Are drugs the only thing that can help me?

[Imgoingbackto505]

I'm going through a really hard time at the moment with sick parents and a couple of other situations that are causing me stress.

I wake up every day with a knot in my stomach, feel shaky and nauseous through the day, cry a lot.

I can't do anything to change the things I'm having to deal with, but I'm exhausted and not coping well. What are my options? I've been on anti depressants before (years ago) and I didn't like the side effects and felt dependent on them, but I need help.

Do you have anyone to offload to? Just some support and having someone in your corner would help.

Also finding a space in each day where you do something that enables you to switch off, or be distracted for a while from the stressful situations. It might be exercise/ cooking/ reading or anything really.

How old are you? Could you be peri menopausal?
How is your sleep?
There's loads of wellbeing stuff you can do to improve how you feel but it takes time and exploration. I swear by yoga, low caffeine intake and meditation however it's not an instant fix and it really helps to be guided by a teacher rather than completely via YouTube. Walking is also great for managing anxiety.
You do need to put some structured time into your own wellbeing which is really difficult when caring for others and working. I agree that medication isn't always helpful. Its offered by doctors as a fix but the most helpful thing is to prioritise your own health. Which is really difficult to do at stressful times.

Hey,

I struggled with depression and anxiety for years before I asked for help from my GP. I felt like I was dealing with it, and that I shouldn't have to take drugs to be able to live a normal life - but I was only really living a half life, which was limited thanks to the way I felt.

Like you, mornings were awful, I'd wake up feeling horrendous.

I've been on meds for 8 months now, and quite frankly I wish I'd done it years ago. You wouldn't avoid medication for a physical health issue, so why try to manage a mental health issue on your own?

The best thing to do is to have a chat with your GP and see what they recommend. I'm only a low dose of my meds and it's changed my life!

@AdaFuckingShelby

How old are you? Could you be peri menopausal? How is your sleep? There's loads of wellbeing stuff you can do to improve how you feel but it takes time and exploration. I swear by yoga, low caffeine intake and meditation however it's not an instant fix and it really helps to be guided by a teacher rather than completely via YouTube. Walking is also great for managing anxiety. You do need to put some structured time into your own wellbeing which is really difficult when caring for others and working. I agree that medication isn't always helpful. Its offered by doctors as a fix but the most helpful thing is to prioritise your own health. Which is really difficult to do at stressful times.

I am menopausal and I'm in hrt, I did suffer anxiety before starting that but I'm sure this is all related to the situation I'm in.

I do get out every day for some fresh air and a walk but I'm still struggling.

I take medicine for anxiety and don't think it any different than the medications I take for my asthma.

There may be other solutions but I wouldn't write off medication

I am in the exact same position as you.
I am 48 and in peri. I’m caring for my mum who has Alzheimer’s and helping my dad out every day as he doesn’t cope. I am secretly not coping either but can’t tell them.
I have IBS which is so very bad atm and have daily nausea on top. I feel so tired and drained every day.
I have tried antidepressants in the past and did not like how they made me feel.
I am currently having some psychotherapy sessions in the hope I can get through this without meds but it’s not having much of an impact on my physical symptoms which exacerbate my already sky high anxiety.
It’s a vicious cycle. I really feel for you

I do have some people I can talk to but I don't see them that often - and actually feel that talking about it constantly doesn't really help me much, it just makes me think about it more and get more stressed. I might give meditation a go.

If you're struggling I would recommend a trip to your gp. I suffer from anxiety, depression and am bipolar as well as being asthmatic. Like a previous poster I think of my mental health meds like I take my asthma meds. Has taken a while to think like that.

If you do decide to take meds think of them as a leg up to be able to deal with everything else better. They might make getting out of bed a bit easier and you don't have to take them forever.