I mean anti-depressants, of course.

For depression I am on Lamictal (which is a mood stabilizer usually used in bipolar-I am diagnosed with schizoaffective (bipolar subtype) and also on Lexapro (anti-depressant) they both really help! I am on ativan (benzo) for my anxiety and it really helps. I hope you reconsider meds and glad to see you are in therapy. Good luck and keep us updated!

Hi, welcome to the group. I started with anxiety when I was 16 and didn't start taking meds until I was 34. I went as long as I could without them but the anxiety and panic got so bad I had to do something. I first went on Celexa and that didn't work for me so I switched to Paxil. It took a while to get me to the right dose to help but when we did it worked great. I never took rescue meds like Klonopin or Xanax. The Paxil seemed to keep me stable all day every day so I didn't have any highs or lows. It was a Godsend for me.

Also, through therapy I have healed from my past traumas to the point where I don't need any meds any more. So keep going to therapy - it can help.

Take care

I was on antidepressants for many years in my 30's and then was able to go off of them. I too tried many and didn't feel it was helping. After my divorce, which was causing the depression I believe, I was able to go off all meds. Today though I have had a bout of anxiety because of stressors and moving to a new state. It was all too overwhelming for me at age 55! Anyway, I am again on Prozac and Xanax (as needed) and am feeling better. I'd say give meds a try. I see a difference from the first time I was on them. Good luck!

I was very resistent to medication, and it was only about 5 months ago that I accepted prescriptions for these kids of meds. The transition was tough - I first took Luvox, which had awful side effects for me. After two months at different dosages, I switched to Zoloft, which has been working much more effectively. It's less about feeling "good," and more not feeling quite so bad. I was also first prescribed Klonopin as a rescue drug for my panic attacks, but I found the side effects (extreme drowsiness, intense, long-lasting headaches) too much for me and was switched to Xanax. I try not to depend on the Xanax too much, but it has absolutely stopped me mid-panic attack, so I'm in favor.

That said, remember that there is no one answer to what helps people with anxiety. Give the meds a try, but if they just don't help you much then there are other options to explore!

When I was going through anxiety and depression I ended up with a psychologist who desperately tried to keep me off medication. Her technique was CBT. Though ultimately she was not the reason I overcame anxiety....she was part of the puzzle. As I began to learn and work on the various things in my life that kept me in anxiety and depression...both the anxiety and depression began to lift.

It was then that I began to understand why she did not want me to start meds at that time. Had I begun the meds....I never would have believe my improvements were due to the changes that I was making with my thoughts ,actions and reactions. I would have given the credit to the medications instead of the changes that I was making in my life.

Now......I definitely am not against medications. They are a great assistant in overcoming anxiety and depression. The only thing I would like you to understand is that MEDICATIONS ALONE will NEVER help you to overcome anxiety or depression. The meds will help with he symptoms. To overcome anxiety and depression completely, you have to uncover what is keeping you in this state and learn how to change those thoughts, actions and reactions.

I have been anxiety and depression free for over three years and I know it can never take me down again. I know what it is and what caused it and it no longer scares me.

My best to you!

Hi and welcome! The anti's work for me, for both anxiety and depression. I have been on them for two and a half years and overall, I think they are personally helpful.

Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be and best wishes.

Thank you so much, everyone, for your replies and advice. It gives me a lot to think about. I have always found therapy more useful than meds, and in recent years I've found yoga and meditation extremely useful as well. Since everything came to a head with this most recent episode, I've tried some new meditation and breathing techniques which have really helped to bring down my anxiety levels. The only problem is that the anxiety pops right back up after a couple hours or if I haven't been able to do any breathing, etc., like over the weekend, for example. I do think the most helpful thing will be to change my habitual reactions to life, my perceptions, as well as addressing past traumas through therapy and journaling. If I do decide to take any meds, I hope they can be a temporary aid.... Thank you again!

If you go to the discussion board, you will find Adventureguide has a series of threads she puts out EVERY Monday that will help rid you of Anxiety once and for all. If you friend her, she will catch you up (she is on week 8) with previous threads....or you can scroll through and find them all....personally....it's faster and easier to friend her :)
All of her work is free.....and free is good. Plus you can do all the work at your convenience in your own home.
I won't lie....it will take some work and digging around in your past. So get out some paper and a pen......trust me....it will be worth the effort. What have you got to lose? Anxiety!!!!!!!
Adventureguide answered this thread.....so just click on her user name and Voila.....it will take you directly to her......she is a God send and really nice :)

I have also tried a huge list of drugs for my depression and finally found viibryd. It kind of works but still isn't enough. I'm on 2 different antidepressants. Plus, i'm also on meds for my anxiety and schizzoaffective disorder. But yes, antidepressants can be very helpful.

I have had anxiety and depression, both together and separately, a number of times in my life. Anti-depressants have always worked for me. I have used Zoloft, Cipralex, Pristiq and now Prozac.

I started Prozac about 2-3 weeks ago and I wish someone would have warned me that it could make me feel worse before I got better. Ended up going back to doctor to get Clonazapam while waiting for Prozac to kick in but now I'm starting to feel normal again.

I tried it for six months without any meds. Didn't realize how bad I was feeling until I started taking meds again. The tension in my body was unbelievable and my mind wouldn't stop racing. I can say these past few days is the first time in about 8 months that I have finally found some peace. I was extremely reluctant about taking drugs for a number of reasons but now I'm kicking myself that I waited so long to get back on them and suffered so much needlessly..

Yes, anti depressants do work. But to a certain extent. They never help 100%.....although there is still a difference in the way you feel. I just hate the fact that they need to be taken daily, and also the negative effects of taking them.

JudyFZ,
Antidepressants can work but you may have to try a number of them before you find one that works for you. I had to try several of them before I found one which works for me. Keep in mind sometimes the meds have to change because your body adjusts to the medication or they just dont work for you. Good luck with finding the medication that works for you.

Thank you again everyone for the advice. Just a little update. I had my doctor's appointment last week and she convinced me to try lexapro. She said I can always stop if it doesn't work or I don't like it. It also helped that she said the side effects are pretty minimal for most people. It's also encouraging to hear medication has been so helpful to some of you. I would love to be able to manage this with just therapy, journaling, and yoga alone, but it's beyond me at the moment. I hope medication will be just the extra boost I need right now. It's a little frustrating that it could take awhile to find what works, but I'm willing to give it a shot.