My College Anxiety Treatment Log
IntroductionThis log explains my approach to succeed in college while dealing with anxieties problems such as social phobia, generalized anxiety, and panic disorder. The most important factor I am concerned with is preserving and maintaining my cognitive abilities for school. I must be able to retain information, analyze information, organize information, synthesis conclusions, and create ideas. The most important goal of my treatment is to minimize my anxiety to a level at which I can still think clearly and accurately - and comfortably interact with my student colleagues and professors at the same time.Current Drug Use--Marijuana
--Alcohol. Moderate to heavy drinking once a month.
--Clonozepam
--Paroxatine
--Occasional caffeine
TreatmentFebruary 18, 2015:1.) 7 weeks ago I was prescribed 10mg of
paroxatine (Paxil), which I was to take every morning at 9. At week five during my Paxil intake I increased my dosage to 20mg. Now it is week 7.
2.) I am also prescribed 2mg of
clonazepam (klonopin) twice a day. Once in the morning and once before bed. It should be noted that I take my daily dose as needed. That is, some days I do not take the entire 1mg day dose.
3.)
Flooding. Constant exposure to uncomfortable situations in group related work. Presentations.
4.)
Breathing exercises5.)
Positive psychology: three good things exerciseThe three good things exercise consists of writing in a journal every day. I write about three good things that happened to me. I then write about why there were could, and how I could get more of it. The three good things can consist of anything from a business promotion to the sun shining through the window.
An idea I have is that exercises like this help to reduce cognitive loops that are negative in nature. Conversely, I believe that positive psychology helps me to change the way I think in that I stop focusing on the negatives, and I begining to start focusing more on the positives. Thus I am creating cognitive loops that are positive in nature.
6.)
Self cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)7.) nutrition
I am eating a diet of dark green vegetables, complex carbohydrates (potatoes, rice), fresh fruit, fresh meat - and unfortunately some fast food. I am drinking lots of water, but I also drink soda pop.
8.)Exercise
I exercise rigorously 2-3 times a week.
9.) meditation
I have started to meditate. At this current time I only do short bouts of meditation whenever I feel so inclined. I understand that meditating for 15-20 minutes at a time every day can be extremely beneficial. It is my intention to reach that level of meditation in my future.
March 9, 2015:--Increased dosage of paroxatine to 30mg/day.
--Also continuing with Flooding, breathing, positive psychology, self CBT, nutrition, and exercise.
ResultsFebruary 18, 2015:--Increased interest in talking to people
--Increased ability to make comfortable eye contact
--Increased ability to relax in social groups
--Perceived increase in confidence
--Less generalized anxiety (brooding about the anxiety that might happen in the day)
--Far less panic attacks. Panic attacks are nearly gone.
--Cognitive abilities seem relatively normal. My grades are still consistent As and Bs.
--After starting paroxatine I feel as though I do not need the clonazepam as much.
March 9, 2015:Increased dosage of paroxatine to 30mg/day.
--I have little to no generalized anxiety, little to no panic attacks, and I am much more excited to jump into the world and experience everything I have ever wanted to. I talk to my professors more often, and I can make eye contact easily.
--The only side effect I had from increasing the dose was mild nausea and sleepiness for 1 week.
--Furthermore, since I have been taking paroxatine I have optionally cut back my dose of clonozepam from 1mg during the day to .5mg during the day. I feel less of a need to take it. I have that by spring I can reduce my day dose of clonozepam to .25mg/day. I still take my bed time dose of 1mg klonopin.
Side Effects of Medications--When I started taking paroxatine I experienced nausea for about two weeks and then it stopped.
--1mg of clonazepam has the tendency to slow down my cognitive abilities in school. It seems to make me slow or sloppy.
WithdrawalMarch 9, 2015:As I increase my dosage of paroxatine, I am reducing my dose of clonozepam. I increased my dosage of paxil from 20 to 30 mg, and decreased my daily dose of klonopin from 1mg to .5mg. I still take my bed time dose of 1mg klonopin. I do not currently feel any symptoms of withdrawal during my slow ween off clonozepam.