what meds worked for any of you out there with gad and depression? And have you used cbt or act therapy?

[Pinkgurl]

I will be talking to someone about medication for my gad and depression, but , I wanted to hear from anyone that has it as to what works for them ? And preferably something with fewer side effects . I would like to try something to help until therapy . Hoping to do cbt or Act therapy and that it can help me learn to better cope with my stress and accept it as something that will happen . Need advice from anyone that has been in my shoes and got help and is doing better with proper treatment.

[nmgarcia]

I've been taking escitalopram (the name brand is Cipralex) for many years and it generally works well for my day-to-day life. I suffer from both MDD and GAD and it has helped me be able to live a normal life. Unfortunately though, sometimes things that happen to me in my life will trigger these illnesses and I still end up falling into severe depressive and anxiety episodes that even medication can't help (like I'm going through right now)- but we can't always control what happens in our lives... I really wish there was a medication or treatment out there that stopped us from ever having to suffer through these intense feelings. Depression and anxiety are really horrible, they make you feel sick to your stomach and take over your entire mind and body, I understand.

I would personally suggest asking your doctor about Cipralex, as it is for both depressive and anxiety disorders. Everyone's bodies and minds are different but I personally found that this medication generally works for me. Good luck and stay strong 🌼

(oh, P.S: I also recommend asking about a prescription for Lorazepam if you have history with panic/anxiety attacks. It's a fast-acting medication that you can take when needed, and it helps to calm your nerves when they get overwhelming. The only thing is they may make you feel quite drowsy)

[Pinkgurl in reply to nmgarcia]

Thank you for your advice . I’m going to make note of it to talk about it as option

[MarileeKemp]

I have found that Wellbutrin really helps me, it helps more with my depression and low energy levels than it does my anxiety. It seems to have less side effects than others I’ve tried so I’ve stuck with it longer. I hope this helps!

[Pinkgurl in reply to MarileeKemp]

Thank you for your reply and suggestion

[Pinkgurl]

Thank you for advice on med and the warning with Wellbutrin . So far you and another said same med but different brand name I guess ? They said cipralex not lexapro but the name was still same of the med ( escitalopram ) .

[IlMinded]

Hey Pinkgurl, glad it looks like you are moving forward. I have used Zoloft for 10 years and stopped recently. Psychiatrist had me diagnosed with GAD and Depression. I found a therapist a few years back and recommended weening off as she was under suspicion that it was hiding my issues. She was right. Zoloft was too intense for me. It did eliminate the overall anxiety issues, but it didn't stop the physical symptoms. It masked the anxiety so that I felt normal, which I miss, but it also let me loose touch with feelings. As I progress with identifying my issues, moving away from depression diagnosis to potential more anxiety disorders and potential ADHD diagnosis.

I was also on Lexipro for a few months before the switch to Zoloft. I got off of that because put me in a dark place.

[Pinkgurl in reply to IlMinded]

Thank you ! It seems that Lexipro has helped several of yall . I really want something just for a bit until I address the root of my anxiety / depression in therapy . Is therapy helping you get to that place ? If I was not in such a bad place I would not even be looking at medication as option . But I just can’t function at the moment sadly . Thank you for your advice !

[IlMinded in reply to Pinkgurl]

Girl, you need to get that therapy in motion. Its the best way for you to learn how to live with what you have. Medication, which does have a purpose, isn't the only answer. Learning on what makes you upset, and more importantly, how to handle those moments, is the only way to recover. I have been going through CBT therapy for 2 years. I also self medicate with Marijuana, to help with anxiety. I use vapes for quick fixes when I am having a Pannic/Anxiety/PTSD event. I am still trying to determine the source of my GAD and is the reason I don't want to be on medication. I am not happy with where I am as I use more than I like. I just don't trust medication where I am at now as I had the finding Zoloft masked my real problems.

Key advice with Therapy, it takes time to find your therapist. Just because you go to one doesn't make that person the right one for you. As you unravel your mental onion more, you will find certain therapists focus in different areas. Don't be afraid to have only 1, as I am finding out as Adult ADHD has little support in the US right now.

[Pinkgurl in reply to IlMinded]

Yes I have now lined up a second one because my one I’ve had 2 appts hasn’t done anything but talked about gad and it’s a long time in between to wait for nothing ! I need to start doing the work and learn skills to help me handle things better . I don’t need someone that is not even talking yet about their plan of action to help me . It’s just an hour of shooting the breeze and like a class on gad (but I already had done the research ). So I hope my appt with next person that’s 2 hours long Is better . But that’s a long time to me . For me to be able to focus that long will be a challenge . I really have a hard time staying in the moment sometimes . But I’ll do what I do and do my best . I wanted to do just therapy only but all the wait time has made me get worse so I am just going to explore the medication options and decide . I want to get to root of my anxiety not block it out . And if I had therapy sooner I might have been in a better place to do that . It’s all about the long waits for appts that ruined my plan . Frustration over getting help caused me to have more anxiety and depression .

[Pinkgurl]

Oh ok . It seem i see more folks in consensus recommending what you take (so far ) . It gives me hope to hear that I could get to a better place so I can do therapy without being a complete un functional mess as I am now . I don’t sleep well as I wake often with hot feeling then it goes cold chills and or racing heart or sometimes I just startle awake randomly and can’t get back to sleep after . Then I feel in morning hyper and can’t sit still . I also feel disconnected like I can’t focus or I’m out of it .I can’t even watch long movies because I can’t concentrate long before I want to jump to something else . I hate these feelings and the stinking dry mouth and muffle ear issue that I pray will go away . It came on all at same time as my other symptoms and no one sees anything wrong with it when they scope it . But it will ring at times and will muffle then sometimes seems to ease a tad ... but either way it’s really hard to deal with . This point I just feel I need to do something ! Therapy hasn’t even addressed things I need to do to cope . Just GAD 101 and she said it seems I’m having a depressive episode . Well yeah ... if you wait 4 mos for therapy and in all that time you actually get WORSE ... it’s kinda a real downer for sure . When you are ready to get going to do the work to heal and learn coping and and you can’t get help right away it’s really a hard hit .

[Pinkgurl]

I pray I can . I found a place that is fitting me in on 10th (2 hours) and I’ll see if maybe I can ACTUALLY get help ! The place does act and cbt . I hope I can handle 2 hours with them . That’s a lot when I have a hard time concentrating. 🤪 But if I get a good feel for them i might just stick with them . Have to see . Like you said ... I need to find a good one . And so far my experience has NOT been good . Thank you so much for your support and well wishes . I love cats too . I have fed a cat colony for years with my boyfriend up until all this hit (he’s doing it now ) . I want to get back to the gang and be able to help again . If I can get the dizzy and out of it issue improved In time I’m so back out there! I miss them . But I don’t like the heat we have right now either . That makes anything hard . Anyway I’m rambling on , I hope you have a blessed day and I appreciate you very much !