Anxiety

[Wyndru]

I've checked out this site and I feel that now that I have a daughter, I need to address some things.

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

I have many of these symptoms. My wife is a clinical psychologist, and her thought is that I should be on anti-anxiety meds. Is there anyone here that is on anti-anxiety meds that can share how they feel now that they are on them, and how it changed their life?

I have a fear that I will just be my usual dull self, just more annoying. I'm sure these meds won't make me more clever or open to talk to people, I just want to eliminate how I analyze interactions. Sometimes I will think about something I said to someone for a week before I let it go.

Thanks.

 

[coreyb]

can you elaborate more on your anxiety? does it cause major problems in your life?

 

[nanaki333]

careful going on them. once you get on them, it's really hard to get off. if you think your anxiety is bad now, it's going to get even worse when not on any meds. my doc put me on them when i was diagnosed with high BP (210/120) to calm me down. i've missed a few days before and i never had anxiety before....

 

[MustISO]

You really need to get a professional diagnosis to determine what type of issue you have. The first thing you should do is get a thorough physical exam to rule out any medical conditions. If that turns up nothing, find a specialist who deals with adult anxiety or find a local anxiety center near you. Medication should not be the first course of action, there are many therapies that don't rely on pills.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

work out like a madman. it will take care of your anxiety/depression.

 

[Wyndru]

can you elaborate more on your anxiety? does it cause major problems in your life?

I basically can't have normal social interactions with people. I get uncomfortable with silences, always think about what people are thinking of me, stutter, etc. I've always been like this. Apparently when I was a young child I was in therapy because I wouldn't speak until I was 4 (although I don't know if that is related or not).

When I do speak to people, I literally spend days thinking about the conversation over and over again, and how I could have handled it differently. I get intimidated easily, and I have a weird thing where if I am around someone who is an authority figure, I want to laugh hysterically (although I can contain it). These are some of the issues, there are many others.

You really need to get a professional diagnosis to determine what type of issue you have. The first thing you should do is get a thorough physical exam to rule out any medical conditions. If that turns up nothing, find a specialist who deals with adult anxiety or find a local anxiety center near you. Medication should not be the first course of action, there are many therapies that don't rely on pills.

That's what I figured. My Dad started seeing a psychologist when I was real young, and shortly after ended up with a psychiatrist and on meds. He was diagnosed as bipolar, and after the meds didn't work they tried shock therapy on him. He committed suicide when I was 25. I've been scared to even go to seek help because of this, against my wife's wishes. I ended up with an anti "head doctor" attitude.

I don't like the fact that my wife is asking me to get help (even though this is her field). It's not that I don't trust her, I just always resort to wondering how people survived before all of these psychologists and psychiatrists. I think I'm just delaying the inevitable.

I've been very healthy for many years. I used to skateboard very regularly, and have never been overweight. Now that I can't skate as often anymore I snowboard in the winter, and I alternate cardio with weight lifting each day. My energy is through the roof, but mentally my life is shit.

I was just wondering if anyone is on any of these meds, and if they actually make a difference or not. If anyone isn't comfortable sharing here, a PM would also be appreciated. But like was mentioned above, I think I just need to bite the bullet and get diagnosed.

 

[Wyndru]

careful going on them. once you get on them, it's really hard to get off. if you think your anxiety is bad now, it's going to get even worse when not on any meds. my doc put me on them when i was diagnosed with high BP (210/120) to calm me down. i've missed a few days before and i never had anxiety before....

That's what I'm afraid of. My wife says they don't really change you like that, but I honestly don't believe her. My idea of it is that just like any other chemical you put in your body, it's going to change you in some way. But if staying on them for life makes me more comfortable, I guess it's worth it. I just don't want to end up like my dad trying every med that comes out to have it fail in the end.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

That's what I'm afraid of. My wife says they don't really change you like that, but I honestly don't believe her.

There's not much point in frightening yourself about taking a certain medication based on others' side effect profiles. Everyone is different, and variability is especially large for medications that alter brain function. Going off anecdotes is not a very effective way to predict your own side effect profile. The only way to do that is to try some. Which is why it's all the better for you to go see a psychiatrist about this.

 

[Sust]

Back in the day, they might have treated you far differently. When looking back, psychiatry has come a really long way, but psych meds are still not very refined with a slew of potential side effects. It's up to you to decide if you're willing to take a chance on the medication pros outweighing the cons.

Just as a PSA, everything has side effects. In fact, it's probably better to view life as a series of "sweet spots" where you want things that you take in to be in the proper concentration that has a therapeutic effect without undershooting(leading to no effect) or overshooting(leading to possible toxidrome) and perpetuating/leading to social dysfunction. Even things you take in every day like water can be toxic in excess although it would literally require a ton of it to be ingested.
It's a shame your father committed suicide, but it's not necessarily because of the meds alone. Mental illness affects you in profound ways that can be very personally confusing and isolating. Kay Jamison courageously talks about her experience with Bipolar Affective Disorder and failed suicide attempts in her book, An Unquiet Mind, which IMO is required reading before anyone can even begin commenting on someone else's experience with mental illness like Bipolar Affective Disorder. Your best bet is to at least talk to the psychiatrist and see what he/she has to offer for your anxiety, but it is a free country that allows all of us to stew in our own tortured juices for as long as we want until we somehow become dangerous.

