Is being on anxiety medicine worth it?!
Question: Is being on anxiety medicine worth it!?
I'm in therapy now for a pretty bad anxiety disorder!. I'm trying cognitive behavioral therapy and it's a slow process (definitely gets worse before it gets better), but I think it'll do some good in the long run!. I have a meeting with a psychiatrist tomorrow to discuss the option of getting on medication for it!. This anxiety problem has been present basically from birth!. I only get partial panic attacks, but I remember the first one happening when I was about 5 or 6!. Anyhow, does the medicine help!? I want to do it on my own, but with having the problem so long, it might be clinical!. Also, what are the best medicines to take to not have so many side effects!? I'm not willing to compromise any part of my life because of side effects!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I'd stay away from benzos like Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Klonopin, etc!. They are highly addictive!. All can leave you a bit hazy!. Xanax and Ativan are best for panic attacks, Klonopin is longer lasting!. Xanax is the strongest, btw!.
SSRI antidepressants work well for some and each work a little differently in the same person!. Sexual side effects are the biggest complaint, but those don't happen to all!. Start knowing you have to watch your weight and exercise!.
Beta blockers work well for some and not at all for others!. They have side effects for some and not for others!. I'd start here personally!.
The thing about psych meds is that they work differently in different ppl!. You will not know how they work in you until your try!. If your anxiety is not debilitating and CBT is working, give meds some serious thought!. Side effects from mood stabilizers are okay for me, but that's because the alternative is pretty bad!. It's all a trade off!. Meds can be a miracle or a curse depending on how bad your problem is and on how your body responds!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
SSRI antidepressants work well for some and each work a little differently in the same person!. Sexual side effects are the biggest complaint, but those don't happen to all!. Start knowing you have to watch your weight and exercise!.
Beta blockers work well for some and not at all for others!. They have side effects for some and not for others!. I'd start here personally!.
The thing about psych meds is that they work differently in different ppl!. You will not know how they work in you until your try!. If your anxiety is not debilitating and CBT is working, give meds some serious thought!. Side effects from mood stabilizers are okay for me, but that's because the alternative is pretty bad!. It's all a trade off!. Meds can be a miracle or a curse depending on how bad your problem is and on how your body responds!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is best to try to help your anxiety without the meds, but I understand alot of the time you do need them!. I used to have anxiety real bad, but when I got away from my stress I never needed my meds!. But I was able to get out of my situation which was divorce and I understand not everyone can do that!.
Do you know if there are certain things causing it or does it just come on form no where or is your life stressful in general!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Do you know if there are certain things causing it or does it just come on form no where or is your life stressful in general!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
i have been on countless anxiety meds over my life!. Certain meds have helped me while some i felt actually made it worse!. Every persons body is diffrent with these meds!.!. the "fun :( " part is taking them all until you find the right one that wont mess you up!.!.!.
If after 2 weeks you are not feeling better !.!. its time to switch!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If after 2 weeks you are not feeling better !.!. its time to switch!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Better u check with doc or take a second opinion!. Once I had some tabs when was going through anxiety attacks and I found it terrible than the sickness and stopped immediately!. But its different with diff people and doc is the best person to take the advise!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I take Xanax !.25mg as needed and it is very effective for me, and doesn't usually have side effects, if you do experience side effects it is usually only some tiredness which goes away after you take them a couple times!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
coping skillsare the best remedy!. meds will only help you so much!. coping skills have gotten me by by not letting me give up and that there is no way that i will be controled by this!. they are breathing, music, concentration and relaxation!. mail me back if you need helpWww@Answer-Health@Com
the big problem w/ anxiety meds most that really
work are addictive, like xanax, volume, koladpin
ect!. so please weigh the necessity good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
work are addictive, like xanax, volume, koladpin
ect!. so please weigh the necessity good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Every medication has some side effects, but it varies from person to person!. That's why there are so many different types of medications for the same problem!. If the psychiatrist prescribes something for your anxiety, it will be a very low dose to start with, so not likely to have side effects!.
I work with 4 psychiatrists, and none of them like prescribing anxiety medication because of the potential for abuse!. What they generally do, if they do prescribe them is to prescribe something to take only when the anxiety is really bad!.
The best way to take anxiety meds is to take it when you know you are going to be in a situation that you know is going to make you anxious or have a panic attack!. That way the medication reduces the anxiety and you learn to cope with the situation!. Hopefully, after a while, you won't need the meds because you will have learned that there is nothing to be anxious about in that situation, or you will have learned other ways to cope!.
Talk to your psychiatrist about how you feel about taking meds!. I congratulate you for not wanting to rely on drugs!. If your therapist hasn't done it already ask him/her to teach you some relaxation techniques - both deep muscle relaxation, and quick techniques to relax in a stressful situation!.
Good luck!. You're doing all the right things!Www@Answer-Health@Com
I work with 4 psychiatrists, and none of them like prescribing anxiety medication because of the potential for abuse!. What they generally do, if they do prescribe them is to prescribe something to take only when the anxiety is really bad!.
The best way to take anxiety meds is to take it when you know you are going to be in a situation that you know is going to make you anxious or have a panic attack!. That way the medication reduces the anxiety and you learn to cope with the situation!. Hopefully, after a while, you won't need the meds because you will have learned that there is nothing to be anxious about in that situation, or you will have learned other ways to cope!.
Talk to your psychiatrist about how you feel about taking meds!. I congratulate you for not wanting to rely on drugs!. If your therapist hasn't done it already ask him/her to teach you some relaxation techniques - both deep muscle relaxation, and quick techniques to relax in a stressful situation!.
Good luck!. You're doing all the right things!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Yes, find the medicine that works best for you and it can give you some relief from symptoms so that you can more easily work on the CBT and apply it to your life!.
I have had panic attacks all my life as well, but they peaked in my thirties with back to back attacks, because of medication and CBT as well as RET, I am in recovery from the panic!. I still have generalized and social anxiety as well as depression, but all are controled for the most part and I have a good life!.
The thing that truly helped me was knowing I was not alone and then turning my disorders into something good by running a peer support group and helping others!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have had panic attacks all my life as well, but they peaked in my thirties with back to back attacks, because of medication and CBT as well as RET, I am in recovery from the panic!. I still have generalized and social anxiety as well as depression, but all are controled for the most part and I have a good life!.
The thing that truly helped me was knowing I was not alone and then turning my disorders into something good by running a peer support group and helping others!.Www@Answer-Health@Com