Can Anything Work?  I've Tried Everything.

QUESTION:

Dear Dr. Heller,

I have been diagnosed with BPD or CPTSD and have been going to therapy steadily for 2 years.  I have used Prozac, Paxil, Remeron, Neurontin, Topamax, imipramine, Ativan, Effexor, Serzone, Celexa and even Seroquel.  DBT therapy was difficult I couldn't continue.  EMDR gave some marginal relief with the anger component, but nothing else.

It seems I am at the end of my rope and I can't see living like this anymore, where every moderately stressful event triggers physical and emotional anxiety for days.

I'm a 47 yr old male with no family or friends, (due to this disorder).  What else can be done?

ANSWER:

You haven't been on the most important medication combination, Prozac followed a week later by Tegretol.  It's an incredible combination.  The screening test ( http://www.BiologicalUnhappiness.com/screen.htm) may help to find other diagnoses that also need to be treated.  Treating them all is crucial.