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Should I be Ashamed?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 7/7/2008 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I feel kinda stupid asking this question but I have to I guess cause I'm upset. Is there any reason to feel ashamed being on Paxil? It really helped me and I've tried to go off of it but when I do I just feel how I felt before which scares me. I get anxious about everything and paranoid of people and basically do not want to leave my house or talk to anyone.

I don't want to take clonazepam anymore and am tapering off but I dont' know if I should taper off Paxil at this point. I feel ashamed and embarassed that I havent been able to do it. But I want to enjoy my life. I want to be able to work. I feel like crying. I've always been so adverse to medication and never tell anyone but my husband. I hate feelnig ashamed like I have failed.

Arugh!

Posted 7/7/2008 9:18 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Lynn

I'm a big believer in the motto "better living through chemistry" if one needs it.  The medication is there to help make your life better so certainly you need not feel ashamed of needing medications.

Georgie Girl

Posted 7/7/2008 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Lynn, if you could look into every medicine cabinet in every home in this country, you'd be astounded how many people are on medication for depression and/or anxiety. Apparently the stresses of 21st century living are just more than our brains were developed to handle.

Current belief is that depression is caused by having too little of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is produced by brain cells and is necessary for your brain to work correctly. Antidepressants work by increasing the serotonin level so your brain can work more normally. You have no more reason to be embarrassed or ashamed about taking Paxil than a diabetic has to be embarrassed or ashamed about taking insulin.
Posted 7/8/2008 12:01 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Lynn55

You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and you are not a failure.  You did not choose to have this disorder but you can learn to live with it and control it.  If taking medication is helping you then don't feel guilty.  Guilt is a wasted emotion. 

We are here for you to come and talk to us whenever you want to and we respect your right to your feelings.

Here are a couple of books you may be interested in and you can order them from our Resources/Books on the right side of this post.  You can also request them from you library.

The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, Fourth Edition

Pass Through Panic: Freeing Yourself from Anxiety and Fear
by: Claire Weekes

Please feel better and know we care.  You are a wonderful person and remember you have anxiety, it does not have you.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 7/8/2008 7:50 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Lynn55,

I don't believe there is any shame in taking Paxil or any other medication that helps make your life a little better (prescription meds only mind lol!). Please don't feel guilt or shame. I'm proud that my meds work, they help me get out and live life and help others. Having said that I still understand the stigma of meds. You won't find that here, just support. I wish you well.

Meg

Posted 7/8/2008 9:20 PM (GMT 0)

Lynn55,

There is no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed about taking a medication.  If it helps you feel normal and happy, that's great.  It's not about what other people think, it's about how YOU feel and if you feel good and can enjoy life and interact, keep taking it.  I'm on Xanax and am not at all ashamed of taking it.  People I work with know I'm on it and accept it just fine.  My family and friends know why I am taking it and don't judge me.  Noone should judge another.  I'd say if someone has a problem with you taking a med, it's their problem, not yours.  Do what you need to do for YOU.  It is no different than someone taking a pain medication or a seizure medication every day.  Different disorders call for different meds.  I wish you well and that the Paxil continues to work well for you.

Posted 7/9/2008 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Lynn,
Hey girl, please please dont be ashamed to take medicine,. If that helps you to function normally then by all means, take it and enjoy your life. Is your husband supportive of you? I know when I first got on Paxil my husband was totally against it, until he saw the results. And also, do you go to a church that doesn't believe in medicine? Many of the people at my church are against it but my theory is, if God gave us this technology to figure out what's going to help us, then why not use it? But anyway, you should definately not be ashamed. It takes more courage and strength to ask for help than to suffer alone. So I think you are stronger and braver for taking it. Keep your head up and do not let anyone put you down because of medicine. I dont think there's any difference in taking a Tylenol for a headache or taking Paxil or anything else for anxiety. You are not alone so be proud my friend! ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Love and Hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/9/2008 12:08 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning Lyn,

I hope you are feeling better about taking the meds and you have felt the reassurance here that you have no reason to be ashamed of anything. 

