I have taken Lexapro for about 6 years now for anxiety and panic disorder. I recently decided that I think I would like try and address the issues on my own and that I am feeling ok enough to get off of it. So I started cutting them in half taking 5 mg every 2 days...then I tried to just stop taking it, but started getting these weird lighting jolts in my head..so I started cutting that in half taking 2.5 and finally have gotten myself off. It has been about 3 weeks now that I haven't taken them. I have been having a horrible time sleeping. I can't go to sleep until like 3 in the morning..(not good when ya have to work). I am just curious to know if anyone has had this problem after taking the medication. I'd also like to know some opinions on ... How do you know when anxiety is caused by underlying issues that you can take care of yourself and not have to be on medication the rest of your life or is the anxiety caused by a chemical inbalance that requires you to take meds forever? I am trying to decide if I need to get back on the Lexapro. I have had bad anxiety..legs always shaking, nervousness feelings, crazy thoughts. I think that I have gotten all hard life goals accomplished that would cause me alot of anxiety. The things that I am dealing with now are just everyday life issues that every normal person deals with. I don't know if my body is just adjusting from not having the medication and it will slack off after a bit or if I do have that chemical inbalance that never goes away..all thoughts on this would be great...?? Thank you in advance....

I really think it's a combination of both environmental stressors and a chemical imbalance that we inherit from our parents. My mother suffered from anxiety when I was a child and I always thought she was insane! But now that I'm older, I began experiencing the same issues that she did. I can totally see why she did the things she did....and she wasn't crazy..none of us are. It's something we can't control even though we think we can. Being out of control just makes it worse, too. You think you look silly to the rest of the world, or you are totally alone and noone understands you, but it's not true. I have found that 1 out of 3 of my friends go through the same things I do. Actually, my boyfriend told me he went through it as well, and he is a big help for me now because he actually understands me and what's going on. He is my safe person, and I thank God that he is in my life to keep me stable. I try to fight my anxeity on my own, but lately it's just become too much with the day to day factors in my life. I've been prescribed Lexapro but I'm still scared to death to try it. It's a vicious cycle, and I pray that one day it will just go away. My mother experienced anxiety because we moved to Va Beach because my dad was in the Navy. She was out of her element, and it got to her. Now that she is back in her home town she is totally off of meds. So I feel that environment stressors play a big role in it. Something isn't making you feel complete or in control so you freak out. I know what my stressors are, and I'm trying to deal with them the best I can. The meds will hopefully just help more than I can emotionally do myself.