Anyone ever been on Anti_anxiety pills ? - Al-Anon Family Group

MeTwo2 · ~*Service Worker*~

Anyone ever been on Anti_anxiety pills ?

Michelle814 · ~*Service Worker*~

Im sorry, MeTwo. I, also, get anxiety. I have been having trouble praying or meditating because my mind keeps racing lately. Its very frustrating and I become anxious over the anxiety, which is sounds like you are doing now. It couldnt hurt to talk to a professional about it, but many psychiatrists are very quick to prescribe, so I would get a few opinions and/or try therapy first. Sending you support.

atheos · Senior Member

Yes, I have taken (and still take) anti-anxiety medications. It can take a while to find the right meds (everybody's brain is different), but when you do, they can make a huge difference.

When you're first getting on anxiety meds, it's better if you work with a psychiatrist than a family doctor... family doctors tend to be trained to treat anxiety the same way they'd treat depression, and sometimes that can make it worse. Which isn't to say anti-depressants can't be a good treatment for anxiety, but they should be given by a psychiatrist who understands that dosage and drug choice for an anxiety patient are different than for a depressed patient.

Common anxiety treatments include anti-depressants, buspar, and benzodiazepines.

The anti-depressants can help me get out of a phase of severe anxiety, but they also make me numb, so I don't like to take them unless I have to (your mileage may vary -- anti-depressants are the most popular treatment for anxiety because they work well for many people). You usually have to take anti-depressants for a few weeks before you feel a difference.

Buspar is the only drug in its class -- a lot of people say it does nothing, and then there are a few people who it REALLY helps. It all depends on your individual brain chemistry. It probably won't be the first thing your doctor tries, but if anti-depressants aren't working out keep it in mind, because there are some people who are really helped by this drug.

For me, benzodiazepines turned out to be the best fit -- they work almost immediately, and you can take them just on days you need them. But if you take them daily for a long time they're addictive, so I only take them a few times a month on days when my anxiety is really bad. I'm allowed to take them multiple days in a row if things are *really* bad, but never for longer than two weeks. Because I am aware of their danger as potentially-addictive drugs, I treat them carefully, and have never run into any problems with them.

Less common anxiety treatments include anti-psychotics like Seroquel and Abilify -- these are hard-core lots-of-side-effects drugs used for schizophrenics, and I think it's REALLY unethical that drug companies are encouraging doctors to prescribe them for anxiety and depression when there are other, much safer, treatments available for those conditions. My sister is schizophrenic, so I've seen the horrible side-effects these drugs have -- if a doctor recommends them to me for anxiety, I find a different doctor.

-- Edited by atheos on Saturday 21st of January 2012 06:37:02 PM

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

I don't know your body type or more about you. But you may want to look at anti anxiety foods. no caffeine nicotine very little sugar.

I find eating as close to nature helps me. I mean fresh stuff, if you eat meat eat it simple not with a bunch of sauces spices etc. keep it simple.

It also can be lack of B vitamins. Chamomile tea is very relaxing.

I know when I work hard I feel much much better too. Sadly I am on an anti depressant that I cannot get off of. I tried for 8 months or so. I did it as long as I could.

But I do feel like me, feel everything so it is a good one for me. I still do all the good food, exercise, focus on positive.

hope you find some relief! And I do have xanax around but rarely take it and if I do it's when I have a migraine.

Its not bad to take them occasionally or rarely to bring yourself to a calm place. sometimes we get stuck in anxiety by being anxious cuz we are anxious!

hugs, debilyn

kris10 · Senior Member

I have been on anti anxiety meds for almost 13 years... I havent found that my meds help me with my obsessive thoughts much at all... They help me with my anxiety sure but as far as obsessing over the A... Thats most definately still there... Now if these thought are leading to anxiety then id say give it a try but ive found workig the program is THE ONLY THING that has helped me with this... Also to my suprise the program has helped me alot with my anxiety too!! I have to agree with deblyn about the eating healthy and I too have found that with my anxiety I CAN NOT drink caffiene.. I use to need it and didnt understand until my doc suggested I try no caffiene and see how I feel.. Boy was I shocked!!! Also Exercise is very good for anxiety, racing thoughts, or restlesness... Now with that said about the exercise, I wish I could only take my own advice.. Lol I would like to say though that I too can not seem to ever get off my meds now and I only wish I would have done more counsel work on it before I jumped right into meds... For so many people these meds usually always cause weight gain and the feeling of being emotionally numb... But with that said i've also known alot of people whom only needed a small amout of these meds for a rather short amount of time and got off them fine... Wish you well!

Lindaoakford · ~*Service Worker*~

I have taken antidepressants on a few occassions.

Can I just add here please, if you are living with an active heavy alcohol consumer, an addict, or a person who uses other depressant drugs.... ensure the safety of the medication and that it is out of reach of the user. It can be a dangerous mix with any of the meds mentioned, in particular the benzodiazepines (valium, Xanax etc).

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