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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JenStar on April 24, 2005, at 23:36:44
hi all,
I'm scared of being on Lexapro. I'm scared that it will not start working, or that it WILL work and then will stop. I'm scared that there is NO medicine in the world that can help my anxiety. What will I do then? I'm scared that maybe in a few years all kinds of studies will come out linking Lex/other meds to brain cancer, Alzheimer's, brain decay, and other monstrous disorders.I'm scared of being labeled "mentally defective" by people who don't understand anxiety. I'm angry at myself for being "weak" and unable to control my anxiety and depression; although I've been told many times that it isn't my fault, I still inherently believe that if I were stronger or doing something differently, I wouldn't have this issue.
I'm scared of my future. I'm relatively young, and if I'm this anxious NOW, what will it look like in ten years?
I'm scared of being scared of all this stuff. I wish my brain (is it really my brain?) were able to function "normally".
And these thoughts are like a little undercurrent in my mind, running on repeat behind everything I think and say and do. I function and look OK on the outside (I AM OK, really) but I have my worries.
Does anyone else face these fears, too? How do you overcome them? Any advice? I could use it!
JenStar
Posted by Phillipa on April 25, 2005, at 0:57:28
In reply to scared of being on medication, posted by JenStar on April 24, 2005, at 23:36:44
Although I'm not that young I still have all the fears you have. I don't trust the meds or what they may find out about them in the future. That's why I really only trust valium since it's been around so long. I know I need to treat this depression but I've had so many reactions before and during menopause, I'm afraid to experiment. That's one of the reasons I respond to and follow so many Threads. You are definitely not alone in your fears. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by anneL on April 25, 2005, at 1:20:29
In reply to scared of being on medication, posted by JenStar on April 24, 2005, at 23:36:44
Hi Jen,
All of your concerns are completely normal. I started having anxiety and panic attacks when I was 18 years old before we had great medications like Xanax and Klonopin. I suffered terribly and became very depressed thinking that somehow I was defective because I could not "snap out of it". I don't want to make assumptions as to gender, but if you are female in your 20's to 30's this is a prime time for anxiety to rear its ugly head. Fortunately, it is treatable! May I suggest that you speak with your doctor about adding some Xanax or Klonopin to your Lexapro? I have never had complete success from anxiety until I started on Klonopin. My symptoms are well controlled. Being frightened by everything under the sun, from taking medication, to not taking medication, to having anxiety, etc. is all part of the vicious circle of anxiety. If you have not tried a benzodiazepine such as xanax or klonopin, I would greatly suggest that you do so. Both drugs, have been so beneficial to me. I hope that this helps you out. :) anneL
Posted by Declan on April 25, 2005, at 16:59:24
In reply to scared of being on medication, posted by JenStar on April 24, 2005, at 23:36:44
Hi Jen,
Its not a lot of help but your stuff is entirely normal and appropriate IMO. Over the course of a lifetime there's plenty of time to spend with yourself. I try to cheer myself up with some of the grimmer Shakespeare plays (Lear, Macbeth), The Wasteland, stuff like that. "So full of scorpions is my mind." Just me I guess.
Declan
Posted by sl on April 26, 2005, at 14:22:08
In reply to Re: scared of being on medication » JenStar, posted by anneL on April 25, 2005, at 1:20:29
> May I suggest that you speak with your doctor about adding some Xanax or Klonopin to your Lexapro?
Yikes, don't!
If you do that, they'll label you "drug seeking" and you'll NEVER be given those meds, even if they're the best thing for your problems.
I made that mistake--now I have to take anti-psychotics for sleep cuz she won't even give me a real sleeping pill cuz they're all habit-forming and she doesn't trust me.Just go in and tell them what you just told us...that you're so overwhelmed with anxiety and you don't know what to do anymore. They should take the hint.
This is the end of the thread.
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