Olanzapine is prescribed for … “patients who draw false and highly unrealistic conclusions about external reality” and for a time, I took it. But I object to the idea that I need an antipsychotic drug on the daily, and so I stopped.

“Psychotic symptoms are not generally seen in depression or anxiety disorders,” writes Dr. Burns, author of the Feeling Good Handbook (a cognitive behavioral training essential). “They are for more characteristic of schizophrenia, severe mania, drug intoxication or withdrawal or other brain disorders.”

The shrink I’ve been seeing since the Olazanapine prescribing incident occurred in 2016 sometimes codes me as F31.1 (which is bi-polar) but lately it’s been more general anxiety disorder, 41.1. Since she changed her billing practices almost a year ago, I don’t even have to see what she codes me. I think that is how I prefer it.