About three months ago I asked my PCP to give me a prescription for an antidepressant - here, all along, I've said I'll ask for it when I need it, and I NEEDED IT! Things were weighing on me and I felt a constant undercurrent of tension. He prescribed Zoloft (Sertraline). After a few weeks the tension lifted and ever since I've felt an undercurrent of relaxation. Much better.
Meanwhile, I had realized that what was so distressing to me was my husband's tension, his fear of hurting himself walking, etc. So about a month ago I asked the same PCP to give my husband a prescription, which he did. And that, combined with rearranging his room to make it easier to move around in, has done the same thing for him that it did for me. He's relaxed a lot. When I go in at 7 or 7:30 he is awake, sitting on the side of the bed instead of lying in bed cursing. He's willing to move around the house more, is better getting in and out of the tub, etc. And just flat pleasanter to deal with.
I don't know who else this would work for, but it certainly has been a boon for me. Just hope it lasts - at least till I get back from the cruise!
My PCP put me on 50 mg. of Zoloft during the worst of Sid's driving rages, verbal abuse, and temper tantrums. I honestly believe it saved my life. I was at the point when Sid really got into his rages, I screamed at him so much that I couldn't catch my breath. I was having anxiety attacks so bad that I was waking up hyperventilating. There were days that I could not face getting out of bed, and just wanted to pull the covers over my head and sleep away the day. About a week or two on the Zoloft, and I was much calmer and able to handle everything without any anxiety attacks.
My Zoloft combined with Sid being on an anti-depressant and Risperdal made our lives bearable.
I decided that I no longer need the Zoloft, but have been very careful in weaning myself off of it. You can't stop those drugs cold turkey, so I am on my second week of 1/2 the dosage. Next week, I will probably take one every other day, and if that goes well, I will continue to cut down until I am off. But I can assure you, if I need it again, I will not hesitate to go back on it.