ET with depression
I've had ET and mental health problems since I was 16 (53 now). I'm finally at a good place with my depression and psychosis, but I am still having problems with extreme anxiety. I know psychotropic medications can worsten tremors, but without them, I'd be back to frequent mental health hospitalizations. I take Ativan for anxiety, but it doesn't always help enough. I'm on high dose propranolol (also for hbp), primidone, and have a DBS system. It helps to where I can function for the most part, but eating, writing, typing, putting adhesive in my dentures, preparing food, etc. is still difficult and only adds to my depression and anxiety. It's a vicious cycle of my tremors causing me anxiety and depression, and the anxiety making my tremors worse, and so on. My DBS is pretty much at the highest level it can be and I don't think raising my primidone would help. I can't raise my propranolol because it makes my BP get too low and I have dizziness and pass out and fall. I don't like dining out or being around strangers because my tremors are embarrassing. I have to take Ativan and a muscle relaxer at bedtime or my tremors, which worsten at night because I turn off my DBS at night, will trigger a panic attack. Even still, I can have 2-3 panic attacks a week because I lie in bed and just feel my whole body trembling. I try deep breathing and relaxation but it doesn't always help.
Does anyone have any ideas I can try to help?