Stress Center Peer Support

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to fight my depression and GAD withouts meds, but I think I'm losing the battle. I just go day to day feeling awful, physically and mentally. I thought I'd mention as clearly as I can how I generally feel most of the time, just because I'd be curious to know if anyone remembers feeling similarily, and if so, what medication worked best for you:
First of all, I'm always exhausted. I wake up exhausted, and by 2-3 in the afternoon, I usually need a nap. This "brain fog" never goes away. I walk around like a zombie. I can function (go to work, but I can only handle part-time work), etc. I don't have any kids (I'm in no state for that right now) but my husband doesn't like his job so I think that is also affecting me. Anyway, the most frustrating system is this foggy, groggy feeling in my head.
In addition to the extreme tiredness, I'm always tense, particularly in my upper back and shoulders. Whenever I get stressed about something, these muscles tense even more, and sometimes it seems like it causes a tension headache. I tend to always clench my jaw, too, so that whole area around my head feels like a rubber band is tighly drawn-that's the sensation.
My mind is always racing. I tend to focus on the negative, or worry about worst-case scenerios. For example, I really want to become a parent, but I'm scared of getting pregnant and, even more, the physical realities of labor. Hospitals freak me out (I was born premature myself, and had to stay in the hospital for the first 3 months of my life, so maybe that 'started' the trauma, though I have no conscious memory of this). Anyway, I'm very scared that I wouldn't be able to handle giving birth, that something bad would happen, that I would be too panicky to get through it.
Finally, I often feel "numb," that is, when I'm not in an anxious to panic-attack state. I used to have panic attacks while driving longer (20 miles or so) distances, but that has mostly ceased. Meanwhile, I still don't feel any better. However, it doesn't take much for the anxiety to "rev up" in this situation. Otherwise, I don't feel specfically panicky, just exhausted. I always have this 'numb,' feeling, like I'm trying to "fight" something or defend myself against something.
I'm 30 years old, but I feel much older. I've been having these symptoms with varying severity since 2000, with the death of my grandmother.
Does anyone else remember having, or currently have, such feelings. It sort of feels like I'm always sick with something, though no traditional medical tests have determined anything is physically wrong.
If you're on medication, what finally drove you to it? I'm thinking of trying Lexapro. I tried it some years ago, but really didn't give it a chance.
Thanks.

I am currently taking Celexa and have for years but I am wondering about switching to Lexapro since it is supposed to be the "new" Celexa. There are alot of positive posts about Lexapro here on the Forum. I highly recommend medication. If you had diabetes would you not take insulin? You can always taper off later when you are feeling better.

Hi there,

Yes, I have similar symptoms to yours and the brain fog and fatigue especially bother me. I also get very off balance (not really dizzy) when I start to tense up. I am not currently taking prescription meds but do take 5htp that my naturopath recommended. She did say if I needed a break and it wasn't working that Celexa is an antidepressant that works fairly well and is approved for pregnant woman. Thought I'd mention that in case you got on something and felt good enough to want to try getting pregnant. I too was quite scared before I had my son, he's now 8, but the reality was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated!!! It wasn't easy by any means but if I can do it anyone can

Hope this helps a little

I understand completely how you feel. I was on Paxil for about 10 months and then weaned off and swore I wouldnt get back on. Well my anxiety, tense body, dizziness, termbling all started creeping back so I tried yoga, meditating, herbs, reading self help books and finally got tired of fighting it. I just started back on Paxil 3 days ago. I have heard wonderful things about Lexapro but I had a bad reaction to it. I think we beat ourselves up so much about the medication...just know it is a band-aid but if you need it it is ok, take it to help your body symptoms while you try therapy or this program to work on yourself.

Yes - the foggy brain is the worst - it made me feel like I wan't "there". I also had tenseness in my shoulders and jaw...and all the other symptoms you are talking about. I finally went to talk to someone and then talked to a doctor and I went on Zoloft - and that made me feel worse. Then they tried me on Lexapro (which works better when you have more anxiety than depression) and that has worked very well - it took a while to start working, but I've been on it now for about 6 months and I am feeling much better. I am also exercising and doing muscle relaxation techniques/breathing which has helped me even more.

