can you relate?
I have been dealing with anxiety for years. I am trying everything- the program, i have a therapist, vitamins herbs. I am at a point that i am feeling very helpless. I tried to check myself in to the hospital for help but they didnt think I needed to be. I have a prescription for lexapro and am terrified to take it. But I have reached a point where I think I need it. I have so many fears with anti depressants like bad reactions allergic reactions, long term effects, it is a real happiness as a result, will i still be myself, will i need it for ever. The list goes on. Does anyone else feel like this and is there any suggestion on plan to start taking them.
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Guest
hi lljwetha:
Wow, I could almost mistake your post for my own- I have thought everything you wrote one time or another.. I CAN RELATE to answer your first question
you used the word helpless I dont know what things you suffer from so that would be hard to answer.. please PM more information if you want- next, medication, tough one..
I had the same thoughts before I experienced it all- I am going to address them one at a time -
am I going to be different?
no. this medication is not going to change you drastically wherein you feel you dont recognize yourself, this is a common misconception- the med will however, 'take the edge off' for me it took the cloud of depression away so I could get through the work day without endless tears and drastic mood changes.. it does not change you a lot- it simply 'helps'. No I didnt feel 'happy' or real happiness- that comes from within, once you stand up and take responsibility for your own momments.. (which I am working on still!!)
allergic reactions? I have never heard of anything to scary, allergies surround us more each day than in a little pill- you go on (dosage wise) slowly and off slowly too therefore that will let you judge if there is any allergies occuring
will I become addicted? I think just b.c. you are aware of it and do not want to be on a medication then the chances of liking it and becoming addicted are nil.
I have been on 3 different meds- I tend to have side effects that I cant stand but honestly the medication helped with my mental state SO MUCH the side effects didnt matter I have only had one out of three bad experiences.. from being on a med and not, I can tell you that when needed antidepressents are incredible.. really help, and for me they take the edge off enough for me to work on the program and do things as when I am off meds I am a mess and cannot do anything..
Change your thinking a bit surrounding the medication: what if you take a med and it makes you feel much better? what if it helps you to get better yourself? what if it takes the sadness and tears away? what if you try it and it works perfectly for you? etc. fear- False Experiences Appearing Real- there are millions of people prescribed that med- it must work!
Best wishes and please feel free to PM me if needed!
Wow, I could almost mistake your post for my own- I have thought everything you wrote one time or another.. I CAN RELATE to answer your first question
you used the word helpless I dont know what things you suffer from so that would be hard to answer.. please PM more information if you want- next, medication, tough one.. I had the same thoughts before I experienced it all- I am going to address them one at a time -
am I going to be different?
no. this medication is not going to change you drastically wherein you feel you dont recognize yourself, this is a common misconception- the med will however, 'take the edge off' for me it took the cloud of depression away so I could get through the work day without endless tears and drastic mood changes.. it does not change you a lot- it simply 'helps'. No I didnt feel 'happy' or real happiness- that comes from within, once you stand up and take responsibility for your own momments.. (which I am working on still!!)
allergic reactions? I have never heard of anything to scary, allergies surround us more each day than in a little pill- you go on (dosage wise) slowly and off slowly too therefore that will let you judge if there is any allergies occuring
will I become addicted? I think just b.c. you are aware of it and do not want to be on a medication then the chances of liking it and becoming addicted are nil.
I have been on 3 different meds- I tend to have side effects that I cant stand but honestly the medication helped with my mental state SO MUCH the side effects didnt matter
I have only had one out of three bad experiences.. from being on a med and not, I can tell you that when needed antidepressents are incredible.. really help, and for me they take the edge off enough for me to work on the program and do things as when I am off meds I am a mess and cannot do anything.. Change your thinking a bit surrounding the medication: what if you take a med and it makes you feel much better? what if it helps you to get better yourself? what if it takes the sadness and tears away? what if you try it and it works perfectly for you? etc. fear- False Experiences Appearing Real- there are millions of people prescribed that med- it must work!
Best wishes and please feel free to PM me if needed!
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Guest
Yes I can relate 100%
It has been 8 years for me now.
I have tried everything and spent way too much money on therapy and diagnostic testing!!!
I filled a prescription for Lexapro last week, 5mg. I am terrified to take it. I was told if you start with a very low dose you will most likely not have side effects!!!
I am so sick of feeling bad
My world has become smaller. I am suppose to go to LA for a week tomorrow with my husband and the kids. FIVE HOUR FLIGHT...........very worried very anxious. I have done this flight many times and every time I fear it, what ifing........ arrggg I want to back out of the trip. Too much work.
What are your worst symptoms?
Coco ")
It has been 8 years for me now.
I have tried everything and spent way too much money on therapy and diagnostic testing!!!
I filled a prescription for Lexapro last week, 5mg. I am terrified to take it. I was told if you start with a very low dose you will most likely not have side effects!!!
I am so sick of feeling bad
My world has become smaller. I am suppose to go to LA for a week tomorrow with my husband and the kids. FIVE HOUR FLIGHT...........very worried very anxious. I have done this flight many times and every time I fear it, what ifing........ arrggg I want to back out of the trip. Too much work.What are your worst symptoms?
Coco ")
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Guest
lljweltha,
I can totally relate to your fear of the medication. I went for 3 years of being adamant about not taking meds, except I took Xanax and now I'm on Valium, but I didn't want to take anything like Lexapro.
