Struggling

[Looney]

I was diagnosed with anxiety 3 months ago and have tried everything I thought things were getting better until Friday as I had lasted 2 whole weeks at work during that time mum had a major op and also my daughter had an op too which my husband took her. The symptoms I exoerience are hot flushes, jittery, tingling in legs and arms, head goes funny and most of all feeling like I have a lump in my throat and feel like I'm not going to be able to breathe. I have been put on an antidepressant and I also take vitamin B6 and milk thistle. I don't feel like going out I feel safe in my own bed and sleep a lot. This is driving my family crazy. Has anyone else experienced the same symptoms? If so how did you get past it? 

[Neil_1]

Dear L ( sorry, but I don’t think you are what you named yourself, so I’m very happily going to call you “L”)

Are you able to say how long ago you were put on the medication that you’re now on?

Do you feel that these latest symptoms that you’re experiencing, are they potentially happening “after” you were put on this anti-depressant?   Just a thought that it may be because of the tablets – when going onto a new medication, from time to time, you may experience “some” of the sensations that you’ve listed.   If the answer is yes, it might be worth just going back to your Dr to have a bit of a chat and possible review.   It “could” be that once you get more used to taking this medication, these symptoms might settle down.

But if they’ve been happening for a while now and are not kind of linked to your medication taking, it could well be a good time to head to the Doc anyway, to let them know what you’re experiencing.

Do you also consider yourself to be eating and drinking (water, tea, etc) well?   Dehydration is linked to the depressive state, as well as not eating ‘good food’.

Just before I do finish, can I just say that with the final part of what you described – feeling safe in your own bed and sleeping a lot – you are not on your own there.  So many of us experience this and it’s not wrong or bad that you are experiencing this – it’s our own body reacting to this mongrel illness and as a  result we try to snuff it out by not taking on things during the day and to want to stay in bed, where we feel safe.

I hope I’ve been able to provide something useful for you in this post and I do hope to hear back from you.

Kind regards

Neil

[SweetieCass]

Hey L.

Neil has some great points there regarding checking back in with your doctor. When I first went on medication, I felt it was such a long time between taking them and anything happening because initially my dosage was wrong. I think I was also hoping everything would be fixed magically once the meds kicks in. This is not the case. I'm sure you already know this. 

YOU ARE AMAZING, Has anyone said that yet? the fact that you got through these last two weeks shows that! Allow yourself to feel proud, I'm sure your family are proud that you are doing something and they are all behind you. 

I'm back at step one at the moment but I have overcome this before. I found that getting out of bed (as much as we all love it) and doing something to focus on is the best thing. I find the gym or exercising the best because right now I am too unfit to think of anything else other than what I'm doing. 

I also find that doing things with others and trying to avoid that down time when you have too much time to think. This is good to start and get through day by day at the start. 

I also need the support of a psychologist. I admit that. It's amazing how an unbiased third party can ease that fear. 

I hope I am somewhat helpful. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do ? We swim. ( finding Nemo, you get the idea) 

[Looney]

Hi Neil I ended up going to the doc and I am starting new meds on Monday. I have to stop taking my current one for 3 days to start the other. I hope these ones will work for me. I am dreading the 3 days though. I have booked into for a calming massage on the first day but the rest of the weekend I'm hoping I won't be too bad. Thanks for reassuring me that I was normal with the symptoms I am experiencing.

[Neil_1]

Hi there L (or Elle)  J

Please take good care over this coming weekend and if bed seems the best option to you, then do it. 

Although, must admit, a calming massage sounds pretty attractive also.  J

Kind regards

Neil