Medication...
This is a real sensitive issue for me. I was very against medication at first, then with understanding I began realizing the potential, as well as the downsides (though honestly I started out of pure desperation to get over my anxiety, willing to try anything kinda deal).
I took Lexapro like Miki for a few months, though not really on a set schedule. I tried to, but there would be days I would forget (ironically those are the days I felt the best). But I must admit, it did help stabilize me enough to come here and go to a counselor. I think knowing the benefits as well as downsides helps you understand what works for you. I have a slight history with drugs in general, so I already expected the crash and burn of quitting cold turkey, and the dangers of dependency. Knowing this, and knowing you're human and can make mistakes, my personal advice would be to find someone you trust. You're mental health pro, loved ones, friend, whatever outside opinion you can get and are willing to trust, ask them to help monitor you.
For those that don't know that would like to know, there are basically 2 kinds of medication you can take. One, benzodiazepines, typically calms you within 10-20 minutes. It is highly addictive for this reason, though for those who can control it, extremely beneficial with exposure therapy. It gives you an insight that you wouldn't get otherwise, and if that insight helps then keep going, otherwise if it just solves the situation temporarily, then stop.
The other is SSRI, which basically changes your overall mood. It is not instantaneous, can take up to 2 months to begin working, but works well for the general feeling of anxiety. This is what I took, and for the 2-3 months I took them, helped my personal situation exponentially, but what works for you may be different from me. The key is willingness to try, and having someone monitor you that can keep you on track. Your mental health pro would know best.
