Medication: What's The Purpose?

[maelstrom]

My doctor gave me prescriptions of medication that would supposedly reduce my anticipatory anxiety and save me from breakdowns. I get the idea, but I feel like medication can only provide instant relief but does not really solve your issue. It will by no means help you overcome anything. Say you take a pill whenever you feel like you can't take it anymore. Yes, you will feel better immediately, and you may safely get through whatever you have to go through this time, but what about next time? You will need to take a pill again, because you haven't really learned how to overcome yourself. Then you will be needing the drug for the rest of your life, because that's the only way you are ever able to go through things.

Although the doctor says that there isn't a better solution unless I'm willing to wait for it to wear out over many many years (it's already been 5 years). This I also understand, but I feel like the medication is just going to prolong this process. Maybe I have a better chance of improvement if I try to confront my darkest fears on my own, without medication? Yes it will be painful, but I don't like the idea of being dependent on drugs forever...

 

[Deleted member 1860]

May I ask what your dr prescribed?

I agree and disagree with you. Sometimes people are in such a bad place that they NEED the medication in order to stabilize so that other methods of healing can work. That's how it was for me at one time. There was NO way I could focus on skill work or processing as my hypervigilance was thru the roof. I was lucky to sleep an hour a day!

However, you sound like you're in a much better place. Perhaps you don't need medication. However I urge you to not look at it as a crutch. Rather, it is just another tool we have to use in dealing with PTSD. I have an Ativan Rx, but I only take it about 5 times a month at most. No, I don't like taking it, but when I truly need it, I'm glad I have it. I try to cope without, but I have safety issues I'm dealing with. It's better to take a pill than letting the anxiety spiral and put my personal safety at risk.

When it comes down to meds, it's a very personal decision. Only YOU know what's right for you.

 

[goingonhope]

My doctor gave me prescriptions of medication that would supposedly reduce my anticipatory anxiety and save me from breakdowns.

What do you generally anticipate that causes you anxiety?

Like you, personally I wouldn't take medications for what I think of as anticipatory anxiety either. I use to drink for that reason. I'd anticipate this and I'd anticipate that and alcohol was often what I then saw as a solution. Anticipatory anxiety just makes me think of GAD or social phobia in and of itself.

If I don't understand and have a clear picture fill us in?

Because, what about PTSd, are you saying that Ptsd may simply wear out over many, many yrs? Or, saying something else? What exactly is gonna just wear out?

You say you don't like the idea of being dependent upon drugs forever. People who accept medication are not necessarily dependent upon such drugs forever.

Many things don't need to be All or Nothing / Black or Wht.

 

[maelstrom]

It's just the trigger. I feel like I can't face it--I have terrible breakdowns as a result of anticipatory anxiety, although it's not as serious as what happened to ScaredOfLonely. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die (from how I feel physically), but it's apparently just symptoms of panic attacks, if nothing else. The doctor says taking medication for this would be good and help me get through the experience without so much anxiety, but what I want is to learn to face it on my own, someday.

 

[Lionheart]

Maelstrom,

I had to have medication to help me manage my panic attacks, but meds are just one of the many coping tools that I have to help me. I can understand your wanting to be free of medications and to do this on your own, but meds are to assist you in dealing with P.A.'s and are not designed to do the work for you...that takes therapy and dedication on your part....

So you might consider that you may want to take medication on a temporary basis and wean yourself off after you have had some success in dealing with panic. I highly recommend talking to your doctor about using or not using medicine so that you can make a professionally guided decision.

Regardless of which you choose, I wish you success!!!

LH