Mixed anxiety and depression: seeking clarity on meds and recovery
Hey guys,
So I've been dealing with some serious stuff lately,trying to figure out my mental health situation. In October 2024, I got diagnosed with Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Disorder and was given Zosert 50 mg (sertraline) and Etilaam 0.5 mg (etizolam). But honestly, I only took those for about two to three days because of all the mixed messages from folks around me - some said it's totally fine, others thought it would make me hooked for life.
In December 2025, during another visit with my doc, they changed my diagnosis to moderate depression with anxious traits and switched me to Rexipra-LS (escitalopram + clonazepam). I stuck with that one for about a month before calling it quits in January 2026 out of sheer fear. The idea of becoming dependent on these meds was gnawing at me, so I just couldn't bring myself to continue.
I've had anxiety and low mood issues since childhood - like freaking out about death, worrying about my paretns' health all the tiem, scared sh*tless behind the wheel, nervous around people even for small sutff like paying a bus conductor or chatting with girls. Also, there were times when I had suicidal thoughts but thankfully those are gone now. It's kinda ironic; my intense fear of dying keeps me frrom acting on them. Meditation has helped a ton - I can catch negative thoughts earlier and they do'nt stick around as much.
Depression-wise, it's tough getting started with big takss because I feel so unmotivated. But since july 2025 when I got into meditation consistently, tings have gotten better. My sleep has improved too, and facing my fear of photos is coming along nicely - even did some acting on stage recently!
I've also been dealing with substance use at different points to boost motivation for tough stuff, but now I'm realizing it might be making things worse instead of helping.
Now, I'm wondering if quitting the meds was more about fear than actually knowing what's best. So hee's where I need your thoughts:
Can drugs and alcohol really mess up my symptoms that badly?
Does living a sober life help with this kind of condition long-term?
Are sSRIs safe from addictino?
How do you tell when it's time to stick with the meds versus focusing on personal growth stuff like meditation?
Anybody here ever had similar doubts about their diagnosis? Did you find clarity later on?
Thanks for any advice or insights - I just want to move forward in a healthier direction, not stuck in fear
2 Replies
Hi,
There are so many opinions about mental health and medication out there, i think a lot of them come from personal experiences, uninformed guesses, or clinical professionals. Personally, i put the most faith in what doctors have to say.
Most medications take around 6-8 weeks to start working properly. If you experience side effects, it's really important to talk to your doctor about it instead of just stopping the meds after a few days without discussing it first.
I'm glad you're looking into other options too, like therapy or lifestyle changes. Medication can definitely help with symptoms, but there's no magic pill that fixes everything, i guess.
Sure thing, I'll do my best to chat about it. In my case, I haven't found any mental health meds super addictive. From what I've heard around me, that's not a common concern either. Some stronger drugs are used cautiously for specific treatments, but ntohing extreme like addiction risk-nothing like that has ever been suggested to me during various rounds of therapy and medication.
If more addictive options were ever on the table, it'd probably be as a last-resort kind of deal. The idea of those meds being addictive might just get mixed up with withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly stop taking them, especially at higher doses. It's like your brain gets used to having that stuff in there all the time. But withdrawal isn't about craving more meds-it feels more like dealing with headaches and drowsiness.
A responsible psychiatrist should handle weaning you off one drug before putting you on another, starting you on low doses first. And honestly, recovery seems best when both medication and personal growth efforts, like therapy or meditation, are combined. It's great to hear meditation works for you! I'm a huge fan too-I love guided visualizations. The "Insight Timer" app is amazing; it's got loads of free stuff that really helps calm the mind.
I'll be honest, though-I've questioned my own diagnosis plenty. A few doctors are still unsure whether or not Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) fits me.It's totally normal to feel uncertain about these labels. Depression especially doesn't have a quick fix. You can manage it over time adn work on your symptoms, but curing it completely is harder. Sorry I don't have better news for you!
The hope comes from knowing there are tons of people in the same boat, gong through similar journeys right alongside you. Thanks for reading all this-I know it's a lot! Hope some of this was helpful!