Is Medication The Only Alternative To Anxiety - Anxiety Message Board

Looly · 03-07-2008, 04:21 PM

Had two visits this week. One with a psychiatrist and the other with a psychologist. The psychiatrist told me if I am comfy with valium to keep using it. The psychologist tells me that I should consider seeing a different psychiatrist because he doesn't agree about the valium. He said there are other drugs out there. I told him I know about all of them and I dont want to take them as they cause side effects in most people if not all and I am very medication sensitive and won't take anything.

Why is medication the only route for anxiety issues?

What about therapy - talk - or C B T or something. Why does the road always lead to drugs that are hard to take.

Mstic1 · 03-07-2008, 05:17 PM

Hi Looly,

I totally agree with you. I saw my primary care doctor at the end of February and she wrote me a prescription for Zoloft. I went to the pharmacy and got it but am to afraid to take it due to the possible side effects. I'm afraid if I take it...it will make me feel weird or spacy or shaky.

I too wish there was something else besides prescription medication.

If any on has any thoughts...please let us know.

Thanks

Looly · 03-07-2008, 06:44 PM

It seems that all these doctors know is medication.The doctor I went to said don't read about the side effects but in this computer age, everyone searches out information. It's more common than not to have some side effects and like you, I am afraid on any medication. I am going to try Cognetive Behavior Therapy. Maybe that will lead me in the right direction.

Worrybucket · 03-08-2008, 03:22 AM

I was totally against taking meds in the beginning, but i got so bad, no amount of holistic, whatever therapy would have helped me.

I reluctantly went on Prozac, and it was the best thing i did, im 9mths into it now and its been great, i feel a whole lot better, and i KNOW i couldnt have got through this amxiety without it.

However, I dont want to stay on it forever, so with the help of CBT therapy i will eventually come off it. I will do this slowly as i dont want any nasty re occurances of my anxiety attacks.

But my opinion is although i too was reluctant, i know i made the right decision for me, so dont not take anything and struggle, just because you have this bad feelng about meds.

cmpgirl · 03-08-2008, 12:18 PM

Hi all: Just another perspective...My psychiatrist is a pretty cool guy and is not the type to just prescribe and forget about the rest. I haven't tried CBT yet, but have heard many success stories.

I know when my psych gave me my script he explained that anxiety has a chemical and a behavioral side to it. The therapies work on the behavioral and the meds work on the chemical. He certainly does not recommend taking the meds constantly, but told me that only I can know what's happening in my body at any given time, and to act accordingly.

We've been working on me developing an understanding of my anx/panic attacks and how to spot them as they are building. If I can't control them through, deep breathing, diverting my attention, finding a physical outlet etc. then I take the meds. Kind of a last resort type of scenario. I know for me the challenge is to know when the rest isn't working, but I'm learning day by day to recognize and understand my triggers.

I know this cuts way back on my med consumption and right now it's beginning to work for me. And of course, my sessions with him are just as important. But everybody's different and I guess we all have to find what works best for ourselves. I don't think there really is just one method or med that works for every person.

Hang in there and keep looking for the best solution for YOU. cmpgirl