Depression vs Anxiety

Posted by kylemarshall04 @kylemarshall04, Oct 31, 2018

I feel anxiet but prescribed meds for depression? Why can someone explain this to me?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

@guener

Anti-depressants sometimes help with anxiety, too. The class of drugs known as Benzodiazepines (benzos), tranquilizers, are usually reserved specifically for anxiety that is severe and/or intractable. It's important to take either type of drug exactly as prescribed and report any side effects that are persistent or troubling to your doctor. Anti-depressants usually take time to work as compared to benzos that offer immediate relief but can have withdrawal symptoms when discontinued (after long-term use). Therapy is often combined with medication for depression or anxiety, and there are techniques you can learn to lessen or shorten your periods of feeling anxious, one of which is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Jump to this post

What is CBT?

REPLY
@guener

I have had depression and anxiety for my entire life, and I'm relieved that even at a late age I was able to find help. Still, this didn't happen for me until things were getting out of control in my daily life, and I was evaluated *finally* for both conditions. Primary care physicians in my current practice work in concert with psychiatrists, but I'm lucky in this way (now). It took me a couple different medication trials and plenty of therapy to become as stable as I feel today. Nonetheless, there are times when the depressive thoughts do return, albeit less intensely, and the anxiety can hit me over even relatively simple things that others would breeze through. Today I largely use CBT to help me work through the hard moments, knowing that my distress will pass. It is indeed great that Mayo has devoted an entire group to addressing these problems and to provide a sounding board for those seeking context or other information.

Jump to this post

My GO has been in charge of my meds. Do I need to change to a specialized doctor? I am taking the meds, but still have issues with no motivation, depression and anxiety. Just had an onset of anxiety last night. I really felt it was due to the time change and the fact it gets dark so early.

REPLY
@codya

What is CBT?

Jump to this post

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and it is frequently used for treatment in an active way to challenge negative thoughts leading to depression and anxiety. It has been very beneficial to me.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/296579.php
REPLY
@codya

My GO has been in charge of my meds. Do I need to change to a specialized doctor? I am taking the meds, but still have issues with no motivation, depression and anxiety. Just had an onset of anxiety last night. I really felt it was due to the time change and the fact it gets dark so early.

Jump to this post

I don't know what medications you are taking, and I'm not a doctor, but some people do receive treatment for depression and anxiety with medication through their primary physician. I see a psychiatrist for my medication management and some therapeutic recommendations, along with a therapist (infrequently now). A psychiatrist is specially trained in the physiology and psychology associated to mental disorders and, in my opinion, offers the best overall care for such ailments, including the possibility of genetic testing to see which medication may be most appropriate for you. I have not had the genetic testing but rather went through the more common trial and error method of getting on the right medications for me, and happily that has worked.

REPLY
@codya

My GO has been in charge of my meds. Do I need to change to a specialized doctor? I am taking the meds, but still have issues with no motivation, depression and anxiety. Just had an onset of anxiety last night. I really felt it was due to the time change and the fact it gets dark so early.

Jump to this post

@codya. How long have you been on your meds?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.