Anxiety and medication advice please

[massagegirl]

I've struggled with anxiety for a long time. I didn't know that's what is was for a long time. I've really tried to get on top of it with breathing, meditation, positive thinking. It worked a bit. This weekend I just felt awful, crying the whole time. Today I've managed to get through the morning and am working from home this afternoon. I feel like I'm not loving my life to the full. I feel really upset and tearful like I need to quit my job as I just can't cope. Maybe it's time to try some medication. I've been really reluctant before but maybe I need to just do it. Going to try see the dr. What do I ask for? What helped you? Thank you in advance.

Have managed to get an app this afternoon. She's a great dr so fingers crossed.

Beta blockers if you're able. They take the physical effects away for most so you can cope. I wouldn't be able to function without them.

Good luck anxiety is horrendous.

Thanks gamer. I have asthma so not sure if I can take. I'll ask her. Glad they have worked for you. Thank you for responding.

Ah crap the ones I'm on you won't be able to take. Explore all the options with her though and see if there's another as an when pill you can take rather than regular pills like ADs as they work quickly when you need one. Some days I just need one but atm I'm on full dose of 3. It helps feel more in control imo.

That's good to know. I'd rather be in control like you say. I don't want to always be taking medication that's why I've been reluctant.

I was the same... just didn't want to take medication and tried everything else first.. It took for me to be In the floor when I caved. I nearly kissed the doctor when I next saw him for more and then he stuck me on repeat prescription.

Mention the beta blockers anyway.. say you know you can't take them because if your asthma but is there anything else you can take as and when that doesn't sedate you or make you sleepy/zombie rather than the likes of Amitriptyline
Or valium and the like. Stopping the adrenaline causing havoc in your body can be enough without numbing your emotions as well.

Honestly your responses have been so helpful gamer. Thank you.

She prescribed citalopram. Which I can take. Wish me luck ...

I was on that and the first week was awful. The tiredness and nausea where horrific. X

Did it get better douch or did you change to something else? I've got another app in two weeks to see how its going.

I do man, all the luck going. Anxiety suck.

Come back after a week or so to see how you're doing. If those meds don't do it for you then tell her when you next go back to see if you can try something else.

I found the most effective thing to be therapy... It depends what is causing your anxiety though. Some just needs meds for an imbalance but generally I think if they were triggered by a life event you should try (along side medication?) to look at what's really going on. What are your beliefs? A big one of mine is that I don't deserve to do nice things for myself. Partly from a kind of bleak upbringing and partly a physical illness ruining a few years for me, but tackling incorrect beliefs helped me a lot. Then the CBG follows, just challenging your thoughts in an evidence based way to see if they're true, and ignoring the thoughts that shout that CBT doesn't work . I've seen people not deal with MH and not open up generally and I think the tackling and clearing out the wounds is much better in the long run and will leave you more balanced and confident you can cope on your own. By all means use the meds to get going though then when you're on an even keel you'll feel able to tackle the thoughts.