- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
I was in that position for my entire life until earlier this year. I took the step and began taking an SSRI five weeks ago. I’m grateful for it, and I wish I hadn’t allowed fear mongering and stigma to scare me out of utilizing a tool that’s made a world of difference for me. All medication comes with risks, but leaving a mental health condition untreated is a risk in itself. I’ve experienced a general reduction in my anxiety and I’m able to go longer intervals without obsessional thinking. The only side effects I’ve experienced is vivid dreams and a stimulated appetite (which is an upside since my depression had depleted them). I would steer from the Internet horror stories, and discuss the option with your mental health professional and physician.
- Date posted
- 4y
I think you have to activativly make the choice for yourself. I wish someone had told me I needed to do therapy first to see bc medicine isn’t going to magically going to make everything perfect and go away. For me I couldn’t be convince since I hate medicine and think it’s horrible for you. But I am religious and I had reached rock bottom and the next week at church the pastor explained his mental health journey from college which was so low it led him to SSRI which i took as a sign so I started them a week later. I got off them 2 years later bc I went back to hating medicine and decided to work on myself
- Date posted
- 4y
I have been doing therapy...I definitely know there is no magic pill. I did counseling 9 yrs ago...did really well without medication for several years. Unfortunately my anxiety and panic disorder came back and 10xs worse this time. I too am a Christian and know that God will never leave me nor forsake me....but this for me isn't about Christianity....it's a mental health disorder.
- Date posted
- 4y
@CMM Girl I wasn’t making it about Christianity ... I was explaining what it was that made me decide to finally chose to take medication and overcome the anxiety and hate I had for them ... don’t change my words! Based on your post there was no way for me to know you are already doing therapy so I was giving you the advice I had to offer !
- Date posted
- 4y
@CMM Also I don’t like to have any correlation to God and my mental health bc it just makes me angry when people say just pray or that God took away their anxiety bc that’s not how mental illnesses work. So please please please don’t think I was making any sort of connection or reference in that way
- Date posted
- 4y
@Justmesadly No I didn't think that at all. I know exactly what you mean. It makes me angry also. It makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong with my walk with christ. I get what your saying...no worries!
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- 4y
@CMM Okay good
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you for your feedback. I did start a low dose SSRI and I am having some side effects I'm dealing with...which make me anxious. Hopefully I can get through the first 2 weeks and not become too discouraged. The side effects really make me panic 😒
- Date posted
- 4y
If you just began the SSRI, you may experience a temporary onset or increase of anxiety symptoms. This is normal, and a lot of people undergo this phase and then begin to feel recovered as they continue taking the medication. The only way out is through it, and it may be well worth it for you in the end. Whatever you do, please don’t stop them before you’re finished, this can cause worsened issues in the long run. I hope you’re able to find a treatment to suit you soon :)
- Date posted
- 4y
@plathocd Thanks so much for the encouragement! Truly appreciate it!
- Date posted
- 4y
Did you see a therapist or regular doctor? I am also so nervous to get in meds.
- Date posted
- 4y
@Kls323 I saw my family doctor for yrs and tried...but was always too nervous and the thought of taking a pill made me nervous and panic...so this time I took the route of seeing a phystrist....they were able to explain to me about different medications....side effects and were willing to start me out on a pediatric dose an work my way up so that the side effects were mild to none.
- Date posted
- 4y
@CMM Thats awesome!! Good for you! Thats a really great step you took. I saw one regular doctor once and they prescribed me Cymbalta but then got way to scared to take it. That was 2 years ago.
- Date posted
- 4y
@Kls323 Good luck! I know it's so hard! I'm on day 4 of Lexapro I was also given a benzo to use to help stay calm if the anxiety increases. I'm hoping to push through the mild side effects I'm having and finally break free of this horrible cycle. I know there is no magic pill but a combo of therapy and this I feel hopeful!
- Date posted
- 4y
@CMM Oh wow I didn't know you could take benzos with anything else. That's great. I know there is no magic pill either but even if something helps a little thats great!! You got this!!
- Date posted
- 4y
@Kls323 Thanks for the encouragement...truly appreciate it!
- Date posted
- 4y
@CMM Of course!!!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
So I have been diagnosed with GAD and OCD and my psychiatrist prescribed me with zoloft 🤔 but I dont know im really hesitant to start medication because im scared of the side effects and ik afraid of relying on a medication for a long time. Does anyone else take zoloft? What is it like? Any side effects?
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 19w
I’m a few days in on starting 10 mg of Prozac, my anxiety has definitely been heightened and it’s making it really hard for me to eat :( also sleep has been very hard when the intrusive thoughts fill my head. I want to stick with the medication and give it a good shot as I know it could really help me. Any suggestions or some encouragement to help me get through this time
- Date posted
- 13w
my psychiatrist is starting me on a low dose (10mg once daily as needed) of propranolol in two days. i’m very nervous as i really don’t like experimenting with new meds..it makes me so scared and so anxious. but i think my anxiety has gotten so bad that i need to start using stronger meds. before i was on hydroxyzine which is basically just benadryl. and then i was on buspirone 3x daily, which was basically like taking tic tacs for me. and what i struggle with in anxiety is the physical symptoms it gives me. which causes my anxiety to get stronger. which makes my medical OCD super aggressive. it’s a vicious cycle. so i’m feeling sort of optimistic that a beta blocker can help. i know it won’t take the anxious thoughts away, but knowing that it’ll help the racing, climbing heart rate, and loosen my chest muscles, AND it’ll help with my vestibular migraines? i think that’s a win in and of itself. i’m hopeful 😌🙌🏻 and i would like to point out that i know medications will never do all of the work for you, that you have to meet them halfway, but the medications i previously mentioned ^ weren’t even meeting me a quarter of the way!
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