I feel like meds are my only way out..

[stateofemergency]

I really want to tryto startusing meds but so far im really really confused by it.
Theres people who have success stories with them and tell me how theyre lives have been changed for the better and how the meds saved their lives, while theres people who say that the withdrawals are awful and theyre only a temporary fix and it will lead you nowhere.

Like if a person has tried everything under the sun except for meds (exercising at the gym, going out, yoga, healthy food, therapy, CBT, vitamins etcetc) and still have anxiety, dont u think its time to take meds? I hear alot of success stories(one of my close online friends take meds and they have saved his life he said) but sometimes the bad ones, the ones who are usually against it, really makes me anxious about taking them..

Thoughts? Idk whats right or wrong anymore.. Lol ugh. Im at my wits end. Im still 20 btw

[~justme~]

meds can be helpful. some meds r not good to take long term and others r fine. your doctor will work with u to find your best option. dont be discouraged by others because we r all different.

[anxiouskathie]

State,

Justme is right in saying that everyone is different and different things will affect each of us differently. 

When considering meds as an option and fearing to do so, think about how you feel right at this moment and think which would be worse....trying something that may help, or continuing to feel how you do.  If you try a med and it's not the right one or not what you expected it to be, you can always make a decision to go med free again.  You need to keep in mind though, sometimes it takes a couple tries of a different med or two to find what works best for you.

Take some time and look around the forums at meds that other folks have used and the success they've had on these meds.  Meds aren't for everyone, but giving it a fair try may be something you find that helps you.

Good luck to you!

[LindaRK]

I agree - it's important to think about the state of your life right now.  Are you better with or without meds?  Sometimes all the exercise, yoga, meditation, vitamins, diet, etc. in the world doesn't make a bit of difference.  You could spend decades searching for a non-med solution and it just might not be there.  Or, it could be out there, but in the mean time there is nothing wrong with taking medication.

I've been in that boat.  I can't take anti-depressants because of how I react to them, but I've been able to take Ativan.  At one point, I was on it for 6 months to sort of get me over the "hump" so I could learn how to manage it on my own.  I have an ongoing prescription for it - 15 pills at a time, but I rarely use it and only when absolutely necessary.  Yes, benzos can be addicting, but they can also serve a purpose in helping you with your anxiety.  Research has shown that mild tranquilizers (the benzos) are the best choice for anxiety.  I've know someone who has been on Klonipin for about 20 years and without it, she wouldn't have been able to function.  She has a full-time great job, married with kids.

As for another solution, have you tried neurofeedback?  I'm presently looking into that - supposed to work well for anxiety.

[stateofemergency]

I agree - it's important to think about the state of your life right now.  Are you better with or without meds?  Sometimes all the exercise, yoga, meditation, vitamins, diet, etc. in the world doesn't make a bit of difference.  You could spend decades searching for a non-med solution and it just might not be there.  Or, it could be out there, but in the mean time there is nothing wrong with taking medication.

I've been in that boat.  I can't take anti-depressants because of how I react to them, but I've been able to take Ativan.  At one point, I was on it for 6 months to sort of get me over the "hump" so I could learn how to manage it on my own.  I have an ongoing prescription for it - 15 pills at a time, but I rarely use it and only when absolutely necessary.  Yes, benzos can be addicting, but they can also serve a purpose in helping you with your anxiety.  Research has shown that mild tranquilizers (the benzos) are the best choice for anxiety.  I've know someone who has been on Klonipin for about 20 years and without it, she wouldn't have been able to function.  She has a full-time great job, married with kids.

As for another solution, have you tried neurofeedback?  I'm presently looking into that - supposed to work well for anxiety.

Thanks for the replies guys, may i know what neurofeedback is?

And yes i might consider meds but idk which one is best for me. I have xanax but i take it when i am givin up.

