Looking for advice.

[SoSo23]

Looking for some advice. I suffer from GAD and i never wanted to be medicated. I know that people react differently to the medication, i am just asking anyone who has suffered from crippling anxiety what has been your experience on medication?

[bpospisil79]

I too didn't want to be medicated for the longest time. But I recently gave in. I'm 2 weeks on paxil. The 1st 10 days were hell. It gave me more anxiety. I can't reminding myself "It's just the med, It's just the med". Now I'm starting to feel better. I read it can take as long as 4 weeks to really set in. I'll let you know how it goes.

[SoSo23 in reply to bpospisil79]

Thanks for your input! I don't want to but it's looking like i strongly need it and i just want to get a general idea of peoples experience. Would like to hear more about your experience as it goes.

[hunter4ransom]

I tried the no medication route for my GAD and did not do so well. Even my psychologist, who fully supported me trying to go it with no medication, eventually suggested that some people do best when combining therapy with medication and that it wasn’t a life sentence.

After having been successfully weaned off of Zoloft 100mg several months ago, my anxiety came back with a vengeance. The worst anxiety I have ever experienced in my life. I am now back on Zoloft 100mg and take 5mg of Buspirone twice a day and have Klonopin for the nights I can’t shut my brain/negative thoughts off.

I’m slowly feeling better, but still battle anxiety. For me, I need to be on medication. The physical and mental pain of anxiety was too much to bare with therapy alone. I was at a point where death sounded better than the hell I was living every day. I no longer feel that way, thank god. Life is much more manageable now days and I’m grateful for the medications that keep my anxiety in check while I heal.

Only you and your doctor can decide if medication is right for you. If the anxiety is taking over and dominating your thoughts and you are finding yourself struggling, meditation is worth considering. Just keep in mind any SSRI medication like Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa.... are great medications for anxiety/depression, but do take a full 4-6 weeks before you overcome side effects of weaning on and get full benefits. As silly as it seems, these meds do have potential to increase anxiety as your body adapts to new serotonin levels. This does pass for most as the medication starts doing its job and you start feeling better.

I hope that helps.

😊Eileen

[SoSo23 in reply to hunter4ransom]

It does help a good amount. My therapist is the reason i am considering medication because she said that with how bad my issues are talking is only going to get so far and that to get the best help I can medication is probably needed. I've just heard some bad stories about mental illness medication and just kinda want to see how others who have dealt with the things i do have done with making the same decision.

[hunter4ransom in reply to SoSo23]

I completely understand and you are wise for searching out all options. It’s miserable dealing with anxiety. It is just an indescribable sort of soul torcher. I’m glad I found what works for me.

If you trust and have a good relationship with your therapist, I would give medication a try. It may just be the help your body chemistry needs to break the anxiety cycle and get the most out of therapy.

Keep us updated and let us know what worked or didn’t work for you. If you decide to start medication, be patient as the relief isn’t instant and it does take time for the serotonin levels in the brain to acclimate if taking an SSRI (most common class of Medication for anxiety and depression).

😊Eileen

[ActressAnxiety]

I was on lexapro for over a year, and It helped tremendously. However, I did gain 45lb which caused me to develop depression. I quit taking it and it took months to get it out of my system, which made me believe I was fine without it. However, after a year my anxiety came back worse than ever. So before you take it, make sure you are ready to deal with consequences of medicine too. I've lost some of the weight, but not all . So now I deal with anxiety and depression.