I have a thyroid problem that used to make me... "unstable". With very poor judgement when under stress. Unsurprisingly, I burned through a fairly high number of jobs.

I'm not so bad with this now we're treating it properly, but people still think of me as the crazy version. What's worse is that because the thyroid problems can interfere with memory formation I can't remember large lumps of the time when I was doing this stuff. I tend to default to apologising to people I've not seen in a while (the ones who will still talk to me) these days on the basis that I probably did something to upset them at some point in the past.

I am diagnosed with anxiety and panic attack disorder. I was on Paxil CR (a Godsend!), but lost my insurance and it is freakishly expensive with no generic version. It's scary to be standing outside of your body, helplessly watching yourself lose control. Not fun.

Marks, how was your programming activities during the time on Paxil ?

I was on Paxil CR (a Godsend!), but lost my insurance and it is freakishly expensive with no generic version.

Who told you that there was no generic version? I've been taking generic paroxetine (also for anxiety and panic attack disorder) for years.

Marks, how was your programming activities during the time on Paxil ?

Not much different. I am a programmer as a hobby and a professional driver by trade. I started noticing the panic attacks while driving in traffic. It rarely crosses over into my personal life.

I was on Paxil CR (a Godsend!), but lost my insurance and it is freakishly expensive with no generic version.

Who told you that there was no generic version? I've been taking generic paroxetine (also for anxiety and panic attack disorder) for years.

Several pharmacies and my doctor at the time. I do know that Paxil does have a generic version, but not Paxil CR. Or, at least not back in 2011. I don't know much about the differences between the two, other than Paxil CR is a timed release pill and I was warned very strongly by both a therapist and my doctor not to take Paxil.

Not much different. I am a programmer as a hobby and a professional driver by trade. I started noticing the panic attacks while driving in traffic. It rarely crosses over into my personal life.

I was pretty much the opposite. My panic attacks were occurring only in social situations, so I did what a lot of people with social phobia do and got myself a job in the hospitality industry. It adds a roleplaying aspect to social interactions and you end up getting so familiar with being around other people that it becomes possible to do so out of work hours. I still have real trouble with theatres but can cope with pretty much any social situations now.

And it turns out I really like industry so over a decade later, I'm still in it, managing a restaurant.

Several pharmacies and my doctor at the time. I do know that Paxil does have a generic version, but not Paxil CR. Or, at least not back in 2011. I don't know much about the differences between the two, other than Paxil CR is a timed release pill and I was warned very strongly by both a therapist and my doctor not to take Paxil.

There were definitely generic controlled release formulations before 2010 (the patent for paroxetine ran out in 2003, so other companies have been making their own since then), as I was on one. Even if there weren't, controlled release formulations can be emulated by taking the regular formulation at smaller doses at more frequent intervals, which is what I need to do with another medication I take. It does require you to be more careful about remembering to take pills at the right time which is a bit of a hassle at first, but you get used to it.