Is anxiety a mental health problem?

[Sarah]

I am 22. And been on Citalopram 20mg for a few months.This is for anxiety.Im not sure how bad the anxiety is but i imagine it to be quite bad if i am on meds right?I was on Fluoxetine for a few months before that as i was in hospital earlier in the year with a "moderate depressive episode". Anyway do i have a mental health problem?Thank you

[Jabbra462]

I don't think you do, i just think you've ran out of motivation and rely too much on medicine to keep you 'normal'.

[DaniellaB]

Hello,

Anxiety is classified as a mental health issue, yes, as is depression.

However, i suggest that you visit an experienced Psychiatrist, rather than asking around online for the opinions of unqualified individuals.

The severity of your anxiety should have been discussed with you when you were prescribed Citalopram (something i too am taking). As it has not been, you evidently do not know the depth of what you are going through-which is why you have asked this question. I would also suggest having a long conversation with the person who prescribes you this medication, or going to another doctor who is willing to be more explanatory.

[MohammadFaizan885]

Don't think about it, Pray to God, be positive, think about good things, thing you like to do, people you love etc.
Don't rely on meds. You just need to let all your worries, tension, etc. go. Don't think about it.
Spend your time by praying, reading good books, studying, going for outdoor sports/activities and etc.
Take nature walks, speak out your thoughts to God, etc.
And keeping a positive attitude will help you a lot.
Best of Luck.

[B0uncingMoonmanaolcom646]

I would imagine there are `levels` or degrees of anxiety, ranging from common mild `normal` anxiety through to serious anxiety - which is an illness and needs professional treatment.

But having said that, the simple fact of `being on meds` does not really mean anything. Many Docs hand out meds these days because they simply don`t know what else to do. Probably just meds to perk you up. Most docs are fine, but don`t over-rate them. They are not all-powerful Gods.

You need to know the root cause - what is causing your anxiety in the first place, You cannot root out a deep-rooted weed, until you can find it, and rip it out, root and all!

[Cat631]

Anxiety needn't be "bad" for you to be on medication. I'm on lorazepam twice daily just because the symptoms are inconvenient and can get in the way of my day-to-day life, but they aren't necessarily BAD, or overly severe. My husband sufferes from mild anxiety that is coupled with depression, and he takes Paxil as a maintenance medication, instead of treating it as an acute problem like I do (for one, lorazepam and similar medications completely knock him senseless...).

Anxiety is a psychological condition that manifests with physical symptoms (physical effects, such as heart palpitations, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, stomach aches, or headaches; other signs of anxiety may include pale skin, sweating, trembling, and dilated pupils; anxiety may also be experienced as a sense of dread or panic).

"Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. These components combine to create an unpleasant feeling that is typically associated with uneasiness, fear, or worry.

Anxiety is a generalized mood condition that occurs without an identifiable triggering stimulus. As such, it is distinguished from fear, which occurs in the presence of an observed threat. Additionally, fear is related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance, whereas anxiety is the result of threats that are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety

So...yes, it's a psychological condition, with physical symptoms.

You're not weak or lazy for using medication to control a psychological problem. Medication is a tool to help you manage the condition. There's nothing wrong with using it as such.

[ezmarelda731]

Yes. Mental health problems encompass anxiety, depression etc. This is nothing to be ashamed of and is very common! I once suffered anxiety but with the help of medication I got over it and am now drug free!

[erinny2000399]

If you need pills to control your anxiety then it's definitely a mental health problem.

[MeAgain737]

Yes, Anxiety is classified as a mental health problem so is depression.

It doesn't matter how severe it is.

[Drain-Bamaged703]

Everybody will have experiences of anxiety during their lives. And 50% of us will experience at least one episode of clinical depression during our lives. That pretty well suggests that, at least in our current society, this is something we will all need to learn to handle and that we should be prepared to seek mental health care services when we feel that we need them without feeling somehow lessened by our decision to get proper help to take care of ourselves. I think that it's the people in psychological distress who choose NOT to seek the help that they need who have a 'mental health problem', not the patients who seek and receive therapies. So, if you're in therapy and you're feeling better, then I'd say that you don't have a 'mental health problem'. You have a mental health challenge and also a solution.

If you had to seek treatment for depression, welcome to the 50% of Americans who will during their lifetimes. Many never experience it again, particularly if they take the opportunity to work through the psychological factors which contributed to it. The second most common mental health issue in the US is anxiety. This can sometimes become quite serious if left untreated or the issues behind it remain unresolved. If your doctor recommended drug therapy, then
that's a good indicator that you needed some help to interrupt the course of this illness. If you have to ask someone if you have a mental health problem because you're unsure if you need help, then it sounds like the Citalopram has helped.

Now would be a good time, then to begin psychotherapy to explore the factors in your life that lead to the escalation of your anxiety to a level that required you to seek a mental health care provider. And together, you'll likely be able to plan a course of life modifications and therapies which will help you remove stress from your life to a more manageable level. You may function best with the help of drug therapy, or you may be able to eventually discontinue it. Either way, you will have handled you mental health care needs, so no more problem.

And you will be among the more than 50% of Americans who need mental health care services during their lifetimes, most of them seeking help for clinical depression and anxiety issues. So again, there no need for you to feel 'branded' for being smart enough to seek the help you needed. And you're handling it far better than I first did.