Taking care of you is the most important thing you can do for your family.

Hope you have a really good Wednesday.

Kitt

Posted 7/9/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
Thank you so so much for the posts. I really appreciate it. Sometimes I get down and think why do I have to take this? But ultimately my life has improved so much on it. I am able to function and work and I can go out and not feel scared. My husband is entirely supportive, my family not so much, but they dont really say anything about it. THey avoid the topic, which is probably for the best. So yes, I am feeling much more positive and I accept this is a part of my life, for now. It may change in the future but for now I accept this and its okay. :)

Thanks so much. You all are wonderful! I'm very blessed to have found this forum.
Posted 7/10/2008 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
HI Lynn,
Don't feel bad at all!! We all need to feel normal in life and our support comes in different ways :) I just started to have anxiety/panic attacks and am going to a therapist for them and have been on anti-depressants for about 5 years. In the last year I started having seizures so I take seizure meds. 4x a day but had a huge issue with that in fact the first time my family called an ambulance ( I was non-responsive) one I came to, I would not ride on the ambulance no way-no how! well after a few more serious seizures and the last one in front of my 9 yr. old niece I was like take me, do whatever...I have seizures, migraines, stroke symptoms etc....but we all have to adjust to our conditions. It took me a looong time and cost me some brain injury because I just let dr. after dr. at a small clinic send me home with what they thought was wrong and never asked for a test or anything else - its a migraine again, well they were but, those migraines led to a much serious issue with the heart and I think deep down I knew it but at the time I was "fine" It took my family to jolt me and get me to specialisits who perfomed the proper 15 tests to get where we are today. But still I am having issues (painc attacks/anxiety) so do we every really adjust? yes we will with time :) hang in there
Posted 7/11/2008 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Lynn

NEVER feel any shame in having to take meds to help you

If you were a diabetic would you be ashamed of having to have insulin daily??

PLEASE continue taking the med and also posting here'
There are very supportive and caring ppl as you will see as you come to know this forum ........LYN
Posted 7/12/2008 10:39 AM (GMT 0)
I am proud of going on Paxil a year ago, because I did something good for myself.  It has helped tremendously.  I do not tell everyone, like casual aquaintances.  My husband, a nurse, is opposed to taking meds, but I decided to go ahead with it, and am very glad I did.  Take it, and don't be ashamed!
Posted 7/12/2008 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Hibiscus

Thanks so much for your input it truly does help

hoping to see you post more and get in on other threads as well

Again welcome to you

Lyn

You are spot on there is no shame in taking the meds

Posted 7/12/2008 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lynn--I didn't expect to hear back from anyone so fast!

I think the thing to remember is that depression/anxiety is a Seratonin problem, to some degree.  You wouldn't feel ashamed to take meds for another medical problem, like diabetes.

I highly recommend Peter Kramer's book Listening to Prozac on these issues. 

Hibiscus. 

Posted 7/12/2008 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
That is a great book
Thanks for mentioning it
Have a good day .........

Yep I am up before the worms today lol
I am in Ontario Canada.........
Posted 7/12/2008 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Howlyncat--I am a big Peter Kramer fan.  He advocates for meds.

I was on a site called Anxiety Zone--seemed to be just smart alecks fooling around, and very hostile.  I'm happy to find a legit site.

I love Ontario, Canada.  I have a cousin in Caledon.

Hibiscus

Posted 7/13/2008 3:32 PM (GMT 0)

I don't think you have anything to be ashamed about.  Seems like these types of drugs are more accepted in today's society.  If you ask my aunt or my dad, they will tell you to get off the drugs and manage your problems without meds.  That's what they have both told me but I don't pay them any mind.  I don't care what anyone thinks.  I don't have the skills right now to be off the meds and I'm not ashamed to be on it.

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