18 on new anxiety medication

[celestw]

Hi, i came back from a appointment yesterday after discussing all of my symptoms and mental health with my provider for a while now, and they have put me on anxiety medication. I think it’s Paxil, they said only a small dose though, like 10mg i think. I’m really scared because i’m seeing all these really scary reviews and things on google about how SSRI’s are bad....i haven’t even started taking the medication and i’m still worried sick...even some of my friends said it would turn me into a zombie....i’m so scared...and it also says it can make you gain wait and i’m at a healthy weight for my height and age, i don’t want to ruin that...i don’t want it to make my anxiety worse...i don’t wanna have stomach problems i already have enough of that...i’m so scared..does anyone have any advice or experience with 10 mg of paxil...when you have anxiety so your put on anxiety meds and now your having anxiety about taking anxiety medication..oh god....i don’t think i’m gonna take it...

[Shnookie]

Hi this is Shnookie. I’m 62. I’m sorry 😐 about the anxiety that U R going thru. Your therapist gave U a small dosage of Paxil. They always must tell U the

POSSIBLE side affects of these meds. This doesn’t mean that the meds will affect U in a negative way. Your friends might mean well but. Small dosage might be very good 4

U especially during these challenging times and reduce your level of anxiety. I’m here 4 U. Hugs 🤗 Shnookie

[celestw in reply to Shnookie]

thank you for the reassurance!

[BlueSky125]

I think you are smart to be cautious with this. I would say the more severe your symptoms are the more you could consider the medication. I would look at all non medication options first. How long have you been having these symptoms?

[celestw in reply to BlueSky125]

honestly since the beginning of 2020, i’ve tried cognitive behavioral therapy since 2019, didn’t work, i tried journaling, didn’t work, i tried breathing exercises, didn’t work, i tried mindfulness, didn’t work, i’ve tried so many non medication options, i wouldn’t say my anxiety and is the most severe case but it definitely effects my life, i guess exercise helps a little and i’ve been doing that more for the past couple days, i’m just really scared, i felt at first this medication would help me but after doing more research on it now i’m deathly afraid to take it....everyone i know is telling me not to take it and i haven’t even tried it yet so it’s like am i just gonna feel like this forever...

[Agora1 in reply to celestw]

Your thoughts exactly celestw....in that are you resigned to feeling like this forever?

I remember those days that I would fill a prescription and then was too afraid to take it

and so it went on a shelf along with the other prescriptions that had been ordered.

One day I looked at the line of bottles on my pantry shelf and knew I had to make a decision. After all, what did I have to lose. I already knew finding the right med was a

trial and error process for anxiety. So which was worse, living each day in fear psychologically and physically or taking a chance with a med.

I knew that this cycle of fear needed to be broken and I just couldn't find a way to do it

on my own. I took the medication, it eventually worked (4-6 weeks) case solved.

I feared for nothing except the lies my own thoughts told me. Your choice celestw xx

[Hidden]

Hi, The side effects your friends are telling you about sound more like Prozac. That indeed can turn you into a zombie. I've taken gradually increasing doses of Paxil for several years. I say gradually (over the years) increasing as I reached a point where it wasn't totally effective. In my case, I've not experienced any of the symptoms you noted. However some studies have indicated some slight weight gain in "younger people) as opposed to "adults" based on our ever changing bodies as we age. I've had PTSD and depression for many years. I've run the gamut of psych meds (even Prozac). I have had success managing depression with Paxil alone. As an adjunct I am also using a low dose of Wellbutrin. "Researching" symptoms and side effect is often more harmful than simply taking your meds, getting grounded and focus on stability. Why add more worries to your situation? You may want to look into meditation, guided or self initiated. Sounds cliché' I know , but it can help you focus on the good in your life. "Fear is the mind killer"... My experience with most anti depressants, especially SSRI's, they can take three to four week to become effective. Hang in there.