Should I accept the medication or not?!
Question: Should I accept the medication or not?
Then just a few months ago I was diagnosed with aspergers syndrome, the only reason it got diagnosed so late is because my mum was very reluctant to get me tested even though it has always been suspected.
Anyway, yesterday I had another appointment with the psychiatrist who diagnosed my aspergers to help with my anxiety and depression.
Basically she offered to prescribe me this medication because of the severity of my anxiety but she wanted me to go away and really think about it for 3 weeks. Honestly I do not know what to do!
The medication is called Sertraline, does anyone have any experience with this kind of medication?
Does it have any bad side effects?
Really I am just trying to weigh up the pros and the cons...
I am only 17, and I know I would probably have to take it for at least 6 months if I did take it, I would also be getting other help during this time. but I have tried therapy and CBT but it just never worked for me.
What do you think?
I need some input here.
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
I started sertraline when I was around 11 or 12. I was on it for year, mainly for anxiety and OCD.
If you've tried CBT and therapy before, you should give meds a try.
I didn't find it very helpful, but it didn't have bad side effects.
It's different for everyone--I know someone who likes it and has been on it for years.
Start taking it and if you don't like it, you can go off.
Meds have helped me immensely, but it's a personal decision.
Good luck.
18, schizophrenia + OCD
with all antidepressants, there are some side effects, but the pros outweigh the cons. in other words, try the medication, under the supervision of your doctor. don't do this any other way. have the doctor monitor you. if you show signs of improvement, then , great!continue the medicine. never stop taking the medication, unless your doctor tells you to do so. if you stop suddenly, this could cause you more problems.god bless you.
mental health/health
itaas a prozac type med and I suggest you take it, dont be too proud to take meds
I'd consider it, if the anxiety is making life difficult, or exacerbating depression. It can always be stopped if side effects are too severe (possible, but unlikely)
"I have tried therapy and CBT but it just never worked for me. "
That is understandable. Many standard techniques simply do not engage effectively with an Aspergic mind. They tend to assume values, reference points and perspectives that are not necessarily so.
You could well get different results with someone experienced in depression *and* the autistic spectrum, but they are rare.
Any counsellor or clinical psychologist who isn't familiar with Asperger's is going to be at a disadvantage, but being able to see both yourself and the world in the light of the new diagnosis may help anyway, in time.
When I was diagnosed at the age of 48 the world didn't suddenly make sense, but I could much more see why it didn't (and it was far from always me that was being "weird": the world is and doesn't realise it, quite often!)
This helped address longstanding issues of alienation and not fitting in, and why I found it so difficult to do some things others found simple, while I could see things and think things that almost no-one else could.
It's hardly surprising that confusion, frustration and depression arose out of not having that key piece of information. Asperger's: a significantly differently-wired brain.
Hey, I haven't experience anorexia ot bulimia, but i do suffer from bad anxiety, depression and OCD, i've been on quite a few medications and sertraline has been the best for me :) it takes a while to work so if you do decide to take it give it time :) I haven't experienced any side affects at all ive been taking it for almost a year now, i'm not better but ive come a long way i think that has a lot to do with the Sertraline and seeing my psychiatrist :) although i do take other medications aswell. Also my sister has Aspergers but she takes flouxatine and propanalol which seem's to work well for her.
Flouxatione work's in pretty much the same way as Sertraline.
:)