Tell me about how medication helped you?

[blueberry23]

I haven’t wanted to go on any medication but am now wondering if I need to. My symptoms are:

Morning anxiety - tingling fingers, want to cry, feeling of adrenaline, fast heart rate etc
Irritability
Overthinking and being too sensitive
No appetite really ever
Worrying about the future with no specific reason to
Feeling hopeless and ‘not very strong’ like I may just crumble at any moment, a hanging on by a thread feeling
Lack of sense of humour, feel like I don’t laugh much any more
Feelings of panic occasionally, not quite escalating to a panic attack but I have to work hard to calm myself down
Feelings of sadness for no particular reason

I also have wonderful very young children, a DH, a lovely home, a busy part time job, no specific money worries, we are all healthy. I do manage to motivate myself to exercise which always helps me. I have some days where I feel fine but more often than not, I do not feel fine.

I am not getting much sleep as our young DC do not sleep well. My anxiety seems much much worse after a bad night.

If you tried medication, how did it work for you and how did you feel?

I’d love to feel a bit more carefree, playful, light and happy. My brain feels very ‘heavy’ and sad and stressed. I feel like my nervous system is in overdrive.

Hopeful bump

It reduces my racing thoughts. I have OCD as part of my issues so I get obsessive thought patterns, ruminating on details. I also suffer anxiety and depression. The first time I went on medication I felt worse at first but persevered and it really calmed me down. I know some people say it dulls their emotions but that’s not the case for me. I found I could laugh and smile again as the anxiety and depression were controlled.

things are a but different for me at the moment as they’ve messed with my meds so I’m back at square one but I would really advise you to try them x

You may need to try more than 1 to find the right fit but honestly they are life-changing (I have anxiety disorders and depression).

I take sertraline for anxiety. Like PP, it seems to have reduced my intrusive racing thoughts. The ruminating was awful before medication. I feel far more balanced and in control. I do still get anxious but it feels like it's contained with a lid on, it never peaks like before. I now feel far lighter, like a weight has lifted. I'm enjoying my life again. My husband says he couldn't pinpoint it before but he sees the difference in me now - I sing in the morning, dance in the kitchen, I can relax and settle at night when on the couch (before I was climbing the walls and distracted).

I've also been to CBT therapy and I think the medication has helped me be more receptive to that so I'm able to have rational thoughts.

Sleep better
No ruminating and endless mind chatter
Much less anxiety
More get up an go so able to keep on top of things
Just generally cope better