Medicine

[Sturbz]

Hey guys im torn about whether i should take medicine for my anxiety and depression or not. It terrifys me messing with my brain like that. I donylt want to make it worse or screw myself up. So many potential permanent side effects. However i havent had luck with therapy and its getting unbarable. On the other hand, it wasnt always this bad and im convinced it could be relieved some other way other than medicine

[Hidden]

Weight gain and side effects for me. I quit after seven years. No difference really. I think I'm maybe less stressed without it. One side effect ironically was anxiety.

[kalesalad]

I’m just starting medication for anxiety and depression and I’m just as scared. But it’s my last resort and as scared as I am I think it’s worth the shot. I wanted to do more natural ways but nothings really strong enough for me. Keep doing research and see if there other methods of therapy or medicinal practices you can pursue that would be more beneficial for you.

[SingingBirds]

Honestly, medication was the best thing I've ever decided to do. I'm not going to lie and say it worked instantly, but slowly I started feeling some resemblance of normalcy. I'm on Fluoxetine HCL 40 MG right now, but my depression has suddenly kicked up again and slowly intensified. Have you had your blood drawn yet to check for any deficiencies that could throw you off? A simple vitamin D supplement could be all you need. I just had my blood redrawn, and I still have a vitamin D deficiency (stopped taking them in September because I ran out and was too lazy to get some more... bad idea) and an iron deficiency (which is new). We are waiting to see if we need to increase my medication dosage until after I've been on the supplements for a few weeks

[Coralrose5]

I’m on the fence but I started to take pills. I’m on week 4 and have seen a tiny improvement? Mostly in sleeping because I’m taking a pill to sleep. I’m questioning if my depression medication (Wellbutrin) is doing anything but give me anxiety. My biggest complaint is that I feel dissociative/disconnected from the world (although fully aware of reality) but that was not from the meds coz I was experiencing that before. But I was hoping the meds would help... I still have depressing thoughts and thoughts about dying some days... so that’s why I’m like umm is this helping? Im sorry don’t know have advice, only my experience/perspective.

[hypercat54 in reply to Coralrose5]

It can take up to 6 weeks for the meds to get fully into your system and until then it is common to feel worse so give it time to start working properly. x

[Beautifulgirl01]

I had that same worrying. You should try this supplement called “Happy Healthy Hippie: Joy-Filled” all natural! It’s for anxiety and depression!

[hypercat54]

Hi most meds for anxiety/depression aren't strong powerful ones you know which are going to mess with your brain or body. Why would they make you feel worse? They are designed to help, of course all meds have side effects but then so does things like aspirin or paracetomol. It's up to you to decide whether you would rather put up with the symptoms or take them. They can certainly help you to feel better and more able to tackles your issues through counselling.

If you don't wish to go this route then self help is the only option left so read up on this and look at things like mindfulness, yoga, meditation etc. x

[Missclc]

Sounds you have been through the mill , well I would try and just get a little help as I have just gone on mirtazapine the doctors have never found anything to help me as allergic to ssris and tricerilics , I had diazepam few years back as was seizuring due to PTSD come bk etc and trauma but only short term been off that a year as recovered from seizures but last year I started struggling depressed , anxious so been on them three weeks now and waiting for Iapt to call me re PTSD therapy hope this is of help Toyou sending healing hugs

[UKLady93]

I felt like this at first. I almost felt like the meds meant that I had been defeated, but I was out of options and the anxiety was taking over my life.

It is not a quick fix, and as someone else mentioned, my anxiety actually got worse for the first two weeks. BUT, once the meds had begun to build up in my system, I finally began to get my life back...slowly, but surely. Have the panic attacks gone? No, but they are so less often.

I would suggest giving them a chance! You can always come off them, but be sure to do so slowly.

P.s I take Escitalopram and then Clonazepam for when my panic attacks do happen.

[Agora1]

Sturbz, of course there are other ways to handle anxiety/depression but you have to

have your mind open to other methods. It's pretty hard when you life has become

unbearable and you are just going through the motions and not living. There is no

right or wrong in taking medication for a short time as well as incorporating therapy

along with it. It can help clear your mind some so that you are open to other suggestions

by your therapist or finding other tools on your own.

All medications can have side effects. Much research goes into our drugs. It is not

messing with your brain as much as it is replacing the chemicals that are needed

by raising the levels. I think if you would reach out for a medication and restart your

therapy again, you will see how much more you will get out of the sessions. xx

[OutgoingIntrovert]

Have you looked into cognitive behavioral therapy? That’s helped me as well as medication. But I will say that sometimes it takes a while to find the right one. Hope this helps a little.

[Sturbz]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I wanted to reply to everyone individually but usually when i remember to check this im busy or unfocused. Leaning towards not taking medicine it just makes me too uncomfortable to consider. I dont want to play around with nature and I read somewhere that your brain is never the same again after taking a medication. I want to go back to CBT and find some kind of groups as well as meditate again. Just cant seem to get the ball rolling though I'm usually too mentally fatigued to look into groups and therapies and to meditate. My usual escapes seem too hard to resist with my thirst for distraction and lack of energy. My next move i think is to try and get more days off each week from my part time job and rough it financially a bit. My hope is that itll reduce the pressure i feel to indulge on my days off. Work always feels so soon and my mind dwells on it to the point of spoiling my day off. With more days off i can hopefully make some more moves towards non-medical treatments