Medication or meditation?

[Emzo82]

Hi all.

I’ve suffered from anxiety my whole life. I always knew something was wrong with me, but wasn’t Entirely sure what...

I finally got diagnosed with GAD. Tried several types of meds. All made me feel awful. Then I tried ecitalopram 5mg which seemed to help. Then my anxiety came back and I went onto 10mg. It’s come back again and now it looks like I’ll have to up my dose ☹️ how many of you have had to up the dose over time? They work great at the start then boom it hits you again. I feel worse then when I wasn’t on the tablets! 20mg of Ecitalopram is the equivalent of 40mg citalopram... so a high dose.

Anyone else come off the tablets as they stopped working? Or do people who suffer think I should increase my dose..

I’ve been on the tablets for over 2 years now and it’s making me depressed at the fact I need to keep increasing the dose...

I’m loosing faith in the tablets and loosing faith in myself tbh.

[Agora1]

Hi Emzo82, Medication or Meditation?? Why not both plus throw in some therapy at the beginning.

I have been on Lexapro for 5 years. Started on 10mg for the first 2 weeks and put to 15mg where I have stayed for the last 5 years. BUT... medication is not the full answer. I have continued with Therapy (not as much now) and daily Meditation and Deep Breathing. Finding what works for you best needs to be put into conjunction with the medication. It wasn't the Lexapro that broke through my Agoraphobia but the belief in myself that anything is possible if we want it bad enough.

There is no magic wand tht we can wave over ourselves. It takes work, patience and a positive attitude. xx

[Emzo82 in reply to Agora1]

Thankyou for your reply. I agree.

It’s been so many years of seeing people on and off and taking meds on and off. Yet somedays life in general makes me scared. I’m constantly pushing on through but getting fed up of fighting... the fact my body tolerates the tablets then they stop working makes me question them... how many doses can you go up until they stop working again.

I’m going back to see someone and do meditation on a regular basis. Yet the last couple of days has been torture. I’m high functioning with it, so am lucky. But it gets tiring when it comes back. As you know.

Here in the UK they don’t do 15mg only 5,10,20 of the tablets.

God dam you anxiety. Life is hard enough without dealing with a hidden illness.

I’m glad to hear you have found something that works for you. That gives me hope. Xx

[Agora1 in reply to Emzo82]

You know Emzo, even doctors question how I can be on 15mg since the US doesn't carry that dose either. I take 3/4 of a 20mg tablet. It was started in the hospital that way. A pill cutter does the job. So far so good

I hear your anger towards anxiety. It has been a curse for sure. A lonely illness because it's invisible. Don't ever lose hope. Never give up. You don't want that Anxiety Monster to win. Stay with this forum. It's support as well as caring members

will see you through. xx