Anyone with an anxiety disorder...?

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.