[fortheloveofcats]

I have suffered for a VERY long time and when I say I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun I mean it. Medication changed my life for the better, BUT it was with conjuction with therapy. Now I'm on my own without therapy but still taking the medication. HOWEVER this is what you need to understand IT may take several weeks for meds to start working and it make take several meds to find the one that WORKS with you and for you and the right dose. I was started on 5 MG's and slowly worked my way up to the 40MG's of Citlapram I'm taking now. In a way I supose it is a band aid solution, but when I'm ready to take the bandaid off and can deal with the over whelmingness of my anxiety/depression. Then if done properly such as small increases in dosage till I'm on none, and working with a therapist to make sure I come out okay.

[LindaRK]

Neurofeedback is basically about changing your brain and the way it thinks.

The characteristic that distinguishes neurofeedback from other biofeedback is a focus on the central nervous system and the brain.  It takes into account behavioral, cognitive, and subjective aspects as well as brain activity.
 
During training, sensors are placed on the scalp and then connected to sensitive electronics and computer software that detect, amplify, and record specific brain activity. Resulting information is fed back to the trainee virtually instantaneously with the conceptual understanding that changes in the feedback signal indicate whether or not the trainee's brain activity is within the designated range. Based on this feedback, various principles of learning, and practitioner guidance, changes in brain patterns occur and are associated with positive changes in physical, emotional, and cognitive states. Often the trainee is not consciously aware of the mechanisms by which such changes are accomplished although people routinely acquire a "felt sense" of these positive changes and often are able to access these states outside the feedback session.

Neurofeedback doesn't hurt - no medication is required.  It can't damage your brain.  You will feel a bit tired after, but you just walk around for a bit and you'll feel a little more energized.  I'm hoping to do neurofeedback in the coming weeks.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I've heard many success stories in how it helps anxiety, insomnia, migraines. It's also successful for ADD and ADHD.

[stateofemergency]

Neurofeedback is basically about changing your brain and the way it thinks.

The characteristic that distinguishes neurofeedback from other biofeedback is a focus on the central nervous system and the brain.  It takes into account behavioral, cognitive, and subjective aspects as well as brain activity.
 
During training, sensors are placed on the scalp and then connected to sensitive electronics and computer software that detect, amplify, and record specific brain activity. Resulting information is fed back to the trainee virtually instantaneously with the conceptual understanding that changes in the feedback signal indicate whether or not the trainee's brain activity is within the designated range. Based on this feedback, various principles of learning, and practitioner guidance, changes in brain patterns occur and are associated with positive changes in physical, emotional, and cognitive states. Often the trainee is not consciously aware of the mechanisms by which such changes are accomplished although people routinely acquire a "felt sense" of these positive changes and often are able to access these states outside the feedback session.

Neurofeedback doesn't hurt - no medication is required.  It can't damage your brain.  You will feel a bit tired after, but you just walk around for a bit and you'll feel a little more energized.  I'm hoping to do neurofeedback in the coming weeks.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I've heard many success stories in how it helps anxiety, insomnia, migraines. It's also successful for ADD and ADHD.

Yes please do tell me how it works for u. Ill be looking forward to your story! Hope it works for you!
And thanks again, if you start off meds in low dose like 5mg and then u slowly get higher dosage til like 40mg, does the increase in the dose ever stop or its just gonna keep increasing or else ur body will no longer be affected by it? How do medications work anyways? How do they help you with ur anxiety and depression in a long term?

[LindaRK]

I don't think there is one answer that fits all in regards to medication.

I facilitate support groups for depression and bipolar disorder.  Medication is a always topic of discussion.

Some people have been on the same medication for years without any change and even no side effects.

Some people can't take medication because the side effects are too severe.

Some people have been on 1 medication for 2 years and then all of a sudden it stops working for them.

You have to work with your doctor to get your "cocktail" working in your best interest.  Some people are able to do that quickly - some people, it can take awhile.  You just have to be patient and give the medication time to work - sometimes 4-6 weeks.

[robertp129]

Xanex and imipramine have been a lifesaver for me.  I think most people's problems with meds comes from taking too high a dose at the beginning.  Start out very slowly.  Some dr's just don't get that part. 

[joygrisham]

I was the kind of person who never thought I'd "resort" to meds but when my anxiety really started affecting my physical health and I started getting borderline depressed I knew I had to do it.  I tried Prozac but it made my acid reflux bad (maybe coincidental? - but I tried it twice).  Now just yesterday I started Celex.  We'll see how that works.

