Dr recommended meds. Should I do it?

Jazzy27 · ‎10-04-2014

Hi there I'm new to this website and have joined as I have recently come to realise my anxiety is something I need to sort out. After discussions with my GP (who has known me since I was 13, I'm now in my mid twenties) he has recommended I take a common type of SSRI. After describing my symptoms such as, hair loss, grinding teeth, incredibly high stress levels, trouble sleeping and waking up several times a night to go to the bathroom, he had no hesitation in suggesting this. I think depression is playing a part also, I really lack motivation, struggle with self esteem, confidence and am very indecisive. I have my ups and downs, sometimes I feel great and sometimes I get down will spend an entire day doing nothing. After all that background, my question is, should I start the medication? I told my doctor I would like to try healthy eating and exercise first but after weeks nothing has changed. I eat to feel better, the more I eat the more weight I put on and the more weight I put on the more unhappy I feel. It's a vicious cycle and I wonder, will the SSRI help with my motivation and make me led a healthier, happier life? Do I need it? Not surprisingly I am very anxious about starting it.

Scott_Depression · ‎10-04-2014

Hi Jazzy

I understand your initial apprehension, but think your current state of mind may not be doing you any favours in thinking clearly to reach a rational decision. I apologise if this sounds mean in any way - it's not intended to - I know myself that I'm not great at making decisions when my meds are out of whack!!

Ok - this is the way I look at it. Our brains need certain chemicals in certain ratios and at certain times to keep us 'on an even keel'. Some of us (i.e. me and you) have bodies that don't produce the right chemicals at the right time, so we need to take meds to 'balance up' our chemicals. It's NO DIFFERENT to a diabetic needing meds to have insulin in their system when they can't actually produce it themselves. The meds only get us up to 'normal' or 'standard' levels of the required chemicals.

In short (after a long rant!!) take the medication, but keep monitoring how you're doing. Life is far too short to be crippled by anxiety - I've experienced really low lows but have come to simply accept that I need to take medicines for my body to 'run right' - I'm actually really grateful I have access to them!

Suggest that you go on the meds - they take a little while to kick in normally (week or two). If, after a month you're feeling no better, might be an idea to go back to Dr/visit a psychiatrist to reassess and try a different medication. Unfortunately it can sometimes take a couple of attempts to get meds balanced!

Feel free to agree/disagree as much as you like - would like to know your thoughts - please take care

Kind regards

Scott

Tanzi · ‎10-04-2014

Hi Jazzy27

"Healthy" eating and exercise is a good start but medication can be the missing part of the puzzle. Sometimes for whatever reason our brain just doesn't produce the chemicals we need to feel right,

I would suggest trust your doctor and sometimes it takes a few different meds until you find the right one. The meds are not a quick fix but can be an excellent aid along with good food and exercise, it can take a few weeks to kick in.

You can get 12 free visits to a Psychiatrist if you feel you need to talk, just get a health plan from your doc. Dig deep and be totally honest about your feelings.

Beyond Blue is a great place to find answers, I am new and find comfort in the fact I'm not alone.

You will get plenty of helpful advice from this forum so keep checking in and good luck on your journey, I'd love to hear how you are doing.

Jazzy27 · ‎10-04-2014

Thank you both so much for your replies, it really means a lot. I agree with you both and I am leaning towards taking the step and doing it but I'm really quite scared. I keep thinking that I'm really not "that bad" and that I can handle it without the medication, yet part of me thinks I could use the help and maybe I'm just struggling to admit it 😕

geoff · ‎11-04-2014

dear Jazzy, my personal suggestion is to take this this medication, you can always stop, but you need to give it a good time to have any effect.

The SSRI which I also take is to relieve some of your symptoms, but they won't necessarily do them by themselves, so you also need to have counselling.

The doctor will probably put you on a low dosage to begin with, just to see if you don't have any bad side-effects, but even if there are then that's normal, only until your body adjusts to them. Geoff.

Scott_Depression · ‎11-04-2014

Hi Jazzy

It's true there is an unfair stigma attached to mental illness, but organisations like BB are doing great things to fight this nonsense. Can I ask a question - if you had low iron in your blood, would you take supplementary iron medication? It's no different with these meds - they are balancing up what your body isn't producing. Make sense?

Having said this, I went through a phase of resenting the need for meds. now, however, I just know my body doesn't make the right chemicals for my brain, so I need to supplement

Hope this helps. Seriously, give the meds a go for an initial period - if they work, you'll get some much needed relief, if they don't work, at least you tried to help yourself & can try something else

Warm regards

Scott

Tanzi · ‎13-04-2014

Jazzy

Taking the first step and going to your doc and getting a mental health plan will help them assess what you need. You just have to be totally honest with the questions no matter what, it is completely confidential and you probably will feel like a huge weight has lifted.

Have you heard that people who suffer depression and or anxiety have been trying to be strong for too long.

Give it a go you have nothing to lose, just make sure you have a sympathetic doctor that makes a difference too.

Believe us it seems soooo hard right now but it really doesn't have to be.

Do you read books coz there are some good ones out there, you could go to your library and have a browse.

Keep us posted I can't wait to hear how your first appointment goes, just force yourself to pick up the phone and the rest may not feel so hard 🙂

Scott_Depression · ‎13-04-2014

Hi Jazzy

Just dropping by to see how you're doing - hope you're doing ok

Kind regards

Scott

Jazzy27 · ‎14-04-2014

Thanks so much for all your advice. Thanks Tanzi and Scott for checking in with me.

I do have a great doctor, I have seen him twice in the last six weeks or so to discuss this along with other general health checkups. He asked me to come back again in two weeks to see how things are going. I've booked in for this week but I'm having doubts about going as I don't want to go back unless I have decided 100%. I'm on holidays at the moment though so if I'm going to start the meds I would like to do it now rather than when I'm back at work, so I'm really pushing myself to make a decision.

The main thing holding me back is that I am so scared. I've been feeling so anxious because of this decision and am really stressing about what is going to happen if I do it. It feels like such a huge decision.

Tanzi I enjoy reading, are there any books you'd recommend?

Thanks again and hopefully I come to a decision tomorrow.

geoff · ‎14-04-2014

dear Jazzy, having a good is great because you can always fall back on them, just as my doctor keeps asking how I am getting on with my new psychologist, and if I said I didn't like him then he would get me to try someone else, but I like him.

The doctor will put you on a low dosage to begin with, just to see how they are going, and if they have too bad side-effects then they will change the AD, but you should give them a week or so to settle in. Geoff.