To start medication or not

[tiredwithanxiety]

My therapist today suggested that I think about starting medication for anxiety mostly health anxiety. I am super scared and skeptical about medication. Don't know what to do........ Advise pls

[Icanbeathis2016]

Well I felt this same way. In fact the doc had prescribed me the meds but I did not start taking it when he said. I held on for a month trying not to start meds. Well, I fell into too many bad days dealing with my anxiety and I know I have health anxiety probably even worse. So anyway, my back was against the wall. I wasn't getting any sleep and I just felt like a zombie maniac some days. So I ended up starting the meds. Because me trying to beat this on my own wasn't winning. I can't say that the meds I take are helping a lot but so far nothing bad as far as side effects has come (so far). I'm in day 10 so I don't know what may happen. I still have my usual anxiety symptoms but I can say I noticed a more calmer me as far as my racing thoughts. Only thing I noticed happen when I take it is I get dizzy a bit or drowsy a bit. I still am lightheaded and dizzy a lot but I don't know if it's the side effects of the meds or my usual anxiety.

[Devin76oh]

Since you are asking about what helps I can tell you my account. I started out with a cognitive anxiety that revolved around non-stop thinking primarily thinking that I was going crazy and scared of being hospitalized. I was able to control these by really believing in my faith and trusting God and Jesus. After He gave me the strength to beat this I was then confronted with health anxiety. I was afraid to die and having heart attacks, brain aneurysm, or even a stroke.

I had taken all of the tests (blood work/ 3 EKG / 2 x-rays / 2 CT scans / 24hour holter heart monitor / stress test / Echo cardiogram / MRI and MRA) and they have found nothing but still was still so scared of something happening.... Again I leaned on my faith and trusted that it will be taken care of and to know that this life is not the end for me. Anxiety plays on your feelings and symptoms and will convince you that something is wrong. The brain is powerful but remember you can control it. It is a muscle that can be trained just like anything else.

To prove that I was OK my cardiologist gave me ibuprofen (over the counter pain med) for two weeks. The symptoms went away. The soreness and all the things that I thought that were related to having a possible fatal attack faded away. This lessened my anxiety which then lessoned the symptoms. It really was incredible.

Ultimately I was able to battle this by having faith and hope and knowing that those that are for me (God and Jesus) are more powerful then those that are against me.

Don't get me wrong, I still get scared from time to time because it is a scary thing to think about BUT just know it cant hurt you. They are just thoughts and they fade away. It takes patience and time. I hope this helps and God Bless

Devin

[Entropy in reply to Devin76oh]

Hey Devin! Just curious about your soreness and ibuprofen treatment. I was thinking about doing something similiar. What kind of soreness did you have and how much ibuprofen did you take everyday for two weeks?

I've had a bunch of anxiety and now that it's better I'm super sore all over my neck head back and shoulders, so I'm hoping maybe some pain killers might help

[Devin76oh in reply to Entropy]

Hi Entropy!

I was taking 400mg in the moring and in the evening After breakfast and dinner pretty much. My doctor told me to do 600mg after every meal but I thought that was a bit excessive.

I had everything. Headaches, upper middle back pain, shoulder pain, chest pressure/pain, left arm pain, and jaw discomfort. As you can see why my health anxiety would flare up.

Anxiety tenses you up all over and my therapist told me that most men hold all of their tension in the shoulders and back areas.

I would definitely talk to your doctor first to make sure it is OK. I got this advise from my cardiologist after knowing everything is OK with my heart.

I hope this helps!

God Bless

Devin

[Entropy in reply to Devin76oh]

Thanks for your advice! That's awesome it only took two weeks to settle. Yeah I've got pretty much all of what you have woo. I was hoping to not have to take anything really strong so I'll ask my doc about it. Glad to see it worked for someone