Do anxiety meds even work?

Question

I’ve gone unmedicated for my anxiety and depression since I was an early teen. I’m now a 30 year old mother to 2 girls. My anxiety has been debilitating since becoming a mom 5 year ago, and I’m having a hard time coping. 
My doctor tried to get me to medicate a few years back but as a stay at home mom I don’t know how I’m supposed to function? I’m gonna be honest, when I was maybe 16, my parents refused to get me help for my severe social and generalized anxiety, so I stole one of my older adult sisters Prozac(I think that’s what it was) and I literally could not stay awake, I felt high as shit. Like I guess “technically” you can’t feel anxious if you’re sleeping but that’s not an option for me lol 
What are your experiences with anxiety meds? Obviously weed is an option, but I’ve never tried that either because I have asthma so not sure about that.  I’m really struggling, I have an 8 month old who won’t sleep and a 5 year old about to start school. My thoughts are consuming me.

Answer

It’s important to note that if you already have mental health issues weed can exacerbate preexisting mental health issues in some people, my psychiatrist told me this. Obviously some people say it helps but I just wanted to put this out there for you. Make sure to tell your doctor that you need to be able to be alert enough to watch young children. It may take a while to find the right med and dosage of said medication. Good luck I hope you find something that helps 😂

Answer

You were 16 and stole someone’s Prozac and you think that that’s how they all work? Girl. You don’t even know what how much she was given or anything. All anxiety meds are NOT like Prozac in a 16 year olds body. Not all anxiety meds fuck you up. That’s why you go to a dr and they figure out what’s best for YOU. Your weight and height also is a determining factor for what MG the pill is going to be. I wouldn’t be able to take the same amount of the same pill that a 250 lb man takes. Because I’m an 82lbs female. You should Deff talk to your dr, tell her or him about why you are afraid to take the pills, be honest with your dr so they can explain that of course taking someone else’s prescription meds can cause different reactions than they do for the actual person taking them. If you take Ritalin and you don’t have ADHD it usually makes you hyper and super active and shit. But most people who take it, it calms them down, helps them focus.

Answer

Not all anxiety medications work like prozac. It may have also been too high of a dose for you. Sometimes it takes a few trys to find one that works for you.

Answer

I have medicated off and on since i was in my early teens. Started as depression shifted to anxiety after my second child. Im currently not on medication and though it's hard I've found a way that works for me. That being said you can not compare what it would be like on medication to a time when you stole someone else's. Many people on these medication have them adjustedto higher doses after being on them. They dont start you at the top they usually start you with the smallest amount possible. Also you have to slowly come off them or you will go threw withdrawals. You have to start some where and even though you might not like the idea it's also not good for your children to see you dabilitated be anxiety either. Sometimes we need a step ladder to see our way out and sometimes we have a skyscrapers worth of stairs needing to be climbed but you owe it to yourself and your children to start climbing.

Answer

I've been on 4 different meds since I was 19. I don't remember the first one. I tried taking Zoloft, but turns out I'm allergic to it 🤷🏾‍♀️ I took Prozac for a long time, then I switched to Lexapro and I've been on it since. It's helped me the best so far.

Answer

There are many things that can help with anxiety. Medication isn’t your only option if it makes you uncomfortable. Sometimes antidepressants are prescribed for anxiety and sometimes benzodiazepines are prescribed for anxiety. Different meds work for different people. If you are concerned about feeling high, you can always discuss that with your doctors and try to find something low-dose or only as needed. Therapy is also a good option to help with anxiety. It will be more time consuming, but it can help give you tools you can use to mitigate symptoms without the risk of ever feeling high.

Answer

I have been on anxiety medication for a few times due to depression and anxiety. For me the first week or two while on them was hell because that is the adjustment period. Once I got out the hell week I felt normal again and could be the mother I wanted and needed to be. If they don’t work after two weeks talk to your doctor about how you are feeling. They may need to increase your medication. I would also look into therapy so you can learn coping skills on how to manage your anxiety. I am so sorry that you have been dealing with this for so long without it being treated.

Answer

I’ve been taking a supplement that has worked to rid me of my extreme anxiety. I feel like it’s giving me a chance to also start working on healing from it so that when I want to start weaning off it, I can try.

Do anxiety meds even work?

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