Anyone here been on anxiety medication? Can you pls share your views on it?

[Hell0daisy]

I’m writing this here because I’m far too ashamed to speak about this aloud with any of my loved ones.

im currently consumed with anxiety and it all stems from the current threat of war. I know how daft it sounds but growing up I used to hear really loud planes or think that I heard a crash/loud noise and I would think that the world was going to end. I don’t know why 😫 anyway that was manageable, I sort of got over it as time went on. Not even sure why. I worried about it so much. But now Putin is on his mad rampage, it has just brought on this overwhelming terror within me that I can’t get away from. I read a news article where he threatened/made comment about doing something to the UK in autumn/winter and it’s just stuck with me. As the days go by and we get closer to it, im just in constant fear. When family make plans for Christmas I just think about how we probably won’t even be here.

On the outside you’d never be able to tell, I go about my day and spend my time with my 2 young children. But when I’m alone with my thoughts I go into sheer panic. Im even scared to be away from my children in case anything happens whilst we’re apart and I can’t “protect them” (obviously I’d be no use to them if we get nuked but still).

I’m guessing I should go on anxiety medication. Has anyone been on it? Im still breastfeeding so I hope I’d be able to do both. I understand from the outside looking in, it’s a lot. I do know the saying “worrying doesn’t take away tomorrows troubles, only today’s peace” but I can’t help it :(

I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way. Can you speak to your GP? They might be able to refer you for some counselling, or prescribe some short term medication.

I was on anti anxiety medication years ago. I didn’t realise it was only supposed to be short term = my GP kept just giving me new prescription. The withdrawal effects were awful and worse than the original anxiety, which is why I’d be more inclined to try counselling and more practical ways of coping.

Take care of yourself

I took steraline and now on something else due to the overwhelming task of having SEN kids and at one point a school refuser.

It's been brilliant for me. Like a switch being turned off so I could reset.

My now 18 year old had 60% attendance at school and I catastrophised his outcome. On the tablets I was more 'maybe he will never get any gcses? But maybe he will? Ah fuck it, I will deal with if it happens'

He was fine actually. Years of constant high level stress which one day he decided to change

I’m sorry you are feeling like this. Please don’t feel ashamed for it! You are being brave by taking the first step in realising there is something not right.
please speak to your health visitor and a gp. If you would like to take a medication then there are some that are safe for breastfeeding. Another option is cbt, it can help you find out why you are feeling this way.
When you feel ready, speak to someone in your family or a friend. You could write down how you are feeling and then ask them to read it, that way you can get it out without the nerves.
I suffer majorly with anxiety, panic attacks come on randomly and sometimes I feel broken and hard to pick myself up. Cbt and medication have helped. A therapist suggested writing in a diary whenever I feel very anxious. Whenever it was bad or even when I felt it getting worse I would write down how I was feeling and what’s triggered it. It helped to get it out of my head.
I was embarrassed to tell people for a long time, I didn’t feel judged, but like you, felt like I could mask it to others and then it would hit full force when I was alone. I’ve got better talking to people and honestly, when you’re ready to talk to others, it really does help. You’ll find people who are great with listening because sometimes you don’t need someone telling you how to act or how to feel better, you just want someone to listen.
I understand what you say about worrying won’t take the problems away but over time you’ll find ways to help you manage the worrying and make it easier.

I’ve been taking medication for anxiety for almost a year now and it’s been life changing. I’d got to the point where I couldn’t function at all, but after four months off work plus CBT plus medication things improved dramatically. Definitely consider speaking to your gp and getting some help.

