I'm interested in reading your opinions in general:
What are the pros and cons of SSRI's in your opinions? In what cases do you feel you should take medication?

Do you feel taking any anit-depressant med for anxiety and depression is helpful or not in completing this program?

Thoughts?

I feel that meds are find if you need them, and of course only you with your doctor can decide if you should take them.
I believe that many of us with anxiety worry that the meds will make us lazy, or immune to the effects of trying to deal with the panic directly.
For example: if you are on meds, what's to motivate you to keep up with the program?

Of course, we all must make a conscious decision to modify our thoughts and behavior that lead to panic and anxiety and depression.

Well, I sort of have an example. I won't babble much but was on meds years ago, worked great. Went off , did the natural, eh so so. did this program, very helpful. Went on Lexapro a month ago and I feel great again. Last night, late at night we were going through a canyon, windy road. My "old thinking" was like uh oh, I usually panic here. But I said, "it's no big deal, it's only your thoughts, just go with the flow". So I do indeed still and always will refer to my tools from the program.....BUT.....the meds allow the tools to work. They allow my positive thoughts to do what they're supposed to do.

So, no, I'm no different. The med is "one" of the tools that's part of the whole pie for me.

Brigitte

Hi Danielle~

I think the thing with medications is that each individual has to be honest with themselves and their doctor so that the correct answer to wether to take or not to take is clear and based on facts. There is no right or wrong answer to this. You can do the program without meds and it can work or you can do the program with meds and it can work. It all depends on each individuals needs. If someone is very very depressed and cannot get out of bed or they are so anxious the cannot sit still long enough to listen to a lesson, then meds will help. We have to remember that meds are usually temporary and because someone takes a med it in no way implies they are weak, to far gone or defective. You just have to do what is right for you.

Silvana

Hi Danielle,

Personally I believe everyone is different. Some people may use medication and become lazy with the therapy because they feel "better" and therefore they never modify their behavior and self-talk. For some it's just easier to just take a pill. I have a cousin that does this and has no intentions of ever changing his inner self talk or behaviors. I find this sad.

Personally, I believe that medications will only be helpful when working the skills in this program or another like it. I believe that anyone that is on psychiatric medications should be IN THERAPY and under the care of a psychiatrist ( one who specializes in these types of medications).

These types of medications have many different side effects. Some are so severe that it causes more anxiety than it's worth. That's why many people have jumped from medication to medication to find a med that's right for them. Sometimes this can take months and even cause alot of grief in the process.

On the other hand, medications like this SAVE people from committing suicide and help enough so they can focus on working the skills in this program or another like it. Some are actually very lucky in their first attempt in using anti-depressants and do not suffer severe side effects.

There are alternatives to the conventional medicine approach like this program for one, and not to mention the use of vitaimins, minerals, GABA, HTP5, St. John's Wort, Kava Kava and there are others as well.

It's basically a personal choice.

I felt compelled to reply, I have to agree that meds are a personal choice. I tried the program but my anxiety continued to get so bad I became very depressed. I ended up with a nervous breakdown. My psychiatrist gave me lexapro and klonopin and within a week I felt better than I had in years. I have only been on the lexapro and klonopin for about 5 months. I only take 10mg of lexapro with NO side effects, I never had any side effects from this medication. I only take .25mg of klonopin if I a feeling really anxious. I have started the program again and it has been working wonders my goal is to complete the program, practice my skills and then taper of my meds.
Laura

HI,
I have had anxiety off and all my whole life but in the past 10 years it has been more 'on'. I was on Serzone for 8 years and did really well and then I had to stop using it last December and I did all right for a few months and then it all hit again..I have primary depression and I think that people who have primary depression/secondary anxiety do better on antidepressants than those with primary anxiety.
I have been on Lexapro for 4 months now and am doing great, my anxiety is almost non-exsisent and my depression is gone and I'am doing all the things that I used to do...did I mention I was housebound for about 3 months again? I had terrible anxiety!! I did not care if I lived or died and that is all gone now and I feel blessed that there is a medication that helps. Did I have side effects...yes, did I have fear about using a med....yes!! Did I feel like a failure because I worked the program and it didn't do the magic that some people says it does...yes!! But I got over all of that fast when I started doing things with my family and going places with friends and doing massage, and participating in life again...I don't feel bad at all anymore about the choice that I have made
I think taking medication is a personal choice and I think that one needs to make educated decisions about what they take and who prescribes it. and like I said I had side effects, still have a couple of minor ones but I had more side effects from anxiety....diarhea, agoraphobia, panic attacks, scary thoughts, obsessive thoughts and depressive thoughts...they are gone, I came out ahead on this one

