Anyone with an anxiety disorder...?

Ladyice2973

I am diagnosed with Bipolar 1, depression and anxiety. I do take meds: Lamictal, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, and Ambein for sleep. I am much more worse when not on meds...and cycle through bipolar much faster if not on them. Alot of my anxiety comes at nighttime, and I cannot sleep. It is worse right now, as I had to move with my son to live with my parents, while my hubby is overseas until 2012. Exercise does help me some, but I still have the anxiety no matter what. I worry about dumb things, that you shouldn't worry about. And I worry that my son is Bipolar, although he is only diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. Anyway, I am rambling....I see a psychiatrist and talk with them. I have not noticed any connection for me with my weight. ALthough when I wasn't on meds, I did weigh more. Well, that's all I have to say. Good luck to everyone in how you deal with your anxiety. :-)

lizc_87

I have panic/anxiety disorder. Before medication I would eat constantly because it would release serotonin into my body. Now I just take the serotonin pill aka Zolof and I do not eat anywhere near as much.

RhonndaJ

I don't think any of what follows is really coping strategies or methods to self control my illness, but they are things which help me live with my illness.

I happen to have a fairly progressive psych.

In my case, meds were the first order of business however he's been very clear from the get go about it being an imperfect science and working with me on coping strategies, herbal remedies, and finding the best combination of meds for me, taking into consideration whether the meds are known for holding weight on, or causing gain. He's also worked with me to find the lowest effective level of the meds, as well as discussing how diet and exercise impact the illness. Until recently I've not been paying a whole lot of attention to the latter.

I know that for me too much sugar can be a trigger, and in my case not just processed sugar, sweet vegetables and fruit can also trigger. I know which ones get me and balance them.

Apparently a food allergy can also be a trigger, even a mild one. This isn't a problem for me, but it was discussed.

One of the harder things for me was having to weed 'toxic' people out of my life. There are some circumstances where it's impossible to do this, but otherwise it's been a necessity for me. It doesn't mean that there's anything bad about the person who is 'toxic' it simply has meant that I can't cope with their behaviours. I've been very lucky in the fact that my friends who fell under this label have been very understanding about my distance from them. And no, I didn't specifically tell them that they, personally, were a trigger for me, only that I needed to make changes in my own behaviour to accommodate my illness.

Some people find quiet to be soothing and to help them. I don't. If I'm undergoing an attack I'm better with listening to music. I carry an ipod shuffle with me and have gained permission from my employer to put my earbuds in at work. I work with the public, which makes it awkward, but I will use them during lull times. She's also allowed me to be exempt from the 'calls must be answered immediately' rule because there are times when I can't answer the phone due to my 'issues'. I have no problem returning calls quickly, or picking up a call if a coworker has answered it.

I've been very lucky to have an understanding employer who's allowed me to modify my job in ways that are beneficial to me, mental health-wise and to work. I'm a bit of a geek and I find such things soothing, so I work on our website and manage our database.

Repetitive actions also help me, things like computer games or crocheting.

Along with the deep breathing, which I also find useful, I also took to creating a place in my imagination. A place that is perfect, serene and filled with things I love. Focusing on that place in detail over the outside world helps.

Anyway, I continue to be a work in progress.

skateboardstef

I self-diagnosed my anxiety shortly before my wedding last year. My fiance and I were going to the mall and we decided to park inside the parking garage and I pretty much flipped out. I've always known I had a dislike for certain things (closed in spaces, crowds, traffic,driving in the rain) but at that moment I realized my anxiety was way out of control, it was ruining/controlling my life. I was so stressed out, I could feel my blood pressure rising and I was scared to death to deal with something as stupid as parking in a garage.

