Hi everyone, I'm a returning member to this site after what seems like a long time away. I have been struggling with mild anxiety for a long time now, but have somehow managed to keep it at bay. These last couple of months have been testing though! I finally made up my mind to see my Dr and consider meds. He put me on Zoloft (50mg). I lasted 2 days. The effects were horrible. I had sweaty hands and feet, trembling, tingling in my hands/arms/feet, a feeling like my head was buzzing, couldn't concentrate on anything, totally scatty. I couldn't stand it. On day three I decided to stop. Stopping seemed almost as hard as starting! the side effects persisted for the following few days, I'm finally feeling "normal" again. So I'm not sure about the meds now! Is there anybody out there who manages their anxiety using other techniques / alternative therapies? ie: acupuncture, vitamins, music, meditation etc?? I'd really be interested in hearing from you. I don't want to rule meds out, but my experience with zoloft left me wary. thanks...
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Hits: 205
Trackback(0)
TrackBack URI for this entryComments (4)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Honeyface
said:
 |
... I don't blame you. I tried AD's (Zoloft and Lexapro) a few years ago with some bad side effects. I swore I would never try them again and continued to look for alternative type ways to combat the anxiety. There are a lot of them, but none that totally took my anxiety away. This past summer my anxiety got out of control and I was spiraling into a deep depression. I finally decided I would give AD's a try again, only this time I would be careful about it. I told my psychiatrist that I was VERY sensitive to meds and that I was really afraid of trying another one. So he put me on Celexa (which is a sister drug of Lexapro, I think). Anyway, he started me out at a very low dose and slowly raised me up to the normal dosage. Over a period of four weeks I finally got to the starting dose. I've been on it for two weeks now and have to say that I didn't have the bad side effects from it. I did get a little more anxious for a short period, but I have xanax to take for when it gets too high for me to manage. Believe me when I say I am not a huge fan of medications. I would much rather go the alternative route, but I've tried changing my diet (cutting out sugars and caffeines), accupuncture, massage, meditation, deep breathing, exercise; and although they have helped to some degree, sometimes you just need the medication to get you through. I don't know how long I'll be on this medication, but I was at a pont in my life where I was sick of being anxious and depressed all of the time. I could not function. So I guess you have to ask yourself if you are willing to put up with a little discomfort (provided a doctor can work slowly with you to build up the medication)in order to feel better, or is it not worth it. There is a book by Edmond Bourne - The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook that has all kinds of alternative ways to help combat anxiety. It's a great book and I think would be very helpful for you. Welcome back and good luck. |
Irish
said:
 |
... When being prescribed meds by a Dr. make sure the Doctor is a psychiatrist who can spot what you are saying and use his or her experience to prescribe what's right for you. Tooooo many MD's ar prescribing zoloft like it's candy and it doesn't work favorably for everyone. If your Dr. is not a psychiatrist, then get a referral to one. If I had diabetes, I wouldn't want some surgeon or cardiologist prescribing for me. They all have their specialties and we rely on their expertise as well as their experiences with other. Take care....Ed |
harmonica
said:
 |
... Yep, I hate the meds as well. I have never been on any, other than having a xanax now and then. I absolutely hate the feeling that it is winning and the meds are the only way out. So I have learned to deal with it in other ways. Now, don't get me wrong, there have been some days when I am wild eyed, wound up, and would do anything at that moment not to feel the way I do. But for the most part I deal with it without the meds. First off, before I say anything else, I want to stress, after reading some of the accounts on this website, I consider myself a mild case compared to most in here. I am lucky in that regard. That being said, one of the things that helps me a lot is progressive muscle relaxation. I practice multiple times a week. If nothing else it has taught me that I can calm myself down. Another BIG thing that helps me is exercise. I am a gym rat, running rat, workout fool, etc. On days that I feel on edge, I haul my buns into the gym and workout the anxiety. It never fails to help me. Hope this helps a little. Oh, almost forgot, get the book Honeyface is referring to; The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. I think I read her recommendation of that book on another thread and bought it myself. Best book I have ever read dealing with anxiety and best advice I have gotten from anyone here. It gives you any and all techniques, drug free or not, for dealing with anxiety. |
La Brujita
said:
 |
... Thank-you all for your responses. I must admit, it was my family Dr. who prescribed the Zoloft, so next time (?) I will make sure I see a pysch. Having had this experience, I would much rather ease into it slowly. I went out at lunch time the other day to find that book, but had no luck, I may have to get it ordered in, there seemed to be a lot of other anxiety "workbooks" but I would like to go along with your recommendations. And yes, exercise works for me too, to some extent. It's all fine until I start to worry about having a heart attack! I suffer from chest pains as part of all this, and although I have been to a cardiologist (who cleared me), I of course still get very worried by it all... I've started sessions with a personal trainer, who knows about these issues, and I think just having her there helps, knowing that she won't push me so hard, or will know how to help if something does go wrong. I will keep working at it... This has been a big week for me, my partner and I are in the middle of moving house, and living together for the first time! We had a very long day yesterday of cleaning and cleaning and cleaning! but it all went smoothly, the deliveries arrived on time, the carpet cleaners, the locksmith, the telephone guy... It all just came together... and I had a panic free day! I even managed to drive to and from the house with out any anxiety (driving is sometimes an issue for me too). So all in all, things have been going well. Thank-you again for your comments, I'm glad to be back on this site, it really does help being able to chat with others... |
Write comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.
Just4me
Private Chat!
View Profile
Send Email