I'm able to function in normal range whether I'm in 'distress' or 'acute' anxiety now, which was my long term goal.

Medicine was prescribed for specific symptoms that I needed help with in order to be able to function in normal range.

It took me a long time to accept medicine and once I did, the difference was almost immediate.

I had other symptoms and I worked through those to find what works for me now.

Mid- are you still on medication? What were the specific symptoms you needed additional help with?

My therapist thought that medication combined with the therapy would help me function better. It definitely has. I noticed first that it helped O C D. I was able to walk away from car after four checks that it was locked instead of seven or eight times. I also would repeatedly check that my wall oven was off after cooking.. I stare at the Off sign over and over and touch the metal strip on top of stove. Many times. The metal gets hot when the oven is on. Shortly after starting meds. I would look at dial on stove once and my brain knew it was off.
Anxiety was also lessened with meds. So the horrible physical feelings were muted enough to pay attention to working my therapy. I'm grateful for how much medication helped me live a better life.

I struggled with social anxiety to the point I stressed so much just hoping no one would ever call on me in class. I gladly welcomed and found great relief in anxiety medication.

I use meds and talk therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Meds do work for me but its not like i take a pill and all my anxiety disappears. Still a work in progress.

If I had been brave enough to make an appt. and ask for help many years ago, I would of been a better person and had a been perspective on life.
Medicine is all the way around something I would recommend and I've never thought of it as a negative. I'm thankful for it.

I have PTSD and had suicidal ideation along with general anxiety around trust, panic around others driving, loud noises and certain types of behaviors. I was always on edge. My psychologist was worried about my mental health and that I might hurt myself or others. He referred me to a psychiatrist to evaluate my symptoms. Medication was not forced on me it was a mutual decision. I am much calmer on anxiety medication. My antidepressant med is still being adjusted. At first I was hesitant about taking meds, but really it has been very helpful along with cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and exposure therapy. It’s a work in progress .

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I love how the medicine, with and without further therapy has been able to help you all. It's definitely a work in progress but you all seem to be managing quite well. Congrats on doing the best for you and moving forward!

I'm on blood pressure medicine for anxiety blood pressure - that's the one marker that still throws me - I can look calm, and now that the pressure is within normal range even in 'distress' and 'acute' situations, I'm more able to function.

I was on many different medications for all the physical symptoms that were present, throughout the initial experience, zoloft was prescribed to provide me with the 'calm' zone that was neutral to both depression and anxiety.

Best wishes to all!

I couldn't function--I couldn't work..one of my symptoms was that my legs would bounce up and down uncontrollably...I was totally on board--I needed help and I think my therapist knew I was so bad it was going to be hard for me to even hear her...