How did you know it was time to take medication?

[cry]

I’ve been anxious for pretty much my whole adult life, but since having a stomach virus earlier this year which caused me to feel dizzy and nauseous I’ve really been struggling with the physical symptoms, including heart palpitations, anxiety/panic attacks, sickness and dizziness.

I am really finding it very difficult to cope with, made better only by the fact I’m working from home and will be for the foreseeable so I don’t have to face feeling like this in work and can limit social activities.

I’m wondering if it’s time to speak to my doctor about medication. I’ve self referred for CBT but know this will take ages.

How did you all know it was time to start taking medication?

[AntsyVee]

I wasn't functioning and had basically become agoraphobic.

[panic_down_under]

How did you all know it was time to start taking medication?

Anxiety should be treated as soon as possible as the longer it is allowed to fester the harder it can become to control. Anxiety (also depression) are the emotional manifestations of an underlying brain deficit, atrophy of parts of the two hippocampal regions of the brain caused by high brain stress hormone levels killing brain cells and inhibiting the growth of new ones. Antidepressants work by (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC60045) stimulating the growth of new cells (neurogenesis). It is the new cells and the interconnections they form which produce the therapeutic response. For a more detailed explanations see: Depression and the Birth and Death of Brain Cells (PDF (https://www.americanscientist.org/sites/americanscientist.org/files/20057610584_306.pdf)) and How antidepressant drugs act (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3025168/). The cognitive/behavioural/mindfulness therapies also work (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.05.017) by stimulating hippocampal neurogenesis.

[cry]

Thanks both - I’ve made a telephone appointment with my GP to discuss and have self referred for CBT 👍🏻

[AntsyVee]

Good for you! Keep us posted.