My anxiety and mental health is shot to pieces - which meds have helped get to a better place?

[Daffodilsonthewindowsill]

I’ve struggled for so long and have had enough.
I have such awful (lifelong) anxiety but it is now completely taking over my life.
This is all compounded by life events (caring for a parent with dementia) and chronic health issues, along with other things.
There is literally no joy in my life - absolutely none and I know that is mainly down to my poor mental health. I feel that I am taking my family (dh and teen dc), down with me. The guilt from that is painfully unbearable.
I absolutely hate the thought of taking medication, so very scared of potential side effects which may set me back even further and scared they will exacerbate my awful digestive issues (which are also taking over my life) but I can not carry on the way I have this last year or so, this anxiety is not the anxiety I have managed to control most of my life, this is something from a newly unlocked level for which, it seems, I have zero coping skills.

Have meds helped you? What do you take and how have they helped?

Have you ever heard of micro dosing? There’s a subreddit about it on Reddit if you want to check it out.

So sorry you’re feeling this way and you’re certainly not alone. 👌

Duloxetine.

Highly recommended, although as with all anti anxiety drugs what works for one person will not necessarily work for the next.

Op, might peri-menopause be a factor? It can cause horrific anxiety and/or make existing anxiety even worse. Peri can also cause serious digestive issues, too. You may very well need HRT.

Citrioopram. Has changed my life but took a while to kick in

Sertraline and counselling has been fantastic for me. The sertraline started to work after about 3 weeks

Have you tried CBT?

Oh, you poor thing.

You've got every RATIONAL reason to feel stressed, worried and ill - you do appreciate that, don't you? My first advice is to make an appointment with your GP, write it all down and don't hold back. Be honest about how you feel. Take the letter / list with you to the doctor's.

In answer to your specific question, Mirtazapine and Valium (and its equivalents) have excellent track records for anxiety. Mirtazapine makes you put on weight. Valium's addictive. There are multiple possible approaches. Discuss with your doctor.

Breathe!
Good luck

No, don't sync your breathing with that!!! MN flattened it 😐
hope this works ...

I also found citalopram life changing. Small dose which I built up to, but I had no side effects. Really did change my life

HelpfulJane I do believe that’s the only way I will ever be able to take the step into medication tbh, I will try and find that on Reddit, thanks.
Aquamarine1029 I am 50 aand ,ost definitely in peri although I have a very unhelpful GP, who just wanted to tell me over and over again that hrt has a breast cancer risk (NOT helpful when trying to reassure a patient with health anxiety!).
Awholenewlife123 I have a pack of Citalopram but have been too scared to try it. Did you experience any initial side effects?
Thanks rumnraisinrocks
SophiaElise I have had many years of counselling, CBT and hypnotherapy but sadly they haven’t helped.
Thank you so much GarlicGrace
usernameV2 I really do need to dig out the unopened pack I have in my drawer. I was prescribed 20mg and was going to half them to start and build up but my anxiety wouldn’t even let me do that!

Sending love and hugs and light OP. You'll get some good advice and a list of drugs here but what works for one won't work for another. I swear by sertraline. Citalopram turns me into a zombie. The other way round for a friend of mine. Find a good GP and find something that works for you. But honestly - much love xxx

Aquamarine1029 I am 50 aand ,ost definitely in peri although I have a very unhelpful GP, who just wanted to tell me over and over again that hrt has a breast cancer risk (NOT helpful when trying to reassure a patient with health anxiety!).

Op, your idiot GP is totally wrong. I implore you to go to a private peri-menopause/menopause clinic. It is the best investment you could make.

Thank you unicorncrumble - luckily my (so far unhelpful) GP is now on maternity leave and I am booked in with her replacement next month, so fingers crossed.
Aquamarine1029 I am seriously considering it, I have felt rotten with many peri symptoms since I turned 45, literally all the GPs I have seen from then till now have said I can not be in peri as I’m still having a regular cycle, although very light now due to an ablation last year and that was needed because I was literally flooding every minute to the point I ended up needing an iron infusion but that still wasn’t enough to convince them I’m in peri as very few hot sweats as well!

HRT does have a breast cancer risk, but it is very small.
another Citalopram here, and I had hardly any side effects at the start (or ever).
it’s reduced my anxiety very effectively.

Sertraline works for me....I did feel quite weird for a few weeks.

Thanks Twoshoesnewshoes as I have the Citalopram at home, unopened I will probably try those first, hopefully they will get me to a place where I can then make a rational and informed choice about HRT, I just can not think rationally at all right now.
Blueuggboots Did they upset your tummy? That’s my biggest concern atm as my IBS is so bad.