I'm really struggling with anxiety right now. I'm home from work (again)today and I'm wondering how long I can hang on at work. It flared up 2 months ago with some health scares(hypochondria)and hasn't left. Now I have trouble heaving all the time. I even heave just when I start to get nervous and I'm just watching tv. I may do it 10+ times before I can eat anything. I've lost 10 pounds - which I didn't have to lose. I cry all of the time now. I can't take SSRI's - my doctor and I tried several. I'm seeing a good psychologist and he wants to do this program together but I just really need some help now. I am losing hope.
Any advice?
I'm losing my mind
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Guest
Hi Suzie,
Your post completely spoke to me, I am in the same spot as well. I even went into the hospital monday to get blood work done and beg and plead for some relief. I fell really hard at the beginning of February- I was doing well before that but I was pretty sad, crying spells, hopeless, guilty, sleeping lots, lost 10 ibs in the last month also, I have been on 3 SSRI's and none of them worked well, lots of side effects and the last literally made me suicidal- however, I unfortunately have a job I cannot take time off no matter what, its high responsibility.. and financially I cant stay home like I would like, when I was at the hospital the doctor immediately prescribed me Effexor- which is a SNRI- I also got blood work done for my tyroid and sugars to rule out any underlying issues.. I had no choice but to start the med as I was not functioning well, I didnt enjoy Easter holiday at all! how sad eh?! anyways, the med has been really really good only two days in too! it has done more for me in the last two days than an SSRI ever did! perhaps you should approach your doctor about first, testing for underlying problems and ruling out any physical problems (I am going to go to my regular doc too and have him test my iron and hormone levels!) and then perhaps ask him to put you on this one- seriously.. there are options that help depression (anti anxiety is a little different) but it is a chemical imbalance in your brain.. I truly believe it needs meds sometimes- dont get me wrong this program has made TONS of difference but overall I know I need something to help my chemistry.. please have faith, after my last SSRI I thought I would never take another antidepressant, but the tears are so embarassing (I cried hysterically b.c. they were out of crumpets at the grocery store and had to leave) thats not a good life, I had no choice but to have faith in god and in this med and boy oh boy am I glad I did.. Please seek further help, I know where you are but remember it is a disorder, separate who you are from these feelings, seek help, exercise, try different things and I promise eventually you will find your help.. what if you were able to conquer your depression? what if you found a med to help aid you in your journey to recovery? what if you found something that REALLY worked with you!?
Please keep me posted on your journey.. and PM if you would like, It is eerie to me how we are in the same stage as one another right now! wow!
Take care, keep smiling and never ever lose hope and faith!
Your post completely spoke to me, I am in the same spot as well. I even went into the hospital monday to get blood work done and beg and plead for some relief. I fell really hard at the beginning of February- I was doing well before that but I was pretty sad, crying spells, hopeless, guilty, sleeping lots, lost 10 ibs in the last month also, I have been on 3 SSRI's and none of them worked well, lots of side effects and the last literally made me suicidal- however, I unfortunately have a job I cannot take time off no matter what, its high responsibility.. and financially I cant stay home like I would like, when I was at the hospital the doctor immediately prescribed me Effexor- which is a SNRI- I also got blood work done for my tyroid and sugars to rule out any underlying issues.. I had no choice but to start the med as I was not functioning well, I didnt enjoy Easter holiday at all! how sad eh?! anyways, the med has been really really good only two days in too! it has done more for me in the last two days than an SSRI ever did! perhaps you should approach your doctor about first, testing for underlying problems and ruling out any physical problems (I am going to go to my regular doc too and have him test my iron and hormone levels!) and then perhaps ask him to put you on this one- seriously.. there are options that help depression (anti anxiety is a little different) but it is a chemical imbalance in your brain.. I truly believe it needs meds sometimes- dont get me wrong this program has made TONS of difference but overall I know I need something to help my chemistry.. please have faith, after my last SSRI I thought I would never take another antidepressant, but the tears are so embarassing (I cried hysterically b.c. they were out of crumpets at the grocery store and had to leave) thats not a good life, I had no choice but to have faith in god and in this med and boy oh boy am I glad I did.. Please seek further help, I know where you are but remember it is a disorder, separate who you are from these feelings, seek help, exercise, try different things and I promise eventually you will find your help.. what if you were able to conquer your depression? what if you found a med to help aid you in your journey to recovery? what if you found something that REALLY worked with you!?
Please keep me posted on your journey.. and PM if you would like, It is eerie to me how we are in the same stage as one another right now! wow!
Take care, keep smiling and never ever lose hope and faith!
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Guest
p.s. my mom made an interesting comment to me the other day while I was beating myself up, about the depression and not being able to make stable decisions and LOSING MY MIND (or not having control over it- enough control- my mind plays lots of tricks on me or so I think) and she said- if there is a chemical imbalance then of course you wouldnt be able to make a decision, things are not firing right upstairs. Trust the med will help stabilize that and continue your recovery.. makes sense to me!
