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Health anxiety, fear, scared to take medication

Mumoflots
Community Member

Hi everyone I’m hoping I’m not alone but I could do with some advice & support.

anxiety has been a problem on and off all my life but I always managed to pull myself together, now days I’m anxious, nervous all day and ride the waves of panic but it’s getting harder to pull myself together with natural ways, I’m calling my doctor few times a week, had blood tests and ECG that all came back normal and my doctor is wanting me to take two different medictions, I’m just too scared, scared of all the what if’s, scared it will make me worse, I don’t drink, don’t do drugs I don’t like that “out of body” feeling. I’m always on edge waiting for something bad to happen, always thinking the worse (heart attack, stroke, Brain aneurysm, cancer)

I have a good support around me but they are getting tired and abit frustrated with me.

I have a canceller who I was seeing regularly for more depression and I’ve just made a appointment to speak with her now with the anxiety

Sorry it’s long but I guess what I’m asking is anyone else have health anxiety but scared to take medication and nothing else seems to be helping?
I’m feeling alone,lost and like this will never get better I’m losing hope and feeling crazy

 

thank you.

10 Replies 10

smallwolf
Community Champion
Community Champion

hi and welcome.

I do not have health anxiety but I can understand what you are saying. When I first starting seeing a psychologist and just before that, I didn't think I needed to take anything. But then things happened that required (?) me to take medication. And medication can have side-effects and important to know these.

Though when I got onto the one I am using currently, it fixed up the anxiety feelings I was having which for me was major.

When you see your counsellor or GP you could talk about your concerns with medication (and how this originated?) and work a way through that. It would be nice if we did not have to take medication....

Tim

Hi Tim thank you for your reply

I have spoken with the gp about my concerns and fears of taking medication, to be honest I’ve spoken to a handful of doctors/nurses about it, all saying it’s safe to take. I try and take all the information in and tell myself they are right and I will be ok and I’ll start tomorrow morning, but come morning I talk myself back out of it, over and over.

I worry that I’m so headstrong and negative that I’ll take the medication and something bad will happen or make things worse not better. I am my own worse enemy.

how did you take the step and started taking the medication?

Mysuperpowerispanic
Community Member
Hi Mumoflots,

You're not alone in this! I've actually been medication as well and need to switch from what I'm on now as it hasn't worked in years... So I've just suffered for all this time because I'm petrified of taking a new medication.
But it's getting to the point where the side effects don't scare me as much because I'm having panic attacks daily, and it's torture.

What I'm doing to help myself get ready for the new med?
*Look up ONLY positive reviews online. There are some brilliant ones there.
*Let your GP know, they may allow you to start on a lower dose, although keep in mind you'll feel

Sorry my post relied before I finished!

It'll take longer to feel better on a smaller dose.
*100 million people around the world take this medication. It's considered quite safe.

I remember the first time I took the medication I'm on now... I never knew I could feel so good or what it was like to not be so fearful, panicking everyday, OCD, health anxiety, phobias etc.
I actually felt normal. I was able to drive interstate, have nights out, focus more on my children and not be so wrapped up in my mind. Every day to day tasks wasn't infused with fear. I'm hoping the Z will help me feel this again and if not, there are many other medications out there.

But I truly understand your fears! I go through years of suffering due to fear. We deserve to feel well! xx

Hi mysuperpower

thank you for your comment, your very right about we all deserve to feel well.
I hope your new meds work wonders for you.

therising
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hi Mumoflots

I'm wondering whether there's a part of you that wants to continue looking for natural things that might work. In other words, things that might naturally alter your psychology and biology. By the way, I'm not opposed to medication as it can make a seriously positive difference to people at times when they really need that positive difference.

The reason I wonder about he natural angle is based on a few things you mention:

  • You've experimented with natural ways in the past
  • You're very conscious/tuned into the health of your body, based on looking for/scanning for any outstanding differences taking place (wondering if there's anything going wrong, so you can fix it). In other words, trying to sense unease or dis-ease in your body
  • Not liking the feeling of not having a choice in certain sensations (that 'out of body' experience). You want to be in or master control of the sensations you experience

Of course, there are a lot of natural therapies relating to psychology or biology, as well as therapies that address how we tick holistically (mind/body/nature). There is one being given a fair bit of attention these days. Most wouldn't actually perceive it as a natural therapy. It's diet. The study is 'Mood and food'. It involves how our gut balance or imbalance impacts our mental/physical chemistry and well being. Specific diets will impact energy or metabolism, hormones, our gut microbiome (which impacts our moods) etc. It can also support that mantra 'My body is a temple'. In other words, some folk are highly conscious of what chemistry they're putting into their body for optimum performance, such as elite athletes. They are very conscious of what drives their machine/body. The findings within the study of 'Mood and food' strongly link psychology with biology. Diet is of course not a 'cure all' but it may make a significant difference to some, in the way of chemistry. Wondering if any professionals have suggested the idea of seeing a dietician who deals with the complexities of mental health chemistry.

You sound very conscious of what you do and don't want for yourself. Have you ever been led to wonder about a variety of natural therapies? Maybe you could create an interesting list for yourself. Could be a matter of trial and error regarding experimentation, seeing what works and what doesn't.

As I say, I'm not opposed to medication, just wondering if you're more of a natural therapy sort of person, whether it's an instinctive thing for you.

🙂

Hi there therising

your right in some ways, I would rather natural as in my mind it might be safer, less harsh on the body and rather than taking a medication only to find it doesn’t work and need to wean off it then on to something new.

Parts is the control of myself and body. And I have always been pulled towards natural

I have a crap diet in the way of when anxiety hits I lose my appetite and struggle to eat often. So I could use seeing a dietitian that’s probably a really good idea

smallwolf
Community Champion
Community Champion
For me... One night when everyone was asleep and I was about to go to bed I stared at an object on the table thinking negative thoughts about living. I had been feeling low before this already. It felt like minutes before I snapped out of it.

Next day I went to my GP who put me on medication and then told my psychologist.

I guess I didn't want to be that space again.

kristys12345
Community Member

Yes I feel you. I have seen a physchiatrist and been prescribed two medications and absolutely terrified to take it. I know I can't deal with myself any longer being like this but I can not take it