I am 27 year old female. I have been suffering from anxiety since I was very little. I’ve been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, Panic attacks, PTSD, and in the past depression. I have had my ups and downs with my battle with anxiety. It is the only one that I can’t seem to get a handle on. I’ve done tones of research on anxiety and have tried almost everything (that I was comfortable with trying) and I still have a very hard time with day to day life. My anxiety and panic attacks are at an all time high and I have reached out for meds due to this. I have been unmedicated since I was 16 and took myself off of everything because after two years of trial and error with no positive result I had given up completely. Now that I am older I know I need the meds to help since being unmedicated for so long has caused me to... not leave my house at times, avoid places, and fear being far away from home. Work can be hard and being home is also an issue especially if I’m home alone at night. My doctor prescribed me 10mg of Prozac for three days (till I’m comfortable) then take 20mg every day till I see her again in a month. It took me 2 1/2 hours with emotional support from friends and my boyfriend to get myself to take one pill. I have been completely anxious ever since. I am also nervous to take the next pill since taking one mad me feel so awful. I know the meds can help but I just can’t seem to calm down enough I’m at my wits end and don’t know what to do any advice would be great.
Fear of taking anxiety meds?
Question posted by Bug143 on 10 March 2018
Last updated on 25 May 2018
5 Answers
This is a healthy fear! You are an intelligent young woman.
Find a Dr. Who you can trust.
Try seeing a naturalist, they focus more on whole body wellness. Where as western medicine attacks one problem.
I see a lady for something called body talk. Spiritual balancing.
It's good to be concerned about these drugs that change the way your brain works. Find what's right for you. Follow your gut, only you can decide what's best for you.
Hi Bug: I have this problem with meds sometimes as well. I quit my medications a few months ago.
Thought I would try to add something else to my regimen -
So I went back to my health food store herbalist (in practice for over 25 yrs) where I buy my supplements. Recently I have gone through another one of my bouts of high anxiety (hard to get under control). Well, I bought several supplements, but she got irritated with me because I don't eat properly, healthily. I can't seem to be able to do that when I am in a high anxiety state. I just wanted to calm down. She told me she couldn't help me anymore because I didn't choose to follow her dietary instructions.
So I am back on my current medication regimen because I can't get anything else under control until I get my extreme anxiety under control, which is greatly affecting my health, digestive specifically. I can empathize with you. But I have decided to start back on my medications, along with my natural supplements - fingers crossed that soon my anxiety level will get back to a tolerably low level.
I hope you try to stick with your medication. As Wildcatvet says, stick with your meds long enough to give them time to kick in and work. (My other problem is impatience, which makes that a hard thing to do!) We will get through this, Bug. And we are not alone. So many people are living with anxiety nowadays. It's really hard.
Update on my circumstances concerning anxiety and panic attacks:
With some urging from my husband and some good advice from folks here on this site, I stuck with my meds instead of quitting when I was experiencing overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks. I reached the point where I was afraid that my medications were making my situation worse. But with good advice from understanding people, I stuck with it, and I am happy to say that my medications are working! My anxiety and panic are back under control. I was actually able to drive myself to some of my favorite stores and go clothes shopping today, and I enjoyed every minute of it! I am a good example of sticking with meds and getting good results for doing so! I hope things work out for you too.
Bug-
My diagnosis and symptoms are very similar to yours. I too have struggled to find medications that help with my anxiety. I too have been afraid to leave the house. If I were the wizard of oz, I would tell you to take a pill cutter and cut the 10mg capsules into half capsules. Take 5mg until you start to feel less anxious, then go up to a whole 10mg capsule for a month. Continue increasing until you get to a level that really works well. Remember, every one's body is different, and we react to different medications in different ways. Your body right now is telling you that 10mg is not the right dose for your starting Prozac.
I wish this was an option but the med certified person in me knows that capsules should never be cut in half or opened. It can work but most capsules are extended release and wouldn’t work the same as it would if in the capsule. I’m not going to lie I didn’t take the second dose. last night with daylight savings time I lost an hr out of my five hrs of sleep. so I will reach out to my doctor on Monday and express how I’m becoming more anxious when I take the meds I truly feel I need a prn while I start a new med cause attempting it with nothing is really just not working. I need to feel calm when trying this becoming more anxious is just making life completely unbearable. The only unfortunate part is not a hole lot of options a pcp can give for prn most are not comfortable with giving ativans ect.
