Anxiety and Depression meds

[Graveltrain]

I have had awful few months of anxiety, panic with derealisation.
Paid for own counselling ( not wealthy, just desperate) I feel like I’m getting better now or at least managing it, but wondering if I should ask my doc for meds to help me along.
But...after reading the other thread about coming off setraline, the actual withdrawal doesn’t seem too dissimilar to the actual symptoms of anxiety which makes me wonder, what is the point of going on them in the first place if you still have to go back through it when you withdraw from them.
I hope that doesn’t come off in anyway offensive to people that are, or have taken meds. I’m just wondering what’s the best way forward for myself.

You only get withdrawal symptoms if you come off them too fast. Ideally they should be tapered off over weeks or months. The only time you might need to go through withdrawal is if they are having harmful side effects. I had to withdraw quickly from Paroxetine as I was having severe suicidal ideation and my GP felt I was in danger of acting on it so I stopped taking it and started a different class of AD as soon as I was clear of the Paroxetine.

I came off citalopram VERY slowly. No side effects.
I’m now on fluoxetine. I may well always be. I have depression. The medication treats it. Just like my inhaler for asthma.

I was always under the impression that the tablets where something you would take in the short term say 6 - 12 months ? but I appreciate that some people may take them for longer periods, if not indefinitely. (I'm not sure where this thinking has come from and even if I am correct in thinking that)
It just seems that they take a long time to kick in, get the right dosage, brand etc and then the long taper off them?
I feel I am getting better, bit 2 steps forward 1 step back , although this weekend has been awful - which is why I am here.
I'm wondering whether to just keep moving forward as I am, or to try the meds.

Medications are not necessarily for a set time frame, it depends on need, nature of your illness and many other things.

I am on venlafaxine which is most likely to be long term, yet if/when I come off it it will be very very slowly. As pp said, you tend to get withdrawal symptoms when you don't stop medication in a controlled way

I think most gps prescribe for about a year initially. I have taken anti depressants twice in fifteen years. I am now on low dose duloxetine for anxiety and never want to come off it. It stopped my anxious thoughts like switching off a tap. I’ve done cbt, counselling etc and truly believe it’s just an oddity in my brain chemistry so am happy to take meds forever!

How quickly did it turn them off Haggisfish? That sounds amazing! It hasn’t done much for mine! I’ve been on 60mg for nearly 3 months & i’m not sure I feel much better. A tiny bit but I think that’s more because i’ve Been doing things.