Hello,
Yes Joan, it is Very hard to think of coping without medication. Sometimes we feel so ill every day that we do feel we need medication and I can understand that because I've been there myself.
I tried them all including venlafaxine and seroxat. Seroxat was Terrible! I felt More ill on it. I also got addicted to diazepam and my panic attacks were worse On them. It took me 6 months to get off them. In those days I wanted something to stop how I was feeling so I followed the doctors advice. Only now do I appreciate why I felt so ill and why the doctor felt he had no option but to give me medications.
Joan, you have the insight to see what's caused your problems and you're tackling them in the right way. Sometimes we feel taking a medication in the short term can help us get through bad periods but sufferers shouldn't be misled into thinking they're a cure. They're anti-Depressants. As the name says, they counteract Depression by lifting our mood.
When we learn the causes to our anxiety And either ease our pressures causing it or when we feel strong enough confront it, then medication should no longer be needed. I just feel that long term they cause more problems than they solve because they're not tackling the underlying cause but I agree that sometimes they can be a support in really bad times.
Therapy is most effective and the effects long term but it needs a good therapist working with a sufferer who feels strong and determined enough to confront their issues. Medication can help a sufferer short term to gain that strength needed.