I hope this helps
Jodi

Hi Sunflower,

I am on tape 3 of Lucinda's program right now but my depression has been giving me quite a struggle and it's like I can't deal with the anxiety problems until I get a handle on the depression. I'd really like to try the Lexapro. I tried a few different anti-depressants last year when I had a similar bout with depression and I had horrible side-effects, primarily insomnia. I even took a sleeping pill at night and it didn't work. Anyway, I quit the anti-depressants because of this.

I know everyone is different but I am curious what side effects you had, and may still be having, and how long it took to get over the side effects. Obviously, from your writings you are feeling the positive effects of the Lexapro and that is wonderful. I'm hoping I can too.

Hi Joanie,
I have had really positive results with the Lexapro and I'am only on 5mg.
I had some side effects when I first started...about the first three weeks. I was nervous (jittery), I had insomnia but only for about the first 4 days and then I started sleeping better, I had a decrease in appetite that lasted only a couple of days and I had sweating..which stopped after the first week. They were uncomfortable but not intolerable and I'am very fortunate that I have a wonderful doctor who works with me and listens to my concerns and lets me know when things are normal and when they are not
I knew going on the medicine that there would be some side effects and I was scared...I won't lie to you, I was really afraid of taking it but I started taking 2.5 and then worked up to the five and have stayed there because it is comfortable and I feel good on this dose.
The only side effect that I have now is that it takes longer to orgasm, it has gotten better over the last couple of months but it is still there and I deal with it because the rest of my life is good now.
I have fibromyalgia and with that comes depression because we don't use serotonin the way it needs to be used for some reason and I really battled with the depression and anxiety for along time and I got so tired (physically and mentally) of dealing with it on my own and that is when I decided to give Lexapro a try. I went to the website and read about it so I knew what to expect and it made me feel more in control because I knew that I could stop it if I needed. It takes a little bit for the side effects of any medication to go away and you just have to be a little patient with yourself and hang in there. I believe we all know when something is working and when it isn't and we should follow that.
I hope this helps,
Take care,
Jodi

Thanks Sunflower!

Thank you for answering in such detail. I got some Lexapro from my MD today. He said that the minimum is 10mg. Did you cut yours in pieces? I'm going to start taking 1/2 tonight and see what happens. As long as the side effects aren't too bad, I'll keep going with them and I'm sure hoping it works! Thanks again.

Joanie, I'm on 10 mg of Lexapro and am doing fine. I just wanted to mention not to cut your dosage unless your dr instructs you to and to also give it a few weeks to really give it a chance to do it's thing. I think this new anti-med is much more tolerable than the others which is why it's so successful.

Good luck, Brigitte

Thanks Brigitte, I cut it in two and still had a hard time sleeping. I'm anxious today and am having a hard time concentrating. I tell myself it's not too bad and it will pass with time. I Hope it's not too much time. Thanks for your help, it's really nice to hear from people who are doing well with it! Hope!

Joanie

Insomnia is a side effect in the beginning. I go to a psych who is detailing all this out day by day for me. I'm also temporarily on klonopin for the insomnia. I never had it because this takes care of it. Nonetheless, it should not agitate you but I know everyone is different. One thing I know for sure, tell your Dr all these things and don't just assume it's you or it will pass or things like that. No need to suffer at all.

good luck, Brigitte

thank you all for such insight

It's important not to feel guilty about taking meds if we need them and to not feel like a failure and that message is strong here

Sunflower, I am also a massage therapist! What do ya know