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Medication Phobia

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Posted 2/13/2015 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I found this site in the book Coping with Anxiety. I love the book. I've had anxiety all my life. I believe it started when I was 14 after being raped. I also think my mother had it. I'm 57 years old

I've had plenty of phobias. This phobia of medication is the worst ever. I have been on Propranolol for 20 years I take 1 pill 2 times a day. That's all I take. I don't take anything else. Not even a vitamin. The last time I took a pill was when I got a tooth infection I had to take an antibiotic. 6 or 7 years ago. I take that back I took a thyroid pill and it caused me so much anxiety I never took another one. this was not just a one time panic attack this was all day long and for a week after. I believe the thyroid medication made me really nervous. I'm also afraid of the Doctors. I have whitecoat syndrome when I go my BP is through the roof so they want me on medication. That's fine all I have to do is take my propranolol plus another half a pill of the same thing. WELL I've been thinking about it since July of last year and cannot get that half a pill down! My refills are run out and that means another trip back to the Doctor to get my refills and I haven't taken it. I'm am so sick and tired of myself. I know I have to just take it but I can't do it. I have other phobias about food and I don't drive because of panic attacks. Why the Dr suggested an antidepressant when I won't even take a Tylenol is beyond me. I tell her I'm afraid to take the meds. Scenario: Here take this pill so you can take this pill. Makes no sense why she can't figure it out.

I need help. If you have a phobia about taking a pill please tell me how you stopped it.
I think I'm going to have to just pop it in my mouth and be done with it. That's the hard part.
Posted 2/13/2015 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Avoider

First of all welcome to the forum I am pleased you have found us you will get good support here.

You are not alone a lot of members have a phobia of taking medication and head down other routes to recovery. It really is a personal decision on if you take medication and it's important to remember that a pill will not cure your anxiety it will only help ease your symptoms.

I would ask your doctor the next time you see them about getting a referral to a therapist to do some talking therapy such as CBT or Mindfulness Meditation which both get great results in helping you deal with your anxiety. In the meantime have a look at our resources thread which you will find on the main page first post for some useful links to self help guides..

I am sorry to hear what happened to you as a child that must of been a terrifying time for you and understandable that it is the cause of your anxiety. I think it would be good if you feel able to discus this with a therapist.

Stay with us and keep posting you are part of the HW family now and we are all here to support you.

Hibee
Posted 2/13/2015 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I am new here too.

I am sorry to hear about your past, that must have been awful :-(

I have no words of wisdom regarding anxiety about taking medication, just empathy because I am the same. If I ever take something, I am never sure whether I am having side effects or just panic attacks and severe anxiety - you are not alone in this.

I have found that people on hear are lovely so glad you found it,

Keep strong x
Posted 2/13/2015 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I too have a phobia about medication, in my mind I think that when I take it something bad is going to happen. Sometimes I take lorazepam and I'm just waiting for something to happen and it causes a panic attack. Right now I have been debating to myself about taking it, even though I already tried it many times, I'm still scared
Posted 2/13/2015 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome!


I am sorry that you are currently dealing with these worries. It is ironic, that we fear the meds that will most likely bring us relief...but true that the initial s/e's can make for a rough start.

Perhaps starting with some self-help in order to manage your fears would help you to take the first step in adding a needed Rx...

Here is a self-help/informative article on pharmacophobia (fear of taking meds) that you may find helpful.:)

 http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/pharmacophobia/


Post with us anytime for anxiety support! We care, understand and are here to listen anytime.:)

S.C.

Posted 2/13/2015 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
...oh, and that is great to hear you found a good anxiety book...and WE are in it?!?

I would love to know the title if you don't mind sharing!!:)

S.C.
Posted 2/13/2015 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone thanks for replying. I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I'm going to stick with you all until I get this taken care of because people that have been there know what it's like.

I am almost always in a state of panic. I have had panic attacks most of my life.

The Book I am reading is called "Coping with Anxiety" It's a smaller version of "The anxiety and phobia workbook". By Edmund Bourne.

I think it's helping me. "Coping with Anxiety" is not so complicated.
Posted 2/13/2015 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
The website you posted didn't come up.
Posted 2/13/2015 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Uh-oh...I did copy and paste it from an older response I made to someone's thread previously...

Let me troubleshoot, or find another resource for you.:)

S.C.
Posted 2/13/2015 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Okay...I fixed the link...and below are a couple more to check out.:)

http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/pharmacophobia/

http://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/articles/fear-or-phobia-of-consuming-any-medication/

http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/library/medication-phobia/

One note...the first link is for a self help program that is for sale...I, nor HW necessarily endorses this...it is simply a suggestion for self-help for your challenge.  The other two links are informational only.  These are just some options to  explore.:)

S.C.


Posted 2/14/2015 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Avoider and Sistermoon.
So glad you have found this group. Scaredy cat gave you some good direction. I am just here to say you aren't alone. I am another one who does not take new meds, but for slightly different reasons. Please consider some therapy to help get over this phobia.
Phobia are irrational fears....they are strong, but you are stronger, and now we are with you.
Posted 2/14/2015 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hello!

I can relate to both your medication fear, and I also have food phobias That have come about fairly recently.

I very rarely take medicine, but when I do I try to have some level of control over it. I will research my medications extensively, in an attempt to see if my worst fears are likely to come true. If I see that most people tolerate a specific med well, I will usually feel ok to start taking it. Even then my fears usually keep my from diving right in. I tend to feel more comfortable if I ask my doctor for low doses of things, and then break them into pieces and take a little at a time. If the little bits don't hurt me (they never do) then I can feel safe gradually increasing to the point where I feel comfortable. I did this with propanolol and klonopin. I usually break my tylenol in half too. I have researched other drugs, antidepressants, certain antibiotics, and felt that for my comfort level the risks were too great for me to attempt taking them. Thankfully most doctors seem willing to work with me, and will often give me the mildest version of a drug if I ask them for it.

Its definitely not a fun phobia to have, but it seems to be common for many people with anxiety.
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