To be anxious to take anti anxiety medication?!

[AnxiousAbi]

Hi everyone,

Posting here for traffic, sorry.

I am just looking for some company this morning as I am so anxious and scared.

Seems to trivial when I type this out on here - my mum died earlier this year and it’s really triggered my health anxiety. I spoke to my GP earlier this week and she felt it would help for me to try some anti anxiety medication.

I’ve always resisted this, trying instead self care, CBT etc But this time I have just felt so anxious and overwhelmed by my grief all at the same time.

She prescribed me 5mg of Escitalopram.

I’ve taken my first tablet this morning and I am left feeling so anxious and scared.

My biggest fear is they will make me worse. I am functioning, I am able to do things with the kids etc. I’m scared they will stop me from doing that 😔

Is anyone around to talk to me?

Yes that makes absolute sense. I felt better yesterday so that was positive.

Although today I feel quite light headed?

@AnxiousAbi yeah, everything is adjusting, so I'm sure you might feel bit lightheaded. Make sure you're eating and drinking nough and it will pass.

@OnTheNatureOfDaylight just wondering now your daughter is now?

A lot of the side effects have subsided for me now. I have almost finished my first 4 full weeks.

My appetite has returned with a vengeance now - like your dd mine absolutely vanished. The dry mouth is much better too. That lasted about 2-3 weeks. I have woken up a few times overnight and been wide awake - completely unable to get back to sleep from about 4am. But it’s only every now and again.

I’ve been a little more sweaty but again that has improved a lot too.

Thanks to everyone for your support with this - it helped me so much. Honestly, I was terrified to start them and, although I did feel like crap for a week or two, it wasn’t unbearable to the point where I considered stopping.

My GP wants to keep me on 5mg at the moment. Hopefully I will start to feel the effects properly in the next few weeks.

@Hakunapotato

Antidepressants have come a long way! I am on them and sometimes I have felt like I can come off them because my life is just so normal and fine and I’ll be fine without them… it isn’t until I have that I’ve seen how much they help me. They don’t make you manic nor a zombie. They literally just calm your anxiety. Once you get over the nausea! What I will say though is if one doesn’t work for you don’t be afraid to try a different one. One does not fit all. I didn’t get on with Citalopram. Sertraline does it for me. I’m on it long term now. It’s fine. I know someone whose life is an absolute mess just now and you can clearly see it is due to a mental break but they won’t take anything due to stigma and old fashioned outlook. Their life is going down the toilet. Just take what you need to have a better life.

Sorry I missed this before!

I’m so glad I started the meds now. I have nothing to lose by trying them - but as your friend has highlighted, I have everything to lose by not trying them. So far they seem to be ok. Will see how they work over the next few weeks in terms of helping with the anxiety. Thanks so much

Hi @AnxiousAbi
she is improving, just gone up to 7.5 mg in the morning.
her sleep is better but she's awake at 3am for a bit.

The side effects are definitely going. she is eating again but its not as varied as before. lost of things she doesn't fancy.

She said to me on Thursday morning that she thinks its helping. she is being more cheeky to her dad and telling him off (in a jokey way) and we can always tell she is feeling better when she does this.

I am on 15mg of lexapro almost 10 years now.
Try not to worry so much about it. It literally saved me. Anxiety won't just disappear but the drug will certainly help you control things and look at things perhaps a bit more positively.
Try it if your doctor says and if it doesn't.work you can can move on.
Good luck.

@OnTheNatureOfDaylight

Hi *@AnxiousAbi* she is improving, just gone up to 7.5 mg in the morning. her sleep is better but she's awake at 3am for a bit.

The side effects are definitely going. she is eating again but its not as varied as before. lost of things she doesn't fancy.

She said to me on Thursday morning that she thinks its helping. she is being more cheeky to her dad and telling him off (in a jokey way) and we can always tell she is feeling better when she does this.

I’m so glad she thinks it is helping @OnTheNatureOfDaylight - that is really positive news.

Some people who suffer with insomnia find it helps to take the meds at night. I persevered and it has improved a lot so I’ve kept taking it in the morning.

I’ve been listening to a podcast recommended on here the last couple of nights - it’s called Nothing Much Happens - basically boring light stories to help you sleep. It’s worked really well for me so maybe something similar might work for your DD.

Now, how are you doing? You must be so worried

Sorry I forgot I name changed!

I take 20mg of citalopram
The best tip I got was don't read the leaflet on side effects, give it to someone you trust. If you get a side effect then you can ask but you can't read them and worry yourself!

I know this thread is a couple of years old but just intrigued to know how you are now OP? @AnxiousAbi

@Blueeveryday I am so sorry I didn’t see your post. You might not even see this reply but I wanted to let you know that I feel so much better now. Still on the meds and they don’t cause me any issues.

Think of it this way - you don’t have to be taking them forever just until your back on your feet. I take a different medication admittedly (Sertraline)but it hasn’t had any negative effect on me.

Oh just noticed this is a Zombie thread 😂 Glad you’re doing ok OP.