I’ve had anxiety all my life – medication works better for me than journaling, meditation or any treatment, here’s why

Covid was the true catalyst for me in realizing that I could no longer face this battle alone. I recognized that my anxiety was overshadowing my ability to live life. Because even as people began to reemerge from their Covid cocoons once it was safe, I didn’t. I was overwhelmed. Everything felt like too great of a risk. My ability to think clearly and make rational decisions was replaced by crippling anxiety as “what if” scenarios spiraled in my head.

On top of that, I recognized that something just felt “off” in my head. It was almost a sudden shift last August - like a switch was flipped off and I was freefalling into unknown territory - even for me. I couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but I knew something wasn’t right. 

After bringing my concerns to my doctor, we decided Sertraline would be a great starting point.

And now, I wish I had done this years ago.

For the first time in my adult life, I am living with a level of daily mental clarity I’ve never known. I don’t do yoga and meditations and journaling exercises to keep my anxiety at bay, but do them instead because I choose to. Because they leave me feeling empowered and like my best self.

My relationships are better, my work-life balance is actually balanced, and my ability to check in with myself to, as my therapist always says, “take good care” is the best it’s ever been.

I feel like I was given my life back, all because I decided to reach out and ask for help in the form of medication.

And while Sertraline alone isn’t the key, it’s another resource in my toolbox to help me turn the tidal waves into smaller swells.

Years ago, I was told my anxiety made me unloveable. That statement stuck with me for a long time, to the point where I began to believe it. It affected other relationships and how I interacted with people, but also how I perceived myself.

But now, with greater mental clarity, years of personal development, and sertraline in my system, I can see how my anxiety actually increased my capacity for love — for others, and of myself.

Anyone dealing with an anxious mind knows it comes at a cost beyond the mental toll it takes to cope - relationships, work, sleep, and more become casualties of the unrelenting voices in our heads spiraling the “what if” and “could” and “should” scenarios out of control. 

That’s why we need to keep advocating - both for each other and for ourselves.

Medication, therapy, and other mental health resources are, without a doubt, not nearly as accessible as they need to be. And especially as people continue to rebound from Covid, there is a greater demand for these resources than ever. 

But in talking about our symptoms and stories, we can bring awareness to this fact, while also working to end the stigma surrounding mental health and illness, medication, and anxiety.