Finally I just decided that I was going to push through my fear and have some faith. My doctor recommended Cymbalta for my anxiety, at the lowest dose possible. I was terrified of the possible side effects, especially after seeing the commercials and reading the literature from the pharmacist. I was convinced something really bad was going to happen. I was afraid of becoming "addicted" and how it would change me. I filled my script and waited a whole month before I decided to take my first pill, and I sat there for an hour staring at the pill before I took it.
For the first day or so I felt a little "off", but the doctor told me to stick with it and it would get better, and it did. I've been on it 2 weeks now and I'm glad I did it. I feel so much better. I know that as I progress through the program and therapy I will eventually get off of the Cymbalta, but I have accepted the fact that it's okay to take it for now.
PM me if you need to talk, OK?
Sandina
I can totally relate to your fear of the medication. I went for 3 years of being adamant about not taking meds, except I took Xanax and now I'm on Valium, but I didn't want to take anything like Lexapro.
Finally I just decided that I was going to push through my fear and have some faith. My doctor recommended Cymbalta for my anxiety, at the lowest dose possible. I was terrified of the possible side effects, especially after seeing the commercials and reading the literature from the pharmacist. I was convinced something really bad was going to happen. I was afraid of becoming "addicted" and how it would change me. I filled my script and waited a whole month before I decided to take my first pill, and I sat there for an hour staring at the pill before I took it.
For the first day or so I felt a little "off", but the doctor told me to stick with it and it would get better, and it did. I've been on it 2 weeks now and I'm glad I did it. I feel so much better. I know that as I progress through the program and therapy I will eventually get off of the Cymbalta, but I have accepted the fact that it's okay to take it for now.
PM me if you need to talk, OK?
Sandina
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Guest
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Guest
Yes, yes, and YES!!! I can totally relate! Especially since I currently take Lexapro. I was TERRIFIED to take it a year ago. It took about a week of me having the prescription filled before I actually took my first dose!!! I called my doctor and he told me to take HALF of a 10mg dose for the first week. For my second week, I took the full 10mg dose. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be!! No side effects whatsoever! Well, I take that back. I do remember having a stomach-ache if I took it on an empty stomach. AND, I lost a few pounds because it decreased my appetite for the first couple of weeks. Other than that, it's been smooth sailing with Lexapro. Try starting small... It can't hurt, but it will definitely help once it gets into your system. Good luck!!
Celeste
Celeste
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Guest
I can relate as well. I was terrified to go back on medications. My doctor started me out on lexapro, but it wasn't right for me, so she put me on nortriptyline. I didn't like that either because I would have to take three pills a day! She had me get a script of Xanax to calm me down when I got hysterical, but I wasn't comfortable taking it so I don't take it at all. So, she put me on Paxil because I had been on it before and it worked wonders. I was on that for about a month and all my anxiety symptoms came back, so she switched me onto Zoloft. I have been taking the zoloft for about three weeks now. Can't really say it helps 100%, but I keep taking it because I have to have faith in the meds/doctors.
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Guest
I can relate as well.
Looking back on my life since being here I realize that my anxiety goes back as far as i can remember. Well, anxiety and depression.
Until July or August '07 I never took a single pill. It took me 2 to 3 wks to take the Xanax for the first time after filling the prescription.
I definitely went through a bout of depression in February after not getting a promotion at work and it almost took me off the deep end with depression and anxiety.
After that I went to the doctor for a follow up and he prescribed me Lexapro.
To date I have not taken it. It scares the hell out of me. I've decided to beat this thing on my own!
Looking back on my life since being here I realize that my anxiety goes back as far as i can remember. Well, anxiety and depression.
Until July or August '07 I never took a single pill. It took me 2 to 3 wks to take the Xanax for the first time after filling the prescription.
I definitely went through a bout of depression in February after not getting a promotion at work and it almost took me off the deep end with depression and anxiety.
After that I went to the doctor for a follow up and he prescribed me Lexapro.
To date I have not taken it. It scares the hell out of me. I've decided to beat this thing on my own!
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Guest
You are smart to stay away from any meds...I am having a terrible time getting off Ativan and going through all sorts of troubles finding the right way to do it...I had to get a special compounding to do it slowly and I've had to get special supplements to undue the damage it has done and get ready to taper...Here is the website if you need to get off safety or know someone who does...
<A HREF="http://www.pointofreturn.com" TARGET=_blank>www.pointofreturn.com</A>
Good for you,,,meds do not solve the problems but create more...
Karin
<A HREF="http://www.pointofreturn.com" TARGET=_blank>www.pointofreturn.com</A>
Good for you,,,meds do not solve the problems but create more...
Karin
Originally posted by Engine2:
I can relate as well.
Looking back on my life since being here I realize that my anxiety goes back as far as i can remember. Well, anxiety and depression.
Until July or August '07 I never took a single pill. It took me 2 to 3 wks to take the Xanax for the first time after filling the prescription.
I definitely went through a bout of depression in February after not getting a promotion at work and it almost took me off the deep end with depression and anxiety.
After that I went to the doctor for a follow up and he prescribed me Lexapro.
To date I have not taken it. It scares the hell out of me. I've decided to beat this thing on my own!
-
Guest
thank you to all for the responses. it is weirdly nice to know that i am not the only one. i just wish none of had to suffer. I am still going back and forth in my mind about the lexapro. Hopefully I wont need it but I have a feeling I will. As for the ativan comment I have research that drug and it is addictive and will not take it unless absolutely necessary. Thank you guys!! Trust in God he will never leave you!!