Seeking Support

[jps_01]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and am looking for a bit of information on medication. I've been dealing with anxiety for about 3 years now, more specifically anxiety around my health. I'm only 21 and it sometimes feels hard getting through each day. I feel as though certain things shouldn't be so difficult (such as simply going to the shops or eating at a restaurant). My boyfriend is so supportive but feel awful constantly relying on him and honestly feel like such a burden. I try to remain as positive as possible, but as most of you probably can relate, it can be really difficult always seeing the bright side. I have a friend of mine who currently takes anxiety medication and has found it worked well for her so I was just seeking more advice on others who may have decided to try medication. Thanks so much!

[white knight]

Hi, welcome 

While anxiety is a serious condition,  it is curable in most cases over the long term.

Google: beyondblue anxiety, how I eliminated it

Being motivated when you have any mental health issues is a balance eg it will come and go. 

Beyondblue 30 minutes can save your life

Imo there is 3 very firm steps with mental health- 1. Proper diagnoses 2. Appropriate treatment by a professional that might include medication. 3. Self help. 

Self help is best administered with an open mind to changes that could include an array of ideas. Changes like- living area, employment,  career, relationships with others, addictions, hobbies, sports etc. 

So themselves, their benefits can be more important than anything else, they are but one main part of the overall picture. Sometimes life changes, circumstances change and meds turn out to be short time in duration

TonyWK 

[Croix]

Dear Jps_01~

I'd like to join TonyWK in welcoming you here. Three years trying to deal with anxiety is a long time to go wihtout the right sort of help.  It makes life so difficult. While I'm sure your boyfriend is a great comfort to you and it is wonderful that he is there it does take a a fair amout to support someone and the sooner you are able to live a better life the better for both of you.

I used to be so affected I could not walk down the driveway to empty the mailbox, was frightened of answering the phone and a whole load of other things. My family tried ot help and boost me up, and I tried to make myself feel less anxious too, but got nowhere. It was only when I sought competent medical assistance that things started to turn around.

I'm a different person now and enjoy life, and rather than feeling I was a burden I'm now able ot support my family and others when they need it. It took a while, family support and medical assistance including meds and also some therapy.

Can I suggest you book an extended consultation wiht a GP and set out what has been happening to you and how you feel. Then see what they say. Please do not make the same mistake as me. Frankly I left things far too long (a fair bit more than 3 years) and that  made it harder to be treated, but we got there.

If you would like to say what you think about this that would be great

Croix

[Cerberus]

Agree with the other two commentors - managing anxiety is a whole lifestyle thing, eating right, exercising as much as you can, meditating, getting enough sleep, having a good social network, not overcommitting yourself in work etc. 

I've been on medication since I was about 9 years old, went off it for a number of years in my early 20s, back on it again in my early 30s. Sarah Wilson wrote a really great book on her personal experience and strategies for anxiety (first, we make the beast beautiful: A New Story About Anxiety). It helped me a bit.

From my experience, I think anxiety is really a journey, you can have good periods and bad periods where you need more support and that's 100% okay and normal and natural and I wouldn't beat yourself up over it. 

Medication has drawbacks and none of them are perfect. I've been on medication and some made me gain a bit of weight, but it helps with insomnia so I take some partly for that. From my experience, medication tends to blunt things off (sex drive, emotional range) which can be what you need if you're really overstimulated and not managing things, but it is a cost-benefit to consider.

I guess my feeling on medication so far it that it doesn't hurt to try and just see if it works, but medication alone is basically never going to be the one thing that'll 'fix' depression or anxiety. 

[Tammy_]

Hi there, I'm 43 and have had anxiety my whole life. It has only been in the past 4 years that I've been able to manage it and am now off medication. I found speaking to a counsellor helped with my core issues as well as sessions with a psychologist where I learnt about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which I found really helpful. I wish I knew about this therapy when I was 21. There's a book I can recommend called 'The happiness trap' by Dr Russ Harris which guides you through ACT. It's great that you have a boyfriend that is supportive. It might be best to speak to your GP about your concerns and discuss what would help you. All the best!