My husband doesn't understand. He's the total opposite of me (cool about everything) and he thinks I'm being irrational. It's been very hard to control lately. My new anxiety trigger is my weight. I obsess over it and I honestly feel fatter now than I was three months ago and I've lost 20lbs. I think this anxiety stemmed out of the fact my husband came out and called me fat, and I also found out that my mother-in-law was talking about it with my husband behind my back. I guess I feel like I can't escape his judgement (let alone the whole world's, if the person I love is that judgmental, what does everyone else think?). It's very sad situation, but somehow I deal with it and I hope for it to improve as I reach my goal weight. I have some other very positive things going on in my life (my job) and it helps to balance everything out.

sinclare

I've recently been diagnosed with depression & anxiety. I think the major downfall is it makes me too nervous to go to the gym by myself. I want to so much, I quite enjoy going [I've been a couple times with my sister but she now refuses] as I just put my music on & get on with it but now that I have no one to go with.. I'm too scared. I get too nervous. I go through every bad scenario in my head & it just stops me in my tracks. It's completely crap.
I really want to take medication for both the depression & anxiety but my doctor & psychologist won't do it for me. They think I can solve the issues by 'talking it out' which is, again, complete crap. I know I need the medication to get on with my life the way any one else would, to have a normal life. Taking daily pills doesn't bother me, I already do that with multi-vitamins & stuff so it won't be annoying but nope, they refuse. I hate them for it.

get another opinion darlin'.

KarmaxKitty

I don't think any of what follows is really coping strategies or methods to self control my illness, but they are things which help me live with my illness.

I happen to have a fairly progressive psych.

In my case, meds were the first order of business however he's been very clear from the get go about it being an imperfect science and working with me on coping strategies, herbal remedies, and finding the best combination of meds for me, taking into consideration whether the meds are known for holding weight on, or causing gain. He's also worked with me to find the lowest effective level of the meds, as well as discussing how diet and exercise impact the illness. Until recently I've not been paying a whole lot of attention to the latter.

I know that for me too much sugar can be a trigger, and in my case not just processed sugar, sweet vegetables and fruit can also trigger. I know which ones get me and balance them.

Apparently a food allergy can also be a trigger, even a mild one. This isn't a problem for me, but it was discussed.

One of the harder things for me was having to weed 'toxic' people out of my life. There are some circumstances where it's impossible to do this, but otherwise it's been a necessity for me. It doesn't mean that there's anything bad about the person who is 'toxic' it simply has meant that I can't cope with their behaviours. I've been very lucky in the fact that my friends who fell under this label have been very understanding about my distance from them. And no, I didn't specifically tell them that they, personally, were a trigger for me, only that I needed to make changes in my own behaviour to accommodate my illness.

Some people find quiet to be soothing and to help them. I don't. If I'm undergoing an attack I'm better with listening to music. I carry an ipod shuffle with me and have gained permission from my employer to put my earbuds in at work. I work with the public, which makes it awkward, but I will use them during lull times. She's also allowed me to be exempt from the 'calls must be answered immediately' rule because there are times when I can't answer the phone due to my 'issues'. I have no problem returning calls quickly, or picking up a call if a coworker has answered it.

I've been very lucky to have an understanding employer who's allowed me to modify my job in ways that are beneficial to me, mental health-wise and to work. I'm a bit of a geek and I find such things soothing, so I work on our website and manage our database.

Repetitive actions also help me, things like computer games or crocheting.

Along with the deep breathing, which I also find useful, I also took to creating a place in my imagination. A place that is perfect, serene and filled with things I love. Focusing on that place in detail over the outside world helps.

Anyway, I continue to be a work in progress.

I've also found a lot of these things helpful. Just going anywhere without my music makes me jumpy. I'm very dependent on my Zune. It helps me get to MY happy place in my head. And knitting was a godsend. I first picked it up during high school while working on the largest english paper I'd had during that time, and just listening to the clicking of the needles while proofreading kept me sane and focused. XD

lkm111

When my husband was in Iraq I suffered severe panic attacks that would only manifest while - DRIVING! It was terrifying. I was prescribed Xanax which helped me so much. I started to sleep better and my heart rate went down a lot. I have not taken them since, but I can tell when my anxiety level gets higher. I stop what I'm doing and do deep breathing exercises. If the anxiety ever gets back to the point it was when I took the meds, I will see my doctor again.

I hope you are able to get the anxiety under control, but choose the way you think is best.

rowbseat13

I have an anxiety disorder, too... I'm the kind of person that refuses to take even a Tylenol when I have a headache -- I HATE taking medicine, so I was really reluctant to start taking any for my anxiety. Then, it started to cause a lot of problems in my every day life. I would just be sitting on the couch watching TV or out shopping, and suddenly my heart would start racing and I would start shaking like crazy. Panic attack for no reason. It kept happening, and it didn't seem to be linked to situations or stress at all. Just a disorder. So, I started taking a very, VERY low dosage of Paxil in June 2010. I haven't had a panic attack since November 2010.

