I’m having a terrible night. I’ve been in a panicked state for a couple of hours. I’ve been prescribed a medication for when I’m extremely anxious, but I’m reluctant to use it because I’m worried I’m going to become addicted or something ? (even though my doctor assured me I can’t become addicted!) Can anyone offer some advice/experiences? Thank you! d a i s y

Hi everyone, does anyone use xanax (Alprazolam to be exact) to reduce the anxiety OCD gives you? I’m diagnosed with generalised anxiety so I’m quite familiar with this treatment but it’s the first time I’m using it for something "different". I don’t know what to expect. I took one pill (0,25mg) this morning but it only helped a little bit so I was wondering if taking one more will help me a bit more or if it’s just pointless? Can’t see my therapist until september so that’s why I’m trying to medicate myself for now.

Hello everyone! I have been through a whirlwind of mental health struggles but OCD feels like it might be “running the show” and I didn’t know if anyone else could relate The first time I got told I was struggling with ocd was by a therapist only a few months ago who said I “fall under the cloud of harm ocd” This lead me to a downward spiral because I had never had a mental health diagnosis before and I was so scared right away that nobody would believe me or help me. I feel like my life has been so out of control over the last few months. I’m dealing with some other things such as big life changes and identity crisis (fresh out of college, no longer a student athlete, came out to my family). I had to leave my first job as an icu nurse for the immense distress it caused me as i was working day/night rotating shifts and being triggered unknowingly to some trauma that I didn’t even know I was holding onto. I now experience heavy mood swings and dissociation at times related to ptsd and I feel like life just isn’t the same. I’m in such a tough spot because I seem to have a fear of being misdiagnosed/improperly treated, a fear of taking meds, a fear of unintentionally harming myself, and my needs for safety reassurance are so strong that I’m back home with my parents and scared to do anything. I’m a nurse as well so I know way too much about the meds and side effects. At the end of the day, the logical part of my brain wants meds to help me , but the fear or starting meds, the side effects, and the trial and error of them not knowing what will work leaves me stuck and feeling hopeless. I always end up thinking that I could just feel better if I jumped back into my normal busy life, but when I do so and get triggered (ocd or ptsd) I am left hopeless and begging my parents to get me on meds. Each appointment though leads to significant anxiety and like I have to say every single detail , which ends in me getting frustrated and confused not wanting to take meds after all because i don’t think they have the full picture. I had a bad experience with Zoloft bringing out manic symptoms when I first started it. It was terrifying. I’ve been switching provider to provider trying to find someone I trust, but in the mean time my anxiety is worsening and I feel more confused of what my symptoms really are in the first place. I have Xanax that I can take 3x daily but I don’t like feeling like I’m going to get addicted to it if I keep taking it and avoid getting on long term meds. I don’t trust any doctors and I feel the need to tell them every single little detail which I feel like leads to further frustration and maybe even impaired treatment plans. I’m sorry if this is a lot but I’m really struggling and needing some support and guidance 😭

I really hope I'm not alone. Today after experiencing (what the hospital said) was a complicated migraine, and being given drugs I've never had before, I've spiraled terrible. I have been panicking for about 4 hours now honestly because I read about side effects and risks, also even though i specifically asked would they interact with zoloft and another med I take, they said they don't but multiple drug interaction websites say otherwise. I just took my first dose of zoloft last night because it has saved my life in the past and I'm at the point where I need saving again. Now I can't take it for like 24 hours and I am feeling trapped in my panic with no escape. Here's the kicker, in my catastrophizing, I have been ruminating on if something actually happens with my health and I need an ambulance I'll freak out and legit lose my mind and they won't give me anything to calm me down and I'll get locked up in a psych ward or something. Like if i have a medical event all im going to be thinking about is ima die ima die and I'm going to be flailing and freaking out. Today I'm scared of being scared. I've felt that before. It used to keep me from wanting to go anywhere. I feel so exhausted. Does anyone understand what I'm even saying?