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Guest
Thank you so much for your replies. It is so hard not to sit here and think "what if" I never get better or "I always" am going to react this way. I just want to be "me" again and I don't know how to find that person - where did she go? I've always been incredibly anxious but always smiling. They call me sunshine at work. Not so much now....
Maeggie, I've had a lot of medical tests recently too. I even went to the ER where they called my doctor and he told them to tell me to stay off of the internet. Isn't that funny?! I am sure that the person behind the curtain in the room with me got a laugh out of that one. I was not convinced of course. Then I went to a cardioligst - he said, oh I love your dr. I'll send him a note. I thought "oh great - now here's where I move to the list of crazy patients!"
I truly feel like an alien on this planet right now. Like everyone else is living in the real world and I've checked out of reality and just can't get it together.
Maeggie, I've had a lot of medical tests recently too. I even went to the ER where they called my doctor and he told them to tell me to stay off of the internet. Isn't that funny?! I am sure that the person behind the curtain in the room with me got a laugh out of that one. I was not convinced of course. Then I went to a cardioligst - he said, oh I love your dr. I'll send him a note. I thought "oh great - now here's where I move to the list of crazy patients!"
I truly feel like an alien on this planet right now. Like everyone else is living in the real world and I've checked out of reality and just can't get it together.
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Guest
Hi Suzy,
thats great youve been through some testing! keep ruling it out! I know completely where you are, but again, something that has really helped me is: separate who you are (you are sunshine:)) from this disorder.. understand what you are going through are mere SYMPTOMS of depression- that is not who you are, that is not your spirit, you are strong but this deamon is battling you.
I am lost as well but I cannot recommend enough that you go and speak with your doc, like I said perhaps another type of med, SNRI would help immensley? you dont deserve to feel this way and it is impossible to get out of that hole without help- please keep trying! again, appreciate that it is a 'body problem' not mind, correct the body and the mind will come also.. do something for you today, as hard as it is and as much as you dont feel like it- do something just for you..
thats great youve been through some testing! keep ruling it out! I know completely where you are, but again, something that has really helped me is: separate who you are (you are sunshine:)) from this disorder.. understand what you are going through are mere SYMPTOMS of depression- that is not who you are, that is not your spirit, you are strong but this deamon is battling you.
I am lost as well but I cannot recommend enough that you go and speak with your doc, like I said perhaps another type of med, SNRI would help immensley? you dont deserve to feel this way and it is impossible to get out of that hole without help- please keep trying! again, appreciate that it is a 'body problem' not mind, correct the body and the mind will come also.. do something for you today, as hard as it is and as much as you dont feel like it- do something just for you..
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Guest
Suzy,
Your story is mine to a T!!!! I am not suppose to look stuff up online or even read magazines or newspapers with medical articals in them, yet somehow, I still do. It's like they are "calling" to me! I feel if I stop reading them or stop getting tested for EVERYTHING under the sun something bad will happen. It's funny because something bad is happening...I'm driving myself (and others around me) CRAZY!!! My doctor says this is an OCD characteristic. I agree, but I just don't know how to stop! I'm in a constant state of panic and then I start to have actual physical symptoms of my precieved illnesses and that's scary! I worry that I may actually give myself something terrible just by my constant negative thoughts. I wish I could make this all go away! Good luck to you! If you figure something out, please let me know! - Just know that you are not alone!
Your story is mine to a T!!!! I am not suppose to look stuff up online or even read magazines or newspapers with medical articals in them, yet somehow, I still do. It's like they are "calling" to me! I feel if I stop reading them or stop getting tested for EVERYTHING under the sun something bad will happen. It's funny because something bad is happening...I'm driving myself (and others around me) CRAZY!!! My doctor says this is an OCD characteristic. I agree, but I just don't know how to stop! I'm in a constant state of panic and then I start to have actual physical symptoms of my precieved illnesses and that's scary! I worry that I may actually give myself something terrible just by my constant negative thoughts. I wish I could make this all go away! Good luck to you! If you figure something out, please let me know! - Just know that you are not alone!
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Guest
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Guest
Perscription medicine commercials are the WORST! They're almost comical because they start talking really fast so they can get through the long list of these HORRIBLE things that could happen to you, but they say them like it's no big deal. A lot of the times the side affects seem WAY worse than the actual problem! My doctor was about to put me on a sleeping pill (Maybe I shouldn't tell you this but I thought it was funny) and I saw the commercial for it and it said that there have been reports of people getting up and eating or DRIVING with no recollection while on the medication. What the heck is that all about! Aren't you suppose to be sleeping? So now you're saying you have people "sleep eating" and even worse "sleep driving"?!!!! That sounds even worse than drunk driving! NO thank you! I don't want to be on that! You'd wake up in the morning over weight with a recked car! lol 
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Guest
<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">Suzy - I'm on a mood stabilizer, Lamictal, and it's working out great for me. SSRIs and SNRIs did not work well for me. Like Maeggie, they made me suicidal. I always say everyone's neurochemistry is different. Just keep trying out different medications until you find one that works well for you.
