Mental health: How do you deal with anxiety?

A few thoughts--as much for future people reading the thread-- but very happy to see a tiny bit more hope coming through later in the thread. Non benzo options that may help moderate anxiety in the every 2% change helps category:
B complex (specifically, ensure you have B12 and folate)
Magnesium (preferably a citrate or malate form-- AVOID oxalate)
Theanine (I need a tad bit more than they recommend)
Melatonin (small amounts at bed, the dissolve in your mouth form, before bed)
Eating seafood tends to help with brain health in various ways if you lack omega-3 (DHA/EPA) in your diet (if you already have them, not much of a difference)
Exercise

There's also a product called RelaxMax that you typically have to get through a health coach/psych type person (US) that can be helpful but does contain a little GABA.

-->I'd suggest talking to your health care team about safe doses of anything given anything else you might be on.

Australia has a cool self-directed CBT program online called THIS WAY UP that is helpful for anxiety/depression/insomnia. I think they have mindfulness now, too. Super cheap: Feeling Good is a rather dense classic you can buy used for about $2.00 but takes a bit more work.

And the anxiety is very, very real. DIY ideas to manage included steam face baths to help make it through a very cold dry winter, all the drops, a few drugs... This week--moisture chamber glasses are a thing? How did none of four ophthalmologists mention these?!

[farmgirl]

Gee Ebi, Dr Al Ghoul referred me to a Calgary doc for the scleral fittings. I totally would not want to be going to Van cause I was back and forth at least 6 times maybe more, it is not an easy process. I saw Dr. Lasby over at Mission Eye Care in the old Holy Cross Hospital and I felt she was good

[hopeful_hiker]

Thank you so much

No problem! Good luck with sclerals!

Rebecca Petris I hope so. Time heals.

[Rebecca Petris]

A year seems like forever... until the most stressful part of it is in the rear view mirror and it becomes possible to get perspective on it all. Hang in there. It's a process. And with time, the people who got better become more visible too.

[ebi1368]

Unfortunately, I don’t know any LASIK docs. I know two dry eye specialists: Dr Avinashi at Hollyburn and the Lynn Valley Optometry. I prefer Dr Periman in Seattle.

Thank you so much

[hopeful_hiker]

I see you are in BC. Do you know any good doctor in Vancouver area? Preferably lasik surgeon. I am living in Calgary and coming to see Dr Steve Lee in Vancouver for Scleral lens. I was wondering if you know anybody I can get an appointment with him/her too.

Unfortunately, I don’t know any LASIK docs. I know two dry eye specialists: Dr Avinashi at Hollyburn and the people at the Lynn Valley Optometry. I prefer Dr Periman in Seattle. All my treatments are done by Dr Periman because she has most of them. Lynn Valley has the Keratograph for testing but it depends on the technician in terms of how well they know it. Dr Avinashi is pretty thorough but does not have much equipment for testing besides osmolarity.

[ebi1368]

I see. So none of them know about rosacea? IPL docs should.

No, I did not have visual symptoms. At most my vision was a tad blurry sometimes so I would blink a few times and it would get back to normal.

Yes, I was taking them at the same time.

Oh I see thanks.

My IPL doctor said, IPL is good for rosacea. She also said I am AD but my main issue is MGD. My LLT are 38 and 71 in left and right eye.

After Lasik I had clear vision for two month and after that my eyes got dry and since then I have all these visual symptoms. Not sure if it is because of Lasik or not. Two surgeon told me my cornea topography and wavefront look OK. They do not what cause these vision problems.

I see you are in BC. Do you know any good doctor in Vancouver area? Preferably lasik surgeon. I am living in Calgary and coming to see Dr Steve Lee in Vancouver for Scleral lens. I was wondering if you know anybody I can get an appointment with him/her too.

[hopeful_hiker]

So you were taking both Xiidra and Restasis?

I have been to more than 15+ doctors and a dry eye specialist. They told me the same thing. I found people on this forum more helpful.

Did you also have any visual symptoms when your dry eye was at it worse? Like galre, halo starburst?

I see. So none of them know about rosacea? IPL docs should.

No, I did not have visual symptoms. At most my vision was a tad blurry sometimes so I would blink a few times and it would get back to normal.

