[PSY]

I had a friend who DOES suffer from "clinical" anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). He has been prescribed various anxiolytics and antidepressants over the course of time, and frankly, they haven't done him a whole lot of good. Why? Because medication doesn't address the thoughts and behaviors he experiences on a daily basis. Pills can't change how he responds to every day situations - they can only change the chemical balance in his body. In order to maximize a pill's effectiveness, a person needs to seriously consider seeking therapy/counseling in addition to taking medication. In fact, there have been many cases where people have been able to get off medication altogether, because learning how to think and behave differently is sufficient for learning how to effectively cope with feelings of anxiety.

I'm truly sorry for how difficult things have been for you lately. You DON'T have to deal with all of these things on your own. What would you say if I approached you and said, "I need to be perfect, it's my fault, I need to deal with this on my own," etc.? You would tell me those statements aren't true, and you would encourage me to seek help! So why should there be a double-standard for you? The answer: there shouldn't be. There's absolutely no shame in seeking help - not just a "quick fix" that drug manufacturers may promise, but a lasting change that can have a positive impact on your life in many ways, not just in treating symptoms of anxiety.