 

[ibex333]

I've checked out this site and I feel that now that I have a daughter, I need to address some things.

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

I have many of these symptoms. My wife is a clinical psychologist, and her thought is that I should be on anti-anxiety meds. Is there anyone here that is on anti-anxiety meds that can share how they feel now that they are on them, and how it changed their life?

I have a fear that I will just be my usual dull self, just more annoying. I'm sure these meds won't make me more clever or open to talk to people, I just want to eliminate how I analyze interactions. Sometimes I will think about something I said to someone for a week before I let it go.

Thanks.

Whatever you do, please DON'T take any anti anxiety meds. You can "maybe" take some light ones in the beginning but dont hang on to them. They will never "cure" you of anxiety. The problem is within yourself, most of the time, unless it's something serious like schizophrenia or whatever. The problem is, when you start listening to doctors they will start putting junk info into your head about how you have "imbalanced serotonin levels" and other stuff like that. It's all BS.

Now before anyone starts to bash me for spreading false info, let me tell you that I am a severe anxiety/panic attack/agoraphobia sufferer for 11 years who was able to "cure" all these issues WITHOUT MEDS and eventually return to normal life. I seen, felt and experience it all. Been through hell and back. I can honestly say that meds are never the answer.

The cure lies in exposure therapy, observing what is it that causes YOUR anxiety, diet, everyday activity and sleep schedule, NLP/CBT therapy, and many other things. when these things are combined, anxiety melts away.

As for thinking about something for a long time before you let it go, - understand that you are by far not the only one. Many people are like that. You cant just isolate this particular problem. It stems from many other problems that you have to deal with.

There are many good books that you can read that will help you. Contact me if you want to know more.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Whatever you do, please DON'T take any anti anxiety meds. You can "maybe" take some light ones in the beginning but dont hang on to them. They will never "cure" you of anxiety. The problem is within yourself, most of the time, unless it's something serious like schizophrenia or whatever. The problem is, when you start listening to doctors they will start putting junk info into your head about how you have "imbalanced serotonin levels" and other stuff like that. It's all BS.

Now before anyone starts to bash me for spreading false info, let me tell you that I am a severe anxiety/panic attack/agoraphobia sufferer for 11 years who was able to "cure" all these issues WITHOUT MEDS and eventually return to normal life. I seen, felt and experience it all. Been through hell and back. I can honestly say that meds are never the answer.

Seriously, what is it with you and anecdotes? Just because you had this experience does not necessarily mean that others will have similar experiences to yours, nor does it mean that there was no other, better way that you could have done it, let alone anyone else. Please stop doing this, it is morally and ethically untenable and logically unsound.

 

[JumBie]

I've checked out this site and I feel that now that I have a daughter, I need to address some things.

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

I have many of these symptoms. My wife is a clinical psychologist, and her thought is that I should be on anti-anxiety meds. Is there anyone here that is on anti-anxiety meds that can share how they feel now that they are on them, and how it changed their life?

I have a fear that I will just be my usual dull self, just more annoying. I'm sure these meds won't make me more clever or open to talk to people, I just want to eliminate how I analyze interactions. Sometimes I will think about something I said to someone for a week before I let it go.

Thanks.

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks on a daily basis, started about 4 years ago after smoking some weed. Ever since then my whole life changed, the way I felt, the emotions I felt, it was all so surreal. I made a firm commitment not to go on drugs, so I started reading about natural ways to heal my self.

I started with breathing techniques, and I also started eating more fish and vegetables. I take regular vitamins, and fish oil pills, and work out several times a week. I cycle through my emotions to figure out the root cause of the anxiety and I face it head on, whether it be to write out my feelings, or to generally go over it in my head until I come up with a solution.

Lately, I have felt so much better, the only time I really get anxiety now is when I'm outside around people, or when I drink caffeine. I understand that caffeine is a trigger so I can live without that, and I am working slowly to figure out why being around people in an outdoor setting gives me anxiety. I would recommend that you don't take pills, but rather use this as a chance to explore your inner emotions, and concious. Focus on the problem and root cause, and deal with it first hand. Sometimes drugs aren't the answer to everything.

