Scared of medication

[singleorigin]

Hi everyone, I visited a psychiatrist last week for treatment for my severe anxiety primarily, along with depression. I have a family history of anxiety and lived with it from an early age. After a comprehensive review of my life, the psychiatrist recommended an antidepressant as she said I would need to gain some perspective away from anxiety so that I can begin thinking rationally.

The problem is I have long avoided medication as I am petrified of the side-effects. I am emetephobic and am deathly afraid of anything that can potentially cause gastrointestinal upset as I have suffered from IBS for most of my life and it is already debilitating. I did tell this to the psychiatrist and she said I may need to come back for further therapy on this issue.

I'd like to know if there is anyone else here who may have felt the same or similar. The fear is so strong that it could be compared to thinking that the medication was in some way poisonous and a deadly threat. The psychiatrist said this is a chicken-and-egg kind of problem. I wish there was a way through because right now I feel rather helpless.

Thanks, look forward to hearing from you.

[Croix]

Dear Singleorigin~

Welcome here to the Forum. I guess there are many who have a great reluctance to take medication, many due to fear of side effects.

I've had to take medications for a very long time, and have had all sorts of side effects, though I seem finally to have reached a regime that is reasonably effective and does not hinder me in other ways. Meds have made a large improvement in things and I would not want to try to deal without them.

It may be that some medications might affect the bowel, I'm not a doctor and don't know.

I do know from long term personal experience that there is specific medication for constant diarrhea that deals with the physical side, not the mental causes. For me it is effective, suitable for long term and does not have side effects.

So while I could not predict anything about your circumstances I'd be talking to my GP or psychiatrist about this approach.

I'd have to agree about perspective. My anxiety has dictated so much of my decision making, from not attempting something, to trying to do something too quickly. To have one's ability to draw rational conclusions without being unduly influenced is a great thing.

I would think close supervision during the initial period might be a help, please don't hesitate to say more

Croix

[geoff]

hello Singleorigin, I think that taking any medication especially antidepressants (AD's) is always a fear people have, simply because they read the net, but most AD have to supply all or any side-effects that may occur, but the companies have to do this whether they affect you or not for legal reasons, however they may not do any of this to you.
There is a chance you might be able to overcome this feeling, so ask your psychiatrist about desensitisation for your emetophobic, google it and what maybe impossible to overcome can be done using this method, no matter how scared you are.
What she will do is start you off on a very low dosage which you might not even notice so it probably won't affect you, however you may need to first use desensitisation for taking any medication that's your first hurdle and then about your fear of vomiting.
I would be interested to know how you think using this technique. Geoff.

[eloop]

I also have been really afraid of medications but have reached a point were all else has not lasted been on meds for 10 days it has been bit rough. been in recovery for 8 years for substance abuse and am all over the place but I live in hope I have tried all alternatives but I am going to push through we need to stay strong I also had ongoing emotional problems from early wondering about others experience of early days on meds

[geoff]

hello Eloop, being on medication for 10 days can sometimes be a bit rough on you, especially if you've been using other substances, I realise that you have been 8 years in remission, and that in itself is a terrific achievement so well done, the point I'm making is that the benefit from these medications is not an immediate effect and normally takes 3 to 6 weeks for them to begin working.
Some people are lucky because they start straight away, while others have to try several different types before they find the one that works.
I had to take many different AD's before the right one, and yes it was a different experience because I was doing my best to overcome depression, but medication won't make you feel better by themselves, until you find out why all of this has happened, and you do this with counselling.
Once you get to a stage where you are able to cope with your current situation then your AD's will be able to keep you afloat, however everyone is different. Geoff.