Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Medication

deleted_user
deleted_user
I realise that this may sound a little stupid but I'm quite curious about medication for anxiety. I've made an appointment with my doctor to discuss my recent problems with anxiety and if there's anything that can help. I just wondered how effective medication is in controlling anxiety. My problem seems to be that I think a single thought obsessively until it overwhelms me. From what I understand this is a symptom of an anxiety disorder(correct me if I'm wrong). How exactly does medication help treat this. I know that anti-depressants are prescribed for some people with anxiety disorders, but thats where my knowledge ends. I'm also aware of treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for some anxiety related cases.

Any advice/information/experiences would be very much appreciated.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Medication alters the interactions in your brain by changing the chemicals, i am on some medication but as your anxiety has only been present a sort time i would recomend cognitive behavioral therapy were you will learn how to challenge your negative thoughts and then go from there, hope this has helped, if you would like to ask me anything else just message me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am taking Zoloft, an anti-depressant, for anxiety. It's been 4 weeks now and I definitely notice the effects. I, too, was obsessed with one thing. And although it's still an issue, I don't obsess with it any longer.

Good luck.
gimmestrength2008
gimmestrength2008
i have had panic attacks as long as i can remember, even as a infent, i bit my nails to the bone. i have been on xanex for many yrs. too many. im tottaly addicted. so wene you go to your doc, be carefull what they give you. if you can get it under controled whithout meds, esspecially anything in the valum, xanex adivan catagory, try therapy forst. i became addicted over the years. it didnt happen over night. just be carefull, and good luck. i also have an addictive personality, so that makes it worse for me. the meds do work, if you can take them only as needed. i never could, but thats me. good luck and try not to worry. i know easier said than done
ItsKimi
ItsKimi
I would say it depends on what you want the medication to do. If you use it as you should, a tool, then I think it's a great idea. Ideally, you would get on medication, start to feel better, then be able to fully get the most out of your therapy sessions. All too often, though, people get on meds, feel better, and don't worry about therapy. Therapy is crucial so we can learn to deal with this and find techniques to overcome. :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
medication may change chemicals in your brain but theres no hard proof that chemical imbalance is the cause of anxiety or depression. i would reccomend cognitive behavioral therapy any day over medication. especially because though it may be helpful in the short run, when you come off of it, anxiety and depression symptoms usually worsen, withdrawel symptoms can occur, and CBT will be helpful in the future because they are tools with no negative side effects to assist in recovering from such mental illnesses. medication also becomes a crutch as well, much of it has as much of an effect as a placebo.
mystie
mystie
The best medication for anxiety, depression and obsessive thoughts are the SSRI's. Your doctor can help you decide which one might work best.
The SSRI's do take several weeks to take effect and also to get the right dosage. I started back on an SSRI two months ago and my pdoc thinks I will still need at least three more increases over the next three months. So it is a long wait but worth it. We tried taking me off the last SSRI I was on due to a bipolar diagnosis, but that is when I crashed and started into severe anxiety. I am now having less days with severe anxiety, but still have it most days.
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