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Anxiety and advice on when to medicate

3 replies

SteadyClimber · 17/05/2014 21:50

Hi all,

I could really do with some advice about whether or not taking medication for my issues with anxiety might be helpful. To give a quick summary of my situation, 2.5 years ago I began to suffer with anxiety pretty badly, particularly social anxiety, and had some CBT for that and made a pretty good recovery over the next 6 months-year. Since then I have been nowhere near as bad as I was but I feel like I'm struggling a bit.

I would estimate that I'm probably moderately-very anxious 2 days a week, and then mildly for another 1-2 but then fine on other days (my anxiety levels seem to be fairly well linked to how social I am at the time, being on my own too much is bad for me). I know that my problems are really very mild compared with what many other people face, and with what I used to be like, but I'm just a bit fed up of feeling messed up every other day. I'm not convinved CBT would help any more because I dealt with the issues I had and now the anxiety is much more general.

My DSis is on long-term medication for anxiety and finds it very helpful and I know that my DB has also been prescribed medication for it in the past as well. I guess I'd just like to get some opinions from people that have or haven't found medication useful, and whether anyone had any suggestions. I'm kind of resigning myself to having anxiety issues for the long term, but I'd really rather minimise it all as much as possible.

OP posts:
alittlebitmeh · 17/05/2014 23:35

Hi there. I have just started taking citalopram for anxiety. After I lost my mum 8 years ago I suffered from anxiety for a long time. Eventually I got better but this time I got very anxious and in the end I thought why am I putting up with this if I don't have to. What's the point in suffering. So I'm taking them. I have only taken 4 doses so far so can't comment on how effective they are but fingers crossed they'll do the job Thanks

Funnyfishface · 18/05/2014 22:28

Hi
Sorry you are having a difficult time.
Nobody wants to go on medication. I was like you and am also pill phobic.
But.....
I bit the bullett and started on citalopram 19 months ago. I switched to sertraline in September last year. Being on meds has helped me recover. I wish I had taken them sooner rather than struggling.
I am 90% recovered.
I have a fabulous doctor. Who I trust.
Don't read too much into all the medication. Good luck x

gamerchick · 18/05/2014 22:33

I'm on propanalol for anxiety. It's an as an when pill so you take it when you need it. Some days I take 3 40mg pills and some days I only need one. It doesn't help your head but it stoped the physical effects of anxiety which means you can just get on with your day normally.

I think it's better than being on accumulative meds as it works instantly and you're taking it when you need it. They really are the dogs bollocks.

Anxiety is a pain in the arse and there's no reason these days to be controlled by it.

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