I'm too scared to start meds because of sides effects and the fact that most people experience a relapse after a couple months of stopping.... Your brain literally comes back to what you were before the meds so what's the point? More than 50% who start SSRIs need to keep taking them forever. Has anyone recovered without meds? Or natural remedies? I believe in science and doctors, but the risks are wayyyy too scary.

also was gonna ask.. i already struggle with sleep and that is the most common side effect

I’m literally in the exact same boat. I have a precription for lexapro and hydroxyzine. I’m afraid to take them because of side effects and I also have emetephobia. I don’t have ocd but I have fear around getting sick/phobia of vomiting and worrying about sides. I’m with anxiety daily. In fact right now I’m really struggling with it. I’ve been meditating 2 or more times per day and do EFT tapping. I met with ERP therapist from NOCD last week and start that therapy on wed. I am also trying hypnotherapy. Met that dr last week and my first session is on feb 8 and then she will take me on as a client for CBT. How do you manage your anxiety currently? I’d love to hear how others have managed and how well they’re doing without medications.

I was on medication when I first got ocd when I have 4 kids 11 10 9 and 7 so I wasn’t on meds those years and was still maintaining I had difficult moments but was able to stop new things and fears I still had ocd but it was manageable I got threw rituals I had a few rough years and when my husband went to prison when he relapsed again I lost everything again it sucked doing it all again I was mostly depressed and was eating meds to knock me out and wasn’t eating from stress I started meds again to get something to knock me out something to keep the stress down I needed xanex honestly but I was on meds for 4 years changed them every year cause nothing was working cause I had gotten so much worse on the meds like my ocd was insane I was worse than I was when I started so I changed every year for 4 years till I finally admitted myself but they couldn’t help me cause my ocd was so insane they refered me to an ocd facility which denied me cause of insurance so I just dealt wit it I gave up stopped meds and the last few years I’ve been in the same state wit my ocd non functioning on ssi for my ocd I’m able to avoid some triggers to help wit not haveing my ocd spike anymore but some things I can’t avoid I need help wit my ocd I’m extremely non functioning now and still can’t get proper care cause of my insurance I wish I would’ve never started medication when my husband went to prison I feel watever they gave me worsened things and then continued to worsen cause they weren’t an ocd specialist I’ve never seen 1 doctor that really new anything bout my ocd but would prescribe me medication I trusted them all these years and now no I needed better care they should’ve refered me to someone else that understood ocd so now I’m very wierry of who I see.

I have tried different supplements and Inositol did help, been trying NAC but haven’t noticed a difference. I am currently on a low dose of Lexapro because it is difficult for me to function without it. I am going to try the inositol again, it’s just that you have to take a lot of it throughout the day and it was hard to be consistent. Also you have to build up to it because at first it upsets your stomach. After about 6 weeks I was amazed at how much better I felt, though.

I just started the Lexapro but I’m switching from Prozac. I was on Paxil for years before the Prozac. Both times it took me about 6 weeks to feel the full effects but after about a month I started noticing a difference. Getting on or off one can be difficult and you really have to give it time to tell how you’ll feel on it. Most of the side effects I had on both of those subsided after about two weeks. Some things like increased hunger, dry mouth, fatigue can stick around, though.

any issues with insomnia with lexapro? if so how long do they last?