[stateofemergency]

My doc prescribes me 0.25 mg xanax which i take when my anx is really high and usually i end up using it as just the psychological help you know.. Like u know its there when u need it. However im thinking of getting a long term medication so i wont have anx at all

[~justme~]

Lexapro has helped me alot. It's long term and it helps with alot. Just do u know wen long term meds don't always stop them. U may want to consider therapy with meds. That's a way to help with anxiety. Good luck on your long term and also I'm still here if u need someone:)

[LindaRK]

I think medication AND therapy are a good combination.

[stateofemergency]

guys, so for long term medications, do you know how long do you have to take them? do you have to take them until the day you die? or do you stop when you feel better? I've heard alot of stories where people stop taking meds when they feel better then anxiety strikes again and they're back to square one..
I'm scared to take long term meds because of that reason.. And I bet once you stop your anxiety will be worse than before

[~justme~]

I think if u have therapy with meds it would help. That way when u go iff meds u will still have support there for u. I think some people may have anxiety setbacks but others do very well. It depends on the person and the disorder they face. We r all different and I struggle daily .

[LindaRK]

There isn't a "one size fits all" when it comes to meds.  We are all VERY different in this regard.

Depending on your diagnosis, you might only have to be on meds for a short period of time or it could be life-long.  That is something up to you and your doctor and your diagnosis.

When I was initially diagnosed about 35 years ago, I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed Desyrel (not sure that one is even around anymore).  There was no discussion about how long I was to remain on it.  At that time, I also had "talk" therapy with her.  She was great and it really helped me.  I think I was on the med for a few years, then went off, because I married and we decided to have kids.  After a few years, I went back on medication for awhile so that I could learn to "manage" my anxiety.  At that point, my docs and myself agreed that I didn't want to be a life-long med taker and that I wanted to learn how to deal with my anxiety on my own.  There were ups and downs, but I eventually got off the medication.  My anxiety didn't get worse - at least not right away.  Over time, I had to go on other meds for "depression" (as far as I was concerned it was anxiety, but doc diagnosed it as depression).  Prozac worked great for awhile - was on that for a few years.  Life was good.  I was busy and didn't have time to even think about my anxiety.  I felt so good that I decided to go off my med. This is a pretty common response to people on meds - feeling good and going off.  I figured I had been on it long enough and I could deal with everything on my own.  I did for awhile, but then along came hormone changes and the anxiety came back big time.  Then more hormone changes.  But during that time, I only asked my doc for a prescription of Ativan to take under dire circumstances because I did not want to take medication regularly.  At this point, I was learning that anxiety (and possibly depression) is attributable to repressed emotions.  The more I study up on mindbody science, the more I agree with it.  So, I've looked in to neurofeedback and other alternative non-medication forms of treating the anxiety and they work.  To me, taking a med for anxiety and depression are just band-aids.  It's not getting to the underlying reason of what's really going on.

[Cheese]

I never liked taking meds of any sort. Even if I had a headache, I would find some other means. But if the headache was too much to handle on my own, I popped an ibuprofen.

Well, I came to that same conclusion with my anxiety. I just dealt with it for years. Don't like taking the meds. But it got to the point where it was too much to handle on my own. So, I went to the doc and tried Paxil. It took a few months of bumping to dosage (max for me was 30 mg) but it really helped. I woke up eager to do things. I even did things on a whim, as opposed to just dreading things and staying at home. It was great. But due to the doc being a bi*ch and some other things, I went off of Paxil. I felt it was too early, and I was right. Things went downhill. I just restarted taking Paxil 2 weeks ago (with another, more caring doc!) and am hoping to get back on my feet with it.

I'd rather just naturally be okay with things, but that's not how it works with me. I can't help that I am predisposed towards having anxiety. That's not my fault. I'm just wired that way, and I shouldn't make myself suffer because of it. You do what will help you.

[LindaRK]

I agree with cheese.  If the anxiety is something you can't manage and it makes your life absolutely miserable - if your doctor thinks medication will benefit you, then take it.