Aa
Will I ever feel better?
For the past 6 months or so my anxiety has taken over my entire life. I was always an anxious kid, but I've never felt like this. It started with this feeling of unreality, like nothing was real and it freaked me out so much that I was afraid to do certain things. But it just started to get worse. I have so many abnormal thoughts that I feel like I'm going crazy. During the summer I had this intense feeling that I was going to be sucked up into the sky, I especially felt that in open spaces and I HATE high ceilings but now I think about how high the sky is or how the sky is a 30 mile high roof and it just really freaks me out SOOOOO much that I'm afraid to go outside most of the time now. In school, I feel like I'm gonna hallucinate. Like if I were to think of something like my bed or any physical object I think that it will pop up in my vision and never go away, it's bizarre I know but it is a serious thing for me. I know it sounds like I'm crazy which I probably am or that it's just in my head, but I've been dealing with this for too long. I just got prescribed Effexor which after reading many reviews on it I'm scared to try it. Please, what do I do now?
A caring give medical advise because a have never had it treated properly butb1 thing that does work is a really high cardio exercise DVD because it's very hard to leave the house and go to the gym .I am glad am not the only who has suffered since I was 7 years old
Oh gosh, I'm really sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time! I'm of the opinion that your BEST advice comes from your caregivers--- health care professionals and parents/family. We have our 'thoughts' on various medications here but you've been prescribed something your physician feels will help you. I do know several people who take Effexor or anxiety and it has worked very well. The internet is FILLED with horror stories but know that is what the internet is about. Those who have complaints complain. Those that don't go on to live peacefully and aren't wracking up complaints on the internet. :>) But that doesn't mean that these things didn't really happen to the person complaining-- but everyone is different and has a unique experience and it doesn't mean what happened to them will happen to you. We should never take a medication without putting careful thought into it. There are always pros and cons and the benefits have to outweigh the risks. This is where you are at.
Remember that your anxiety is playing a role in your fear of taking medication. This is why I say you must rely on your caregivers (parents/family and health care providers) for advice on this. We on the internet are giving our opinions but we don't know you or your situation other than this one snippet you've written. Do not let fear/anxiety keep you from treatment! We can't interfere here with what a doctor has prescribed you. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor but the worst thing to do is to let the medicine sit in a drawer out of fear and do nothing to follow up. Please don't do that because I want you to have a more peaceful life.
One criteria that I think is important though in evaluating medication is if you are functioning alright. We ALL have anxiety, worry, fear. But if it causes you to not do things you want to do, not be able to enjoy yourself and overwhelms you on a regular basis---- it really is time to take action.
There are definitely other things you can (and should) do that go along with medication and that is talk therapy with a therapist or psychologist and some psychiatrists still do talk therapy in their practice (some now just manage medications for people and treat the medical end of mental health issues). It is well known that the combination of talk therapy and medication for those who have clinical anxiety really is the best bet for successful treatment. It is awesome when someone can just do talk therapy but often people do need more to fully overcome the cloud of anxiety over them. Then there are the lifestyle things that do help. Exercise. I can't say enough about it. It's a natural mood enhancer and de-stresser. It works on our nervous system. I have a son with sensory issues and anxiety--- he's a competitive swimmer. Early on, we were told about his neurological system and it's issues and how 'heavy work' (such as swimming or any intensive exercise) would directly impact his nervous system. He literally can tell you exactly how he feels different after a swim practice in positive ways. I've always know that *I* feel better after exercise but to see it so blatently in my son--- I'm a firm believer that it is very helpful for our mental health as a whole. Getting enough sleep is important as is eating well. Planning and time management also make for a less anxious life. You are in a stage of life in which you problably juggle many things--- so, keeping on top of this is helpful.
Anyway, I hope this helped a little. All just my opinions and food for thought. I hope it all gets better really soon for you. peace
Remember that your anxiety is playing a role in your fear of taking medication. This is why I say you must rely on your caregivers (parents/family and health care providers) for advice on this. We on the internet are giving our opinions but we don't know you or your situation other than this one snippet you've written. Do not let fear/anxiety keep you from treatment! We can't interfere here with what a doctor has prescribed you. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor but the worst thing to do is to let the medicine sit in a drawer out of fear and do nothing to follow up. Please don't do that because I want you to have a more peaceful life.
One criteria that I think is important though in evaluating medication is if you are functioning alright. We ALL have anxiety, worry, fear. But if it causes you to not do things you want to do, not be able to enjoy yourself and overwhelms you on a regular basis---- it really is time to take action.
