The One About Anxiety Medications and Side Effects
Over the past few months, I have been experiencing more anxiety and panic attacks than I have been used to. Many people take anxiety medication to control anxiety and I am no exception. Before I was medicated, the anxiety was unbearable and uncontrollable. Many years ago, I worked with my doctor to gain as much control over anxiety as possible.
Prescribing medicine, whether for physical or mental illness, is not an exact science. The medicine that provides relief for one person may not provide relief for another. Even when two people are on the same medication, they may be on different doses or need to take them at different times of the day.
Anxiety Medications Cause Side Effects
Many people avoid taking anxiety medications or switch medications because of possible side effects. Switching medications may mean relief from the symptoms, but it could also mean more anxiety or a side effect that is difficult to live with.
For me, the anxiety medications I was taking before had all of the kinks worked out, the side effects were managed and I knew what to expect. Switching medications has caused me a great deal of anxiety and it was for this reason that I avoided reporting the symptoms to my doctor. While I acknowledge that I will always have to expect, manage, and live with some anxiety, I also need to be aware of when I have surpassed that limitation.
Taking Control of Anxiety Treatments
The fact is the only thing worse than having anxiety is having anxiety and fighting through all of the treatment options. Reporting symptoms, trying new medicines, and working with a therapist to gain better control over the symptoms of anxiety can be frustrating and time consuming.
In the end, we must remember that it is worth it. The symptoms of uncontrolled anxiety can be devastating. Panic and anxiety attacks are brutal and a free-floating sense of dread and self-doubt gets in the way of living our lives.
I firmly believe it is better to be frustrated and annoyed for a short period of time than to live with the symptoms of anxiety for the rest of my life. I use each day as a chance to fight back and learn new ways to cope.
Taking control of anxiety treatments, as well as anxiety itself, is the best way to battle this illness. Working regularly with your doctor, therapists, friends, and family allows you to take back the control anxiety is trying take away.
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APA Reference
Howard, G.
(2014, August 19). The One About Anxiety Medications and Side Effects, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 5 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2014/08/the-one-about-anxiety-medications
Author: Gabe Howard
Im sick of anti drug and anxiety medication posts. I was so anxious and terribly shy that I hid under my bed most days before taking medication I was terrified of life itself. Therapy helped but my medication helped me not only talk but form life long friendships, manage to have a baby and work through my issues. Yes i have battled benzodiazipine addiction but i dont for a moment regret my medications. They increased my social skills from not being able to leave the house, to becoming an out going, sometimes over talkative person who has a life and has traveled the world as well. Life is not perfect and post natal depression hit me hard but i would have not even been able to have a child if I remained oblivious to anything being wrong with me or if i refused meds and continued taking St johns Ward which did NOTHING!!!!! My eating disorder is under control and my life actually is not a terrifying race to the finish line, being death
I feel that my medication is very helpful. I understand that medication is not for everyone and that it is a personal choice -- but for me and many others -- it is a godsend. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. ~Gabe
Thank you...I suffer from PTSD, Aniexty, Depression, Agoraphobia,and 5yrs ago I divorced my emotionally abusive husband...I have High Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes type 2, fibro, I also had and operation for a torn achilles heal that jive me grief now.... I would love to get any and all information of my aliments....again, Thank you.....
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. HealthyPlace is awesome. Keep reading and learning. You are in the right community! :) ~Gabe
omg this is me.... I get paralyzed. I have been handicapped, i.e. not working for 8 years. I was in management and also heavily involved in community activities, even organizing outreaches for homeless, addicts, etc.
I now sit in .... lay in my bed with head covered with blanket... its OVEDRwhelming. there is soooooooooooo much I can do, write,, draw, design, and I sit in bed day after day. I must take control
how have you managed. I am also a spiritual person, so I know the LIES of anxiety are lies from satan. I KKNOW I just need to believe the TRUTHS of GOD....
Easier said than done. I am working on getting medications. Do you have any suggestions in this area? They are putting me on 2 mg of clonazepam - 2 times a day. I WAS on 3 diazapams per day.... that was like taking a placebo, only 3 AT A TIME helped, and just barely kept me at the EDGE.
let me know thank you
how how
Hello Helyn,
Gabe Howard is the author of this post, but as he no longer writes for HealthyPlace, he is unable to respond to comments. At HealthyPlace, we can't give specific medical/medication advice because the nature of it is so complex and individual to each person. Definitely work closely with a doctor and develop a plan with him/her. I love that you mentioned that there are so many things you can do. You are right! There's so much more to us than just anxiety, and we all have strengths. Maybe it would work for you to pick one small thing you love to do or are good at doing and takes steps each day to incorporate it into your life. Small, positive steps can bring down a big problem.