Treatment for generalized anxiety: Is tough-love ever used?

Posted by talbot @talbot, Oct 4, 2022

Is tough love-ever used for someone with anxiety.

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I don't think tough love would help. I have specific anxiety, a phobia of being near cliffs or drop off places. I once went to a psychologist who said we could have me hang gliding within a year. Scared me so much I never went back to him. I don't want to hang glide, I just want to drive without being afraid of the drop off of the edge of the road. I'm not sure if you would consider that tough love or not.

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@lindastar

I don't think tough love would help. I have specific anxiety, a phobia of being near cliffs or drop off places. I once went to a psychologist who said we could have me hang gliding within a year. Scared me so much I never went back to him. I don't want to hang glide, I just want to drive without being afraid of the drop off of the edge of the road. I'm not sure if you would consider that tough love or not.

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I’m GAD and it’s a journey to find out what will work for you and then as the years go by it changes so you work to find the right path. There’s a counselor out there that listens and a med that works right now. I went through 4 counselors. I took meds that didn’t work. Now I’m doing well and working hard to maintain my mental health. I’ve been retired for 10 years but this job is the hardest but worth every day. Hope the best for you.

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@stsopoci

I’m GAD and it’s a journey to find out what will work for you and then as the years go by it changes so you work to find the right path. There’s a counselor out there that listens and a med that works right now. I went through 4 counselors. I took meds that didn’t work. Now I’m doing well and working hard to maintain my mental health. I’ve been retired for 10 years but this job is the hardest but worth every day. Hope the best for you.

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So glad you have found a counselor and a medication that works for you, BoneHead! Would it be possible to share the medication that helped you?

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I’m on lexapro and propranolol and it works amazingly for me. Lexapro keeps the stability of my anxiety and the propranolol keeps my blood pressure down and relaxed. Works for me.

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@stsopoci

I’m on lexapro and propranolol and it works amazingly for me. Lexapro keeps the stability of my anxiety and the propranolol keeps my blood pressure down and relaxed. Works for me.

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Thank you.

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Will those also be good for a 16 year old ??

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@lindastar

I don't think tough love would help. I have specific anxiety, a phobia of being near cliffs or drop off places. I once went to a psychologist who said we could have me hang gliding within a year. Scared me so much I never went back to him. I don't want to hang glide, I just want to drive without being afraid of the drop off of the edge of the road. I'm not sure if you would consider that tough love or not.

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@lindastar I don't think that was tough love. My guess - and it's just a guess - is that the psychologist did not realize how very frightened you are of cliffs and drop off places and he was trying a little humor with you. It didn't work. Did you ever tell him why you did not return? I know how hard it is to do that however it can actually be helpful to you to open up and share and to him in the future so he doesn't scare anyone else.

Did you find someone else to work with?

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@kratz5

Will those also be good for a 16 year old ??

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@kratz5. Are you asking about the medications? That's something to talk with your 16-year-old's doctor about. In the US and Canada, family doctors (general practitioners) prescribe antidepressants that can work well for GAD and other anxiety disorders.

Does that answer your question?

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@kratz5

Will those also be good for a 16 year old ??

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Only your Doctor knows.

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Thank you for replying.

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