Would Like Info on Anxiety and Depression Meds

[Rini18]

Hi everyone! I'm pretty young and do not have insurance so I do not get to see my doctor very often. This being the case, I have not gotten to see a professional for my anxiety and depression. I was wanting to hear from anyone who maybe has gotten professional help and tried medicines. Did they help? Did they have any severe side effects? Would you recommend them?
I've very desperately wanted to try going to a doctor because my anxiety has literally been constant since I was a child and I am now 18. :/ I don't want it to take over the rest of my life!
So if anyone would like to reply it would be much appreciated. (: Thanks for reading!

[Dahila]

Hi Rini, on the opposite I am very old and dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression for 4 decades. I had not been on medication before I was over 40 years old. I was meditating, exercising, following my hobbies and passions (the best was breeding,training,showing the dogs; boxers) Even with the major anxiety I decided I wanted to be close to horses, I love horses, I was riding them. Contact with animals calmed me down.
No meds, some herbal teas of course. Yoga and one hundred other things.
Medication; every medication has a lot of side effect. You should talk of course to doc and maybe you will need therapy which would teach your better response to stress. Do everything you can not to go on meds yet. Leave it as the last instance :) The best if you try to read some of the stores on General forum sticky ones, cause they are the good ones..
Many people manage without meds and they have a great success.
Welcome to the forum btw:))

[Rini18]

Thanks that's really helpful! I was just recently reading up on meditation and things like that. I absolutely love hot green tea and read that it can help too! I was trying to decide what to actually try. I guess I shouldn't be in such a hurry to go for medication. How severe were your panic attacks? I have a lot while I'm trying to sleep and they're horrifying lol.
I'll be sure to look on the general forum too. Thanks for the reply and thanks for the welcome too! :)

[Dahila]

Well green tea is good but for relaxing white tea is better and taste better too. I drink it before bed and without anything. Try it is more expensive than green though. Please check this thread also it can help you. just give it a chance
easy breasy meditation for the beginners (http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?27912-Guided-Meditation&highlight=guided+meditation)
click on the blue letters please:))

[Rini18]

Oh okay! Thanks a lot for the help! :)

[Two One]

From personal experience, SSRIs are hell to get used to. My first day taking Lexapro was awful. It gave me the worst panic attack of my life, but if your depression is severe then you should consider antidepressants. As for anxiety, benzodiazepines should still be considered the gold standard for treating anxiety. Nothing works as efficiently and as quickly as benzos, as long as you have some discipline I would not worry about developing a dependence to benzodiazepines. They are extremely helpful when taken properly.

[Rini18]

Sorry for replying so late you probably won't even notice this! Thank you a lot! I hadn't really had a lot of insight into meds for anxiety and depression before. (:

[Dahila]

Rini you are only 18, and try everything what possible to do without meds, talk to your doctor and maybe some therapy. Sometimes there is no choice but to go on meds, but try different approach for now.

[Rini18]

Oh well thanks Dahila. I've actually been trying some relaxation methods and other things! I've been feeling pretty great! I also got a huge contributor to my anxiety out of my life and I barely have any at all now. Thanks. (:

[Dahila]

Oh well thanks Dahila. I've actually been trying some relaxation methods and other things! I've been feeling pretty great! I also got a huge contributor to my anxiety out of my life and I barely have any at all now. Thanks. (:
So why you sad? or was that face :( a mistake:)))

Rini I do not say you will not have any anxiety, but maybe you learn how to treat it:) It is just anxiety; everyone have it, especially life is so tough now. Wisely I do not want to take back the clock, it is especially difficult for the young ones. You need to be in the rat race othewise, you will not have much eh;