Published on 12, July, 2020
Does anyone else on here freak out if they are prescribed medication by a doctor? I’ve had a couple of bad experiences in the past with side effects from medication and Now I almost have a phobia about any medication and possible side effects. Does anyone else have this?
Yep! All long term medications worry me. Even the lanszoprolzole for my hernia bothers me.
I absolutely will not accept medication for anxiety, despite heavy pressure to do so further fuelling my fear of doctors. I just wish they'd leave the issue alone. Any side effect, or even the fear of side effects would make my medical fears worse.
Now that I know I'm autistic, I'm pleased I never caved in. Apparently some of those things can either have zero beneficial effect for us, or give us a ton of side effects. Not that I'm psychotic, but one or two of the anti psychotic can even cause autistic catatonia, apparently.
I so relate to what you’ve written here Dawn. I really struggle in a very similar way. I have wondered in the past if autistic people are more sensitive to medication and have more side effects. One thing I do know is that women often have more side effects - because the dosage of most drugs is designed in a ‘one dose fits all’ way - and women are usually smaller and lighter so the dosages are in essence higher for women. I also have a fear of doctors and hospitals etc. I spent 16 weeks in hospital when I was a toddler and I wonder if it started with that experience. Either way my anxiety about medical things is now severe. I’m exhausted by all the anxiety I live with on a daily basis,
Yes, me too. It’s been so good to join this community and realise that other people have similar struggles. In the past I’ve always blamed myself. My Dad always used to say I was “being silly” when I had fears about things. I felt terrible when he said things like that. We knew nothing about autism - it wasn’t on our radar at all.
I sorry you're going through this but it is comforting to know I'm not the only one.