I have been prescribed another medication for my A & D, bruxism, I'm now taking Cymbalta. I did my research on the medication before I started taking it, of course the only opinions good and bad seem to come from the U.S. but I had to weigh the pros and cons of the possible side effects and the risk of addiction.
Some of it was scary reading, but I really had to decide for myself, do I really want to keep 'existing' the way I was, or actually 'live'?
For me it has been the best decision I have ever made, the best risk I've ever had the courage to take. Although it's not a cure, no medication is, in conjunction with counselling and treatment from a psychologist, I have overcome my life-crippling fear of stairs and escalators, been able to let go of a lot of anger and hurt from my childhood and early adulthood. I still occasionally experience pain and some periods of panic, but the instances are becoming far less frequent.
My brain has shut up at night so I can sleep too, the sleep-deprivation that was coming from that was having an effect on me physically, mentally, emotionally and also on my immune system. I daresay I have many expensive visits to the dentist in the coming years due to the damage done by the bruxism, so I guess the next thing I'll have to work on is my absolute fear, no, TERROR, about dentists..not the people themselves, or the equipment (apart from the cartoonishly huge needle they use), just the thought of anything being done in there.
Has made me wonder if I might have some slight tendencies towards another condition, I have this 'thing' about anything touching my face, neck, mouth etc. Weird huh?
But in closing I guess I can sum the last few months up by saying I've learnt a lot about myself, my logical thinking process, how much crap I will put up with, that I have a voice and will use it when I need to, whether you like what I have to say or not!, basically I'm becoming the "me" I think I was always meant to be and I am feeling wonderful ;)