There are definitely other things you can (and should) do that go along with medication and that is talk therapy with a therapist or psychologist and some psychiatrists still do talk therapy in their practice (some now just manage medications for people and treat the medical end of mental health issues). It is well known that the combination of talk therapy and medication for those who have clinical anxiety really is the best bet for successful treatment. It is awesome when someone can just do talk therapy but often people do need more to fully overcome the cloud of anxiety over them. Then there are the lifestyle things that do help. Exercise. I can't say enough about it. It's a natural mood enhancer and de-stresser. It works on our nervous system. I have a son with sensory issues and anxiety--- he's a competitive swimmer. Early on, we were told about his neurological system and it's issues and how 'heavy work' (such as swimming or any intensive exercise) would directly impact his nervous system. He literally can tell you exactly how he feels different after a swim practice in positive ways. I've always know that *I* feel better after exercise but to see it so blatently in my son--- I'm a firm believer that it is very helpful for our mental health as a whole. Getting enough sleep is important as is eating well. Planning and time management also make for a less anxious life. You are in a stage of life in which you problably juggle many things--- so, keeping on top of this is helpful.
Anyway, I hope this helped a little. All just my opinions and food for thought. I hope it all gets better really soon for you. peace
1 Comments
I would disagree on one point,
Specialmom -- many of us on here have been in this rodeo for a very long time, unfortunately, and so have been through the mistakes made by bad doctors -- and most of them aren't that great just as most plumbers aren't that great. I now see a psychopharmacologist, who specializes in medication and has studied it more than an ordinary psychiatrist, and much more than any general doc. Over the years I've had to learn more than I ever wanted to about these meds, and so have many of the people who comment on this site. What Effexor does isn't hard to learn -- go on the home page of the drug and you'll see it in fact targets norepinephrine. That's why it isn't used for primary anxiety by psychopharmacologists. They will use it if depression is thought to be the cause of the problem. But as for the problem of stopping it, this isn't internet chatter, it's reality. It's true it took people taking to the internet trying to learn what had happened to them to publicize this problem, and it led to huge lawsuits which were settled and FDA action which is why you now see the big black box warnings about not quitting abruptly. These weren't there when the drugs were new, and a lot of general docs still aren't aware that drugs aren't the same. But Effexor has been around a long time and has been well-studied -- it and Paxil are much more difficult for far more people to quit taking than other meds for the same things. Blindly trusting your "caregiver" is how all those "complainers" ended up on the internet -- they're docs weren't talking. That's how I got here. That's why there are so many websites dedicated to the problem. But all of these sites also have a lot of success stories, and there are many websites dedicated to that as well. What I've learned is, you don't avoid what is best for you, but you do need to be forewarned so you don't go off blind. Peace, Mom.
Specialmom -- many of us on here have been in this rodeo for a very long time, unfortunately, and so have been through the mistakes made by bad doctors -- and most of them aren't that great just as most plumbers aren't that great. I now see a psychopharmacologist, who specializes in medication and has studied it more than an ordinary psychiatrist, and much more than any general doc. Over the years I've had to learn more than I ever wanted to about these meds, and so have many of the people who comment on this site. What Effexor does isn't hard to learn -- go on the home page of the drug and you'll see it in fact targets norepinephrine. That's why it isn't used for primary anxiety by psychopharmacologists. They will use it if depression is thought to be the cause of the problem. But as for the problem of stopping it, this isn't internet chatter, it's reality. It's true it took people taking to the internet trying to learn what had happened to them to publicize this problem, and it led to huge lawsuits which were settled and FDA action which is why you now see the big black box warnings about not quitting abruptly. These weren't there when the drugs were new, and a lot of general docs still aren't aware that drugs aren't the same. But Effexor has been around a long time and has been well-studied -- it and Paxil are much more difficult for far more people to quit taking than other meds for the same things. Blindly trusting your "caregiver" is how all those "complainers" ended up on the internet -- they're docs weren't talking. That's how I got here. That's why there are so many websites dedicated to the problem. But all of these sites also have a lot of success stories, and there are many websites dedicated to that as well. What I've learned is, you don't avoid what is best for you, but you do need to be forewarned so you don't go off blind. Peace, Mom.
I would be careful about taking Effexor for anything, but especially for anxiety. It's a stimulating antidepressant that targets not only serotonin but also norepinephrine, or adrenaline. It's also one of the most difficult of these meds to stop taking. It's not one that would normally be prescribed first for an anxiety sufferer, though it might be tried if depression were the main problem or if other things hadn't worked. Are you seeing a psychiatrist, or a general doc? General docs don't know much about this stuff. I'd start with a psychologist to at least get a diagnosis from someone qualified to give one before deciding if you need medication, and if you do, I'd get it from a psychiatrist, not a general doc.
All meds for anxiety can have serious side effects, however most go away with time after your body gets used to it, or else some side effects are so rare you are just about guaranteed you won't experience it.
You are young for meds though. What help have you received to try to resolve your problem? Therapy?
You are young for meds though. What help have you received to try to resolve your problem? Therapy?
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