My doctor told me that when you are overly stressed out, it depletes the seratonin in your brain and you need the medication to get back on track and it takes a year for a theraputic effect.

I plan on going off it when I am better - so in the meantime, I am trying to learn tools to be better.

Good luck!

I feel exactly the same even though I am on meds.
Listening to these tapes in the morning(Ijust started over)makes a difference,it seems to put me in a better state of mind.But I still have the shoulder and neck thing and am exhausted by 1:00 and have to take a nap. The problem with that is I don't sleep well and can't shut off my thoughts so I can sleep soundly. It is a viscuos cycle.

Yep - had exactly the same symptoms at that severity twice, at 17 which I conquered without meds and now which I am taking Lexapro. I've suffered GAD my whole life, so the anxiety has never really been gone. I love taking Lexapro. It has cleared my mind so that I can really take advantage of this program. I was always one against the meds, mostly because I was afraid of them, but I'm happy I faced my fears. I feel like it is restoring me to an even playing field of those without this condition. I intend to try and wean off this in the future but I am in no hurry right now. I am enjoying inner peace for the first time in decades. I am still guilty of all the bad habits and whatnot of the perpetually anxious so the program is still essential, so I am happy I have both. Good luck!

I feel like that all the time. Medication didn't work for me - made it worse. The only thing that gave me any relief over the years is CBT but even so, I always end up having a setback sooner or later. But the feeling good part is really good while it lasts so I cherish it.

CBT is the best known treatment for anxiety disorder. In addition, CBT can help VERY MILD FORMS OF DEPRESSION. However, in severe cases of depression - CBT alone WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT. Unlike anxiety, depression (more times than not) is a CHEMICAL IMBALANCE: you can't utilize POS SELF TALK ONLY - to combat a chemical imbalance. Basically, you can't pos self talk your way out of a chemical imbalance.

I myself started w/ anxiety disorder triggering. I went through 20 mths of therapy, then I completed Lucinda's program. Simultaneously, I researched/read a lot of books. Having recovered fr it & all it entails, I've gotten severe depress for the 1st time in my life(39 yrs old). Trust me when I say: I work out everyday, eat healthier than I ever have in my life, I utizlize pos self talk & the skills Lucinda taught me - SO MUCH, I DO IT IN MY DREAMS, LOL & I underreact. All these things combined & then some - WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR MY DEPRESS. Yes, the skills in the program hampered it - but there was a limit to what they could do. I did go back to therapy. After consultation w/ my therapist, reg dr, & pharmacist - I agreed to go on an anti-depress med.

Now, choosing to take medication is a very personal choice. However, I am replying because there is a distinction b/w anxiety & depress. Because of these differences, CARE/CAUTION/RESPONSIBILITY should be taken when addressing depress: become informed - read books + ask your reg dr + ask a therapist = professionals on your perticular depress. Then, you will be better equipped to know how you choose to address your depress.

In addition, there are some issues & disorders that go beyond the scopes of this program. Now, I am not saying this program doesn't work - THIS PROGRAM & THERAPY were the absolute best INVESTMENT I have made in myself. THIS PROGRAM IS FANTASTIC - heart & soul - sincerely. However, w/ higher levels of depress (meaning anything above your basic mild depress) - this program is not enough & there is a serious need to treat them differently.

Choosing to take meds does not mean forever - I, amongst many, are proof of that. I was on anxiety med 3x's per day & because of severe lack of sleep - 2 sleep meds. But, that was me & my case of anxiety: our stories, backgrounds & lifes experiences are all different. As of today, I am not on any anxiety med or sleep aids. I worked hard: therapy, journaling, research/reading, doing & completing Lucinda's program. MEDICATION FOR ANXIETY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FOREVER. Medication, particularly for ANXIETY - is a BAND-AID: gives you a reprieve fr the symptoms so you can do the work necessary TO RECOVER. It is possible, I am proof of that. However, w/ anything greater than a case of MILD DEPRESS - the approach is different.

Health, happiness, & cont'd recovery for you all.

TGIF EVERYONE!!!

LENORE

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lENORE- THIS WAS SOME EXCELLENT ADVISE !!!!!! AND I HAVE READ ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN...