- Date posted
- 5y ago
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Ive taken lot of medications, and none have masked my emotions. I would argue that they dont mask symptoms either, they just lower your over all level of anxiety. Technically, SSRIs allow you to absorb your naturally produced levels of seratonin better. People with anxiety disorder and depression "reuptake" their seratonin too fast, so it doesnt cycle through your system enough. SSRIs, when they work, allow your brain to function like someone without these disorders. Of course all medications can have side effects, including fatigue, which can make you feel dead. The good news is you can always stop taking medication if you dont like how it makes you feel (with the guidance of your doctor of course). Xanax and other benzodiazapenes are are little more dangerous. They can be very addictive, and should not be taken regularly for more than a few weeks. In the short term they can be very helpful in reducing panic attacks though. You should raise ALL your concerns with your doctor. Let them help you make your decision, but always remember it's your decision even if the doctor gives you a prescription. Take it as directed of course. And from experience I can tell you the first medication you try may not work or be the best one for you. It's a trial and error process.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Of course therapy (ERP) is the best way to deal with OCD, but medication helps a ton as well. I don’t think I would be able to do ERP (or honestly exist) without meds. My therapist also told me that the goal with therapy for OCD is to get it to be a hum in the background, and meds can help reduce that hum more. I don’t feel emotionally flat or like a zombie at all and I’m on Lexapro. Xanax is very different from Prozac, and it does make you feel like a zombie. It’s short acting and extremely addictive - aka not recommended for consistent usage for longer than 2 weeks. For long term anxiety problems such as OCD, SSRIs like Prozac/Celexa/Lexapro/Zoloft will be prescribed.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I would call Iapt if your in the uk
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to answer, hope you’re doing well! I think I’ll definitely bring it up to my doctor soon, im a little apprehensive about taking medication but I’ll also voice that to my doctor.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
It’s important to be as open and honest with your doctor as possible. I take Paxil at a high dose that irks really well, but the best thing I ever did was start therapy. Therapy and medication can work really well together, but therapy is where I’ve seen the more significant improvements to my quality of life.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w ago
I have a question My OCD has felt almost invisible the past few weeks and now that is starting to stress me out a lot. Right now I am at a point in my treatement where I was asked if I would like to take medication. I told my therapist this week that I would like to try the medication based on how miserable I feel in during OCD flare ups. But now my brain always tells me that I only go throught this treatement etc. to seek attention and that I am just dramatic and should be ashamed of myself for wanting to take this medication. So now I am doubting if I should take the medication or not. Any advice?
- Date posted
- 11w ago
Hey friends, I hope you all are well. I just wanted to check in and ask people's experiences about being on medication. I have had OCD pretty much my whole life, just got recently diagnosed 4 months ago and my therapist recommended that I get on meds for it so I have a psychiatrist appointment set up. I'm a little apprehensive about getting on them, but I've realized that I do have some sort of chemical imbalance in my brain that plays a part in my OCD and anxiety. I would love to hear anyones experiences or words of encouragement. Thank you, I hope you all are well.
- Date posted
- 11w ago
Medication for OCD? Hello all, 19 male here, this seems like a cool community that isn’t nearly as triggering as reddit. I have pretty severe bouts of existential thinking or fear of going crazy ( psychosis ) after some pretty heavy mushroom trips a few years ago, I know logically I should be fine but I do know what it’s like to lose it and it’s scary. Currently I deal with relationship focused OCD, it’s all day from before I even open my eyes. I want things to work out with my girlfriend badly. Also I can come close to a panic attack sometimes which perpetuates everything. Anyway, I mention the fear of going crazy because the way my anxiety/derealization makes me feel is that I’m not mentally stable cause I feel out of it or unreal. I saw that a lot of anxiety and depression medication can cause psychosis and I feel like I could use some help in getting ahead of my OCD because the compulsions are had not to give into when I’m in such distress/not knowing. Plus overall I just feel like I have no idea how I feel about close to anything. Anyone relate about that ?
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