Many people are afraid of taking medications in fear that it will mask their anxiety/depression as they're trying to seek help, but it's okay if you want to take something in the meantime and slowly be brought off of them as you begin to overcome these issues:</span>
<span class="ev_code_RED">Maeggie was right when she wrote, "remember it is a disorder, separate who you are from these feelings, seek help, exercise, try different things and I promise eventually you will find your help.. what if you were able to conquer your depression? what if you found a med to help aid you in your journey to recovery? what if you found something that REALLY worked with you!?"</span>
<span class="ev_code_BLUE">krisse was right when she wrote, "Just realize that it does take some time and a lot of work on your part, but the end result is worth it. Believe in yourself, realize you are strong and courageous, and that you too can win this battle. Also, use these message boards and the chat rooms. I make it a daily part of my routine. It helps to know that you are not alone in your struggle."</span>
<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">It's good to see your doctor and have them give you a full work up. Even the program recommends it. Doctors usually tell people not to look up stuff on the internet because they don't want you to dwell on the "what-ifs" of adverse side effects or other physical symptoms in fear that their patient might be a hypochondriac. The thing is, it's okay to BE INFORMED. If you begin taking a new medication, you should know of the adverse side effects so that you will be able to inform your doctor if they become a problem. So if you do research, just don't tell them about it! There are lots of doctors out there: some are compassionate, others are idiots who don't feel like dealing with people (yeah, I know, like why are they even doctors, right?).
We have anxiety, OCD, depression, etc. We obsess about our bodies, sometimes to the extent, as Britt said, that we almost convince ourselves we have a medical condition that, in fact, we do not.
This is where keeping a daily journal of our symptoms becomes important. Record how you feel everyday. Don't look at what you wrote until 7 to 10 days later, and look for the patterns. Then you can rule out for yourself if it was due to something you read, or if it's a persisting physical or emotional symptom that you should discuss with your doctor.</span>
LOVE TO ALL!
[Edit: My apologies for such a long post. I added too many additions?!
]
Many people are afraid of taking medications in fear that it will mask their anxiety/depression as they're trying to seek help, but it's okay if you want to take something in the meantime and slowly be brought off of them as you begin to overcome these issues:</span>
<span class="ev_code_RED">Maeggie was right when she wrote, "remember it is a disorder, separate who you are from these feelings, seek help, exercise, try different things and I promise eventually you will find your help.. what if you were able to conquer your depression? what if you found a med to help aid you in your journey to recovery? what if you found something that REALLY worked with you!?"</span>
<span class="ev_code_BLUE">krisse was right when she wrote, "Just realize that it does take some time and a lot of work on your part, but the end result is worth it. Believe in yourself, realize you are strong and courageous, and that you too can win this battle. Also, use these message boards and the chat rooms. I make it a daily part of my routine. It helps to know that you are not alone in your struggle."</span>
<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">It's good to see your doctor and have them give you a full work up. Even the program recommends it. Doctors usually tell people not to look up stuff on the internet because they don't want you to dwell on the "what-ifs" of adverse side effects or other physical symptoms in fear that their patient might be a hypochondriac. The thing is, it's okay to BE INFORMED. If you begin taking a new medication, you should know of the adverse side effects so that you will be able to inform your doctor if they become a problem. So if you do research, just don't tell them about it! There are lots of doctors out there: some are compassionate, others are idiots who don't feel like dealing with people (yeah, I know, like why are they even doctors, right?).
We have anxiety, OCD, depression, etc. We obsess about our bodies, sometimes to the extent, as Britt said, that we almost convince ourselves we have a medical condition that, in fact, we do not.
This is where keeping a daily journal of our symptoms becomes important. Record how you feel everyday. Don't look at what you wrote until 7 to 10 days later, and look for the patterns. Then you can rule out for yourself if it was due to something you read, or if it's a persisting physical or emotional symptom that you should discuss with your doctor.</span>
LOVE TO ALL!
[Edit: My apologies for such a long post. I added too many additions?!
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Guest
OMG IS THAT THE COMMERCIAL FOR AMBIEN CR?!
It's true though. I've taken it for the ten days as recommended and my husband said he woke up to me crying because the computer battery died as I was trying to watch Star Trek: Voyager...yet I had no recollection of this.
It's because even though it's supposed to help you sleep, it "shuts down" parts of your brain, like the hippocampus/memory center, acting as a depressant to help you sleep.
It seems that these commercials act mostly as disclaimers for the drug companies as they don't need any more lawsuits. It's a business, just like hospitals: insurance, medical bills, etc.
Nonetheless, they're hilarious as all hell!
It's true though. I've taken it for the ten days as recommended and my husband said he woke up to me crying because the computer battery died as I was trying to watch Star Trek: Voyager...yet I had no recollection of this.
It's because even though it's supposed to help you sleep, it "shuts down" parts of your brain, like the hippocampus/memory center, acting as a depressant to help you sleep.
It seems that these commercials act mostly as disclaimers for the drug companies as they don't need any more lawsuits. It's a business, just like hospitals: insurance, medical bills, etc.
Nonetheless, they're hilarious as all hell!