists. With each one, I would tell them about having panic attacks that could last for days, and they would listen and prescribe something. Invariably, the different drugs we tried either did nothing to quell the panic, or just put me to sleep.
The first time I took a full Xanax, it was a revelation. I remember marveling that I could be curled in my armchair in the morning, and then working normally the rest of the day. It felt like a miracle. I’m used to being stuck in that chair for hours, or across days when things get rough.
Something good
Ups and downs
Today I feel so much better. This is an interesting phenomenon. It’s not enough data to go on or make any decisions. But it is a good reminder of why we ride the wave. It doesn’t last forever. Now, I don’t expect this means that my problems are over. But I do know that I can make it through. Whatever else happens today, I don’t want to die right now, and that is a great feeling.
I am laughing a little reading that above. It was from Thursday morning. I took my daughter to the dentist and then had a chat with a client that day. So I was able to do some things. But it was still a rough day. I watched the rest of Ted Lasso and read a full book. I think I went home and just went to bed. Good reminder that days are going to have ups and downs as well as weeks and months and years.
Something else
Leveraging caffeine
My therapist reminded me that I’m not going to have nothing. Having a good rescue med makes a huge difference. And remembering my experience with the Coke, I joked that I would also have Dr Pepper (which everyone knows is far superior to Coke).
I love that. Xanax and Dr Pepper. Sounds like a great plan.
The second part of that plan is important because I need to be careful to not take Xanax too often. So I’m trying to ride the line of using it for emergencies and letting Dr Pepper fill in the gaps. It’s an imprecise science, to be sure.
Wrap up
Last week was one of the roughest I’ve had in a long time. I’m hoping that things are heading back up. And I hope things are going well for you. Here’s to a better week for both of us.
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I thought I would try splitting up each section into its own post and then link to them for the weekly update. If you have thoughts on the change, I would love to hear from you. ↩