Meds to help anxiety symptoms

[lisar]

Hi guys

This is more a curiosity question really. My psych put me on a beta blocker for my anxiety - I didn't realise that's what it was!!!! The shaking, the stomach churning & racing pulse plus everything else wasn't normal! The difference the meds made was absolutely incredible & for the first time in a couple of years my pulse actually dropped below 120!

I loved feeling so much better initially then once the novelty wore off I felt like it was to hard to do anything - I didn't have the anxiety over riding the depression & I wasn't achieving anything cos of no motivation.

We have worked out a dosage that suits me now though. I am wondering if anyone else out there is on long term meds for their anxiety & if they have similar sort of feelings?

[Beltane]

Oh yes certainly, lots of people with deoression, depression/ anxiety or straight anxiety find help in medications. Different medications are for different things, and only a doctor or psychiatrist can know which one might help (and there can be a bit of trial and error).

Some common medications for anxiety and/ or depression include antidepressants- they help with anxiety in many people too.

there are things like benzodiazepines for very short term anxiety relief but doctirs rarely use them except in urgent situations as they addictive and you can't use them for very long. 

There are things like what you're on- beta blockers. obvioisky people like you have sphysical symptoms such as fast heart rate, high blood pressure, stress headaches etc- these meds were originally designed for heart conditions but in the right dose ive heard many people say they get great relief. 

There re are other medications used more rarely as they sometimes have more side effects. Eg I'm on a low dose anti psychotic. Im not psychotic, I have a pretty severe case of anxiety and antidepressants trigger mania for me (I may have bipolar). 

I think it's worth discussing with your doctor whether theraoy and/ or lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques etc would be good for you. I personally have found great success with ACT therapy. CBT therapy is the most popular but I didn't like it much personally (you might love it).

Therapy can make long term positive changes to your life, you'll most likely see great benefit and start thinking in better ways (ways that help you reduce and control your anxious response to events).

some people need meds for a long time or even for life, but others can come off them after even a few months if they get therapy and recover. 

I'm not worried if I have to stay on mine. I have done theraoy for a few years and made huge lifestyle changes, and I have seen great benefit (massive benefit) but my synptoms return of I stop my meds even eith a doctors advice. But that's just my body- your experience may be totally different 

hope that helps 

[Beltane]

Sorry didn't answer your last question. I very grateful for my medication. The theraoy helped my thinking/ behaviours/ anxious response and anxious thoughts etc. But I had nasty physical synptoms too- bad nausea, tummy pains, stress headaches, racing heart rate (I even had to get an ecg and halter monitor to make sure it wasn't a heart problem). Those symptoms come back if I go off my med. My med have me a normal life back- not stuck at home feeling sick

[Ready1]

Hi - without mentioning what I am taking I have been given meds to help with my anxiety - before this I was experiencing pins and needles in my left hand, sharp pain in my chest at times of stress and somedays this feeling as though I was shaking although I was still.  I have been on these for three and a half weeks now and first week felt great - then the second week I stared getting tension type headaches, basically felt like I was wearing a hat too tight but wasnt wearing one, have been getting the pins and needles in my left hand again and recently started feeling a burning sensation in the same arm.  Went to my doc and he said these would all be early side affects of the meds and to ride them out as things "should" get better.

 My question is do these sound like standard side affects to anyone else?  I avoid using the net as much as I can, I got myself all worked up when I had my first panic attack from looking at Google - so I avoid this.  I put my symptoms in the net and come up with all sorts of nasty illnesses that I dont have!  Also does this sound right that meds can take that long to start to work?  I guess I am a little impatient!

[Shintaro]

Hi Ready1,

I have been on medications for depression/anxiety.  If you are alarmed at the side effects you are experiencing from your medication, I would tell the doctor you are worried.  There are many medicines out there and one medicine doesn't fit all.  And everyone reacts different.

On a different note, I've also tried acupuncture regularly which reduced my stress/anxiety alot (still does).

