Hi, I’m Mel, I’m 40 and new on here. I’ve come to realise over the last few yrs I suffer with some form or maybe a few forms of anxiety , stupidly I thought the way I was was me my personality.
I’ve been through some tough stuff lately and have been struggling with depression on and off .
This seems to have peaked and thus causing terrible anxiety . I’ve just booked an appointment to see a doctor but I have mixed feelings about medication , can anyone advise/share experiences ?
Hi mel9195 Welcome 
There is no right or wrong answer in taking medication. It's an individual decision
made by you and your doctor. When our lives seem out of control and we are no
longer living just going through the motions...then medication and therapy for a
while can help get you unstuck and able to move forward. Situations in life that
are unfixable get to the point of being more manageable and accepted. It's all
about not staying stuck and having anxiety just build and build.
See what your doctor has to say. After ruling out any possible health issues,
you can decide what path is the best one for you to take at this time.
You are never alone, we will be here to walk the journey with you. xx
I'm glad you are here.....
Thank you, it’s very nice of you to reply and your words have helped.
I am so very anxious about going to the doctors, I avoid the doctors at all costs usually as it always make me anxious even when I’m going for something very standard like the asthma clinic for example. But this is going to be at a new doctors surgery..... a doctor I’ve never seen before! And about something very personal!
mel9195, I can understand how seeing any doctor can cause our anxiety to rise.
Seeing a doctor about something more personal can be a challenge but know that
a doctor has heard it all before. There is nothing you can say or do that would
shock him. His oath was to care for each and every patient and bring them comfort.
Good Luck in your appointment with this new doctor. May it go better than you could
have anticipated. xx
Well said! I’m always doctor phobic, I need to print out your post and keep it in my wallet!
Hi Mel,
Welcome to the group! There are a lot of great people here, and talking to people who have been in your shoes really helps.
You sound a lot like me, I’ve been seeing psychiatrists for over 20 years but suffered from anxiety since I was a young child, and I thought it was my personality too! I don’t like seeing doctors either and even when I see a psychiatrist I like, I get nervous about all the things I have to say. You’ll be fine, always remember they are trained to hear stuff far worse than we have to say.
I take meds ( ocd, depression, GAD), and for the most part they work really well for me. There’s stuff they don’t fix but that comes from living with the disorder untreated for 25 years. It seems that everyone is scared to start them, but most people in general have a rough patch for maybe a month max and then it gets better. Always remember people are most likely to voice their opinions when something isn’t going well, so you aren’t going to hear from the vast majority of people who have no issue with meds. They make my life much easier and I feel more optimistic, they shut down my ocd and most of my anxiety.
I think that it’s also really beneficial to look into breathing techniques and Mindfullness meditation. They help me be more positive. I think there’s tools you can learn to help you live without meds if you choose, and those same tools are helpful to even those who choose meds.
Anyhow that’s my experience!
Thank you so much for your reply. Coming onto this support site really is helping me, there are clearly some lovely people on here in the same boat and hearing from you is such a help, thank you
It really is a great site. It’s the first place I’ve been to where I could see my past suffering going on in other people’s lives. I think just not feeling alone can make such a difference. It’s proof that as alone as we may feel, there’s always someone who understands.
xx great response
Very well said.
Don't be afraid to change doctors or Medication. I've changed several times of both. Looking for a new psychiatrist, the one I had was very arrogant and didn't listen, she took me off Medication that was helping because I was gaining weight. But put me on something I had already tried and didn't work. I told her this she still insisted on me using it. Leaving me with no choice. You're going to run into doctors like her. Oh, be sure a head of time write what you want any questions you have. I kept forgetting. Good luck
Thank you
Hello, Sorry to hear that your not doing well. First of all life can be trying for anyone these days. There are other ways to cope with anxiety and depression which you can discuss with your doc. For example, exercise, meditation, massage, faith, oils,support groups. But if you and your doc decide you need meds go with what your gut tells you and all of the above can help along with meds. Blessings.
i don't take medication i think that ii's an easy way out for docs instead of finding out the problem i try to deal with it on my own through yoga and meditation
How are you since you started meditation and yoga?
Anxiety and health anxiety symptoms 
It works. 
Faith and hope needed
Any help with high health anxiety?
Struggling so bad with anxiety symptoms 
