I've had anxiety for a few years now, I'm 21 years old and have recently been through alot of change which has triggered my anxiety to get very bad again. I'm on propranolol 40mg 3 times daily. Been on this for just over a year and a few months ago they weren't as effective and over the months my anxiety has got worse to the point I now feel I need something even just short term to help me cope while I have my therapy and try to overcome it. As we all know anti depressants come with side effects and I'm scared to start taking them however if they help me then it's ok. I have no idea which I should try been looking into it and so far trazepan (can't spell it) seems OK as right now it's worse at night time and I struggle to sleep. It needs to be able to take propranolol with it until I gradually stop taking them and just take the anti depressant. What I would like to know is if anyone has or is taking any medication for anxiety and how well it worked for them side effects ect. I know everyone is different but would like a general idea so can speak to gp tomorrow.
P.s I have generalised anxiety and border line agoraphobia (don't leave my house) I may even re arrange the gp appointment because it's sending my anxiety crazy any advice would be appreciated thanks
Why not consider therapy to get you to the point of not needing meds? Meds are only short term remember,they aren't a cure, therapy is a better long term option
Sometimes meds help our brains to function.there is ano shame in taking meds for anxiety and going to therapy. There is absolutely no reason to suffer in this day and age (although our health care systems seem to disagree) when so many options. There is no shame in needing to take meds, either, whether long or short term. It all depends on the person? I am on Paxil and have been on it for years with great results and no side effects. Other meds work best for other people. Do some deep breathing, especially before you try to go to sleep. It does help unwind the mind and body.
I have generalized anxiety as well as extreme agoraphobia. I take Zoloft. And I have to say it has done wonders. I went from being afraid to leave the house to leaving the state for vacation. (Not out of the country like I wish but hey who knows maybe in the future). I have done things I never thought I would do. I've been on for 2 years. Best decision.
I was taken off bc my doctor said it was making me gain weight (side effect) and I was put on proponolol and Buspirone. They did not work for me at allllllll. I went into withdrawal. Which gave me anxiety. Then the proponolol and Buspirone weren't helping which gave me even more anxiety. I felt it was never ending. Long story short. I'm back on the Zoloft. First 2 weeks were hell. But that's with any antidepressant. I'm on week 3 and I feel great.
There is no shame in taken medication I have had citalopram on and off for years I did try to hide it but because of this last episode of anxiety and depression I am back on them, I went four or five months because I was determined not to go back on them but in the end it got too much. Iaqm a great believer in holistic therapies but realise this time they just wernt enough. Im no longer ashamed as there are so many people out there that suffer like ourselves my line manager is aware as my colleges and they are so supportive as are my family and friends. for me these seem to work I had been on others in the past and they didnt work so what works for one may not work for another but it is what ever your body can take. Im hoping in a few months I can come off the meds but at this moment in time I know im not strong enough but im also going for cbt and hypnotherapy to see if they can help. sometimes we just need that extra little help. at first the antidepressants make you feel worse but then when the seritonin builds the new"feel good factor" cells they do the job.
Agreed sometimes,but not always. Too often people end up on meds with no end in sight when therapy to deal with issues would have been more beneficial. No it's not shameful,what is shameful is people looking for the next round of meds without even considering a non medicated approach
Thankyou for all the support, I am taking therapy it was actually my therapist that suggested I go on medication for it while I overcome it because in the state of mind I'm in I won't get as far with the cbt. Although all of you have said a different medication I'm looking into them and seeing which I believe would benefit me the most. Depends what the doctor says too he's anti meds which is strange considering he's a doctor. I'm worrying about the side effects while your body gets used to it first few weeks. But there's definitely no shame in taking medication for mental illness, way I see it is if you were in pain you would take pain relief, if you had an infection you would take antibiotics. If it helps you then why not. Ignore the stigma that comes with it, the people who say you shouldn't take em are not the ones that live you live and they don't feel your suffering because if they did they would consider medication too. I'm not saying go straight on medication there's always other methods to try first but like me if you get to a point where you can't function properly and it has complete control of your life you should never feel ashamed of taking something that can change your life for the better. Who is anyone to judge anyway
I've had therapy, and still am in therapy. I also have tried natural remedies and a whole list of things but no change. Although I agree to some extent some people don't have the chance to try different things other than medication because they feel that anxious or depressed in life that nothing else helps or they don't want to try or feel they can't try anything else because of how they are feeling. You can't judge people who take meds for it without doing anything else because you don't know what goes on behind closed doors or what going on in someones mind or what influences they have in life. Your entitled to your opinion on it but shouldn't judge someone for it when you have no idea what they are going through. Everyone's different
I have OCD, which is an anxiety disorder. Just leaving to go to the doc makes me anxious also. My Paxil quit working in July of 2015 and basically my body is just going through withdrawal. I've lost 25 pounds from nausea. I have gastritis and it makes me very nauseous. Prozac might be a good choice, but your doc would know better.
I've been seeing a therapist for the past 2 months and it has definitely helped me gain a grasp on this. There are some really rough days (like today), that i find impossible to get through, but i know there will be better ones again.
Hoping you find some comfort in whatever route you take. CBT and counselling i have to recommend over meds however, but each to their own.
Thanks for all the advice, the doctor I seen put me on citalopram 10mg and instead of just putting me on meds and sending me on my way like other GPS I've seen in the past he ended up sat with me just under an hour explaining anxiety to me asking about my childhood about my life, my goals he explained medication in an interesting way. He said that I have a broken knee and it needs to mend and that the medication are the crutches which are there to help you walk just while your knee mends. He said it was then my choice whether I walk with crutches for the rest of my life or fix my knee and chuck the crutches away and learn to walk on my own. He used to be a therapist and psychiatric before he became a gp. He even wants me to go see him every two weeks and starting a diary to show him so we can figure out together what exactly causes my anxiety. He wants me to do my cbt that I have Tuesday and to see him too so I get two different inputs on how to overcome it. He even gave me a hug and said he had two daughters and that anxiety is horrible. I made him tear up a little but it's calming to know that I have him helping me and that doctors like him exist, he even booked me his last appointment of the day so that he has more time to work and go through everything with me feel so much better about it now! If anyone isn't getting the best help they can from their gp ask to see another one and another one until you find the right doctor for you.
Thats great to hear! I think recovery is all about finding the right doctor or therapist that fits. So happy that you found one and you made the effort to get out there and seek help.
Small steps to recovery but with the right tools and help you'll get there.
Hi, I used to take the propranolol 3 times a day too until it felt like it wasn't helping, my gp gave me slow release 80mg tablets instead, they have helped, also have u tried the online c.b.t? it's called 'beating the blues' , ask ur gp for a password for that site, I find it helpful, but u will only get out of it what ur prepared to put into it, good luck, focus on the good hours, hopefully they become good days