Glad you got some relief. I'm currently experiencing a serious bout of anxiety. I'm waiting for my meds to kick in. Also waiting for therapy appointment. It helps if I divide my day up so I'm less overwhelmed. Remind yourself to be good to yourself. Don't allow guilt to creep in. Focus on self care and getting well. You deserve it and it will benefit your family in the longrun.

I share your drug anxiety, Ready2, but there is no disgrace in taking whatever help is available during an era of need.

Steadying support while you find your new baseline.
Breathing with you. . .

Keep working at it.

Look, there is no shame in taking medicine. If you had diabetes or another illness, wouldn’t you take the recommended medicine for it? It isn’t any different with anxiety. And to be open, if it wasn’t for medication, I don’t know where I would be right now. Meds take the edge off anxiety, so with this little extra boost I get, my recovery is going good. And when the time is right I will stop taking it. I do relaxation meditation and acceptance method practice every day, plus see a therapist. This combination for me is working, I can see a big light at the end of the tunnel.

I feel for you and know how u r feeling. Some days I don't want to get out of bed but I make myself do it. Walking helps me but it's not for everyone. Sending hugs your way......

Thanks everyone! Everybody here has helped me so much since I have joined. I'm very grateful for each of you! I'm definitely gonna work with the doctor in finding some medicine for me. I realize my anxiety is incredibly high and I'm unable to manage it on my own right now. Just knowing someone is listening and understands helps more than you know.

Probably the first, and often the most difficult, challenge in dealing with any "mental" situation is accepting help - medicine in particular. I don't know why, but so many people have such a hard time simply getting themselves to accept the good meds that are prescribed to them by medical PROFESSIONALS.

Hydroxyzine is a very old, basic, safe med that is now the go-to for anxiety and related problems. It's actually one of the first generation antihistamines and thus very similar to diphenhydramine (Benadryl) but it is longer-acting and less anticholinergic, meaning it doesn't make your brain as foggy to put it simply. I have lots of hydroxyzine but personally I prefer the diphenhydramine since it's faster acting and also shorter acting. The former seems to keep my groggy for over 24 hours though the latter does make me a little loopy if I take 3 or more at one time which I do not recommend unless you know what you're doing and have experience with such.
The hydroxyzine is now the go-to because doctors are extremely wary of giving benzos like Xanax, Valiums, and the like for lots of good reasons.
It definitely pays to do your research on any meds you are prescribed and know yourself and how you respond to certain types. Knowledge is power.
I am bipolar 1 and I hate putting my kids and wife through all that I have put them through as well. That's a great start for you, readytolive. Count yourself as extremely fortunate that you are able to understand that and care enough to do something about it.

I too have been dealing with anxiety. I know medication isn’t a fix all but I would expect some relief, but I don’t feel like that is happening. I understand getting to a breaking point as I have hit that a few times over the past few months. I have contacted my doctor’s office pleading for some relief. I have been on Zoloft for more than 12 weeks and Buspar for at least 5 -6 weeks and still have symptoms everyday, nearly all day. I am waiting to see a GYN to look into hormonal imbalances due to menopause. The only meds that seem to help me now is Lorazapam that I take to sleep. Not sure if anyone else has hormonal issues contributing to anxiety.
I hope you find relief. I understand how hard it can be to even minimally function at times and the toll it takes on family members around you. My strong Christian faith has helped me greatly to deal with each day.

@Cleocat I really do believe my hormones play a part to a degree. Me and my sister(a nurse) have been going through my timeline for awhile. However the doctor I was seeing told me it was all in my head. My biggest episodes have happened after I have given birth. Seen gyn last year told me it might take awhile for my hormones to balance out.. So hopefully with this new doctor we can find some kind of balance for everything. I hope you find relief soon.