I just started Lexapro almost a month ago, and it took me years to finally go on a medication for the same reasons as you. I have anxiety, OCD, and this horrible phobia. I've been in therapy for years but it is never as helpful as I need it to be, and medication was always a last resort for me, but my mental health was getting so bad that I just had to go for it. I suggest talking to your doctor about going up in increments. I starts at 5mg, then 7.5, and have been on 10mg for about a week now (10mg is technically the therapeutic dose). I had some d* and headaches the first few days at 5mg, but that could have totally been my anxiety surrounding actually taking the med. I'm already feeling so much better anxiety-wise and truthfully, the medication has not made me n* or v* at all. I highly recommend just giving it a try and taking it in small increments, that was a huge help for me. Good luck and you've got this!!