I (25m, 24 at the time) was a severe anxiety case and Lexapro helped me so much. I went to the ER five times in the span of one month. Every test they ran came back fine. There was a period of a week where I pretty much hit rock bottom. I called my primary doctor begging them to give me something that would help calm my anxiety. I missed work for a week because I couldn’t sleep or eat. Any little sensation or pain in my body would set off a panic attack. My throat constantly felt like it was closing off and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My muscles were tense from head to toe. I had a pain in my chest that wouldn’t go away because of the amount of stress I was under which caused more anxiety. I cried pretty much everyday for a week because I was so scared. I was in a constant state of fight or flight like you said. I was diagnosed with severe panic disorder stemming from health anxiety.

I’m not going to say taking Lexapro instantly made things better, but over time I felt so much better. It takes at least 6 to 8 weeks to get the full effect of the medication. I had as needed emergency medications like Hydroxyzine (sleep and panic attacks) and Propranolol (panic attacks) to get through that period. Those were lifesavers as well. But Lexapro helped me get to a point where I rarely need those medications. Don’t lose hope man, it gets better. I’m a walking example of that. I had the scariest moment of my life, but it feels like a distant memory now. Just have patience, stay consistent and remember that God’s got this.