As far as it affecting my weight or diet, it really doesn't. On the rare occasion I do have a panic attack, I usually feel sick the rest of the day, so I don't eat much. That's about the only way it affects my weight at all -- so not really.

rowbseat13

My husband doesn't understand. He's the total opposite of me (cool about everything) and he thinks I'm being irrational. It's been very hard to control lately. My new anxiety trigger is my weight. I obsess over it and I honestly feel fatter now than I was three months ago and I've lost 20lbs. I think this anxiety stemmed out of the fact my husband came out and called me fat, and I also found out that my mother-in-law was talking about it with my husband behind my back. I guess I feel like I can't escape his judgement (let alone the whole world's, if the person I love is that judgmental, what does everyone else think?). It's very sad situation, but somehow I deal with it and I hope for it to improve as I reach my goal weight. I have some other very positive things going on in my life (my job) and it helps to balance everything out.

I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't imagine not having someone supportive... I'm not sure my family understands that I can't HELP having panic attacks for no reason, but they are at least concerned and supportive. My husband, thankfully, gets it completely as he had a couple years where he went through (situation) anxiety issues before we got together. He's the one that actually TOLD me that what I was having was a panic attack. I thought I was about to have a seizure or something.

Have you tried addressing the issue with your husband at all? As in, telling him that the things he says hurt your feelings and that you need his support? If you ever need anyone to talk to, please add or message me. You shouldn't have to go through this alone...

perceptualobfuscator

No offense but it doesn't sound like you are dealing w/ it very well. The need to control your personal items and not being able to face stress is effecting your quality of life. The doctor is a doctor for a reason if you do not take the meds you will never know if they help. Plenty of people take meds for anxiety refusing to take the pills doesnt make you stronger than them just sicker. If you are not in counseling I would recommend it.

Actually, there are many good reasons not to take meds for anxiety. Neuroscience (and our modern treatment of anxiety) is relatively new, and medication is still a far from perfect or easy solution. There are many side effects that come part and parcel of common anxiety medications, and as of yet there isn't any firm, specific 'anxiety' drug. It's a work in progress, but the decision to use medication should not be assumed to be a cure-all or necessarily even helpful. Some are quite dangerous - a reason many prefer behavioural therapy, which comes with fewer risks and a measurable success rate, over the unknown factor many medications tend to be.

I think perhaps you would benefit from some research in this area prior to making suggestions to others, particularly when said suggestions have an air of judgement about them. Brain chemistry is not as simple or well-understood as you seem to be assuming. Realistically, our base of knowledge has a distance to go - remember that it was not so long ago that lobotomies, insulin-induced comas and electroshock therapy were used without the slightest concern.

There is something about this response that I find quite troubling, but I really can't put my finger on it, because nothing said is anything I would disagree with strongly.

I find myself wanting to say that it's incredibly unlikely that there will ever be a specific 'anxiety' drug, simply because dealing with the brain chemistry is more difficult than dealing with any other part of the body. It also happens to be the least understood of the body's organ and therefore, yes, finding an effective treatment is difficult. God knows I've played 'musical meds' for years before I found a combination that works for me.

I do agree that behavioural therapy is quite useful for some people, but it's not for everyone and seeing a medical professional for your mental illness is a starting point to learning what is best for you. Some people need meds temporarily to get them to a place where they can actually work on behavior therapy.

I thoroughly believe that everyone should do their own research on options out there before making decisions or suggestions to other people, but unless people take their information from good sources and are self aware, even research and knowledge can be pretty useless. At this point I'm also going to say that I'm troubled when people say they are 'self diagnosed', unless it's backed up by a professional diagnoses I believe it's in question.

Lastly, simply because a treatment is new doesn't mean it should be treated a suspect, sometimes you have to take a chance on the possible long term side effects in order to have a happy productive life now. While the medication is not mental health related, my husband was put on a drug that received one of the fastest approvals the FDA has ever given. It was worth it. The second drug he was put on, had only been approved for less than six months. Again, worth it. Maybe there will be long term side effects to taking the meds, I personally hope he'll be around to find out. The same with medications for mental illness. I'm willing to take the chance.

