Stressed about whether or not to start taking antidepressants

[Chubbers]

I'm so nervous. They keep wanting me to take more medication. I already take Klonopin which I am stuck on and can't get off of it😥. I really am scared to take the medication but my anxiety is so bad I don't know what to do!!! I told my Mom and bf I would take it but now I just don't want to. It was hard enough withdrawing from an antidepressant a few years ago. My life is being ruined by anxiety and constant worry. I want to see a therapist but they are too expensive. Ugh😥

[bluez]

Sorry to hear of your woes,surely meds are better than anxeity? Mine makes me ill,proper poorly,my anxiety i mean.I have just been put on sertraline, only been taking a few days so nothing to report as yet,but am gonna give em a go! Hope things pick up for you soon! All the best Bluez

[Chubbers in reply to bluez]

Thank you! I'm terrified that the medication can cause seizures and I have seen many people report having seizures with it. My Mom had seizures from similar medication. My anxiety has been so horrible lately though. I really feel my life is ruined I can't take it anymore😥

[Lizbett]

Hello Chubbers. I don't know how old you are, where you're from, or what dosage of Klonopin you're on. Since you're still clearly very anxious, it sounds like the dosage or tablet is no longer working for you. Also, please know that you CAN get off that drug but you MUST be weaned off SLOWLY. VERY, very SLOWLY. I was using high doses of Ativan and was weaned off that med successfully by using valium. It took me a while but I DID get off both Ativan and Valium. If you seriously want to get off that particular drug, then discuss it with your Dr and go at a pace that suits YOU and NOT the Dr. Having said that, if you think Klonopin is helping to some degree, then stay on it while you're looking to other options regarding anxiety.

Chubbers, if you personally don't want to take any more meds, then DON'T. What you actually NEED to do is work out WHAT is causing your anxiety. After you've done that, you then need to focus on solutions. For instance, get a piece of paper and pen and on the paper draw two columns. One column is headed 'Problem', the other column is headed 'Solution'. You must get stuff out of your head and onto paper. You then need to be VERY proactive in terms of helping yourself by way of working on all the solutions you've listed. Some of the solutions may not be feasible, however others will be. It's those that you need to implement.

You also need to work holistically in terms of solving your anxiety problems. Eat, sleep, exercise. Look to yoga, meditation, mindfullness and correct breathing techniques. All these things are freely available to you on YouTube. You can also try using colouring in books designed to take away anxiety because your focus will be on colouring the pictures. These books are currently all the rage and are relatively inexpensive. Some of them are absolutely beautiful Heck, you could probably print out pictures if you have a printer if money is an issue.

Swallowing a pill will not take away your anxiety. It will only mask it and ease it for a short period of time. That's why I've said that you NEED to get to the CORE of what is causing you anxiety by writing it all down in the first instance. Also, please know that the more you worry and are anxious, the more stress chemicals (cortisol) your brain is releasing into your body. This essentially means that it's going to take longer for your body to get back on track because there's a constant flow of cortisol flowing through your body. That's why it is is very important for you to learn how to relax and then implement it into your life on a DAILY basis while you work on finding solutions to your problems.

"My life is being ruined by anxiety and constant worry." Apart from taking the meds, what else is giving you "constant worry"? This is why it would be good for you to get it out of your head and onto paper.

"I want to see a therapist but they are too expensive." Have you considered using 24/7 mental-health phone lines? Chubbers, there are many options open to you. You just need to search them out. I did the very same thing. I went through the entire phone book looking for mental-health services and then starting phoning around. I'm surprised that your GP hasn't done this for you.

I also wanted to mention a book that is brilliant. It is by Dr Claire Weekes, "Self-Help for your Nerves". This amazing woman was a pioneer in treating anxiety (people have copied her techniques since then). Anxiety is one of the most treatable mental health disorders there is. I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. I was given that information by two different psychologists. But anyway, search out her book(s) at your local library. I think there's a small amount of info on YouTube so search her out there.

So then, 1. make a decision about the anti-depressants and STICK to it. 2. After that, you must forget about it. I can't stress that enough to you. 3. Get paper and pen as indicated and draw up the columns. 4. Go through your phone book or the web and search out what free services are available to you. 5. Research what happens to the body when you're chronically worried/anxious. It is vital that you do this because it will give you a good understanding of how brains cope when they're overloaded. 6. Implement relaxation techniques that suit you, and use them daily. It is critical that you do this. 7. See if you can find books by Dr Claire Weekes at your local library.

Finally, please understand and believe that you CAN live through anxiety. You CAN ditch it. You CAN get off the Klonopin. You CAN live a normal life. It's going to take loads of personal work and self-belief. It won't happen overnight, BUT it will happen once you start to implement some of the things I've suggested.

I sincerely wish you the very best darlin'. Anxiety sucks big time I know.

[Chubbers in reply to Lizbett]

Thank you for your reply. Sorry I've been distant. My Dad has been in the hospital since October 30th. They had to resuscitate him Saturday morning. This is so much more stressful than anything. At the same time I'm no longer physically able to do my job and haven't been able to find another one. I really don't feel so good 😥😥😥😥😥 my poor Daddy

[Lizbett in reply to Chubbers]

I'm so sorry to hear your news Chubbers. I sincerely wish there was something more I could do or say to help, but I can't.

For now, I would strongly urge you to implement self care as much as you possibly can. I know it's difficult in view of what's happening, but you need to find time somewhere in your day so that your anxiety doesn't get even worse.

I'm also going through a horrendous time. I've been told to use Lexapro but I don't want to. I don't have anxiety that comes and goes. I have panic disorder and severe anxiety daily. The medication I want to use a small dosage of Ativan until my mind and body settles down a little but Drs refuse to prescribe it All I know is that I need meds to get through the Christmas period at least because I live with unwell elderly parents who trigger me daily. Moving is not an option unfortunately.

Please know that I am thinking of you and your family. Sending you and yours a prayer.

Elizabeth