phobia to taking meds so hard to live with

[becky000]

This fear is terrifying
Some time ago I posted on here - very proud that I thought I had discovered that I could fight anxiety without any meds. This, because I developed a real phobia to taking any medication whatsoever without having a panic attack.
I realise now that I should have tried harder to beat the phobia.
After all, we can't all remain absolutely healthy our whole lives and never have the need for drugs at some stage.
I'm writing this because I'm now lying in bed with a very bad dose of flu and after suffering for 5 or 6 days I realised I would have to go to the doctor or would possibly end up in hospital.
Of course I have been given a good supply of drugs which I'm promised will make me better.
The trouble is the fear of taking them and the fear of the side effects is actually making me feel more ill than the flu (I think). I don't even know which symptoms are caused by my flu and which are caused by the drugs, and then again which are caused by my absolute terror at being ill and of course of having to take all these meds.
I should be happy that I am able to take time off, lie in a warm bed, watch tv and have my husband coming home from work at regular intervals to check on me.
Instead, I'm a quivering wreck, crying and shaking and expecting the worst everytime I swallow a pill, and even more scared if I don't take it.
Please, does anyone have any advice for me? Something to shake me out of this?
Thanks, Becky:unsure:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/images/misc/progress.gif

[Soxbrooker]

I have to force myself to take meds, but you just have to think about it making you better.. thats what we take them for

~Sox~

[den68]

i have this phobia and its awful, i have started building myself up with drugs, started with parecetomol, then primrose oil and last night tried a travel sickeness pill. I have though in the past forced my self to take blood pressure pills when they told me i really had too and after the first couple managed to take them . Try to make sure some one is with you and do what ever you can to take your mind off it once you have taken them so you dont panic. After you have taken a few and relised your ok you wont worry about taking them. By the way i didnt take my antidepressants because i was too scared to but im getting better slowly with out them
denise

[becky000]

Thanks Denise. I have done pretty much the same thing and am able to take paracetemol and some vitamins now.
Trouble is there are just so many different drugs and each time I go to the doctor I seem to be given a new one. I try to get her to give me the same ones where possible but if it's a different ailment obviously it's a different drug.
Mostly I take these bottles of pills home and put them in the cupboard where they stay unopened.
This time though I had no choice because I've been so ill with this flu and the alternative would mean probably getting worse.
I have asked my husband to spend time talking to me this evening and it has helped I must say.
The thing is that these drugs do often have bad side effects so this phobia isn't entirely irrational is it?

[ruthisonline]

hello Becky000

I agree with your point about side effects and worries. I think the problem is that we have internet = knowledge. The huge problem is, that the information that come with tablets have to list all side effects. Even if 1 person in 10 million users has reported a side effect, it HAS to be included in the information. So, we are immediately scared off.

I have had to start a strict regime of drugs recently, but i was lucky enough to be in hospital for the first couple of days so i felt a lot safer.

All the best to you

Ruth

[sunndyd]

try taking them at night thats how i got on to my meds as u sleep through the side effects. My fear of tablets and anxiety started from been bullied into takin an antidepressant by a tummy specialist which resulted in me having a night of palps and wakin up with anxiety 3 months later on a bad day i can be takin 4 -5 different meds 3 for my anxiety the other 2 for my tummy. Gettin there slowely thouhg x :)

[becky000]

hello Becky000

I agree with your point about side effects and worries. I think the problem is that we have internet = knowledge. The huge problem is, that the information that come with tablets have to list all side effects. Even if 1 person in 10 million users has reported a side effect, it HAS to be included in the information. So, we are immediately scared off.

I have had to start a strict regime of drugs recently, but i was lucky enough to be in hospital for the first couple of days so i felt a lot safer.

All the best to you

Ruth
Thanks Ruth, you're so right. We have too much knowledge!
I feel better when considering what you say about 1 in 10 million users having a side effect. Pity they have to put that in the info. Pity there has to be that piece of paper that I feel absolutely compelled to study for hours.......
I have to take these drugs for another 4 days. Each day has been a battle but each pill I swallow I praise myself for another achievement.
Thanks for your advice,
Becky:)

[becky000]

try taking them at night thats how i got on to my meds as u sleep through the side effects. My fear of tablets and anxiety started from been bullied into takin an antidepressant by a tummy specialist which resulted in me having a night of palps and wakin up with anxiety 3 months later on a bad day i can be takin 4 -5 different meds 3 for my anxiety the other 2 for my tummy. Gettin there slowely thouhg x :)

I'm afraid the fear of the side effects wuld just keep me awake.....:wacko:

[den68]

well done for taking them ruth. Thats a massive achievment and i hope i can follow your lead when the time comes for me to have to take some antibiotics or something
denise