Realisation regarding taking medication for GAD

[Foghornclj87]

My name is CJ and I was diagnosed with severe GAD in November 2009.

I recently had a massive panic episode while travelling overseas. We're talking uncontrollable crying, hyperventilating, shaking etc. So bad was this episode that I had to fly home early. I've analysed my reaction & concluded that it was the culture shock of a third world country that smashed my carefully developed boundaries of control.

I've taken anti-depressants & anti-anxiety medication off and on since my diagnosis (usually only during times of extreme depression or anxiety). However I've always believed that through my personal development & a healthy lifestyle I would eventually "heal myself" of the need for medication.

Before this most recent episode I haven't had an anxious episode or need for medication in more than 2 years.

This most recent episode makes me question my assumption about my need for medication. Now I'm coming to realise that I may need to take medication for the rest of my life, even when I perfectly happy and functional.

Has anyone else had these thoughts or experiences? I love to hear from others.

[blondguy]

Hello CJ

Welcome to the Beyond Blue Community and your post too!

My name is Paul and I understand what you are going through. Your acute anxiety attack with the hyperventilation and shaking is horrible and reminds me of a few of my major attacks. I have had severe anxiety since 1983 and tried to put band-aids (calmatives) on it which like you did work...for a while....I refused the AD's they were trying to give me because I was anti-meds...until my female GP kicked me very very hard.

I was a jerk and tried to self heal with anti-anxiety meds until 1997 when my doc kicked me...It was the best decision I have made....I was able to function in my senior corporate role and have a platform on which I could heal and help myself. The severity of the anxiety also dissipated approx 90% just by accepting the AD's

The anti-anxiety meds are great to take the 'edge' off and enable short term well being CJ but taking the AD's properly with regular visits to my therapist was a huge bonus and really helped me recover.

Anxiety/Depression is a serious illness....the same as diabetes or heart disease. I am not 'pro' meds but since 1997 after all the meditation and natural alternatives didn't work (for me) the AD's taken with patience and gentle acceptance was the smartest move I have made in a long time.

I was (and still am) so much like you with thinking that personal development and a healthy lifestyle could be 'a cure' or a fix for the anxiety...and deep down I wish it was.

Your trip with the cultural changes....the flying...environmental differences can be enough to act as a trigger to get your adrenaline gland/thought processes working overtime. I really do feel for what you went through on that leg of your journey...:-(

I hope you can post back CJ and let me know your thoughts...that would be great 🙂 You are more than welcome to post as many times as you wish. I hope some of this has been of help to you

My Kind Thoughts

Paul

[Dwwmills]

Hi CJ.



Very interesting topic you have started. Like you I have GAD
and after fighting it for 40 years finally went on medication, with good
results. I’ve had my anxiety under control for nearly 2 years now and have been
off medication for about 6 months. I had hoped that personal development and
healthy living would win out in the end. At this point in time though, I’m
still not sure. Sometimes though I think it would be easier being on
medication. I’m not sure though how I would make that decision.



I had a mild stroke 3 months ago which I sailed through with
almost no anxiety at all. I’m finding being back at work now quite stressful
and my anxiety levels are up. I’m not sure whether this is the delayed effects
of the stress from the stroke or whether my GAD is coming back. It’s all still
quite manageable at the moment but I’m never quite sure when I should take
action.



I was interested to see your trip overseas triggered your
anxiety. I’m heading overseas in September for the 1st time for some
work-related training. This will be the 2nd time I’ve been overseas
but the 1st time I will be travelling alone. Being in an unfamiliar
environment and having to navigate my way through the different systems seems a
bit daunting to me.



I’ve found the beyond blue forums to be very helpful as it
gives you a bit of insight into how other people deal with these same problems.
I hope you stick around as I found your 1st post to be very
interesting.

Cheers

Dean

[Neil_1]

Hi there CJ

I’m sorry to hear about the turmoil that happened for you on your recent overseas trip.

I really do like your thoughts on where you said you believed that through your personal development & a healthy lifestyle, you would eventually “heal yourself” of the need for medication. That very positive thinking and a great attitude, however, I think for so many of us (though I’m going to refer solely to myself here) that I am aiming all the time to have a healthy lifestyle and to do things that I am sure will help me with my issues. However I know that by doing these things, it simply isn’t enough to help me fight my illness.

As a result, I really do need my medications that I take – and without them, I’d shudder to think how my life would be.

From taking these meds, combined with a number of other mechanisms that I’ve put in place, for the most part, I’m living my life as well as I can. At this point in time, I have no plans to go off my meds or to lower the dosage. It’s just something that I’m living with and am more or less resigned to be taking them for a long long time.

In fact CJ, you could easily change your words from “the rest of your life” to taking them for a “long time”. Actually don’t know if that makes it sound any better.

Moral of the story – that combination of a number of things (meds included) are more often than not, needed to help us get through our days.

Ps: the views listed above are attributable to the author and not necessarily viewed by the wider group. :)

Neil