 

[Sust]

Uhm, w/o this turning into a flame war, I think what we're all trying to say is that all mental illnesses to some extent require multimodal approaches due to our current lack of understanding in the environment's dynamic effect on our brains, what each medication's actual mechanism of action is on our brain, and how it relates to whatever the neuropathophysiological dysfunction is.
Even those who say you just need to think through the problem leading to your anxiety are trying to train themselves through unsupervised cognitive behavioral therapy methods. It is important to remember that your brain can change itself dynamically by exerting various neuroanatomical pathways which we are still trying to understand right now, but we think that the combined biopsychosocial approach might synergistically effect the best possible outcomes at this time. Even doctors sigh in disappointment when a patient with no resources is abandoned by everyone (including their family/friends) and the hospital becomes the only thing supporting the patient. Deep down we all know their outcomes will be dicey at best and (if you're not already habituated to it) there's that little bit of guilt as you discharge these patients to themselves.

Having said that, perhaps the best biopsychsocial approach to any socially-disabling anxiety disorder would utilize medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and better support groups or social programs oriented towards helping people suffering from anxiety disorders.

 

[Wyndru]

Thanks for all of the posts. A lot of interesting comments here to think about, I appreciate the input. I think I'm going to start slow, and just go to a psychologist just to talk about it for a bit. Maybe this is something that I can work through without drugs, but at least they will be able to diagnose me more thoroughly. I am aware that different people have different side affects, I guess I was just worried that if I am the type of person that is uncomfortable in social interactions that these meds would make me social and just sounding dumb. (i.e. someone that talks a lot or too much, but still socially awkward). I guess this fear is part of my anxiety shining through lol.

 

[tedrodai]

Whatever you do, please DON'T take any anti anxiety meds. You can "maybe" take some light ones in the beginning but dont hang on to them. They will never "cure" you of anxiety. The problem is within yourself, most of the time, unless it's something serious like schizophrenia or whatever. The problem is, when you start listening to doctors they will start putting junk info into your head about how you have "imbalanced serotonin levels" and other stuff like that. It's all BS...

You're not entirely right, and not entirely wrong. It is very correct that the meds will not "cure" you, because they are generally treating symptoms rather than the root causes. As you said, you were able to find a way to treat the root causes. Those problems that caused your anxiety, however, in all likelyhood also caused imbalances in your body that your doctors were trying to correct through meds. I'd have to agree that meds aren't the ultimate solution, however, for they can help some people. It just depends on the individual case and if the person can find a way to manage their issues until they can find ways to treat the underlying causes (if they even can). Sometimes meds can help with that intermediate step, but many people try to rely just on the meds.

Now, I'm not trying to promote meds lol...I agree you should avoid them and treat the real issues if you can figure out how to do it.

 

[ibex333]

Seriously, what is it with you and anecdotes? Just because you had this experience does not necessarily mean that others will have similar experiences to yours, nor does it mean that there was no other, better way that you could have done it, let alone anyone else. Please stop doing this, it is morally and ethically untenable and logically unsound.

No anekdotes here. This is personal for me, that is why I always try to convince people not to take anti-anxiety meds. It's not just me by far. I have spoken to many people that had the same issues and they also had no help from meds. It pains me to see people taking this mind altering poison hoping for some kind of "salvation" that never comes. And before you accuse me of things maybe you should at least be speaking from experience?

Yes, I know that meds help some people. But have you or anyone else done a life long study? I guarantee that for many, any positive effects dissappear as soon as the meds are stopped, and the old miserable self returns. The problem is that in our society efficiency is the most important thing. The "sick" person must return to work as soon as possible, because he/she needs to contribute to society, feed the family, continue to "function" etc. For this task, off course the meds are the quickest way to return this individual "back into the line". Don't matter that this person is still sick, still miserable and all that. As long as he is back to work - mission accomplished. Same thing in the army by the way. I was horrified, watching CNN the other day.. They had a special about soldiers with mental issues and how they are treated... (or not treated for that matter)



@tedrodai

Yes, your response it better. You are much more rational than me. I guess I get a little overzealous, because this is personal for me.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

No anekdotes here. This is personal for me

You're contradicting yourself.

It's not just me by far. I have spoken to many people that had the same issues and they also had no help from meds.

And I've got friends who have done very well with medications, and my professors have patients who have done very well with medications. So what?

And before you accuse me of things maybe you should at least be speaking from experience?

This is why lobby groups do not work. Because they are so blinded by their 'experience' that they do not see other people's positions. Drugs for treating mental disorders are still in use because they work. Not for everyone, that is undisputed. But for the people they do work for, it literally saves their lives.

Yes, I know that meds help some people.

So then why are you championing their non-use, when you don't even know this person's medical or family history?

The problem is that in our society efficiency is the most important thing. The "sick" person must return to work as soon as possible, because he/she needs to contribute to society, feed the family, continue to "function" etc. For this task, off course the meds are the quickest way to return this individual "back into the line". Don't matter that this person is still sick, still miserable and all that. As long as he is back to work - mission accomplished. Same thing in the army by the way. I was horrified, watching CNN the other day.. They had a special about soldiers with mental issues and how they are treated... (or not treated for that matter)

I don't think anybody here recommends the use of anxiolytics as sole treatment. This is an outrageous straw man.