10 weeks ago I was diagnosed with anxiety, which has been bubbling away for years. I guess at least 38 years. In March, I turned 43. So, this will give you an ideal of how deep-rooted the problem is. Again, in the 80’s, there was no such thing as anxiety or depression, only feeble and worthless people. I’m dyslexic, so in my early years, was subjected to relentless mental bulling and torment. As, in those times, dyslexia was a word given to the academically inept and the stupid. Even the teachers would mock me in class, never mind the kids.
I’ve just never seen anyone about it; I’m a typical alpha male. Boys don’t show their emotions and we just need to suck it up. Hence why suicide numbers, in men, rocket by the day.
I was prescribed Sertraline last month and more recently, I was prescribed Amitriptyline due to experiencing daily tension headaches. I’m now also on Sondate XL.
I’m now anxious about forming a dependency on these heavy-duty prescription drugs.
Your comments, feedback and general support would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance 🙏
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RUNJPR
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Sertraline is not, in my view, a heavy duty prescription drug in the same way as Sondate XL. Sertraline only helps you to make better use of the Seratonin your body produces whereas Sondate is an anti-psychotic. Have you had any talking therapy?
OK; interesting. Thank you. My concern is whether the meds I’m taking now will have a detrimental effect on my health in the future. Also, forming a dependency, is a concern. Yes; I’m in my 3rd week of working with physiotherapist/counsellor.
I was once there. I lost a good amount of hair because of stress and anxiety accompanied by sleepless nights, begging God every night to just stop my anxiety and give me sleep. I had no thought running in my mind but my body was in constant panic. I crawled out of this hole and I am happy and content today. You can too. Trust me.
Please and patient and read this slowly, breathe calmly and think about every sentence you read.
You need to realize that anxiety is something that you can get rid off completely. You need to work on your mind.
Start by writing down what troubles you or triggers your anxiety. From my experience:
1. Failed aspirations. You feel you could have been much better at job X than what you are doing right now. I could have been much better off If I was a <job aspiration>. The grass is surely greener on the other side mentality.
I personally felt I could have been much better making a career out of my talents rather than being stuck in a job Y that makes me look dumb. In reality I was much more capable to out perform my peers at job Y but I let my thoughts make the best of me. As a result my job became stressful. When I look back now, I am happy with the job I have , job X would have made me happy but it wouldn't have paid me much after I grew older.
2. Unrealistic goals. I will own X,Y,Z things before I turn <age>. You need to realize that all good things take time to come. Even if it takes 70 years or they might never come at all. Don't let material things define happiness and success in your life.
3. Accept yourself and make peace with yourself - Self acceptance.
Over the course of few weeks, with great difficulty, I accepted I am not highly intelligent and special. I let go of a false pride and entitlement I felt about myself, I accepted that I have failed in life and I am genuinely sorry for the people I have hurt. I forgave myself. I felt a mountain was lifted off my back. And now I am back to normal, as quick as anyone else, able to think fast enough to get my job done.
4. Step away from social media. Don't compare yourself to the achievements of others - friends/family/colleagues. If they've achieved something, good for them. Stop self ridicule, don't strangle your self esteem to the ground. Learn to appreciate others for what they've achieved, realize that you need to consistently and faithfully put in hard work.
5. Stop procrastination and don't let work pile up. Focus on only one task at a time, nobody can laze around and expect to complete a pile of work in a jiffy. Realize everything in life or work cannot be done in one shot! (Main reason for anxiety - wanting everything to be done right now!) Try and be organized, plan your day in the morning, a mental list of tasks that need to be done so your mind knows what it has to focus on next.
6. Stop worrying about future, children, money, job etc. Every problem has a way out! Panicking killed more people on the titanic than the freezing water. Live one day at a time.
7. This is the hardest but most important - Forgive yourself. You might have made mistakes, the truth is everybody makes mistakes, and its a part of being human. So no one asked you to be perfect. Work on becoming a better and a responsible person.
8. Visit old age homes and institutions with mentally disabled children. You'll begin to appreciate the little things in life that you have.
Every time you feel anxiety setting in, divert your mind, engage it in something. Play anti anxiety games on your phone. See youtube videos of different cultures, cuisines, enroll in foreign language classes etc
Lastly, get your blood test done. Anxiety drains the body of energy. Check for vitamin and salt deficiencies. I am a foodie, I stress ate but when I got my blood test done, I found I had severe vitamin deficiencies. Stress kills the body slowly. Start to eat healthy , lay off drugs and alcohol. Change your daily routine. Throw your phone away and get good sleep every night.
It took me 2 years to come out of depression and anxiety, If only someone had told me the things I have told you, my suffering would have been shorter.
Visit a counselor , self medication is the worst medication.
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Getting circumcised next week! Do you have any advice for me?
Hello I'm having lots of problem that is causing me great anxiety 
