Anti Anxiety Medication
A point of clarification on SSRIs
This is in response to something I read above about selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) making your brain do something it wouldn't ordinarily do...
My understanding is that serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter produced naturally in the brain. Chemical neurotransmitters such as serotonin have receptors in the brain -- they are released and eventually taken back up by the receptors. It is believed that in people with depression/anxiety (basically two sides of the same coin) that the brain's naturally occurring process of releasing serotonin and "re-uptake" at the receptor site is in some way faulty. In layterms, the receptor sucks up the serotonin before someone can experience the natural feeling of well-being that serotonin provides. The SSRI medications, while not fully understood, may act on the receptor sites by blocking the receptor's re-uptake of serotonin.
Speaking with a psychiatrist, rather than a general practitioner, is a good idea for anyone taking or considering taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. They are specialists after all and depression/anxiety are serious mental health conditions with a neurological-biochemical basis.
While the side effects of particular medications may be problematic (e.g., sweating, weight gain/loss, sleeplessness, anorgasmia, etc.) and annoying, serotonin in itself does not scare me. I have heard of "serotonin toxicity" (having too much in your brain from too high a dose of an antidepressant or an antidepressant that doesn't agree with your particular chemistry) from a psychiatrist though, and that can be very uncomfortable.
Take care all and best wishes!
A point of clarification on SSRIs
This is in response to something I read above about selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) making your brain do something it wouldn't ordinarily do...
My understanding is that serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter produced naturally in the brain. Chemical neurotransmitters such as serotonin have receptors in the brain -- they are released and eventually taken back up by the receptors. It is believed that in people with depression/anxiety (basically two sides of the same coin) that the brain's naturally occurring process of releasing serotonin and "re-uptake" at the receptor site is in some way faulty. In layterms, the receptor sucks up the serotonin before someone can experience the natural feeling of well-being that serotonin provides. The SSRI medications, while not fully understood, may act on the receptor sites by blocking the receptor's re-uptake of serotonin.
Speaking with a psychiatrist, rather than a general practitioner, is a good idea for anyone taking or considering taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. They are specialists after all and depression/anxiety are serious mental health conditions with a neurological-biochemical basis.
While the side effects of particular medications may be problematic (e.g., sweating, weight gain/loss, sleeplessness, anorgasmia, etc.) and annoying, serotonin in itself does not scare me. I have heard of "serotonin toxicity" (having too much in your brain from too high a dose of an antidepressant or an antidepressant that doesn't agree with your particular chemistry) from a psychiatrist though, and that can be very uncomfortable.
Take care all and best wishes!
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