"Opening the capsule may affect how well Cymbalta works." Well, if you can't tolerate 10mg, the only option is to take a 10mg capsule and empty it on a table. Use a clean tool to separate the mini cymbalta dots, put half of them back into the capsule, and throw out the rest. These dots are exposed to light and air when they manufactured the capsules. I think this would work. Just don't use the dots on the floor. (-;
More than half of the dots are fillers. You can never get an accurate dose this way. :-(
Do not fear your meds and remember that you are stronger that any effect that they may have with you. Curious thing about Prozac and other SSRIs I've taken is they really do not make you feel different. They will take you to a point where you will have to find alternatives to feeling anxious. The coping mechanisms for me are exercise, music and reading. It is OK go into another world of your choosing that may seem like avoidance. However it does work, when I find a coping mechanism that even works a little I make it my business to remember it and add it to my mental health tool box.
Given what you said about not revealing your problems at work, I understand. I hid my problems for 30 years and am glad I did. The stigma of mental illness is difficult to understand and shows something in people that I wish did not exist. Relax and believe the med will help you.
Avoidance is my coping mechanism of choice, but it makes for a very restricted life in the long run. So I have to keep seeking relief. It's an ongoing process when anxiety is the problem.
Hi, Bug! Do you think it's your anxiety talking to you instead of rational thought? Yes, antidepressant/anxiolytics can have some mild and transient side effects for the first few days or week or so when starting them, but can it really be as bad as the way you've been living... not leaving your house at times, avoiding places, and fearing being far away from home?
If you can stick it out for a few days knowing that you can ultimately live a "normal" life why not give it a try? You've got nothing to lose.
Be aware that these medications CAN cause increased anxiety in a very few individuals but again, it only lasts a few days and then you are home free.
I lived with your fears and anxiety for too many years... and got sick of wasting my life away. Now, I'm happy, healthy, and completely functional. I hope the same for you!
Djchurn, tried to reply a comment under your comment but I kept getting spam somehow. I completely agree with what your saying I just recently found out about the mental tool box from my psychotherapist. I like to meditate, bing watch tv shows, read if I find a good book, and play video games. They all help me distract myself from the anxiety. Even if it’s only ten mins it just makes it that much easier. I will keep adding tools to my mental tool box’s as I find them.
Work on the other hand I agree it is really sad how poorly most employers handle mental health. I work in a company that works with the mentally disabled and most of them have anxiety, psychosis bipolar disorder, ect. You would think they would be more understanding but if anything I feel like it makes them less understanding. I just hate trying to help myself and feel like I can’t have any issues cause of the fear of work finding out.
I can relate to every aspect of your story, other than I am 50 years old. I took 20 mg of Prozac for 20 years and found it to be very helpful.
This past year I began having daily anxiety and my fear of meds kicked in with a vengeance! I cried for hours while staring at a pill that was supposed to help me feel better. Anxiety makes our rational brains not believe our emotional brains.
Fast forward 9 months... I now take 15mg of Lexapro each night, just before bed. I also have a prescription of Klonopin to take as needed. I rarely take the Klonopin but now have confidence knowing that there are meds to help me when I can no longer hang on.
Remember that a Dr. wrote you the prescription to help you, not hurt you.
Hugs to you!
Mat, it's very common for a medication to "poop out" after just a few years of use, never mind 20! You've been very lucky and I'm glad you found a good alternative in Lexapro.
Just goes to show that a little courage and perseverance can change your life for the better.
Thank you I appreciate your kind words. It’s hard cause we’re I live there is a huge lack of psychiatrists and nurse practitioner prescribers. I have never been offered any thing like a klonipine just buspar, Effexor, and propranolol (recently and not ever offered a narc in the past). None of which I ever took. I had taken buspar in the past and had no help and had taken so many different pills they had started to offer me none fda approved meds (still in trial). Today has been quiet a ruff day and it don’t help I work 14 hrs today tomorrow and the next day. I know it’s just my irrational thoughts that are getting the best of me but there so hard to fight. I am nervous still to take the next dose tonite. I hope I can calm down enough tonite to take it. I just can’t be like this at work. I work in a group home with intellectually disabled adults from high function to abi and tbi (acquired brain injury, traumatic brain injury).
In my field of work they are not very understanding on people taking medications. I know two people getting fired over taking Xanax and the other over a head ache med. I’m very happy that meds have worked for you both so well the idea of a ‘normal’ life seems so out of reach sometimes and the fact you to have it shows there’s hope. I will try my hardest and hope I can get threw this month. And keep your thoughts in mind when I get anxious. Thank you both.
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depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, fear, female, disorder, diagnosis
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