I am seeing a therapist now guys thanks. I'm gonna try and find cognitive therapy in my area though. Definitely gonna avoid mess unless rl everything starts to get worse. I tried valium couple weeks ago but only had a limited amount because my doc was afraid of addiction but it worked tremendously.
I should add, once I got used to the medications, I got right back to my athletic endeavors, so I don't think that's a concern long-term. In fact, exercise will probably help the medication work long-term. But keep one other thing in mind, and that is these meds can interfere with magnesium absorption and vice versa and can therefore cause muscle tightness and cramping. I solved this by supplementing with magnesium before going to bed.
You haven't mentioned whether you've done any therapy for this over all these years. If not, given you're already getting better, that should be the first step. As for medication, you can't predict what it's going to do but it is difficult when you find one that works to get over the initial side effects, which can include sedation -- certainly did for me. But it might not for you -- these meds are so nutty they could give you more energy. The side effects you read about are real, I've suffered all of the ones you've mentioned, so I always think it's best to try and work it out first without medication. If you can't, the medication will still be there.
Excellent reply from remar, as always.
I agree with trying some intensive therapy first if you haven't already. Medications can be a wonderful addition to an anxiety treatment plan, but of course it isn't a "cure all". A person should go into medication therapy with the goal of managing the symptoms of anxiety while they work on changing their ways of thinking and reacting in therapy, not as a way to make anxiety go away completely.
If you do decide to try a medication, just be patient and allow yourself to have your own experience, don't put too much stock in other people's experiences/opinions, as everyone will have a different one. What may be a nightmare for one person is a godsend for another. You just have to give the medication a chance, accept that it takes a while for the medication to start working, and try to be patient with the process, as relief doesn't come overnight.
I know for me, medications have helped me tremendously. Therapy is wonderful, but my symptoms are SO much better managed when I'm taking an antidepressant.
Very best to you...let us know how you're doing.
I would recommend getting in to therapy. This can really help with your anxiety, depression and OCD.
All of us are so different that we never know how we're going to do on meds. No, not everyone gains weight or has an increase in anger. I can only give you my experience with meds and these possible side effects are kind of rare. I've never had anger issues on a med but I did gain some weight with one.
Think about therapy before you do anything. It really can do wonders.