The irony to all I've said is that one of my biggest anxiety triggers is actually dealing with medical professionals, but facing up such things is necessary and often the best course of action.

I'm not going to say that I'm sorry for going on about this, and on this thread in general, but over the years I've become very vocal about depression, anxiety and mental illness and disorders in general. I got really tired of having to make excuses for my viable illness, and I got tired of being ashamed of it, and I got tired of running in to people who were miserable and silent because they blamed themselves and had never heard anyone speak up about what they were going through.

I actually agree with nearly everything you said. My main objection is that I've seen many people in this thread argue that people NEED to use medication, and that they have no sympathy for those who don't. Blaming people who suffer from anxiety for not seeking treatment is harmful - especially considering that many actions involved in seeking treatment are not things someone with a severe anxiety problem are capable of (making phone calls, scheduling appointments, walking into a new building, etc). A lot of what I know is from a mixture of personal experience and academic research on the subject, and I've known many health professionals and laypersons who act like meds are a cure-all. It's not that simple. We shouldn't pretend that it is. I'm excited to see scientific progress in this area, and hope that one day greater knowledge on the subject will lead to treatment plans superior to those we have today. But we shouldn't dismiss those who are reluctant to take the risks inherent in new medical treatment in an area in which there is a relative lack of knowledge and understanding.

As well, I should make it clear that I'm not touting the superiority of behavioural therapy - like you said, it's not for everyone. But neither are meds. Which is why we shouldn't shame those who choose not to use them, or fail to recognize the risks.

And you have absolutely no reason to apologize; I appreciate your thoughtful and well-constructed response. Thank you!!

perceptualobfuscator

No offense but it doesn't sound like you are dealing w/ it very well. The need to control your personal items and not being able to face stress is effecting your quality of life. The doctor is a doctor for a reason if you do not take the meds you will never know if they help. Plenty of people take meds for anxiety refusing to take the pills doesnt make you stronger than them just sicker. If you are not in counseling I would recommend it.

Actually, there are many good reasons not to take meds for anxiety. Neuroscience (and our modern treatment of anxiety) is relatively new, and medication is still a far from perfect or easy solution. There are many side effects that come part and parcel of common anxiety medications, and as of yet there isn't any firm, specific 'anxiety' drug. It's a work in progress, but the decision to use medication should not be assumed to be a cure-all or necessarily even helpful. Some are quite dangerous - a reason many prefer behavioural therapy, which comes with fewer risks and a measurable success rate, over the unknown factor many medications tend to be.

I think perhaps you would benefit from some research in this area prior to making suggestions to others, particularly when said suggestions have an air of judgement about them. Brain chemistry is not as simple or well-understood as you seem to be assuming. Realistically, our base of knowledge has a distance to go - remember that it was not so long ago that lobotomies, insulin-induced comas and electroshock therapy were used without the slightest concern.

I had had plenty of research. I am minoring in psychology & I have a trauma induced anxiety disorder. I have had meds & counseling and know many others who have anxiety. If you look @ my post I did not recommend a certain medication. As I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) you are not a doctor and are undoubtedly less educated on the subject than her doctor who prescribed her meds in the first place. This is not the past this is now and when you are sick and a proven cure (unlike what you used for your examples) is available you take it. You have your own prejudices of the medical field that's fine but don't make it sound as though my opinion is wrong & yours is right because you really don't know what the right course is either

Look, everyone has views on the medical field, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to say I have 'prejudices' against it. My entire family is medical - parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, second-cousins, you name it. A minor in psychology - yet to be completed - really doesn't impress me; in fact, compared to the base of knowledge I have access to, it's pretty laughable. I also know the limitations of a doctor's knowledge, and that there are some subjects on which I am more educated than a doctor may be. When it comes to GPs, who can prescribe psychiatric medication but are not specialists in the field, this may or may not be the case. (As an aside, you should look into neuroscience or biopsychology rather than psychology if you're talking about meds. Psychologists aren't actually qualified to prescribe medication - psychiatrists are.)

