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11 years and counting

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2024-10-31 6:49 AM

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Roller Coaster Withdrawal

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Smile....and don't shoot the messenger

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Anxious of Taking Medication


8 years ago 0 11226 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Welcome Cloudchasing,

I am very sorry to read you have been experiencing all this. It sounds incredibly difficult. Are you currently still attending therapy? If certain medications do not work for you then there are other options. And you do not have to take medication to get benefit from therapy. If nothing else I encourage you to work on the program here. The program is based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles which is the most evidence based treatment there is for anxiety.

How are you feeling today?

Ashley, Health Educator
8 years ago 0 3 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks Evander25 that's actually very helpful! Good to know i'm not crazy for trying to go without medication first. 
8 years ago 0 2 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi , Cloudchsing. I also struggled with anxiety and depression in school and it took me a long time to look for help. You should be proud for taking positive steps! When I did seek help I was also uncomfortable taking medication; mainly because of social stigma and pride. When I finally did start taking medication it helped me a lot and I was glad that I did. 

As to your specific issues, I'm not a doctor, so I can only speak for my own experience, but, I started out taking Lexapro and Klonopin. My doctor prescribed the Klonopin for anxiety because it works quickly  (Lexapro takes time), and I found it to be very helpful. The Lexapro did not work at all. I had to try several different SSRI type medicines before I found one (Effexor) which made a positive difference for me. I did not have any vomiting when I took Lexapro, but I have heard of people reacting this way to certain medicines. I have heard that different SSRIs work differently and a negative reaction to one does not necessarily mean a negative reaction to all. Maybe you just need to try something else. Good luck in your struggle. It gets better even if it is hard to believe it at times.
8 years ago 0 3 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I am 19 years old and currently a full time student working a full time job. I developed the disorder during school after my friend was shot and killed and since then I have gotten considerably worse. I spent days confined to my bed because I thought leaving it pretty much guaranteed a panic attack. Which I was not wrong about. Finals week was hell and resulted in my grades dropping- I sought out a psychologist who wanted to work through therapy and offered medication. I am someone who doesn't take medicine even when I have the flu, so i denied. Coming home i got even worse, I hated leaving the house and couldn't sleep- i even lost over 10 pounds in less than a month. My Dr. prescribed me Xanax and Lexapro, upon taking them for the first time I was so sick. I woke up to throwing up in my bed and within the first hour of the Lexapro I felt my anxiety peaking. Since then I have been terrified to take it again and actually begin to panic at the thought of taking it but i know I can't keep living like this. Has this happened to anyone else before?

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