Anxiety: Go away

More: people with GAD *can’t* just chill out — that’s the problem. It seems completely irrational to worry about the things they do, and most know this, but they just can’t stop. The worst part about GAD, aside from the sometimes crippling anxiety, is the ridiculousness of the whole situation.

Have you ever thought about going on medication, OP? I know medication gets bitched about and people go on about how those on meds are weak/lazy/unwilling to deal with their problems, however, that’s because doctors give that shit out like candy these days — all you really have to do is say you’re sad a lot and you’ll get a prescription for paxil. It’s ridiculous.

However, some people just can’t control their anxiety without medication; they’ve gone the therapy route and they NEED the medication. I have a panic disorder along with GAD and I ended up in the emerg once from a panic attack that wouldn’t go away. I had been on paxil for about 5 years and decided I wanted OFF meds. 8 months later I was back on medication after going to therapy and still having attacks. I would be on the bus — fine one minute — then the next I was scared shitless of literally nothing. This time I’m not on paxil (paxil is like the mother of all ADs — that shit’ll make you worry about NOTHING. Seriously: NOTHING) and they don’t work as hardcore as paxil so I still worry about what SHOULD be worried about.

Gee, way to go, LS. You should start your own advice column.

Fuck what LS says, OP. Often those deep in psychosis are given medication to clear their heads so they can be lucid for therapy. I DOUBT you’re that far gone (I doubt you’re far gone at all!) so don’t listen to that rubbish.

Thing about psychological disorders is that sometimes the imbalance in your brain just can’t fix itself with therapy — sometimes one NEEDS medication. Sure GAD can be caused by some environmental factors, but sometimes it’s not and then it becomes a medical disorder like diabetes. What pisses me off is how people hate on medication and those who take it. They wouldn’t hate on me for taking insulin to treat my diabetes, yet I’m “weak” and “sweeping issues under the rug” for taking drugs. FFS I *have* no issues. I’ve been to therapy. I have no reason in the world to have panic attacks, yet I do without medication. When I wasn’t on ADs I’d have to take benzos at least 3-4 times a week for anxiety attacks (only the bad ones — I’d have at least 2-5 attacks a DAY for no reason whatsoever), but now that I’m on ADs I haven’t had to take one tranq in over 8 months.

I’m not saying meds is for everyone — I’m just saying there’s nothing wrong with taking them if you need them, especially if therapy does nothing for you (and yeah, I was intense therapy for a LONG time — psychiatrist and psychologist therapy sessions). Now that I’m back on meds (for about 14 months, thus far) I have no need to see either anymore, especially since I’ve found what meds work for me (it can be quite a process — it took about 6 months to figure out that SSRIs aren’t for me — I need a mix of SDRIs and SNRIs — it can be frustrating when you’re trying to find the medication that works for you, but it’s worth it in the end if you do find one that works for you).