I must also dismiss your anecdata as inapplicable when described as research - one individual's experience cannot speak to the overall usefulness of a treatment. I'm glad that you found medication helpful, but it's incorrect to assume that this is relevant in support of your point. I could just as easily find individuals to whom medication was actively damaging.

Additionally, I'm not debating any individual person's medication. I am saying that it is not the only option, and should not be treated as such. I think your comment made strong assumptions based on little information, and this is part of what I object to.

Lastly, my main objection is to your assertion that there is a 'proven cure'. Medication and brain chemistry is a relatively little-known area when it comes to anxiety treatments. It's new - it doesn't hurt to recognize that. What does hurt, however, it the perception that it is not a risk, that it comes without difficulties, or that anyone suffering from mental illness is obligated to seek this style of treatment lest they become unsympathetic. Of course meds have been very helpful to some people; that is not in question. But there are also good reasons not to take them. (Another aside: some of the treatments I listed have in fact been 'proven cure' for certain cases.)

I don't mean to be rude or dismissive, so I apologize if I am coming across as such. Sometimes I am more brusque than intended. Thank you for your response, as this has been an interesting discussion.

cmriverside

Excellent post, perceptualobfuscator.

runner328

No offense but it doesn't sound like you are dealing w/ it very well. The need to control your personal items and not being able to face stress is effecting your quality of life. The doctor is a doctor for a reason if you do not take the meds you will never know if they help. Plenty of people take meds for anxiety refusing to take the pills doesnt make you stronger than them just sicker. If you are not in counseling I would recommend it.

Actually, there are many good reasons not to take meds for anxiety. Neuroscience (and our modern treatment of anxiety) is relatively new, and medication is still a far from perfect or easy solution. There are many side effects that come part and parcel of common anxiety medications, and as of yet there isn't any firm, specific 'anxiety' drug. It's a work in progress, but the decision to use medication should not be assumed to be a cure-all or necessarily even helpful. Some are quite dangerous - a reason many prefer behavioural therapy, which comes with fewer risks and a measurable success rate, over the unknown factor many medications tend to be.

I think perhaps you would benefit from some research in this area prior to making suggestions to others, particularly when said suggestions have an air of judgement about them. Brain chemistry is not as simple or well-understood as you seem to be assuming. Realistically, our base of knowledge has a distance to go - remember that it was not so long ago that lobotomies, insulin-induced comas and electroshock therapy were used without the slightest concern.

I had had plenty of research. I am minoring in psychology & I have a trauma induced anxiety disorder. I have had meds & counseling and know many others who have anxiety. If you look @ my post I did not recommend a certain medication. As I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) you are not a doctor and are undoubtedly less educated on the subject than her doctor who prescribed her meds in the first place. This is not the past this is now and when you are sick and a proven cure (unlike what you used for your examples) is available you take it. You have your own prejudices of the medical field that's fine but don't make it sound as though my opinion is wrong & yours is right because you really don't know what the right course is either

Look, everyone has views on the medical field, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to say I have 'prejudices' against it. My entire family is medical - parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, second-cousins, you name it. A minor in psychology - yet to be completed - really doesn't impress me; in fact, compared to the base of knowledge I have access to, it's pretty laughable. I also know the limitations of a doctor's knowledge, and that there are some subjects on which I am more educated than a doctor may be. When it comes to GPs, who can prescribe psychiatric medication but are not specialists in the field, this may or may not be the case. (As an aside, you should look into neuroscience or biopsychology rather than psychology if you're talking about meds. Psychologists aren't actually qualified to prescribe medication - psychiatrists are.)

I must also dismiss your anecdata as inapplicable when described as research - one individual's experience cannot speak to the overall usefulness of a treatment. I'm glad that you found medication helpful, but it's incorrect to assume that this is relevant in support of your point. I could just as easily find individuals to whom medication was actively damaging.

Additionally, I'm not debating any individual person's medication. I am saying that it is not the only option, and should not be treated as such. I think your comment made strong assumptions based on little information, and this is part of what I object to.

Lastly, my main objection is to your assertion that there is a 'proven cure'. Medication and brain chemistry is a relatively little-known area when it comes to anxiety treatments. It's new - it doesn't hurt to recognize that. What does hurt, however, it the perception that it is not a risk, that it comes without difficulties, or that anyone suffering from mental illness is obligated to seek this style of treatment lest they become unsympathetic. Of course meds have been very helpful to some people; that is not in question. But there are also good reasons not to take them. (Another aside: some of the treatments I listed have in fact been 'proven cure' for certain cases.)