Good luck.

[lisar]

Thanks for all your replies. I certainly feel less alone reading others are out there in the same boat. Beltane I'm currently in intensive therapy & like you didn't like CBT much at all. I find relaxation / mindfulness very anxiety provoking, I am way to self conscious & feel like I'm being self absorbed sitting there thinking about myself, trying to relax, being mindful. The act of just sitting still is enough to make me anxious ^ I get agitated. I will get there though, the meds have certainly made a huge difference to how I physically feel.

Ready1 as for 'typical' side effects, everyone responds differently. What is normal for one person is not for another. I commend you for not googling your symptoms!!!! It is nothing but gathering info on a very basic list of symptoms & suggesting anything even remotely linked to symptoms. My 14 yr old googled her discharge from her bellybutton ( something that just needed a little peroxide & fresh air) & came out in hysterics cos google told her she had bowel cancer!!!!! It took a hell of a lot of reassurance from me ( & I'm a nurse) that she wasn't going to die from cancer. Good luck with the new meds & if that one doesn't work for you maybe there is another one your doctor can trial you on

[Space_Penguin]

Hi Lisar.  I found your story interesting.  I am not on any meds. I tried anti depressants when I had my twins 15 years ago and I put on 20kilos.  That didn't help the depression.   I lost it all eventually and have plodded along. But now 15 years later things life have caused the depression to re-surface, and I have the heart racing thing (is this anxiety?).  I wake up in the morning with it - even after a great calming sleep. It's so annoying.  I went to the doctor who said anti depressants is the only solution, but if I put on weight like before, I don't know what I might do - so I feel I have no solution to make the sadness go away, or the racing heart.  What is your experience with meds to help anxiety and depression.  I feel at a loss, the medical profession can't help and I don't have anyone close who I can talk to about it cause they all think I'm just crazy and should just 'get over it'...

[Beltane]

hi Lisar. Yeah I find "relaxing" and "mindfulness" only helpful if i'm already relaxed. When I'm anxious, i describe myself to my therapist as "brimming with energy". Its like my body is just overwhelmed with energy. Sometimes the very act of having to sit and be still is EXCRUCIATING. There have been many many times where i've paced around the house for hours on end, perhaps crying or wringing my hands with stress, unable to distract myself from the thoughts in my head, or the anxious energy coursing through me...

I used to cry with frustration whenever my old counsellor suggested "relaxation" "mindfulness" etc. Literally, i'd actually cry. because she was telling me to do something that was physically painful for me to do. Its terrible trying to sit when you're so anxious you're barely holding yourself together...

Then I went to a new therapist and she changed my life. She explained to me that for ME at least- relaxation and mindfulness would only work in times of mild anxiety. but in times of severe anxiety, what i should try to do was divert the energy into something healthy. I now sew dresses and patchwork quilts, I play guitar and drums, I sing along to loud music- focusing on the notes, lyrics, instruments, I do exercise every day (even if its just a jog around the block). All these things burn UP all that excess energy, gets it all out so it doesnt build up in me and make me explode.

Then once I have gotten that energy out, i naturally calm down, and THEN i am able to work through what the problem is using mindfulness and all those skills to rationally and calmly sort out the problem. Or I talk it through with my therapist.

I always make time every day to do one of those "energy burning" things- ever since I've started, i've found it a LOT easier to prevent getting to that "i'm going to explode with anxiety" state- and i'm a lot more stable and calm. Basically, get the energy out in small bursts through healthy ways, and it wont have a chance to "build up"

Space Penguin- there are plenty of different meds for anxiety- antidepressants, antypsychotics, anxiolytics for short term. Just because one table made you overweight doesnt mean another will. Just because one didnt work doesnt mean another wont. I went through 6 antidepressants, than found my miracle drug in an antipsychotic. but i had very severe anxiety.. (i say "had" because this med has made it go away). it was well worth the ride getting here- tis changed my life