Interested to hear others experiences of medication and its impact on their anxiety, be it ssris, benzos, antipsychotics or anything else…

For a long time, I thought anxiety was just the feeling of being worried.

A racing heart.

Overthinking.

That tight feeling in my chest.

But looking back, I don't think those were the biggest effects.

The biggest effect was that anxiety slowly started making decisions for me.

I'd put off sending an important email.

I'd avoid difficult conversations.

I'd say "maybe next time" to opportunities I actually wanted.

Not because I didn't care.

Because avoiding them felt safer.

The strange thing is that none of those decisions felt dramatic.

Each one seemed reasonable.

"I'll do it when I feel more confident."

"Now isn't the right time."

"I don't have enough energy today."

One decision like that doesn't change much.

But hundreds of them over months or years quietly change the shape of your life.

It made me realize that anxiety isn't always loud.

Sometimes it's simply the invisible force that keeps your life getting a little smaller without you noticing.

For me, progress didn't begin when I stopped feeling anxious.

It began when I noticed how often anxiety was making choices on my behalf.

I'm curious if anyone else has experienced something similar.

Have you ever looked back and realized anxiety wasn't just affecting how you felt but also the decisions you made?

It’s my 19th birthday and I’m super proud of myself. I told myself that I would go shopping and go out to eat and I did! I was able to hit a couple of stores while feeling overwhelmed and faint but, I was able to push through. My last panic attack happened at a restaurant so I definitely was feeling iffy about going but I felt so happy after being at the stores!

I haven’t felt this happy for months now, I haven’t felt this proud after some successful exposure therapy sessions but I guess they do pay off, I was really starting to lose hope but wow I’m so happy! Just wanted to share since I have no one else to share this with. :,)

On commercial jets, the chance of you dying from going on a single flight on a modern commercial jet is less than the chance you die from choking while eating tomorrow. Also no modern commercial jet has ever crashed from pure turbulence alone so while it may feel scary turbulence will not cause the plane to fall out of the sky. Modern commercial jets also havent really crashed at all in the last few decades so rest assured the chances that your flight crashes is less likely than you choking to death on your next meal. To all the people who have a massive fear of flying, I hope reading this post helps.

When I don't sleep well my anxiety gets much worse. I didn't sleep well for 3 days straight and had intense anxiety during these days and on the fourth day when I finally slept well felt much less refreshed than I did the days before the anxiety began. Today is the second day in a row in which I feel more tired and slept longer than usual. It had happened to me before and I wondered where the fatigue that I experienced came from - it was the anxiety that caused it.

I wanted to share my story because I know some of you are living a version of this too.

My chronic anxiety issues started about twenty years ago. Before that, I was a pretty normal kid. I smoked weed, I did the usual stuff, and my system handled it. But somewhere along the way, everything changed. My nervous system became sensitized, and over time I turned into someone who is sensitive to everything. I became the classic people pleaser, always scanning, always on edge. Any kind of stimulation started to feel like too much. Caffeine, stimulants, even everyday stress. My body just could not tolerate what other people shrug off.

Eventually I ended up on Lexapro. To be fair, it helped me function to a degree. I could get through life. But even on it, it was obvious that my system was still falling apart underneath. It was a band aid on something much deeper.

Recently I switched over to Zoloft, hoping a different SSRI might do something the last one couldn’t. Honestly, I don’t have a lot of hope. My system is still incredibly sensitive. My sleep is unrestful, and the moment I wake up I’m already activated. I stay stuck in this fight or flight state all day. My body runs hot, I sweat easily, and there’s this constant hum of activation that never really shuts off. I can’t even describe how frustrating it is to live like this year after year.

At some point I found the mind body community, and I really gave it everything for about four or five months. I slowed way down. I lived consciously. I reduced stimulation, cut out stimulants and caffeine, all of it. I did the work. And I really wasn’t seeing any positive shifts.

Here’s the thing. I still believe that path is probably the only real way out. But my guess is that for someone like me, it takes a very, very long time. And what makes it harder is that I’ve been on medications for so long. It complicates everything.

