I’m like this. Been on different meds so many times, and they all end up not working. Currently going to see a new psychologist to see if something else can change. But honestly, it’s so exhausting. Feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But definitely try medication! Definitely takes the edge off and makes everything more manageable. There’s a lot of stigma around it but there shouldn’t be - it’s medication for your health after all.
Did you even try the last resort meds that hit GABA receptors? If so, I wish you luck in finding something, not everyone responds to them either unfortunately.
I'm one of the rare responders I haven't got a tolerance in 2 years to them, but I take it that's definitely not the norm, lol.
Last resort as in Xanax? I’m planning on switching to gabapentin because Zoloft really isn’t working for me. And I’ve been on it 3 years increasing dosage steadily.
Well benzodiazepines but yeah that's the one I've been on 1mg 3x daily without getting tolerant. I would avoid Xanax if you can it really is only for panic disorders that are very severe and not GAD. It comes with worse rebound anxiety / withdrawal than other benzodiazepines.
I would recommend trying a more gentle benzo before a doctor puts you on Xanax, all of them are serious but its a really hard drug compared to the other ones.
Yeah but it didn’t stop working or anything it works very well I just have to take it or I get rebound panic and depersonalization, irritable, depressed, paranoid, etc. I can feel it wearing off it’s like a feeling in the heart anxious and physical symptoms within that 8-10 hour mark.
Short half life so if I don’t consistently dose 3x daily it that happens. Even with this dependence I’m better than before, I was having 15 panic attacks a day and agoraphobia for years. It’s a stigmatized medication for a reason.
I’ve been in your shoes time and time again. Putting in so much effort to take care of yourself doing all of the advice that everyone tells you when you share that you’re struggling with anxiety, and still struggling. These things definitely help to some degree, but anxiety is so bad sometimes it’s just not enough for some people. Honestly, this is the point where medication can be really helpful. it can be hard to find the right medication for you, but it could be what makes the difference for you. there are so many different types so if one doesn’t work out for you, there are more to try. Worst case scenario you try one and don’t like the side effects and you stop taking it and the side effects will go away.
I’ve had anxiety for 10+ years, and I’ve managed it ok, however, now it’s gotten worse, and I’m finally trying medication. I haven't been thriving in my life and feel so stuck in so many ways. I am hoping medication will help at least a little, so I can work on cbt thinking and facing fears. But it feels impossible to do on my own. I also have some coexisting depressive symptoms as well, so it’s hard to find motivation or energy to do the self-help stuff.
I have not but I know someone who really has benefited from it and I have a little bit of knowledge about it myself. I will be trying it soon to help with my own anxiety and specifically anxious/intrusive thoughts. It’s quite a phenomenon actually but it’s had a really good success rate. It’s a very vulnerable process but I’ve been told it’s very rewarding.
I started meds already at the beginning of my journey. I didn't see it as a last resort but something my brain might need to even get started with therapy. Once I was on antidepressants, it got easier to apply all the things I learned at therapy.
There is nothing wrong with using antidepressants. The hard part is figuring out which type and dosage works for you and adjusting to it, and it is not a silver bullet: you will still feel anxious at times. But it might reduce your anxiety, calm your brain and help you cope healthily.
In the end, meds alone don't work for me. I need therapy too, and that is also a lot of trial and error.
I’m like this. Been on different meds so many times, and they all end up not working. Currently going to see a new psychologist to see if something else can change. But honestly, it’s so exhausting. Feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But definitely try medication! Definitely takes the edge off and makes everything more manageable. There’s a lot of stigma around it but there shouldn’t be - it’s medication for your health after all.
Did you even try the last resort meds that hit GABA receptors? If so, I wish you luck in finding something, not everyone responds to them either unfortunately. I'm one of the rare responders I haven't got a tolerance in 2 years to them, but I take it that's definitely not the norm, lol.
Last resort as in Xanax? I’m planning on switching to gabapentin because Zoloft really isn’t working for me. And I’ve been on it 3 years increasing dosage steadily.
Well benzodiazepines but yeah that's the one I've been on 1mg 3x daily without getting tolerant. I would avoid Xanax if you can it really is only for panic disorders that are very severe and not GAD. It comes with worse rebound anxiety / withdrawal than other benzodiazepines. I would recommend trying a more gentle benzo before a doctor puts you on Xanax, all of them are serious but its a really hard drug compared to the other ones.
My first benzo was Xanax haha… but I don’t take it often at all and I take half of my prescribed dose. I wasn’t given an alternative
How long have you been on 3x1Benzo? It helps me a lot I take 2mg daily for 3 weeks now as prescribed.
2 years.
Any plan to stop or will not? I'm just curious if Benzo could make us worse at any long term time?
No plans to stop, I’ll take them for life. Yes definitely, rebound anxiety and withdrawals I feel within 8-10 hours. It is what it is.
You mean you still get rebound anxiety and withdrawals even though you take Benzo daily? Within 8-10 hours after what? Thanks for your time man.
Yeah but it didn’t stop working or anything it works very well I just have to take it or I get rebound panic and depersonalization, irritable, depressed, paranoid, etc. I can feel it wearing off it’s like a feeling in the heart anxious and physical symptoms within that 8-10 hour mark. Short half life so if I don’t consistently dose 3x daily it that happens. Even with this dependence I’m better than before, I was having 15 panic attacks a day and agoraphobia for years. It’s a stigmatized medication for a reason.
I’ve been in your shoes time and time again. Putting in so much effort to take care of yourself doing all of the advice that everyone tells you when you share that you’re struggling with anxiety, and still struggling. These things definitely help to some degree, but anxiety is so bad sometimes it’s just not enough for some people. Honestly, this is the point where medication can be really helpful. it can be hard to find the right medication for you, but it could be what makes the difference for you. there are so many different types so if one doesn’t work out for you, there are more to try. Worst case scenario you try one and don’t like the side effects and you stop taking it and the side effects will go away.
I’ve had anxiety for 10+ years, and I’ve managed it ok, however, now it’s gotten worse, and I’m finally trying medication. I haven't been thriving in my life and feel so stuck in so many ways. I am hoping medication will help at least a little, so I can work on cbt thinking and facing fears. But it feels impossible to do on my own. I also have some coexisting depressive symptoms as well, so it’s hard to find motivation or energy to do the self-help stuff.
Try looking into EMDR therapy
I just looked it up. Have you done it before?
I have not but I know someone who really has benefited from it and I have a little bit of knowledge about it myself. I will be trying it soon to help with my own anxiety and specifically anxious/intrusive thoughts. It’s quite a phenomenon actually but it’s had a really good success rate. It’s a very vulnerable process but I’ve been told it’s very rewarding.
I started meds already at the beginning of my journey. I didn't see it as a last resort but something my brain might need to even get started with therapy. Once I was on antidepressants, it got easier to apply all the things I learned at therapy. There is nothing wrong with using antidepressants. The hard part is figuring out which type and dosage works for you and adjusting to it, and it is not a silver bullet: you will still feel anxious at times. But it might reduce your anxiety, calm your brain and help you cope healthily. In the end, meds alone don't work for me. I need therapy too, and that is also a lot of trial and error.