anti depressants for anxiety

[housewife19]

Dont know what to do. Doctor wants me to think about trying antidepressants for my anxiety, ive coped for years, but dont seem to be coping know, ive managed to get myself an eating dissorder and weights dropping off me ( not a good look at 45yrs ) having some C B T thearpy and thats going well, but doctor thinks it will go better quicker with the help of ADs. Control is my thing, and the thought of a chemical controlling me is terrifiying. Any advice anyone .

If you were diabetic, would ou take insunlin to keep you well? if you had a thyroid problem, would you take the relevant medication to keep you well? he medication would not 'control' you chemically - you need to try and change your thinking. it would help you to feel well again (hopefully!). I would try them - they did help me with my anxiety.

If you don't like them, you can always stop taking them.

I'm currently on seroxat for generalised anxiety disorder, it's early days, but I think it is making a difference already. I don't have such big reactions in my body now to stressors.

I too have issues with taking drugs that control me, my dad was an alcoholic and it comes from there, recognising this has helped me to understand my reaction and moderate it enough so that I take the tablets. I was stop and start in the beginning, because my mother told me to stop taking them, but she's a big part of the anxiety too, and I had a doctor tell me off and to take the medication because it will make me feel better (in a very kind way). So I am putting my trust in them, what do I have to lose? I already feel awful a lot of the time, not just mentally, but physically too.

Do I let the anxiety control me, or do I see how I go on something they prescribe to and which helps many people? It may not help. But if it does, is it not better than handing over the control to irrational anxiety?

Something tells me im not the only one out there suffering.. Thanks for the replies, its so hard to know what to do for the best and right now i dont trust my judgement. My dad was an alcoholic and my mum is drug dependant (long term tranquillizer abuse) and what with the way i am i know addiction is in my make up, so taking anything even a painkiller is a major concession to me. My doctor is wonderfull and feels the antidepressants will help the thearpy have a better effect, she also sending me to a dietician to help me put my weight on healthly. Im not anorexic, i dont think im looking fat, i just have to control everything, even down to the food i eat,(healthy, nothing that will make me feel ill, ) that sort of thing, unfortunately my "safe foods" are so few now that i dropped 1 1/2 stone in 8mnths. I always thought i was in control of my anxiety i didnt see my anxiety creeping up and controlling me, my therapist says ive "lost control of my control" and now control is controlling me. Thanks for the advice i think mabey i will give them a go, i just hope that if they work i dont get addicted and cant live without them.

What Haggisfish said - if you had a broken leg, you'd have a cast on for a short while to help it mend.

If your brain's a bit broken, ADs will support it while you mend, then when you're better able to cope you can discuss with your GP reducing and coming off them.

Modern ADs aren't physically addictive like the older ones, but you owe yourself a favour to get sorted out pet.

have taken seroxat for anxiety for quite a while. Really do rate what it has done for me - anxiety is generally more than manageable. Am a big advocate of them and have done therapy, CBT and the whole works as well. I have come off them several times and been fine for years at a time. My issues are long term and I see them now like I do thyroxine - there for life. But that does not have to mean the same for you.

Take the medication.I had severe anxiety a few years ago and a combination of Zispin and therapy really saw me through it. I know exactly what you're saying about taking medication, I had a big issue with it, I was afraid of losing control. The doctor started me on a low dose and gradually increased it so other than feeling less anxious I didn't feel any other effects at all.

Taking meds is never irreversible, and sometimes even the tiniest dose can make all the difference. A small dose of anti-depressents poses virtually no risk to your health, whereas anxiety & depression pose very real risks - apart from the immediate problems of feeling like crap, not looking after yourself & using unhealthy coping mechanisms, there are long-term problems associated with high cortisol levels over extended periods.

It really is like struggling on with a headache, when actually you could take an aspirin and give yourself (and those who are worried about you) a break.

It can also be a great way to get a bit of space from your problems and start to work on underlying issues, finding ways to make your life work better for you, etc.

Why not agree a low dose under careful supervision of your GP?

I wish you the very best of luck, I think asking for help in this way is very courageous and sensible.

Thank you all for those kind words of advice (willyoudothedamnfanjo-well heeded words thanks).
Im seeing the doctor again soon so im keeping an open mind to what she suggests.

I take 10mg propranolol and 10mg citalopram. I hated the thought of going on them, put it off for ages, but they have really helped

Good luck. Open mind is the way to go. :)

I can empathise with the control thing entirely- I have OCD and before being offered CBT I was told it'd be better for my treatment if I took antidepressants- I was in a complete panic and said no, but got the impression that they wouldn't go ahead with CBT if i didn't take them. I did my research and asked them to give me venlafaxine (am also on tamoxifen which doesn't go with certain ADs) -have been taking it for over a year now and can honestly say it has helped lessen the anxiety and made life easier and I haven't felt that I'm not in control at all. I started cbt but decided that a mindfulness course would perhaps be more helpful (and I can totally recommend it !)
here is a link