Yes, I was taking them at the same time.

[ebi1368]

I would find a different doc who knows about rosacea. No harm in having two docs. I have been on Xiidra for four months. These were my most miserable months. A month before Xiidra I’ have started Restasis and I am still on it now.

Dowork123 I agree. Suffering definitely teaches one to be more mindful and appreciative of good moments.

So you were taking both Xiidra and Restasis?

I have been to more than 15+ doctors and a dry eye specialist. They told me the same thing. I found people on this forum more helpful.

Did you also have any visual symptoms when your dry eye was at it worse? Like galre, halo starburst?

[hopeful_hiker]

Thanks for sharing these stories. You guys are awesome.

I hope I can get some relief soon. Just wondering, for how long you have been Xiidar?

I've been on Xiidra for more than 3 month and I do not think it has done anything. Except a few minutes of relief when I put in the drop. My eyes sting at first but it get water for few minutes after. Should I switch to Restasis. I asked my doctor but she said wait a bit more. She did not have Ocular rosacea patient before.

I would find a different doc who knows about rosacea. No harm in having two docs. I have been on Xiidra for four months. These were my most miserable months. A month before Xiidra I’ have started Restasis and I am still on it now.

Dowork123 I agree. Suffering definitely teaches one to be more mindful and appreciative of good moments.

MGD1701 I wish I could let go of my scary memories but it is still too close...

Dowork123 Xanax withdrawal is no joke! Ativan is weaker and I only took it at the lowest moments. It did not help me when I had the worst part of my dry eye because I was not panicking anymore I just was hopeless and did not see how I could continue living.
Do you have fear of the bad days returning? That’s what keeps me on my toes.

Ya know, I do fear the pain coming back. But when I'm feeling good now, I try to enjoy it. Because I won't get this time back.

[ebi1368]

ebi1368 yes, been there with the suicidal thoughts... I felt especially scared because nobody had the same symptoms as me. I took one day at a time. I also keep a daily log of my symptoms, diet, activities. This way was able to figure out that Xiidra did not help me.

In terms of rosacea and lasik. Here is a story about someone who had LASIK triggered dry eye and MDG. Notice his regimen.

And here is a story of a man with advanced ocular rosacea. His eyes look miserable in the first photo. He must have been very uncomfortable.

Various treatments exist and you can’t know for sure which one will help but you can to make educated guesses. Unfortunately, dry eye takes a while to fix/find relief because of trial and error and because the processes are slow to reverse.

Thanks for sharing these stories. You guys are awesome.

I hope I can get some relief soon. Just wondering, for how long you have been Xiidar?

I've been on Xiidra for more than 3 month and I do not think it has done anything. Except a few minutes of relief when I put in the drop. My eyes sting at first but it get water for few minutes after. Should I switch to Restasis. I asked my doctor but she said wait a bit more. She did not have Ocular rosacea patient before.

[hopeful_hiker]

MGD1701 I wish I could let go of my scary memories but it is still too close...

Dowork123 Xanax withdrawal is no joke! Ativan is weaker and I only took it at the lowest moments. It did not help me when I had the worst part of my dry eye because I was not panicking anymore I just was hopeless and did not see how I could continue living.
Do you have fear of the bad days returning? That’s what keeps me on my toes.

[hopeful_hiker]

ebi1368 yes, been there with the suicidal thoughts... I felt especially scared because nobody had the same symptoms as me. I took one day at a time. I also keep a daily log of my symptoms, diet, activities. This way was able to figure out that Xiidra did not help me.

In terms of rosacea and lasik. Here is a story about someone who had LASIK triggered dry eye and MDG. Notice his regimen.

And here is a story of a man with advanced ocular rosacea. His eyes look miserable in the first photo. He must have been very uncomfortable.

Various treatments exist and you can’t know for sure which one will help but you can to make educated guesses. Unfortunately, dry eye takes a while to fix/find relief because of trial and error and because the processes are slow to reverse.

Thank you. I really hope we all get better.

You are right. I still have to try IPl and hopefully with time it gets better.

The hard part is living with the pain until the ship slowly makes that 180 degree turn. I hope you find some relief til you get a program that works for you.