I didnt want to take medication because I dont want to be dependent on a medication,.. but now Im 4 months pregnant and my anxiety has gotten so bad on most days I dont even leave my house and avoid talking on the phone to anyone. I know I can’t take any meds while Im pregnant but I was wondering if anyone has been in my situation, and can give me some tips to help ease the anxiety.

I am a 13 year old girl dealing with full blown anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Is anyone willing to help me out? Can anyone share with me how they dealt with these problems and give me suggestions on how to get better? Thanks!
i suppose i should have added that i have gone to a doctor and a therapist. They all told me to get on meds. That wasn’t going to happen because my parents are strictly against perscription meds. now im kinda stuck because the doctor, therapist, and my family didnt really give me the help i am in need of…. now im trying to face all this alone and… failing miserably…. Oh and not to worry… i dont cut or have suicide thoughts…yet… T-T

I can’t seem to think clearly when I take tests. I either over think the question or don’t read the question carefully enough. I think it’s worse on math questions. I really want to control my test anxiety b/c I’m in nursing school and can’t afford a failing test grade. Is there any way without meds that I can think more clearly on tests.

A co-worker who has a background in counseling told me today that she thinks that I am bipolar. I am already on medication for clinical depression, but it hasn’t been diagnosed as anything other than a seratonin imbalance. I sleep a normal amount: 6-7 hours a night. I feel good, but not high. I haven’t had a depressive episode since my most recent ex broke up with me for a married man she had been cheating on me with (I call that a mitigating circumstance). The only warning sign that I agreed with (she felt that I was over-confident and moving "a million miles an hour" which I attribute to a new excercise regime and weight loss) was that I spend money compulsively, but I have always been something of a wastrel. Opinions? I can’t afford to see my doctor right now, but am planning on going ASAP.
Telling me that bi-polar and manic-depression are the same thing is not helpful at all. I’m after personal experience and advice here, not help with semantics. So please, if that’s all you have to say, don’t.

I agree that a background in counseling isn’t proper qualification for a diagnosis but that was what sparked this introspection. I’d rather ask professionals and others with similar background and experiences and get told "no, your current meds are fine" (Lexapro 10mg by the way) than not ask and never know for sure.

I’m not planning to take these drugs. The only reason I ask is because I am writing a story and I’d like it to be as accurate as possible. So if you know someone with rapid cycling bipolar or have rapid cycling bipolar, then if you could list the meds they or you take I’d be forever grateful!!!!!

I am an Aspie who believes in Neurodiversity. My therapist has said on several different occasions VERBATIM that my ‘thinking is distorted.’ She is not very smart and my mother doesn’t like her. She wanted my little brother, who isn’t even her patient on 3 different meds. This is after he had shown signs of intolerance to medications. Nevertheless, I don’t want to make her my adversary. Any suggestions?

Let’s face the facts. Starting with my psychiatrists analogy of depression, anxiety, and obsessions being like diabetes. If you have a chemical imbalance then you have it for life. Just like someone with diabetes needs insulin for life ,someone with a chemical imbalance needs medication (like SSRIs) for life.

Yet, many people (including the psychiatrists and doctors that give the meds) say it will just be for a period of time. Why is this?

Why don’t psychiatrists say you will need the meds for life when they give them to you?

Why do doctors and psychiatrists (not all) bother with other forms of therapy? These other therapies won’t restore any imbalance.

I say everyone diagnosed with depression, anxiety disorders, or OCD should go straight for the medication, and for life.

Agreed?

I know, ask my doctor, I will! But in your experiences, is it ok? I am set to start Birth Control pills next month, Yazmin or Yaz and Anti Anxiety meds at the same time, either Lexapro or Cymbalta (dr said to try one of thos, so I am still researching to see which one I want. I had Effexor but was too afraid to take it, so switching at next appointment.

Any input would be great!

Also do you prefer yazmin or yaz? differences?

Lexapro or Cymbalta? differences?

I currently take the following meds: metoprolol, felodipine, diovan, aspirin, lexapro, and gabapentin. I still feel depressed and anxious, but my blood pressure is under control. I just feel bad…tired, upset stomach, blah.

I have really bad anger issues and social anxiety, and depression problems. I used to be on meds but I’m not anymore, and the symptoms are back. Im 20 and I cant be depending on my mom for rides. How can I take a bus or train without having a panic attack? People think I’m lazy because I only want rides, it angers me because that is not the case at all. Please help.

I dont wanna go on meds because ive heard that worsens it. Im a healthy 19 year old in college, but ive developed panic attacks accompanied by derealization and its a pretty constant annoying depressing feeling even though im a very happy kid.

What are some good techniques to eventually defeat this mental state? I heard teens are more likely to get the "derealization" with their panic and anxiety, is this true and will it eventually go away?

i got slight social anxiety. thats because i dont have anxiety attacks or anything i always feel slighly nervous around almost anyone besides my family and i act like im really relaxed, which i succeed to do. but i feel a little nervous and i can make friends, but not friends i contact on the phone or hang out with. im 18 and i had this for 3 years. it happenned really quite suddenly when i was acting alright. im a guy. now i got a lil better than 3 years ago, and everyday i have this shit on my mind screwing my life, cant say theres been a second ive been truly happy since i got this. do you think it should be easy now for me to beat it without meds or treatment, cuz i dont want em n never had em? i go out some rare times, but i dont have fun because im always a lil nervous, but keep doin it duznt help at all. forcing myself on those situations realy duznt help, cuz i spent a week with d ppl i dont like n nothin changed, also becase those people look a little down on me, despite…
…being my friends, small friends. so what could i do to beat this really really soon. do u think it should be easy now anytime soon, can i be almost there? what advice u got 4 me?
ps: i really dont give a fuck what ppl think about me while i write this.
of course i know that shit its obvious man. but what weirdest is i think im the best looking guy in the world. no kidding. i think the only thing i lack 2 be perfect is beating this shit. so i dont know why i have this shit. of course when i feel im not looking good i feel worse, but im always this way, even when i think im lookin real good. ppl do look at me like hell tho when i look good cuz n i know its true theres always girls lookin at me, ppl always tell me those girls r lookin at u, and i still act like shit, i dont know why, man, its so weird!
man at least when i say all this shit i feel better… thnx for tryin to help me out, all of u.

I have frequent panic attacks. I have therepy. I’ve tried various meds and take xanax when they hit me. Been to every doc in town to eliminate physical factors and was thinking about trying hypnosis. Anyone with actual experience having this done?

I just moved to a new city. I had anxiety before, but it seems to have worsened with the move to a place where I know no one. I find it hard to function. I was curious if it is plausible get a family doctor to prescribe anxiety meds with one visit, or will I have to see a therapist instead.

My mom keeps suggesting me to talk to a doctor about anti anxiety pills, but I hate the idea of the side effects from the meds and the actual chemical alternating effect that the prescriptions have. I think the natural stuff would be a lot more effective and I wouldn’t be as addicted. What helps those most who are on one/ or have tried both?
Thankyou everyone, I’ll look into all of them Does anyone know about natural remedies? I’m more itnerested in that