Newbie to the forum with "social anxiety", Lexapro

[James1986]

Hi, I have social anxiety.

Have tried all sorts to try and get rid of it like self help books,Self help hypnosis tapes,Tapes work for a very brief moment.

I have now been recommended Lexapro and just curious if it will work and if anyone here has used it.I have a high tolerance for most drugs so i'm not too worried about the side effects after reading up on them.

Anyone have any experience with it?


Thanks for any replies or guidance.

 

[Tryin]

WELCOME to the site . Always good to see a new member. Hope to get to know you better soon. I cannot help you with the Lexapro but others sure will... Feel welcome and free to post on anything you want... this site needs to get moving a little, doesn't it?

 

[Subdued]

Re: Lexapro

Hi James,

I have also tried numerous natural approaches to combat my social anxieties. I even listen to self-hypnosis CDs while going to sleep. However, my level of anxiety has continued to increase over the years. So I finally gave up and decided to try medicine. I've been taking 10mgs of Lexapro a day for about four weeks now. The medicine is supposed to make me less depressed and anxious by increasing my body's production of Serotonin. I think my body must not have been producing enough Serotonin, because I've seen a big improvement over these past four weeks. I'm no longer depressed, and I'm no longer dwelling on my anxieties. I still have anxieties, but I'm no longer dwelling on them. As a result, I can do things that I couldn't before, just like everybody else who gets nervous but can still do things.

 

[Xocoyotzin]

In the beggining you won't feel any major improvements, but after 2 to 4 weeks you will probably feel less depressed and anxious
Sometimes it takes longer, just do not give up if you don't feel improvements quickly

 

[Subdued]

Re: Lexapro

Hi Xocoyotzin,

I was told I wouldn't feel anything until about the second to fourth week, but I started noticing changes early on. I had been thinking about my father, who had past away, and I couldn't stop crying, not until I started taking Lexapro that is. I stopped crying on the fourth day. It was really strange. It was like I couldn't remember certain feelings, so I couldn't dwell on those feelings and get depressed. The same thing happened with my social anxieties, and I'm not dwelling on them like I was before. However, I'm still having panic issues. The worst part is that I have a tendency to get upset when I panic, which is not a good thing.

 

[coriander1992]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Xocoyotzin]

Re: Lexapro

Hi Xocoyotzin,

I was told I wouldn't feel anything until about the second to fourth week, but I started noticing changes early on. I had been thinking about my father, who had past away, and I couldn't stop crying, not until I started taking Lexapro that is. I stopped crying on the fourth day. It was really strange. It was like I couldn't remember certain feelings, so I couldn't dwell on those feelings and get depressed. The same thing happened with my social anxieties, and I'm not dwelling on them like I was before. However, I'm still having panic issues. The worst part is that I have a tendency to get upset when I panic, which is not a good thing.

Yeah, when I started with paroxetine(a similar ssri) in the first week I was completely changed
But after 4 weeks I got even better
And it is pretty much impossible impossible to cry while taking ssri's
I just don't get sad enough

I never had panic attacks so I don't know exactly how ssri help with them
But have you tried benzodiazepenes? I've heard they help more with panic attacks

 

[Subdued]

Re: Lexapro

Hi Xocoyotzin,

This is the first time I've taken anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication of any kind. I tend to be sensitive to medicine; so my doctor advised trying Lexapro. He said that Lexapro's side effects are relatively minor compared to other medicines.

 

[lonely_world]

I've been on Lexapro a couple of times, and have been now for about 2 months. Lexapro is excellent for treating anxiety, but as far as social anxiety goes, in my opinion, exposure therapy is best. I mean that if your afraid of being around people like I am, then slowly getting used to being around more people than just yourself is good.

 

[Kristopher]

Hi there. Iv'e been on Lexapro off and on since about 19, i am 24 now. For the most part id say no meds in my personal experience work, they just create an emotional bubble that numbs me from i guess getting too overwhelmed. Honestly i don't know if they work or not :idontknow: but i know they're one of the more newer medicines out on the market. Anyways good luck.

 

[WishingICould]

Welcome