Are the meds worth it?

[photog25]

Hi, I'm pretty new to this forum and to anxiety as well. I was diagnosed with GAD a few months ago. I stopped going to therapy because I didn't like my therapist at all and I felt like I was dealing with things okay on my own. I plan on going back soon, once I find a better therapist.

Well I guess I'll get to my point now. I was always against the idea of taking medication for anxiety, but now I'm starting to reconsider. There are so many times where I just want to enjoy myself, or have motivation to go out, but I let my fear hold me back. Or I'll have a panic attack and it'll completely ruin my time. I started thinking about the possibility of medication being able to help that, but I'm scared of the side effects and what it will do to me.

I'm wondering about your experiences with medication. Do the side effects make it not worth it and does it change your personality? I don't want to turn into some zombie with no feelings, and I'm always freaked out that medication will do that.

[Dcoito]

Your best bet is to talk with your doctor about your concerns, write them all down so you don't forget any, and let them prescribe what the feel is best for you! You can always try it, I take Paxil I took it 10 years ago. It was tuff starting out, then again I was really bad off so it out weighed what I was going through. And ended up getting my life back! Medications take time to start working, and you may or may not feel some side effects. Tell your doctor you want to start at a very low dose, and slowly work up. Also never just stop taking the medication without your doctors orders, that's when hard times can start. Gotta be weaned off slowly, the last time I weaned off I was just fine! Because I did it correctly. So just talk about it. And decide if you will be comfortable with it!

[anxiousashley]

I am on a second round of medications after being off them for more than a year. I can't tell you enough how much they help! It really just calms your physical anxiety making it easier for you to work on your coping skills and the mental part of this disorder. I was against the meds at first too, but the reality is that it's just another tool in your toolbox for managing and treating this disorder. I would recommend you at least try them. I haven't felt like a zombie at all. Just calmer and much less depressed. My anxiety was causing a lot of depression for me. Most of these meds take a few weeks or a month to get the full benefit but I am two weeks in on my new stuff (Lexapro) and already seem to feel a bit better. And you will have some side effects at the start while your body is adjusting, but nothing you can't handle. I mostly got headaches and some stomach issues but those are pretty much gone now.

[alankay]

Everyone responses differently and I think a trial is worth it if your anxiety is bad. Benzos almost always work at the right dose, ssri's are safer(not habit forming) and usually help so tried first. They take time to work so give one a fair trial. Alankay

[becki]

All I can say is I wish I started medication sooner. I'm also doing CBT as time allows as summer is crazy busy with the kids. Im taking generic lexapro at 10 mg

[Ahlstrom]

Depends on how anxious you are. I'm on 40mg of lexapro (that's a huge dosage) and still get anxiety a lot, no depression, and maybe 1 actual anxiety attack every 3 months.

It helps me a ton, I'd probably be a complete lunatic if I didn't take it. It does have pretty unsavory side effects though.

If you cannot function well and have a normal life without medication then it's alright to look into.

[Zero]

Honestly, i feel like most prescription medicines for anxiety and depression, such as zoloft (sertraline) will only make your anxiety worse. Because, when i was first treated, I only had a mild SAD. However, after i took it, I became so depressed and anxious, and developed tons of other mental problems. Now, I have depression, GAD, SAD,OCD, BDD, BPD, PTSD, and self esteem issues. However, if your mental issues are really bad, i guess it may be better for you to take it; however, make sure you have a good therapist at the same time.

Cheers,
Zero

[Two One]

It depends on what you think is right for yourself. Medication does not treat anxiety on its own, the medication serves as a bridge that allows you to cope with the physical anxiety to help you focus your efforts on the mental aspect of anxiety. Anxiety is a tricky disorder to treat and I can tell you it's a lot easier to get to the bottom of your anxiety with a clear head. When you're not panicking about your physical symptoms you can really take that step back and realize what is causing the problem. In my personal experience, SSRIs don't help too much. When I first started Lexapro it gave me the worst panic attack of my life, once I got past the side-effect riddled first few weeks I didn't feel the therapeutic effects very much. It helped with the depression but not the anxiety. When I finally found a psychiatrist that would take me seriously she prescribed 0.5 mg of Klonopin and let me tell you, that and therapy was a life changer. I can't tell you how much improvement I saw in such a short amount of time. If you feel it's going to help you, then you should take medication.

[raggamuffin]

Meds aren't for everyone. Allowing yourself to be ruled by your fear only serves to empower anxiety. You have to go against this fear and do what you want to do deep down. Don't deny yourself activities and past times because of fear. Yes, exposing yourself to situations which cause anxiety won't feel nice. but the more you push yourself to enjoy life the less of a hold anxiety will have. It's not an easy road to recovery, but it's very worthwhile. If you truly wish to be happy and fulfilled in your life then you know you have to get through it. Anxiety doesn't control us, we control anxiety. If you don't feed it fears and worries anxiety won't have any power. Anxiety can be seen as a tool. it's a means for us to change and better ourselves. A lot of people see it as a curse, or something that'll affect or ruin their lives forever. In reality it's just our mind and body's way of seeking change. Medications can tide people over on a temporary basis if things are very bad. But the body can have side effects when starting or tapering off medications. Personally I'd recommend looking at your diet and cutting out processed foods and eating healthily. Partake in some daily exercise, no matter how little or how much. Read as much as you can about anxiety to understand it, this is invaluable. The more knowledge you have, the less strange and alarming anxiety will begin to feel.

Ed