I don't mean to be rude or dismissive, so I apologize if I am coming across as such. Sometimes I am more brusque than intended. Thank you for your response, as this has been an interesting discussion.

My family is in the medical field also. As was I until I decided to change fields. Which by the way is Environmental science lots of biology, chemistry and A&P. When speaking of medicine it is all relatively new and if if society used that as an excuse not to take presciptions most people would not be on medication. Medication has significantly extended the life expectancy of those who have access to it. If you do not believe compare the life expectancy of our country to those in Africa nations. When I spoke of a cure it is because for me and many others (as proven by many who have posted a response) there has been a cure. I was sick and now I am not. That is all the proof I need. By the way you skipped around the point that the her doctor is more educated than you. I am sure you have more education on some subject more than some doctor out there but that was not my point and you cannot make your self right about that no matter how convoluted you make it. I am sure I will hear more about this subject from you again. I as I can see you are the type of person who has to have the last word. I have made my point. I have agreed to disagree with you.

LilyJohnson

I don't have an anxiaty disorder but I am Bipolar and that affects my diet alot. fx when I'm in really bad mood I stop dieting but I always try to start it again and I've taken a decesion not to let it affect me anymore.

runner328

I don't have an anxiaty disorder but I am Bipolar and that affects my diet alot. fx when I'm in really bad mood I stop dieting but I always try to start it again and I've taken a decesion not to let it affect me anymore.

Good for you don't get discouraged. Bad moods have sabotaged many of us.

perceptualobfuscator

No offense but it doesn't sound like you are dealing w/ it very well. The need to control your personal items and not being able to face stress is effecting your quality of life. The doctor is a doctor for a reason if you do not take the meds you will never know if they help. Plenty of people take meds for anxiety refusing to take the pills doesnt make you stronger than them just sicker. If you are not in counseling I would recommend it.

Actually, there are many good reasons not to take meds for anxiety. Neuroscience (and our modern treatment of anxiety) is relatively new, and medication is still a far from perfect or easy solution. There are many side effects that come part and parcel of common anxiety medications, and as of yet there isn't any firm, specific 'anxiety' drug. It's a work in progress, but the decision to use medication should not be assumed to be a cure-all or necessarily even helpful. Some are quite dangerous - a reason many prefer behavioural therapy, which comes with fewer risks and a measurable success rate, over the unknown factor many medications tend to be.

I think perhaps you would benefit from some research in this area prior to making suggestions to others, particularly when said suggestions have an air of judgement about them. Brain chemistry is not as simple or well-understood as you seem to be assuming. Realistically, our base of knowledge has a distance to go - remember that it was not so long ago that lobotomies, insulin-induced comas and electroshock therapy were used without the slightest concern.

I had had plenty of research. I am minoring in psychology & I have a trauma induced anxiety disorder. I have had meds & counseling and know many others who have anxiety. If you look @ my post I did not recommend a certain medication. As I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) you are not a doctor and are undoubtedly less educated on the subject than her doctor who prescribed her meds in the first place. This is not the past this is now and when you are sick and a proven cure (unlike what you used for your examples) is available you take it. You have your own prejudices of the medical field that's fine but don't make it sound as though my opinion is wrong & yours is right because you really don't know what the right course is either

Look, everyone has views on the medical field, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to say I have 'prejudices' against it. My entire family is medical - parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, second-cousins, you name it. A minor in psychology - yet to be completed - really doesn't impress me; in fact, compared to the base of knowledge I have access to, it's pretty laughable. I also know the limitations of a doctor's knowledge, and that there are some subjects on which I am more educated than a doctor may be. When it comes to GPs, who can prescribe psychiatric medication but are not specialists in the field, this may or may not be the case. (As an aside, you should look into neuroscience or biopsychology rather than psychology if you're talking about meds. Psychologists aren't actually qualified to prescribe medication - psychiatrists are.)