I totally understand this. I felt the exact same ever since the news on the 24th Feb. It heightened with the sabre rattling that went on after. And I was a mess. Convinced we were going to be nuked. Seemingly normal on the outside but a wreck at home. Crying putting the kids to bed. Hot flushes and tears reading the news. Ratty and scared. Completely out of character behaviour for me. I rang our local iapt service and my gp. I needed intense cbt and the gp put me on citalopram. I cannot tell you how much better I feel. Like I flame has been extinguished. I still worry but no where near how I used to be. And I can see that nuclear war is so unlikely now (in April I honestly thought we wouldn’t see this Christmas too). Please don’t suffer. Please speak to your gp. I couldn’t carry on feeling how I did. It was hell. Sending hugs xx

Disclaimer: I have no medical qualifications whatsoever and only have my own personal experience and random layperson knowledge to go on.

There's different sorts of anxiety medications that are used in different ways, which have different drawbacks and benefits.

It sounds like WheelofLife was given some kind of benzodiazepine like diazepam/Valium, which works really well in the very short term but you absolutely have to keep it short term otherwise you'll get dependent on it, and coming off it is horrendous (I used to know a guy who was quitting a diazepam habit and a heroin habit at the same time, and he said he found the diazepam way more difficult). Even if you can persuade a doctor to prescribe it, they generally won't give you enough for more than two weeks, and to be honest, I feel even that's too long. I use them personally for extreme, very time-limited symptoms, and they work really well, but I'm very careful not to take them consistently caused I don't want to experience what Wheel was unlucky enough to go through.

A couple of people have mentioned citalopram and sertraline, and there's a whole group of SSRI and similar medications like those which can help anxiety, but you have to take those every day rather than as-and-when. Also people tend to feel crappy with side effects for at least the first couple of weeks, and they usually don't start to help your anxiety until a few more weeks after that. Occasionally people get withdrawal effects when they eventually decide to come off them, but unlike the benzos that's a minority of people. I've been on a few SSRIs and never really had noticeable withdrawal symptoms (but then they didn't do much for me in the first place).

The other main one you might be offered is a beta-blocker like propranolol, which works by stopping the physical effects of anxiety. I think the idea is that if you're not shaking and sweaty and your heart isn't running a mile a minute, you'll feel calmer and be able to break the cycle of mental and physical anxiety symptoms feeding into each other. Personally I have no idea how well this works; I stopped taking it because it dropped my blood pressure so low I fainted every time I stood up. But I have friends who do really well on it. It starts working straight away, you can take it every day or just as and when, and you won't get nasty withdrawal effects like you do with benzos.

There are other medications used for anxiety but that tends to be further down the line.

My views on anxiety medication is that if you think it could help, the doctor thinks it could help, and you both think the potential benefits outweigh the risks, then they're a useful tool and can even help you engage with therapy to tackle your anxiety from another angle, but be aware of the possible downsides, and please God don't get a daily benzo habit. I don't know anything about breastfeeding and anxiety meds, though.

I’m on venlafaxine long-term. Gp put me on it after my anxiety was bad with panic attacks too, following a traumatic experience, but I have actually had the tendency my whole life and totally relate to what you say about loud noises etc as a child. It makes a huge difference, even though I have gradually reduced the dose so it’s now very low. It’s taken the edge off it. I still tend to worry but not the intense panic, obsessive angst and awful thoughts all the time. It’s a great relief to not have to be like that.

Constant high alert is not good for you, it depletes your energy and reserves, floods you with adrenaline and it’s exhausting and painful. Someone said to me it’s like having ground glass in your bloodstream which struck me as exactly right. If you can get relief from it it’s definitely worth trying, though you might have to try different meds to see what works.

don’t feel ashamed OP - like you say, you can’t help it and you deserve help

I am on anxiety medication after a string of traumatic events.
I now feel 'normal' and it's absolutely what I needed.
Go and talk to your gp and good luck.

Thank you all SO much for taking the time to comment ❤️ Genuinely. I hate that I feel like this.

