Scared-thinking of going on meds!

I'm at one of the lowest points in my life right now.  My anxiety is at it's worst, panic, agoraphobia, depression, nausea which I'm not sure if it's caused from anxiety or possibly acid reflux.  The acid reflux is worse too.  I've had to go off coffee and alcohol completely right now and don't know if I'll ever be able to enjoy those again.  Going off coffee tends to make me very depressed.  I'm too agoraphobic to see my therapist right now-besides, wasn't helping that much anyway.  I don't have a lot of support.  My husband just wants me to start 'doing' something instead talking about it all the time, so I don't feel I have anyone to talk to.  I've recently felt very rejected by a friend(I guess we're not really good friends anymore).  I get rejection from my family(I have a different faith than they and that seems to segregate us).  I take a medication that I believe has made my dopamine levels so low, I can't do anything, can't clean my house or barely get off the couch-which in turn gives me horrible back aches.

So I'm wondering about going on an anti-depressant.  I've talked to many people and it's helped them a lot.  But I'm super afraid of the side-effects.  I've tried one before and had terrible nausea, and I'm phobic of throwing up.  I just don't know if it's worth it.  I have tons of books and information on anxiety and depression.  Maybe I just need to give the natural way a 'real' try. 

I have a doctor's appt. mon. morning and thinking of cancelling.  I don't know if I can get there anyway due to my agoraphobia.  I'm also taking xanax everyday.  I've built up a tolerance to it so need more for it to be effective which also scares me. 

I just don't know the right course to take right now.

Thank you Scaredy Cat! The support means a lot. I think the self-help route would be beneficial for me, if I am willing to put forth the effort. I know it's all about my thinking. I will get all my books out and read them and actually work through the exercises. I have felt so much better in the past-great in fact(been a while). This can't be it for me. I know I can feel better again. I will keep posting. Thanks again!

Hi Orchid! This is in response to your post, plus a response to mine! (I was the one with the driving problem!).

First off, thank you for your support and suggestion. I'm excited to try my new plan, and I'm looking forward to success :)

For what you're facing...if it's any consolation, I hit what I feel was my lowest point, about 6 months ago. While I had gone through bouts of anxiety, I had never experienced the anxiety, depression, and fear I had at that time. I hit a point where I was willing to try anything. Like I had said to a friend, if you had told me to eat a paper bag in order to feel better, I would've done it, no questions asked!!

Anyway, I started therapy once a week and went to a psychiatrist. I had an adjustment in medication, and kept reminding myself that I WILL get better. I was just saying today that I am starting to feel myself being happy again. I keep talking out my feelings, praying, and trying to think positive.

Now, this doesn't help you, I realize, considering you said you have serious difficulties with medications and the side effects. I would definitely see your doctor as planned, and be very, very honest. There's definitely a med that will work for you. And try therapy again if you're ready. Even if you feel like it isn't helping, it's probably helping more than you know.

Good luck!!

Hello orchid and I am sorry you are going through this time right now, I understand how difficult it might be to start on medication, I myself went through it a while back but, not all medication gives you side effects, in my case I had  a bad experience with zoloft and now Im on effexor and it has worked pretty good with no side effects.  You have already taking a big step and great you did it, went to the dr, now another step in getting and feeling better which is taking your meds as prescribed..you will get better..good luck and keep us posted.

Great job on making it to your appointment! I know that you are nervous about taking your Rx...try envisioning a postive outcome for it. Imagine that you have taken your medication, and that you do not have side effects, and you are able to keep going with it...and you start to feel better!

Many people take their meds without a problem, so try thinking positively about it for you as well.

Of course the decision is up to you and you alone...we support you either way, and want you to feel comfortable with the decisions you make in regards to your treatment.:)

Good luck with your choice, and let us know how you are doing soon...we will be here to cheer you on always!

S.C.

Great job! I'm so happy for you. I was agoraphobic 17 years ago and with the help of Paxil I overcame it. I went off the med and was fine all these years. Now. My baby is 17 and gone from home and I have crohns disease and a lot going on with my oldest daughter and boom anxiety and depression returned. Not like it was before because I know what it is and how to handle it but it is still hard to deal with after all these years. So I'm on Paxil again and feeling better everyday. I been taking it for about 2 weeks. Just when you get a what if thought remember to ask yourself so what if or what is the likelihood. I have had a lot of nausea due to sinus and antibiotic use I don't like that feeling either. What nausea med do you take? I have phenegan here but it kinda makes me out of it feeling. Any suggestions for me

Well, 2 days down on my meds. Unfortunately, yesterday was a little uncomfortable for me. I got a little nauseated around lunchtime and couldn't eat, then I got nauseated again at night after my anti-nausea meds wore off so I took another one. I thought last night that I couldn't do it anymore. But many people only suffer the first week then feel relief. I have to push through somehow, if it means a better quality of life.

I will just take more anti-nausea meds to get me through this week. I have a very important meeting thursday night that I don't know it I'll be able to make. I just want to stay close to home right now.

Thanks for all your support!

It's not helping that my throat hurts right now, wonder if I caught the cold from my husband.

Good job taking your meds. I am also just starting on Zoloft for anxiety. Keep waiting for the side effects to come and waiting to feel better. I hope you feel better soon. Things will get better you just have to beleive

Hi Orchid,

Great job on taking your meds even though you were reluctant...it took a huge step of courage on your part!

Typically SSRI's take a few weeks to build up, and level off in your system. It could be another week or two for you to start to notice a difference...and a couple more until the medication reaches its full beneficial level.

You are right in that everyone is different though, so you will have to wait and see how and when it works for you.

I wish you the best, and encourage you to keep us posted as to how you are feeling.:)

Talk to you soon,

S.C.

Hello D,

Sorry you woke up not feeling well.  I'm still taking prozac(since April 2) and I think it has helped a lot.  I might talk to my doctor to see if she thinks I need to up my dose though.  I started with 10mg a day and now take 20mg a day.  I was soooo scared about the side effects, mainly nausea-vomiting.  I think starting with the low dose was very helpful.  My doctor reassured me that I might not even get nauseous.  So I took it for a couple days.  Then the next day I felt nauseous when I'd eat and so I decided to quit taking it.  Then the pharmacist called to check how the new medication was working and I told her.  She said it didn't sound like the med.  I wouldn't have nausea the next day from it.  She said probably only for a few hours after taking it(which I didn't).  So I tried it again and was fine.  She was right.  I took compazine with it for the first couple weeks so didn't notice any nausea at all.  My appetite decreased a bit, which was fine cause I wanted to lose weight anyway.  I was very tired for the first week or two then felt great after that.  But I really think starting with the low dose helped a lot. 

Let me know how things go on it.  Don't give up on it, cause I really think it will help.  If the side effects become too bothersome maybe you could start at a lower dose.  I've been taking compazine for nausea for a while and it helps me and I haven't had any problems with that med so far.

Keep us posted.  Prozac hasn't been a miracle drug or anything but it has helped me get a lot of my life back!  And I have been happy again.  It was definately worth it and I'm glad I finally decided to take it.