I must also dismiss your anecdata as inapplicable when described as research - one individual's experience cannot speak to the overall usefulness of a treatment. I'm glad that you found medication helpful, but it's incorrect to assume that this is relevant in support of your point. I could just as easily find individuals to whom medication was actively damaging.

Additionally, I'm not debating any individual person's medication. I am saying that it is not the only option, and should not be treated as such. I think your comment made strong assumptions based on little information, and this is part of what I object to.

Lastly, my main objection is to your assertion that there is a 'proven cure'. Medication and brain chemistry is a relatively little-known area when it comes to anxiety treatments. It's new - it doesn't hurt to recognize that. What does hurt, however, it the perception that it is not a risk, that it comes without difficulties, or that anyone suffering from mental illness is obligated to seek this style of treatment lest they become unsympathetic. Of course meds have been very helpful to some people; that is not in question. But there are also good reasons not to take them. (Another aside: some of the treatments I listed have in fact been 'proven cure' for certain cases.)

I don't mean to be rude or dismissive, so I apologize if I am coming across as such. Sometimes I am more brusque than intended. Thank you for your response, as this has been an interesting discussion.

My family is in the medical field also. As was I until I decided to change fields. Which by the way is Environmental science lots of biology, chemistry and A&P. When speaking of medicine it is all relatively new and if if society used that as an excuse not to take presciptions most people would not be on medication. Medication has significantly extended the life expectancy of those who have access to it. If you do not believe compare the life expectancy of our country to those in Africa nations. When I spoke of a cure it is because for me and many others (as proven by many who have posted a response) there has been a cure. I was sick and now I am not. That is all the proof I need. By the way you skipped around the point that the her doctor is more educated than you. I am sure you have more education on some subject more than some doctor out there but that was not my point and you cannot make your self right about that no matter how convoluted you make it. I am sure I will hear more about this subject from you again. I as I can see you are the type of person who has to have the last word. I have made my point. I have agreed to disagree with you.

I too have a keen interest in Environmental Science. It's a fascinating, relevant area.

I'm not debating the efficacy of medicine, and I'm uncertain as to why you seem to think so. As to your claim that medicine is new, this is not true. Medicine as a field of study has been around since very early times. It's true that it has changed and developed a great deal over time, particularly with the advent of the scientific method, but this is not to deny that it did exist beforehand.

Although you did not address my prior concerns regarding your statements about anxiety medication, I can provide an example in your most recent words of the objections I have. That people need an 'excuse' not to take medication is my main issue. Not taking medications shouldn't be a behavior someone needs to 'excuse', because there are perfectly legitimate reasons not to take them. At this point, there is not enough knowledge that the decision is without risk.

Again, I am not willing to speak to any individual's medication choices or any individual doctor's base of knowledge. And while I am glad that you have proof that medications worked from your own experience, you are generalizing from your personal experience to the experience of others. Individuals react differently to different things, and your experience is insufficient evidence when discussing the treatment of others on a large or small scale.

Rather than wanting to have the last word, I consider myself the sort of person who enjoys discussion and debate, and engaging in the exchange of information and ideas. I think this is an important part of increasing one's knowledge and reasoning capabilities. Without discourse, I would only hear my own perspective - something I think is highly damaging. For this reason, I genuinely appreciate your replies.

marshmallowmind

I've recently been diagnosed with depression & anxiety. I think the major downfall is it makes me too nervous to go to the gym by myself. I want to so much, I quite enjoy going [I've been a couple times with my sister but she now refuses] as I just put my music on & get on with it but now that I have no one to go with.. I'm too scared. I get too nervous. I go through every bad scenario in my head & it just stops me in my tracks. It's completely crap.
I really want to take medication for both the depression & anxiety but my doctor & psychologist won't do it for me. They think I can solve the issues by 'talking it out' which is, again, complete crap. I know I need the medication to get on with my life the way any one else would, to have a normal life. Taking daily pills doesn't bother me, I already do that with multi-vitamins & stuff so it won't be annoying but nope, they refuse. I hate them for it.

Consider seeing a different doctor. If you've tried the suggested therapy and it doesn't work, you need to find an alternative. If they won't give it to you, see somebody else who will take you seriously.
Is it also possible you saw a psychologist for it and not a medical doctor? I don't believe psychologists can prescribe meds.

