QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I am a 29 year old female and mother of an 8 year old daughter. I was in a terribly abusive relationship for 6 years and before then had been on medications (several different ones) since I was 13. I have had terrible panic attacks and bouts of severe depression since I was in 1st grade. Medicines just seem to take the edge off and I've tried everything from therapy to exercise. I am still extremely attached to the man I was with during those 6 years and have been seriously contemplating suicide. I cry ALL the time and feel totally hopeless. I'm tired of being in so much pain for all of these years.
ANSWER:
There are two issues: one is medication the other is the relationship.
There are much better medications available today than there were when you were in first
grade. It's highly likely you suffer from a number of anxiety disorders, and they
need to be treated comprehensively. The
screening test I
use for my patients may be of significant use to you. Getting on the right
medications can make a huge difference.
It can be extremely difficult to break off a relationship. There are many factors
involved. The most significant are likely the desire to keep your family intact and
the pain you feel when separated. Fortunately you are still very young and can make
a great future for yourself and your children.
Suicide seems a real option when an individual is in more pain than they can handle and
they perceive there is no hope. In your case your child has kept you going.
There definitely is hope, however. Making all the diagnoses and treating them
comprehensively is absolutely crucial. Just because medications haven't worked
before doesn't mean the right combination and sequence won't work now.