Someone to relate to?

[Alyssa95]

Hi guys,

I have been suffering from anxiety since a huge event in my life but recently I tried an antidepressant and had a massive increase in anxiety and panic attacks so I stopped the medication. Although I think my anxiety has improved since stopping it is still worse than before the medication.

Im really worried that I am going to lose my mind or go crazy when im anxious and that the thought of being riddled with anxiety and panic attacks for the rest of my life is really stressing me out.

Just looking for some sort of reassurance that feeling like this is normal and that it will improve?

Thanks!

[Anxietyisthemonsterhiding]

Hey there, I went on anti depressants and they helped me so greatly. They were bad for 6 weeks, and I had just about every side effect possible from them but I stuck it out. 2 years later I stopped cold turkey thinking I was fine and my anxiety now ( a year off them) is so so so so bad. Like worst it’s ever been and is very health based now. I constantly think I’m going to die from everything. I want to tell you it will improve and I really hope for you it will!! I just know that mine personally hasn’t. I’m here if you need to talk though or compare stories or our symptoms sometimes it can help. I fee your pain. I’ve been through the feeling like I was going to go crazy stage. Have you thought about seeing a phychologist ? Or a different medication.. because I can tel you now I wouldn’t wish how badly mine has got on anybody.

[Alyssa95]

Hi,

I am in the process of seeing a psychologist and trying to get an appointment to see a psychiatrist. They put me on an anitdepressant which is supposed to be one with the least symptoms but the panic attacks it caused were unbearable.

Really stuck in this thought process that I’ll never feel better again and I’m over thinking everything 😞

Are you going to go back on the antidepressant?

Thankyou for your reply 🙂

[Croix]

Dear Alyssa95~

Can I reassure you first off that getting better, coping and not overthinking everything does happen, it happened for me and I was in a pretty bad way. Now I lead a life with love, accomplishment and satisfaction, and my medications are mostly effective and have no major side effects.

Going off the medications might have seemed the reasonable thing to do at the time, but most firstly take a while to stabilize and become effective and also don't take kindly to being stopped without tailing off.

I am not sure from what you said if you have given that particular one a fair trial. The initial period may have exacerbated your condition, though in time it might have had the opposite effect. The good news is that there is more than one type , and differing dosages. I guess this is something you should trail under your doctor's supervision.

In my own case it took a lot of trail and error to find the regimen that realy suited me.

Panic attacks are a real and frightening problem, in my case they have tailed off over time, a good explanation and description of how to deal with them is Lifeline's toolkit:

https://www.lifeline.org.au/static/uploads/files/panic-attacks-wfvmmxamhxoy.pdf

Please let us know how you get on

Croix

[MsPurple]

Hi Alyssa and welcome to the forums

I know how it feels to struggle with anxiety and get to a point where you feel you need more help than just therapy. I myself had a similar experience and also sturllged with some side effects of medication. But I want to let you know if you are open with your doctor and be honest about the side effects and benefits they will help you find something that works for you. I always discuss the side effects vs benefits, you want the benefits to out way the side effects. Now for me it does, but at the start I wasn't honest and was like, the side effects are ok, but they weren't. Once I was honest it got so much better 🙂

I am an open book. I know when I am in the depths of anxiety and depression I can't imagine getting out of it. But I know now that you can. With help and support

[Jay_C]

Ive tried some and they were just too over powering to get into. I found Eleva to be easier

[Croix]

Dear Jay C~

Sometimes as you say symptoms can be so great that medication and therapy is the only practical way of coping and hopefully getting better.

May I suggest you do not specifically mention any particular prescription medication as here on the Forum? Naming particular medications is not allowed, though discussing groups is OK. If you have a look at the Community Rules link above, also the Discussing Medication link I think you will be able to understand why this is so.

Many thanks

Croix