Medications for anxiety & OCD

[tactlesskwi]

Hi everyone!!!

I was wondering if I could get some advice on starting antidepressants. A psychologist has recently suggested that I have anxiety and severe OCD, and has floated the idea of starting antidepressants. I am vehemently against this, but I'm not entirely sure why. I'm scared of losing myself and losing my life to the drugs/becoming dependent on them to function and having side effects when I don't take them. I've always felt this way that she describes as 'severe OCD', and so I guess it's a baseline, and the idea of feeling different is terrifying even if that different might be easier. I'm also worried that I've been exaggerating my life, and definitely don't want to be on a drug for some sort of mental health condition I do not have (although I haven't been lying in the sessions). The more I go on with therapy and all, the more I just want to stop it, which of course I know will not help.

I wanted to ask on here though whether anyone has had a similar experience and could share what it's been like? I realise experiences vary person-to-person, but I'd like to hear from someone, because I feel extremely alone in all of this. 

Thank you so much!!! ❤️

[_Gigi_]

Hi there,

I can very much relate to your nervousness starting antidepressants. When my gp suggested them, it took me a while before I actually decided to give it a try. I was afraid of change, but I decided to take the leap because my panic attacks were stopping me from living my life, and my anxiety and depression were spiralling out of control. Antidepressants weren't a fix-all, but they helped give me my life back by making me well enough to take further steps to help myself. I was even able to muster the courage to start therapy. My doctor also knew me well enough to pick the right medication/dosage for me and my situation. Talking to her about my concerns and the possible side effects made me a bit less afraid to try it, because I knew I'd have her support and wouldn't be on my own.

Change can be really scary, but you're definitely not alone. No matter your decision, I wish you the best and am rooting for you!

-Gigi

[Summer Rose]

Hi Tactlesskwi

My daughter fell seriously ill with OCD at the age of thirteen and commenced therapy. Not long after, she was hospitalised. The treating psychiatrist recommended adding medication into the mix.
My daughter and I were reluctant to accept the recommendation to commence medication for some of the same reasons as you. Then we asked ourselves, what’s the alternative?

The treatment wasn’t working. It was possible that medication could tip the scales in her favour. Without the medication she would have faced more of the same—a life plagued by intrusive thoughts, endless worries and time sucking, joy stealing rituals. 
The answer was clear.

From my experience, I can say that medication made a big difference. It enabled my daughter to better engage with her psychological treatment and heal.

Learning to stand up to OCD and fight the urge to perform compulsions is hard. I can well understand why it scares you and makes you feel like you want to stop. It’s hard.

I can only say: keep going. It can get better. You deserve to live your best life.

Kind thoughts to you