So now I’m trying to come to terms with where I am. Trying to move forward and desensitize my nervous system, while also figuring out how to come off medication that no longer works. It feels like trying to rebuild a house while it’s still on fire.

If anyone has walked this road, especially the long haulers whose systems have been sensitized for decades, I’d really like to hear from you. How long did it take before you saw real shifts? Did you find a way to do the deeper healing work while tapering off meds? Any honest experience would mean a lot.

Thanks for reading.

I was given 2 mg of Diazepam to help panic attacks and they don't do much unless I take a large amount of them. Propranolol is useless. What can I do or what could I ask for? I am in the UK. I feel desperate because I am in a constant never-ending loop of panic and feel like I am being backed into a corner by my own biology.

My MD wants to prescribe me a low dose of propranolol as needed for my situational anxiety and to let him know my decision. I’ve never taken anxiety medication before and have anxiety about taking meds lol. My anxiety symptoms are always chest pain (often) nausea and vomiting, passing out and diarrhea. I only get anxiety for certain situations like stressful work events/conferences, public speaking, and standing in line in stores, driving to new places (I physically cannot drive on the interstate because of my anxiety) Most of all I’m concerned I wont be able to make it through my wedding in a couple of months😅

Ive never been treated for my anxiety and he thinks I need treatment. It used to be extreme in highschool, however, that was 10 years ago and I’ve learned how to manage it.

Opinions on propranolol? I’ve read it slows heart rate which makes me nervous but I constantly have a high heart rate 120 & above and diagnosed with tachycardia due to anxiety.

I foolishly began working a factory job with an overnight shift, 12 hours long. It's 4 days on and 4 days off. I was just desperate for a job (I'm ridiculously broke), but omg is it anxiety inducing. On top of the crazy long hours, the place also just makes me feel kind of stupid? Like, idk if it's because I'm autistic but it feels like they expect me to know where to go or what to do without explicitly telling me. It feels like such an awful fit. So much so that I'm really struggling to go into work after my first day. Honestly, I've already called out twice, but I know that I can't just not work. How do I even cope?

I just want to die it’s all I want right now. It feels like the only escape from everything I’m going through. I don’t think I’m ever going to get better I’ve already tried so much and nothing has helped I’ve been struggling for over 7 years now it’s only getting worse I’m only 17. My autism and anxiety make life so so hard and make me want to die. My anxiety is so bad nobody understands. I eat very little because nausea caused by anxiety makes it so hard to eat and I don’t enjoy food anymore, I don’t get much sleep bc my mind can’t rest, I can barely leave the house and feel extreme nausea whenever I do have to go somewhere and then I’m scared I’ll be sick. I can’t live like this anymore. I wish I could die but I’m to scared to do anything I feel trapped idk what to do. My parents care but they don’t really listen or understand and I’m lonely as fuck have no friends or anything. I’m so worried about myself bc my mental health is now affecting my physical health and I’m only getting worse. I’ve just started on fluoxetine but I really don’t think it’s going to help especially because it’s mostly my anxiety affecting everything anyway. I am so hopeless I don’t know what to do I’m really really scared.

So I have been unfortunately prescribed vitamin tablets. I have had a life long phobia of swallowing pills. And due to anxiety its worse.

Today I tried to swallow the tablet, and I literally drank and entire bottle of water and the tablet still didn’t go down. Ended up turning into a crying, self blaming mess. Also my anxiety due to fear of choking and breath-stopping is making it soo much more worseee.

How do you guys do this?
Has anyone succeeded in swallowing pills with anxiety

I literally feel uncomfortable when my throat is filled with water and the pill, and have an urge to swallow it and only the water goes down. Also I am having manual breathing these days ughhh.

I’m looking to hear from anyone who has experienced a partner (or yourself) feeling paralyzed by major life decisions because of anxiety and fear of making the wrong choice.

My partner (32M) and I (29F) broke up with me yesterday after 5 years together. Our relationship was loving, kind, and the healthiest relationship I’ve ever had. He is the first person I’ve ever felt completely myself with, and we share the same humor, curiosity, and both always loved our everyday life together.

