Can anyone tell me about anti-anxiety medication?

[2luvmickey]

Wow! This is such a delicate subject, and the results vary for each person.

My father has battled anxiety/depression all of his life. He has gone through almost every drug imaginable, doesn't give it enough time or work with his therapist.

My mother takes Effexor to deal with my father! Low dose, just to help her. Actually, I would say when my father took this he did very well.

My DS 18 was just diagnosed with Asperger's and anxiety. Tried Zoloft, now on a low dose of Lexapro. While he is doing well in school (lower anxiety), he has less control over his frustration level. Working with therapist to develop tactics to help (calm breathing, etc.).

There won't be a "magic pill." It may take several tries before you find the right medication, and it may be combined with other therapy (psychologist) working with the psychiatrist (MD).

Many posters are correct: it could be other medical issues, or a chemical inbalance in your system that needs a little help...

You are not alone.

 

[turkeymama]

The medication for anxiety is fine, when used properly and under the care of a physician. Like many things, it can be addictive. Some people are more susceptible than others, but the risk is there. Once you start taking something like that, you must not stop it suddenly for any reason. Always keep your doctor appointments and when it's time to stop the meds, you go off them gradually. Very important to remember that.

I have taken Xanax off and on for years. When you take it at a low dose, it will really take the edge off so that you can function without the worry and anxiety. It won't knock you out at all. The only time it knocks me out is when I take it for flying. The doc ups my dosage and I wouldn't trust myself to drive a car, but I'm coherent enough.

 

[CathrynRose]

One more thing, when the "worry thoughts" come into your mind (during meditation) you can pop them like a bubble, they aren't real anyway. Every thought bubble you pop creates a more focused brain.

I get rid of mine with a big kabuki brush that has all this glittery, shimmery stuff on it.

Good analogy on the future. Very good.

My advice is to make an appointment with a PSYCHIATRIST and not a general practioner. .

Agree. 100 million percent.

Please don't think that just because you are taking medication that you will be a zombie. :

Thank you. If you're constantly in a state of worry or panic or anxiety - all an anti-anxiety pill will do, is bring you down to normal.

If you were already 'normal' to begin with - then yes, a pill could make you all Zombie. But a person who is anxious - this generally doesn't happen.

Good luck to you. Best thing I ever did was finally suck it up and see a Psych, after my Mom died.

And let me tell you - I almost left. I entered the waiting room to a girl with her knees to her chest, rocking - a man, twitching - and another man, talking to himself. I thought "I'm not like THIS! I shouldnt be here!!!"

But I stayed, and like I said, best thing I ever did.

 

[Skywalker]

Anti-anxiety meds literally saved my life. In my case, Celexa. I only needed to take them for about a year and I really feel I got my life back. I am not against any medication. If it works I will take it. I don't believe in suffering for no reason, lol.

 

[DMickey28]

I have also taken meds in the past, mainly Wellbutrin. It always seemed to help with the depression which in turned helped with the anxiety. Since I am pregnant right now my dr. and I are keeping an eye on my depression and will probably start something again after the birth. I struggle right now but I get through ... the mood swings and the frustration that are my key intros to the depression getting it's gripe are tolerable.

I have been through one round of clinical depression and again with post partum depression. Just because you take meds at one point does not mean you need them forever ... It's been 2 years since i have been on anything. I am not afraid to go back once the baby is here. It makes me a better mom and better wife and in turn a better person.

 

[daisax]

My advice is to make an appointment with a PSYCHIATRIST and not a general practioner. The psychdocs are experts on what you're going through and can prescribe something to help take the edge off so you won't be a chronic worrier anymore. While on the med, she will teach you how to re-wire your thinking, and since you'll be on the meds stopping the adrenaline rushes which exacerbate the worrying, you'll be much more receptive to learning how to control these thoughts. For many people, the med is necessary just to get them calm enough to change their catastrophic worry tendencies. So please please make an appointment with a psychiatrist asap. Why suffer when help is out there.

THIS. A psychiatrist may have a completely different approach than a GP just prescribing any random anti-anxiety medication.

I'm a little sensitive to this now as a coworker's daughter is getting off antidepressants prescribed by her GP. She was getting worse and worse and the GP told her to double her dose. Fortunately her mother drew the line and insisted she see a psychiatrist who is taking her off it completely. She's been tapering for days and already feels much better.

Proper medication from a psychiatrist should ideally help you be able to get more accomplished with the talking therapy with your therapist. You may just need some kind of bridge to be able to get the work done, and be able to taper off once you've gained more perspective.

Life can be stressful, but some chemical imbalances create far more life stress than the body is meant to withstand. Toughing it out isn't any "braver" than watching a wound not heal for months without seeking attention.

You may find that giving your mind and body temporary relief with medication gives them the recovery they need to work on and solve the larger problem.