I Am Struggling Everyday Without Meds...should I Go On Meds? Posted: 06-22-05 08:35am
Hi guys....As I sit here right now posting
this message, I am having mixed feelings.
I know I suffer from anxiety as I was told
by a life councellor/coach. I am against
taking any medication for my anxiety and
have told my councellor that I want to
beat my anxiety without any meds and try
to fight the feelings off by using mental
power.
But there are just times where my anxiety
makes me feel really nervous and jittery
that I feel I am being ridiculous not
trying medication. I feel that I am at a
level below normal functioning when I have
my anxiety moments because I am quiet and
seem withdrawn from certain people and
seem to not want to talk to them etc
although I may really want to inside or
maybe it is just my personality?. I feel
that I could be a better person and feel
so so much better and communicate much
better and have a much better life if I
were on meds. Sometimes I just wonder
that.
I wonder what person I will become if I
were on anxiety meds. But then I think to
myself, well this is me and I kindof like
the way I am. It makes me who I am. I am
just so scared for personality changes and
becoming addicted on the meds. But then I
wonder if I could really be having a
better life on the other side? :?
Is anyone out there like me? Struggling
to live without meds and trying to fight
off anxiety with their mental strength?
And avoiding medication? How are you guys
coping?
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adambaum
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 54 Location: Home- Peoria, IL
Posted: 06-22-05 21:48pm
I understand your situation, I am too
bouncing between the two options, I want
to be able to beat the anxiety on my own
and I think I can. I am starting
cognitive behavioral therapy and it
appears promising.
Ssri's are the family of meds that deal
with anxiety and depression, to my
understanding none of them are addictive,
sometimes you see peoples personalities
change on them, like there a little too
happy and careless but you really need to
watch the doses. A psychiatrist told me
most people are taking too big of a dose.
Those that are taking an adequate dose you
cant tell that they are on any meds...
I encourage you too try different
therapies and learn all you can and stay
strong. I am here for you and will help
you the best I can. Learn about cognitive
therapy and give it a chance. If you need
the assistance of meds in the future then
that is an option too.
Stay strong!!!
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lynn74
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 71 Location: sydney australia
Posted: 07-02-05 16:36pm
To down
you cant beat anxiety by tensing up and
fighting against it
you need to learn new stress and anxiety
coping skills and identify and unlearn
your existing coping skills which
obviously arent working well enough
any valium type med, taken only as needed
helps a lot and is safe
gentle exercise and long walks are very
relaxing
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Crystal1111
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 102 Location: Florida
Medication Alternative Posted: 07-07-05 08:40am
I would recommend a couple of books: the
instinct to heal: curing depression,
anxiety, and stress without drugs and
without talk therapy," by david
servan-schreiber, m.D., ph.D. I've
struggled with anxiety and panic my whole
life. I was stubborn at first about
medication but reluctantly tried a few:
paxil, lexapro, clonipin, and now I am
taking xanax as needed. As needed,
meaning, when I feel panic creeping up, I
take one and it takes the edge off. Good
luck!
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kathycats
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: New Joisy
Posted: 07-07-05 12:50pm
I've been on zoloft for about 6 years,
this after trying to go the "no-meds"
route myself....
Here's the way I see it....
If you do not know what "normal life"
feels like anymore (and you probably
don't... After awhile you lose touch with
that feeling) you will need to medically
change yourself to feel what normal is by
taking meds....
Once you are on them awhile, you can gauge
to see what "normal life" is like and try
to teach yourself how to achieve that
feeling without meds.
Myself, after fighting taking meds for 6
months, I gave in and have experienced a
"normal life" ever since. I am by nature
a freeked out person who ruminates over
petty stuff, so I have realized that I
personally will be on meds the rest of my
life.
I don't notice i'm on anything except when
I forget to take them for a week or
more...I start seeing my panic coming back
in "from the edges"... It's no fun going
back there, and all those black days I
experienced during my bleakest times...
And so I quickly get my butt to the
pharmacy!
Hth!!!
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RenegadePagan
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: San Diego
Is There An Alternative?? Posted: 07-07-05 22:05pm
I have been struggleing with my meds, and
on set of panick, anxiety, ptsd symptoms
for over 15 years. I have been on and off
of xanax in varing amounts, with positive
results. However I want a life where I am
not dependant on. I have tried
unsuccesfully to stop, and cure myself,
which only resulted in complications due
to dependancy. I am fearfull of going far
from home because " gowds forbid I run out
of my rx.". It is awful, and has taken a
toll on my family...I never go anywhere
any more.
Is there some homopathic remedy/home
remedy? That has the same effects as
xanax? I have tried valarian and other
herbs, is there something out there that
works???
R.P
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Zabrina
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 67
Panic Attack Posted: 07-07-05 23:12pm
I started haveing attacks in feb when I
had some medical problems. My doctor put
me on ativan and told me to see a
councler. All ativan does is make you
kinda sleepy. It helps sometimes.You have
to take it as soon as you feel an attack
comeing on. While I take it I also find
ways to cope myself. The more time passes
the less times I need to take it. It
helps me through the bad times and helps
me sleep while I learn ways to deal
myself.
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kathycats
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: New Joisy
Re: Is There An Alternative?? Posted: 07-08-05 11:31am
renegadepagan
wrote:
i have been struggleing with
my meds, and on set of panick, anxiety,
ptsd symptoms for over 15 years. I have
been on and off of xanax in varing
amounts, with positive results. However
I want a life where I am not dependant on.
I have tried unsuccesfully to stop, and
cure myself, which only resulted in
complications due to dependancy. I am
fearfull of going far from home because "
gowds forbid I run out of my rx.". It is
awful, and has taken a toll on my
family...I never go anywhere any more.
Is there some homopathic remedy/home
remedy? That has the same effects as
xanax? I have tried valarian and other
herbs, is there something out there that
works???
R.P
renegade,
it sounds like you have it pretty
bad....In my experience, xanax is only
meant to be taken for acute onset of
actual panic attacks...Like a fire
extinguisher meant for the worst
moments.... But it doesn't help combat
everyday feelings of anxiety.... You
should try something daily like zoloft.
After a few weeks, you'll probably find
you're fears/anxieties are "melting
away"... Then you can start to experience
life normally....
If your world has closed in like you imply
it has (agoraphobic), you probably need
professional help. Keep trying differnet
methods until something works for
you....Psychiatrist, psychologist,
cognitive therapy, etc....
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RenegadePagan
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: San Diego
Alternative...re: Response From Kathycats Posted: 07-09-05 08:29am
Ohh yes I do have it real bad, I have been
house bound for weeks, and months at a
time, unable to answer my phone, my front
door, or even talk to people. I have
started exihbiting the stupidest phobias;
fear of balloons, flying things, open
spaces, crowded spaces...Now take into
mind that I was a professional dancer for
the don ho hula show, and other events
that would come to hawaii. The onset of
these symptoms did not all come out at
once, but slowly, and as they did, the
ptsd, and flash backs become more and more
vivid... I have accompanied my xanax with
prozac, paxil zoloft, and so many others I
have lost track... They never worked for
me. I have been on xanax, up to 8 mg a
day..Thats 2mg qid not tid bid or prn( but
4 2mg 4 in 1 day) I know the deal. I have
been battling this for over 18 years....
My question is : is there a holistic
remedy, because I am tried of living on a
ball and chain, and not being able to live
my life for fear of running out of my
meds.... So do you know of any???