I’ve gotten myself out of holes before, unmedicated, but that was before children. I think now I have them I just have a whole new, extra, part to worry about and that’s probably why it’s feeling heavy. I just see the end of the year as this big pit of doom and I can’t get past it. Like every day I wake up and I’m like ok 1 day closer. What a horribly negative way to live 😭 especially when every thing in my life is going so well - I’m studying towards the career I want, home life is great, my kids are so fun and I truly enjoy spending my days with them as I’m still on Mat leave for the youngest, but then I have a glancing thought towards the end of the year and my Brain just goes black and my stomach sinks and I fall down an anxiety hole :(

Sorry. Because I’ve not told anyone in real life yet I’m just getting some things off my chest. I read this back and I just think wtf. Anyway - those who are on medication, what is it? It’s not for me to choose as I know everyone is different, it’s just our of curiosity. Do you have side effects?

It won't be useful to you to know this but I take lithium; technically it's to prevent me getting low or high moods, but ever since I started it my anxiety is totally gone (I mean, I can still get nervous about genuinely nervousness-inducing things like exams, but I don't get the awful disproportionate disabling anxiety I used to). I don't get bad side effects, but I'm slightly thirstier than I used to be so I keep a bottle of water by my bed.

I was on medication for anxiety for around 5 years and I’m now 2 weeks into being medication free for the first time in that long. For me, the medication was a game changer. It allowed me to keep working, living and functioning enough to get therapy. Now I have the ‘tools’ to deal with my anxiety and I’m trying to go medication free. At my worst, I couldn’t leave the house, and now I’m able to travel a few hours away from home. I’m never going to be a big traveller but I’m doing okay. I was on citalopram which is a SSRI. I have varied from 10mg up to 30mg over the years. I’ve spent the past year coming down the dosage to go to nothing.

I wouid try CBT first.

not that I have but I want too as I get anxious about most thiings daily .. it's hard.

I’ve just referred myself to CBT. I imagine the waiting time is incredibly long but let’s see how it goes!! Eek.

i would be amazed if CBT helps eradicate this, I feel, without being too negative, in quite a deep rut with it. I’d really love to live a life without worrying so much as some people have said Above - medication has been a game changer. But we will see! I just want to stop falling into this pit of catastrophising!

If you’re still breastfeeding then it’s more than possible that some of these thoughts are linked to the hormonal explosion after giving birth. What you are describing are intrusive thoughts, which can be linked to anxiety and / or OCD - it certainly sounds like you had them when you were a child. Pregnancy, giving birth, lack of sleep and what’s happening in the world can certainly kick these thoughts off again.
For me, medication has been very useful in dealing with this situation which was at its most acute after giving birth. Like you, no one would have guessed. I didn’t take anything until after I’d finished breastfeeding at 14 m PP but a combination of SSRIs, Propanalol ( for another condition), HRT and therapy, along with discovering more about intrusive thoughts and reading about MH conditions has helped me deal with it. Look into GAD ( Generalised Anxiety Disorder) because it sounds like this is what you are experiencing. I also second the PP who suggests writing it down as a way of getting it out, especially if the thoughts are keeping you awake. You will get better and you will learn how to deal with it so it’s manageable longer term.

I started taking 20mg citalopram and i take it at night before I go to bed. I think this helped curb any side effects at the start. Would occasionally feel shaky tho (like I had low blood sugar) only lasted a week or so and it was worth it to feel “normal” again. I can’t explain what a life changer they have been. I know they’re not for everyone but they truely helped me. Funny how similar our thought process is. I said to a friend “Halloween will be grim and we won’t see Xmas” I truely believed that. But thank goodness I don’t feel like that now. Best of luck op xx

I’ve just referred myself to CBT. I imagine the waiting time is incredibly long but let’s see how it goes!! Eek.

Good luck! When they assess you to decide what kind of help to offer, it might be your instinctive reaction to talk down your difficulties, because it's natural when talking to someone at short notice who you've never met before to act as if things really aren't that bad — we're so used to having to hide how difficult we're finding things, just in order to get through the day. But it's important that you're honest about what you're struggling with, and the ways (including the less obvious ways) it impacts your daily activities and quality of life.