[Silent_tsol]

Back in December when I finally realized that my anxiety was beyond "normal stress" I got prescribed Lorazepam (Ativan). I was really hesitant about getting on any medication. My sister has a horrible reputation when it comes to taking psych meds, I was worried about becoming a zombie, or officially admitting I had a problem. Anyways, I took the prescription and rarely took it. I would sit there in full panic mode and insist that I don't take it. Either because "it wasn't that bad" or "I took one x (could have been a week) amount of time ago, I shouldn't need another one".

Eventually I went back to the doctor and explained why it wasn't working. Or that I wasn't letting it work, it did calm me down in a panic but I wouldn't take it often enough and it didn't help with the every day anxiety. So I started Cipralex (Lexapro). Because it was a 1/day there was no rationalizing out of it. At first I had awful side effects but stuck with it. 2 weeks in, things were great. I haven't been diagnosed with depression but it is an antidepressant and I remembered thinking "WOW, maybe I was depressed. This really is an ANTI depressant!" Then it started to go back to a normal. I began to feel anxious like before. The doctor increased the dose (10mg to 20mg). Again I had that GREAT feeling for a while but now my body seems to be adjusting to it.

I keep telling myself that the anxiety I feel now is all due to non-recurrent situations and once they go away I'll be fine. That I don't want to change the med because maybe I'll have to go through all the side effects again (right now I only have a dry mouth and feeling somewhat tired throughout the day). That a medication isn't a cure and that I'm expecting too much. But am I? I don't want the med to be a cure, I know that T is important too for dealing with GAD. But what level of anxiety is normal when taking a medication?

[missbelle]

I have been on anxiety meds for about 15 years. I need them because I have a true chemical imbalance. I still get a little anxiety at time based on life situations but it is manageable. I know what to do when I am scared. It does not always work but learning what tools to use helps.

Your tools for relief of anxiety might be walking, running, playing video games, a movie, music....etc

Hope this helps.... I do know that I could have seen a therapist till I was blue in the face but without meds I still would have been anxious with depression. I needed those meds to live and I have..Life is good.

[Umbral_Seraph]

Many ADs are also used to treat anxiety so you don't necessarily have depression. You can ask your doctor if you've been DXed with depression. If you aren't already it may be good to see a phychiatrist as they are much more knowledgable about the medications. A therapist can help you learn how to cope with and reduce your anxiety, and hopefully you will need less and less medication.

[Silent_tsol]

I know that ADs help with anxiety and am comfortable with that. I'm more wondering how much anxiety is normal while still taking the med.