To be anxious to take anti anxiety medication?!

I battled taking medication for over a decade for similar reasons, scared of the side effects and felt that I should be able to manage it myself with meditation, exercise, cut etc. Got to the point I was having panic attacks and started on sertraline 50mg. Noticed an improvement within 2 weeks and a lot lot better within 4. Feels like I'm me but without a layer of crazy, I can think about issues in a logical way and then 'park' them when I need to. Only side effect was insomnia but I changed to taking my tablets in the morning and that solved it. Really did change my life once I got over the hurdle of actually deciding to try them!

Re dosage, I believe the minimum therapeutic dose is 10mg, but your doctor probably wants to ease you in gently because you're worried about SE. See how you go for 2 weeks and then maybe ask for an increase if you haven't seen an improvement. Also, different drugs suit different people, so if it doesn't help don't be scared to try another - sertraline helps the largest proportion of people overall so a good next option to try.

It's really not 'normal' to be plagued by permanent anxiety, and it's no way to live - please please give the meds a good shot because you will look back and go GOD! I can't believe I was trying to exist like that for so long!

I think you are brilliant for reaching out and asking for help absolutely no shame in needing medication.
Like you have done lots if cbt alongside medication.
I came of medication last year and my ocd/anxiety became unbearable.
This year I attended emdr therapy. Am i fixed not completely but I am so much better than what I was!!
There will be a time in my life that I may need more therapy or more medication and thats fine.
I am so sorry about you're mum xx

Dear AnxiousAbi. Try not to focus on the side effects - if there are any they’re most likely to be minor as 5mg is the very lowest dose. The first days are confusing as you don’t know what to expect but it will get better. When the “dark cloud” descends try to put your mind to something nice eg something funny your children said today.
Best wishes !!!

I agree about magnesium, I take it too.

I’m diagnosed with GAD and on 10 mg of Escitalopram. I first took it nearly three years ago, came off it last year (gradually tapered off) but had some stressful events during the summer so I’ve been back on since July.

The transition has been fine and I feel much better. I felt slightly sick or the first few days but it soon faded and I’ve had no other side effects. I’ve accepted that it’s one of the tools I can use when my anxiety is high. It really makes a difference, I’m sleeping better and am generally able to cope with everything.
5mg is the lowest dose so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I hope you feel better soon.💐

Do you like a bath ?
I put Epsom salts in for my magnesium hit, and some bubbles. I find a bath in the evening very relaxing.

I started with anxiety 4 months ago 2 weeks ago i was prescribed the same medication as you but 10mg i started taking it straight away i take it in the morning before breakfast i haven't really noticed a difference yet and i am really bad at night with thoughts but i have read the reviews and they are all good and hopefully it will work eventually, i seem to be a bit better for a couple of hours in the afternoon some days which i wasn't before i will keep taking them because i want to get better and be my normal self again i am not seeing family because i don't want them to see me like this it is effecting my partner and i feel really guilty for this i hope you can get better because i know what you are going through no one knows until they have it themselves how painful it is take care

I was exactly where you are 3 months ago, too anxious to treat the anxiety.

I was prescribed 50mg Sertraline and didn't take it for 8 days as I scared myself shitless reading up on the side effects. Fast forward to now and it's the best thing I ever did - I feel "normal" again and can just get on with my life without stressing every little thing.

The first few days I was on high alert for side effects but other than a low appetite and slight light headedness for 2-3 days all was fine.

Thanks for posting op
My dd 17 will be starting this medication next week.
Her anxiety is debilitating and I’m really hoping she can get some relief.
It’s become part of her.

Honestly OP, it's the best thing I've done. I put off taking any medication for around 10 years, the first two weeks on medication were difficult for me (it was Sertraline so different to yours) but I stuck to it and honestly, it's like I'm a different person now.

I’m so sorry to hear about your mum, OP, of course you are feeling out of sorts and unsettled by everything - who wouldn’t, in those circumstances? Please confide in a friend - you will start to feel the weight lifting immediately, & you have no idea how many people will will say “well actually….me too”. You will honestly start to feel better in a week or so, and then the benefits of them will build up - my GP told me that the worse I felt as I started them, the more the sign that my brain chemicals were out of kilter & needed some help to get balanced again. And as for feeling ashamed, I think that is a very common thought, but as a friend said to me “what’s the point of lying on your death bed saying “well, I’ve had a shit life, but at least I didn’t take a tablet!” “ .

I found it impossible to figure out side effects as they all match anxiety, just go with it and accept it.

The best thing I did was go onto meds, it takes time but it evens you out. I figured it was worth a try, and I would never come off them now.

I worried that it would affect my work, that I'd be fuzzy or something, but actually I work much better now that my anxiety is reduced. I resisted them for years which I regret now! Good luck, I'm sure you'll feel much better soon.

I started low too but asked for an increase. 15mg seems to suit me