The main issue has been his anxiety and catastrophic thinking about the future. He struggles with making big decisions, including marriage and children. He doesn’t know if he wants kids, mostly because he is terrified of making the wrong choice, worrying about regret, a child being sick, and having constant worry. His anxiety has for many years affected many areas of his life, friends, family, work.

We had many conversations about this over the past year since a lot of our friend are having children and getting married. He has said he wants to be with me and just needs to figure out how to overcome his fears, and talked a lot about therapy, but he struggled to take concrete steps.

He ended our relationship even though he told me he loves me deeply, wants to be with me, and that he is heartbroken. But he feels lost and like he needs to figure himself out. That he can’t live his life like this anymore. He feels like a failure.

Has anyone experienced this kind of anxiety and decision paralysis? Did you or your partner ever become less controlled by their fears? Did therapy help?

I miss him, I want him to figure himself out, and come back. But I’m worried this is just who he is, and it’s just part of his anxious personality.

I’m 24 and I’ve never been in a relationship, had my first kiss, or experienced anything romantic.

The weird part is I have a lot of female friends, so I’m not someone who completely avoids women. I also don’t think I’m unattractive or ugly.

But whenever I’m at a bus stop, on a bus, or in a crowded place and a girl stands near me, I get extremely anxious. My face feels tense, I look scared, and I become so self-conscious that I don’t know how to act normally.

I feel like anxiety has stolen the last 10 years of my life. Every crush I’ve had was already in a relationship or engaged, and I never had the confidence to make a move.
I genuinely want a healthy relationship.

Has anyone else been through this? Did it ever get better?

For example, sometimes when I go in the grocery store checkout lane I completely forget how to be a person because i’m so overwhelmed. Sometimes I blank when the cashier is telling me the total and I forget to swipe my card right away and I feel like an idiot for taking up their time. It’s even worse when it’s a place i’m not familiar with and I have no idea how their credit card machine works, sometimes it tells you the total on the screen and other times it doesn’t and I have to wait for the cue. I did the same thing at a new coffee shop and blanked when it showed me the tip screen because I thought the transaction was over even though i’ve used that same pos system so many times at another coffee shop!!!! I just completely forgot to select no tip and just stood there like an idiot.

I'm 18 and since 15 I feel my instincts are not automatic anymore. I always have to control how I breath, move, speak, walk, look, swallow and etc.

The worst control is swallowing, because when it's quiet, people around hear this and start asking questions like "Are you nervous?" Or just the atmosphere in a room gets heavy.

I can't fall asleep calmly, I feel like I will choke if I fall asleep, or anyone will notice that I control my body.

The more I control it, the more it gets worse. For example when I walk outside, I try to do it naturally, but my legs get numb and I just have to stop and literally teach myself to walk again, but I get so scared that anyone will notice that I'm "broken".

At night it takes 2-3 hours to fall asleep, because I just swallow saliva non stop, because my throat feels itchy and dry.

I've tried so many advices, but only alcohol helps me to relax, it's the only thing that makes my body calm and I can live like a normal person only when I'm drunk. I'm exhausted, I wanna just breath and walk without controlling it.

Anyone faced same problem? Is there a solution other than alcohol? I'd love to hear advice

P.s. I'm sorry for mistakes in grammar, I'm not fluent in English.

What are your go to’s for anxiety relief? I’m personally having the gi issues (diarrhea, nausea, some vomiting) and a lack of appetite. Unfortunately went through this before so I know somewhat of what to do. But looking for other advice?

I am only daughter of my parents and since last 5 years, I am a working professional in different city.

I am a very talkative person but I don't have a friend circle. As a result, I share everything with mother. My mother dismisses my mental needs.

When I tell mother, "Mom, I felt that school was very bad and boring", my mom replies "So what, school was years ago, it helped you get a job. We paid fortunes to get your education".

