A few months ago I decided, after years of feeling like my life had control of me and not the other way around, to try counseling. It was okay and I felt like I was moving in the right direction, but something still wasn't right. I didn't have much to say in my appointments, and I still just felt like my life was the one in control.

My counseler, we will call her Jane, is excellent, she alwasy finds ways to explain back to me situations and help me see my life from a point of view I couldn't reach on my own. But, this still wasn't enough because I was still having panic attacks out of no where and didn't feel right in my own skin, so Jane suggested I see the nurse practioner on campus to see if I might need medication.

Of course, going into that appointment I hoped she would say nothing is wrong with me and that I was totally fine. That did not happen. I was told I have unipolar depression. She started me on a low dose medication to see if it might help and told me to come back in a month to check in. I came back a month later, still having panic attacks but they were fewer and farther inbetween nonetheless. So, she upped my dosage and added another medicine to combat the anxiety.

Let me tell you. When they say there might be an adjustment period, it can be BAD. And, unfourtunately mine was very bad. I wasn't having anxiety attacks, but I would go through periods of time where it literally felt like my skin did not fit on my body and that was the worst feeling I have ever experienced. I went through about a month and a half of this "adjustment period" because of starting then upping and adding medications, which is a short time compared to many others who have to work to find the right medication, not just the right dosage.

Finally, almost two months later, I feel like me. I'm not having un-prevoked anxiety attacks, I don't have bouts of depression like I used to, and I'm genuinely happy. I feel like I have control over my life and nothing can change that now. Moral of the story, if you feel like you might need medication or even just counseling, GO! It will never hurt you to try it out, and if it isn't for you then that's fine, now you know!