Can anyone share their experiences with medications? Effectiveness, pros cons etc. (I know therapy is a better option but I don’t feel confident enough to open up to a stranger)

Opening up takes a lot of courage. I felt the same exact way before my boyfriend encouraged me to see someone. I think most offices require that you see a therapist IF you want pharamacolgic help. That’s how it works for me. I seen a therapist for a few weeks once a week, and then she made the call to the psychiatrist to evaluate me, then I was recommended to take an SSRI. I wasn’t sure which was the best one, but I heard a few that were common in the market. Lexapro is what I take and I have been on it for about 6 months. I’m still kinda testing out the dose but so far it’s been boosting my mood. I went from having no motivation at all because of how much my OCD was affecting me to finally seeing the teeniest light at the end of the tunnel. It got better with time for me. I started focusing on what I needed to focus on and by that I don’t meant to say my OCD went away. I mean that it allowed me to see a different perspective and allow me to holistically solve my problem. Cons- so far I’ve been noticing a little bit of weight gain, but that could be related to other factors for me as well. I hope this helps ❤️

Thanks for your answer. That’s what I struggle with right now is my focus. I know that I need to focus on the uncertainty and act towards accepting it but I can’t get my focus off of the content of the thoughts. It seems like no matter how hard I try I end up locked back into the content without even realizing it. Given your experience would you say that medication would help me shift my focus in this way?

I think it’s different for everyone. I know for me, I was at a state of fight or flight mode and constant panic because I had so many tests to study for and my compulsions were taking over my life. I think the Lexapro took away that panic. It doesn’t necesarily take away the contant thoughts but I am able to manage it better. My heart no longer races. It kinda allows me to take a step back and tell myself “hey, It’s happening and it’s ok. I can get through this calmly” but like I said, it may affect everyone differently, ya know?

The goal of medication in OCD therapy is to get you to a place where you’re mentally ready to do the exposure therapy. I take 20mg/day of Viibryd and it really helps with anxiety/depression symptoms in general. When you don’t have the added stress of unpredictable emotions it’s much more manageable to practice exposure.

It dials down the intensity of my symptoms so that I can be more successful in therapy

Awesome that’s what I’m hoping for. Just something to dull the panic so I can actually deal with the situation but not remove the situation. Thanks so much for you answers