Will I relapse? (Please be respectful.)?

Question

About A year ago I was raped and no one beleived me. I was sent to an institution and given very powerful drugs. My doctor lied to me about my disorder (why I don't know) and didn't tell me about the severe side effects of the medication. After taking it for about 6 months I've noticed a reduction in my cognitive abilities and I've gone from an A student to a C student. I've decided to go off the medication because it's disrupting my life in every aspect. The medication can actually increase a person's chance of having a heartattack by 48%. It can also increase the chance of getting cancer. It affects the patient's speech and causes them to be confused. It also causes an inability to achieve an o****m. It makes me look like a confused fool in front of everyone; a step up from a zombie. So, my question is should I live with these insane side effects that make my life miserable or go back to being scared all the time that someone is going to rape me?

Answer 1

You don't neccesarily need medication to deal with the fear of being raped again. You also have to realize that that fear might never truly go away. It might fade into the background enough for you to get on with your life, but someone very traumatic happened to you and it has changed you. You can't just drown it in medication.

I would turn towards psychotherapy instead, it might prove to be a lot more effective.

As for medication, there are many different kinds. In addition to professional therapy, there has to be other medication options to try other than the stuff they put you on before. My mother (who suffers from acute depression and anxiety) spent a few years trying to find the right balance of medication for what she needed. Sometimes it isn't something that's going to right itself in a weekend, you know?

Good luck and lots of love.

Answer 2

I think you should talk to your doctor about setting up appointments with a psychotherapist and slowly decreasing the medicine your on.  I don't know why you were put on these meds.  Fear and anxiety are normal after being raped.  There really should be no reason for meds unless you were very depressed or manic.

When you have any kind of psychiatric condition ... you will run the risk of relapsing your entire life.  I'm sorry.

Answer 3

I've been in a similar place hun. I decided to go off the drugs becuase of the side effects. As time went by I started realizing not everyone was out to rape me. It was hard to even go out in public for a while, and i still have occasional days where I'm sure every guy is waiting for his chance at me but for the most part I'm all better. Like I said, it just took TIME. One year isn't very long so you sill have a lot of healing to do. Drugs are given out like candy these days, if you can live with out them then I'd go off of them ASAP. I'm no doctor but thats my opinion. Hang in there sweetie!

Answer 4

find a doctor that is more suitable for you and your situation. another doctor can find what is right for you. i'm glad to hear you got help.  

Answer 5

You could try to seek a different medication  

Answer 6

this is a very ssad situation. doctors give patience those specfic meds becuz they didnt expect you to tecover from the mental complications since nobody believed you. those were meant to shut you up and put you away in a home till you pass away. my advice to you is throw all those meds away becuz those risks are horrible and known by the doctor, and im sorry to say that you can run from your fear all ur live, you must face it in order for you to move on and feel better about certain situations. im sorry to hear about your rape and i can understand your pain but stop the meds and sum how find your strength. youve gotten this far, just open ur mind and let your soul guide you.

good luck and god bless you

Answer 7

Wow im so sorry all of that happend to you. you should definately try to find a trusted pyschiatrist that can prescribe you something that can help your anxiety that will not cause those intense side effects. There are plenty of medicines out there, whatever you have been taking is not the only one. There must be something out there that can help your anxiety enough without interfering with your cognitive skills.  

Answer 8

In my opinion i'd say stop taking the pill. Take karate and try NOT to get raped lol. Anyways you have to atleast try to get over your fear.

Answer 9

I don't claim to be some sort of expert, but is seems to me that your problem is not something that can be 'cured' by medication. I think humanistic therapy would be more beneficial.

You need to get over that paranoia because even though it is now a defense mechanism, it is not something you should have to live with your whole life.

I personally think those side affects are awful and I would talk to your doctor about discontinuing it. Please tell me it helped in some way at least.

Answer 10

you should see a toitally different doctor. somehow find one that is credible!

and see a shrink! you need someone to talk to, not be left in a room to take drugs and have physical and emotional problems for the rest of your life! dont go to doctors who make it worse

Answer 11

Have you gone through extensive therapy?  Perhaps a balance of lower medication and intensive psychotherapy could balance you out?  I'm very sorry.

Answer 12

That is a terrible thing to happen to anybody; and to not be believed is even worse. If this medication is doing absolutely no good for you or your life, then I would recommend stop taking it. If you are going to be scared all the time, then what you could do is be with a friend, or family member who believes you and who you trust when you go out. I have no personal experience with this and I am sorry, even though I don;t know you, that this happened to you. Try talking to someone you know and trust, that is all I can really say. Hope I helped.

Answer 13

Don't take them. Zombie is the key word. That's what they make you. I'm sorry you were raped. But I'd just try to get over that fear.

Answer 14

I would suggest you consult a second doctors opinion. Personally, I would probably eventually choose to rid myself of the medication and attempt to find ways to get over the endless fear of rape. Its a tragic event, it should be treated, but not flooded with medication.

Answer 15

I would do two things.  First, go see another psychiatrist.  If you need to be on meds, there are many different choices for every possible diagnosis.  You shouldn't have to deal with side effects like that.  You and your doctor should be a team.  You should be able to find medications, if necessary, that work without such horrible side effects.

Second, it sounds like you could use a therapist to talk to.  You need to find someone you like and trust, but meds alone won't solve your problem.  I have a great therapist. I tell her everything and I don't know what I'd do without her.  I also have a psychiatrist and he's prescribed certain meds that caused intolerable side effects.  When I told him, we just switched to a different med.  Don't stop taking the meds by yourself, though.  Some of them can cause withdrawal symptoms. They need to be tapered down by a doctor.

Answer 16

Tell your doctor that you are seriously considering stopping these pills and suggest to him/her that you would like to have some other less intrusive form of medication.  If he/she chooses not to listen to you then seek a second opinion from a qualified medical practitioner and also ask them for a referral to a good psychologist who is experienced in handling this situation.

Answer 17

In my personal opinion, unless its really needed, get off the drugs ASAP. You will gradually be able to get back to your own self and might not need those drugs after all. Being scared is only temporary, and you will get over it but being on drugs will only hold you back from being the person you really are. I suggest you get off the drugs first, attend workshops/classes/trainings that boost your self confidence and help you re-gain your interactive capabilities. Get back to studies and try not to stress your self out. All the best .