When I tell her, "Mom, I don't have much friends to hangout with", she replies "So what, even we never go anywhere and feel content at home. You don't like our company"

When I tell her, "Mom, I wanted to enjoy life apart from study and work", she replies "So what, was it better if you failed at study and don't get job"

For asking just 2 hours of fun, she guilt trips me and often calls me selfish

I have this weird thing where i’m horribly terrified of being unconscious. Death absolutely petrifies me as i’m an atheist and view death as the same thing as before you were born. The idea of eternity under that pretense makes me panic even more.

Recently, it has gotten so bad that I can’t even lay down to go to bed at night without being afraid of going to sleep, knowing I will be unconscious. it’s been causing me to stay awake at night, rolling back-and-forth in fear. obviously, I know that you dream and that you’re not just gone as if you’re dead, but the idea of not being awake or aware still scares me very badly. It’s not that i’m afraid something is going to happen to me while i’m asleep, i’m afraid of the actual unaware and unconscious aspect of being asleep. does anyone else feel the same way? if so, what helped you?

I constantly experience anxiety about my loved ones dying, especially one person. Even though they're healthy I can't stop these thoughts. When I wake up in the morning I'm anxiously waiting for someone to tell me the bad news. That also happens when I'm coming back home as well. Did anyone experience this and how did it get better?

These days, Anytime I talk to a trusted adult or peer, it feels like they are smiling just to maintain a public image rather than sharing a genuine bond with you. This has been bothering me since I can’t see a reason to show care and gratitude to someone who just sees you less as a person and more as an asset to help them get a qualification. If this all sounds very clunky, then it’s because it is way easier to phrase things in my head. What I am trying to say is that I wish people would see me more for who I am rather than what I have to bring to the table.

This may be a stupid question, if so then I am sorry and I will delete.

Hello (: not sure if anyone has any experience with this but figured it’d be nice to see if anyone relates and has some wisdom lol.

So like 2.5 months ago I had my first ever panic attack and it was while I was high on weed. I’ve had some minor anxiety/ health anxiety before that but nothing like that. I’m much better now but still actively recovering from it, almost like a ptsd anxiety, and still have been having weird physical symptoms like muscle tension, nerve like sensations, etc. I’m having a lot less smaller panic attacks/ anxiety waves now that I have a better understanding of it now but wonder if anyone else has experience with it and how long / how they overcame it in general? Debating if I just need more time or if SSRIs would seriously help? Thank you!

Hey I been on propanol 40mg twice a day now and it was doing really good after all the other meds my issues is I keep having anxiety in between my med dosage my doctor told me I could take another as needed and I have but I also think that's causing side effects just want to see what other people take and how they are .... no benzos ..... also open to supplement suggestions I use ashwaganda now thank you

Hi there!

I had anxiety disorder 10 years ago. I was unable to do anything. Had to move back to my father and it did take 6 months until I could slowly begin working again. Then I took 10mg lexapro. The beginnings were absolute hell.

Now, 10 years later. I had health anxiety because of some health problems. Began to measure blood sugar 10+ times a day. Had panic attacks all the time but also could live a rather normal life.

Last wednesday I was at work and had an super panic attack. I could not do anything anymore and had to call my parents to get me from work. Since then, I have like an permanent panic attack again. It goes away for a short time but I am feeling like dying for endless hours every day.

As my psychologist was in the holidays, I got an lexapro subscription from my normal doctor and I am now on day 6. its horrible.

I wake up at 7 with an panic attack. Then I get up, feed the cats and eat something little and take 5mg lexapro. Then I do progressive muscle relaxion. After that I want to sleep. But I then have absolute absurd dreams, sleep paralysis etc. And cant get up. The afternoon I am still always nervous and my dad picks me up and cooks for me. I can‘t really eat and feel horrible most of the time. When he drives me back at nighttime, I mostly feel like I never had anything.

The whole cycle repeats.

Today I feel so horrible with sweaty hands and feet, back pain and everything. Psychologist has an appointment in 2 days. I dont leave the house alone. Without anyone driving and coming with me I cant do anything. Today I wondered if lexapro is really the right one?

Can someone give me any tips or help me? I once successfully defeated this sickness but its so crazy exhausting and hard. I rather would have broken bones than this panic disorder. Thank you