Is medication worth it?

Really a good question. If you are seeing a therapist soon it may be best for you to not get on any medication at this time.  See how therapy works.

This is a good topic to discuss with your therapist.  I have had anxiety for so long that I was started on meds first and I wish I could be med free from all the meds.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

That is a great topic. I agree. If you think you can get through the anxiety without it, that's great. Especially seeing a therapist. I have had anxiety on and off for 8 years. Never took any meds, and in between I went 4-5 years without any anxiety. Just comes and goes with me unfortunatly. I never wanted to be dependent on medication.
Good luck!

From my experience most doctors and therapists seem to think that a combination of meds and CBT is best. Medication alone is ineffective, therapy alone can help, both together works best.

Xanax is pretty addictive I hear so be weary. Pretty much all benzos have some risk of dependency so try the med free route for now and see how it goes. Just my opinion. Meds can be very frustrating.

Hey 3DD, I commend you highly for wanting to go along this route (no meds) Most therapists and Dr's I have seen seem to think medication and therapy combos to work best, but, they also say if you can cope and get through it without the medication this is very good also, I take 3 different types of medication for my A/P and sometimes really wish I didn't have to (but i'm guessing everyone on meds wishes they didnt have to take them) But for me it works, the medication keeps me calm enough to deal with everyday things, but, I do suffer from severe anxiety and Panic!!

IMHO I think taking the non medication route might work for you as you seem determind to beat this on your own, and if things get too much the option is there for you sometimes just knowing you have other options available is enough to stave off the anxiety, depending on how severe it is!!

Wish you loads of luck with your therapy and i hope it goes well for you

POsitive vibes and hugs

Kitty xx

For me meds were necessary. I did a lot of work in support of them, but am convinced the meds have played a crucial role. But everyone's different, and since a lot of the meds do have dependency issues, I'd definitely see if you can work things out on your own first.

If you plan to enlist in the Army, I certainly wouldn't start Xanax. I can't know for sure but I can't see a military doctor prescribing that to you during your induction. They take all of your current prescriptions away, of course, so you'll need the Army doc to get more.

I have to say I'm not sold on the whole meds thing. Been there, done that, bought the (Xanax) t-shirt, so to say, and it did me more harm than good, in my opinion (though I know it has helped many others, it really wasn't for me). I was on sedatives and anti-depressants for years, and it's a vicious cycle. In the long run, I think the meds just made things worse, and aggravated my anxiety - I was anxious that I needed them in the first place! I'm a pretty cynical person to begin with, but even more so with this as I think too many docs out there jump to prescribe medication, giving the negative side-effects little more than a cursory glance. And there's very little viable help out there for people trying to come off meds. Food for thought.

Therapy helped, a bit. But I found breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to be a bit fruitless as well - and, this might sound stupid, but I struggled to actually remember my dr's tips during an actual panic attack. Simply laying back and trying to relax? Er, not helpful - not in the middle of a supermarket or meeting at work. I'm having more success through a site with some useful alternatives - Medicaless - am determined to do it without medication this time. But as with anything, always always get a thorough examination by your doctor, and have a chat with a therapist. You need to know what your options are - and use the internet, if your doctor suggests a specific med, PLEASE read up on it. They don't always have the time to tell people what they really need to know.

Afletch and Meircco, welcome! Thank you for your responses, we're glad that you have found us. You are sure to find this a great place full of awesome people, lots of information and support.

Please consider starting your own post to introduce yourself, so that other members can see it and welcome you:) Include some background about yourself and your struggles with A/P if you like, that way others with simialr situations can share.

Again, welcome and post anytime!
Scaredy Cat