Anxiety and medication - any thoughts?

Hi all,

Since 2012 I've been experiencing cyclic changes in my mental health - usually for periods of around 2 months of positive experiences and 1 month negative. Almost clockwork.

Negative symptoms include such things as insomnia, suicidal ideation, reduced productivity, impulse spending, distancing from friends and family, weight gain and irrational thoughts.

My concern is, what would generally last around a month, is now approaching 5. This resulted in me seeing the crisis team on Thursday and a subsequent trip to the GP to collect my first lot of medication since 2012!

The crisis team feel as though my initial diagnosis (2012) of EUPD is no longer appropriate and that I need further intervention from the complex care team to further ascertain a new or revised diagnosis. They are leaning towards a suggestion of severe anxiety, however they have stated that the cyclic nature of my problem is throwing a spanner in the works so to speak.

Anyway, moving on. The GP has given me a short supply of 5mg Diazepam to help with the initial hit of anxiety and insomnia. Running parallel to this I've been given the usual dose of 50mg Sertraline SSRI so that by the time I get to see the complex care team, I'll have a level of meds in my system.

I only started the Diazepam last night, took 5mg in the afternoon and 10mg before bed. I'm quite disappointed, although it has certainly taken the edge of the anxiety initially and gave me a general level of clarity - it has not helped with my insomnia. I am also mindful that it is a short term fix due to the tolerance and dependancy levels.

So, my question is, after this rant, long term, what medication are people having fortune with in terms of severe anxiety, depression and insomnia?

I'm hoping they will allow me to keep the Diazepam 5mg as a PRN alongside a proven SSRI but I know GPs can be hesitant to script the benzos. Anyone have experience with this also?

Sometimes it takes awhile for meds to build up in the system and be effective. Give it time. You should feel some initial benefits in a week or so.
Best of luck to you.