I've seen both. Went to my doctor & he referred me to the psychologist. Neither of them want to put me on medication. Doctor says he dislikes putting people my age on medication & it's not a wise use of the Countries money [I'm on the NHS]. Then again, my doctor refuses to do ANYTHING for me. I've had so many problems over the years [constant headaches since I was 14, I'm now 20, large moles that regularly bleed & itch, other stuff that's a bit too private...] & they've never done anything about them. Just say 'you've gotta get used to it' & send me on my way. But where I live, there's not many places to go. Small village & all.
But yeah, not a lot I can do about it. Just grit my teeth & get on with life, sadly.

knittnponder

I used to have panic attacks all the time and anxiety has been an issue for me pretty much forever. I don't do the medication but I have been able to manage mine through some different lifestyle choices. I basically learned what my triggers are and I avoid them. Doing this I haven't had a panic attack in several years but I'm pretty vigilant.

1. Regular sleep schedule. If I don't get enough sleep I am setting myself up for anxiety.

2. Eating well. I avoid processed foods (white flour and especially a lot of sugar in any form, natural or not!) I eat plenty of vegetables and protein and keep the carbs reduced. For me a high carb diet is a bad thing. Any carbs I do eat are in the form of whole foods or as minimally processed as possible. I also avoid food additives if possible. MSG and things like that set me up for a panic attack if I get too much.

3. NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS!!!! This one is HUGE for me! They all set me off and I just can't do them. Even if I'm chewing sugar free gum a few days in a row I'll suddenly find myself getting anxious and really jumpy. My system just doesn't like them.

4. Exercise regularly. This one is really important for me too since it helps me manage stressful situations.

5. Too much caffeine or other stimulant. Lack of sleep for me usually means I'm propping myself up with caffeine and that ends up ugly!

I occasionally do wedding cakes and when I first started I had REALLY big panic attacks! The combination of the stress of doing a cake, staying up until the wee hours of the morning working on them, not exercising because I was busy with the cakes, too much taste testing (LOTS of sugar!) and eating like garbage because I was so involved in them would set me up for really big melt downs. I woke up during the night more than once thinking I was having a heart attack. Fortunately my husband remained calm and talked me through them but if I was going to keep doing cakes I had to do something differently.

Now that I've learned my triggers I make extra sure that I follow my own rules and I can do wedding cakes now without issues. Much calmer and I sure do enjoy them a lot more now!

If I find my anxiety rising I review what I've been doing lately and see if I've broken my rules. It has always turned out that I've broken at least a couple of them. When I realize that I can then talk myself through my anxiety and keep it under control.

Good luck to you!

Thomasm198

There is a lot of debate going on here about the advantages and disadvantages of medication.

If I may just throw in my personal views: every single person is different. Medication will work for some and won't work for others. The study of the workings of the mind is relatively new in comparison to other fields of medicine.

In my own case, I feel the medication helped me.

While I was going through the PTSD, several times during that period of my life I found myself with a knife pressed against my wrist. I am strongly of the opinion that it was the medication that helped keep my mind focussed and stop me from going any further than just pressing the knife against my wrist. And yes, I did have goodbye letters written to my family on those occasions. I had the intention of going through with it, but each time I stepped back from the brink.

:flowerforyou:

Becca_007

No offense but it doesn't sound like you are dealing w/ it very well. The need to control your personal items and not being able to face stress is effecting your quality of life. The doctor is a doctor for a reason if you do not take the meds you will never know if they help. Plenty of people take meds for anxiety refusing to take the pills doesnt make you stronger than them just sicker. If you are not in counseling I would recommend it.

agree!

dancinonwater

I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, as well as OCD (also an anxiety disorder), and panic attacks. It has been getting worse and worse the past few months, despite many coping stratagies, so I finally decided to try meds (which I was very relucatant to because I don't want to mess up my still developing brain, but it has gotten so bad that I can't even do my life what-so-ever). I just started, so nothing has helped yet, but wish me luck!
My anxiety actually caused my weight gain. I am a total emotional eater, so I eat when I'm stressed, and suffering from an anxiety disorder this severe means A LOT of stress. Hopefully the meds will help and I will be able to really get on my weight loss because the anxiety makes it almost impossible to lose weight.