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Pseudonymph Vivid dreams
  • replies: 2

I have been on antidepressants for over 20 years off and on. The current SSRI is having the greatest benefit in my day to day temperament and I have been on it for over two years.However the dreams are getting much worse and I'm finding myself unable... View more

I have been on antidepressants for over 20 years off and on. The current SSRI is having the greatest benefit in my day to day temperament and I have been on it for over two years.However the dreams are getting much worse and I'm finding myself unable to distinguish between the dream and reality. I feel like it is now significantly affecting my work as my brain feels split between multiple realities. I'm a fairly strong character and I've been able to keep putting the dream back into the 'dream section' of my brain, but I'm having to do this hundreds of times per day and I'm fatigued and not sure how much longer I can keep it up. I took myself off this medication 4 months ago for 6 weeks (due to this side effect) but constantly wanted to kill myself and die, and felt so much better once taking them again. I know I need to go to the doctor but I won't be able to for 6 weeks. (I'm rural, work f/t and my GP is on leave for most of school holidays). I'd really like to hear from anyone similar and find out how they coped. I'm constantly living with the reality of vivid dreams. The memories and emotions of them feel as real as daily existence and my sanity is tired and giving in. Thank you. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Nickname_551E7399-FF81-43 Tiredness on Meds
  • replies: 5

Hi - I do hope that I'm not raking up some old issue that's been solved before. My problem is extreme tiredness while on antidepressants. It was a problem with the very first brand of SSRI antidepressants I was prescribed. I was tried on three differ... View more

Hi - I do hope that I'm not raking up some old issue that's been solved before. My problem is extreme tiredness while on antidepressants. It was a problem with the very first brand of SSRI antidepressants I was prescribed. I was tried on three different brands all with the same tiredness side effect. I'm now on a fourth and have been for about a year. But I still feel so tired. I'm always yawing and have a nap anytime I lie down day or night. I don't feel drugged, just 'naturally' tired. I'm taking my meds at night now to see if that will help but I guess they are long lasting and it's not really helping. Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you solve it, if you did? Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers!

Rattie Trying new meds
  • replies: 2

Hi there, This is my first post and its so nice to have an anonymous forum to chat on. I've been on and off meds since I was 16. I'm now 43. I've tried most antidepressants and anti anxiety meds (SSRI, SRNI Tricyclic) as well as a few natural remedie... View more

Hi there, This is my first post and its so nice to have an anonymous forum to chat on. I've been on and off meds since I was 16. I'm now 43. I've tried most antidepressants and anti anxiety meds (SSRI, SRNI Tricyclic) as well as a few natural remedies and good old self medication. My last experience had me on a high dose of an SNRI which after a while just wasn't manageable for me. The side effects were to much to manage and the meds stopped being effective. I really want to be drug free, but I'm getting unwell again. Due to the number of drugs I've tried my GP has referred me to a psychiatrist to better manage my meds. He's suggested trying a new melatonergic antidepressant (I wont mention the brand name). He seems to think I'll respond well to it. Has anyone had any experience with this type of drug? As far as I can tell its pretty new, not on PBS and user reviews range from "great" to "help my hair is falling out". I suppose I'm also just simply not happy to go back on meds so I'm not sure what to do, and I think I'm just looking for a bit of support. Whilst my partner and friends are great - they don't really understand the daily (very tiring) battle to stay well. I'm not sure I'm sick enough to go back onto meds and hoping that I can come out of the cloud by myself. Thanks for listening.

Swok vitamins and medication
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm new to the beyond blue forum. However, I'm not new to anxiety/depression/hallucinations etc I've been on the same medication for about twelve years (mentally healthy). However, I have been sick with the flue and decided to take some multivita... View more

Hi, I'm new to the beyond blue forum. However, I'm not new to anxiety/depression/hallucinations etc I've been on the same medication for about twelve years (mentally healthy). However, I have been sick with the flue and decided to take some multivitamins to aid in my recovery. Has anyone experience drug interaction problems with vitamins? After taking the vitamins for about three days, I started to experience anxiety and bouts of surreal thought patterns similar to how I felt many years ago. It has been dreadful! After I stopped the vitamins, the symptoms disappeared. No more vitamins for me !!

Haylz123 Withdrawals
  • replies: 4

I have been on medication for about 4 years and have tapered to nothing. It's now day 4 medication free. I've had headaches and dizziness which I expected. The first two nights I slept pretty well only waking a couple of times and getting straight ba... View more

I have been on medication for about 4 years and have tapered to nothing. It's now day 4 medication free. I've had headaches and dizziness which I expected. The first two nights I slept pretty well only waking a couple of times and getting straight back to sleep. Last night was different. I couldn't sleep and burst out in tears in frustration. I managed to doze off a few hours later but didn't feel like a proper sleep. My dog woke me early this morning wanting to go outside. I couldn't control my emotions and cried and cried. All the other side effects I can deal with but I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to control my outburst of frustration? Thanks.

louies Medication side effects
  • replies: 4

Hi thereI have just upped my medication and I am experiencing the same side effects i did when i first started taking them. a very flat mood and sick feeling in my stomach.Has any one ells experienced some side effects on a drug increase ?? how long ... View more

Hi thereI have just upped my medication and I am experiencing the same side effects i did when i first started taking them. a very flat mood and sick feeling in my stomach.Has any one ells experienced some side effects on a drug increase ?? how long will they take to subside? Cheers Riss

Guest_5218 EMDR Therapy for PTSD and Anxiety - is it effective?
  • replies: 4

Hello. I am trying to come to grips with the effects of PTSD and associated anxiety. I have had this for 19 years now, but have only this year sought treatment for it. I completed a block of 10 lengthy and highly distressing sessions of Exposure Ther... View more

Hello. I am trying to come to grips with the effects of PTSD and associated anxiety. I have had this for 19 years now, but have only this year sought treatment for it. I completed a block of 10 lengthy and highly distressing sessions of Exposure Therapy (together with CBT) over a 3 month period around mid year. I think finally talking to someone about my long-ago traumatic experience has helped in some ways. A problem shared is a problem halved? Not sure I agree with that, but there could be something to it. Anyway getting to my reason for this post. Is there anybody out there who has any experience with EMDR therapy? My psychologist is not very happy with the results from our other therapy so far and believes more needs to be done. Her words were: "I think we can get more habituation to your memory, and so I would like to try a treatment approach called EMDR to see if we can get a bit more traction and ramp it down a bit more". Sounds like psych speak to me! I was left feeling very much 'up in the air' or 'in limbo' after completing the other therapy. I feel like it finished way too soon, and I wasnt ready to finish up. I felt almost let down and abandoned when she told me we were finished! The triggers, nightmares and anxiety are all still there, if perhaps slightly reduced in intensity. Although I do have an anniversary coming up in Feb, and everything is always worse then. So when I get an additional 10 sessions next year under my mental health plan I want to know everything I can on therapy options. Therefore I would appreciate hearing about your experience with EMDR. Is it a natural progression to move from Exposure Therapy and/or CBT to EMDR? For what purpose was it recommended for you? What actually is it? How many sessions are required? What was it like for you? Do you think it helped? I believe there are several different methods of how it can be conducted, what method was used on you? If you have any other relevant information or tips, please pass that on too, as I'd appreciate knowing all I can about it. For example, how best to prepare for the treatment and to make it work for you. I have all this stuff churning through my head, and I'm trying to sort it all out. Your advice would help. Sherie xx

Bluey_moon Experience with SSRI
  • replies: 3

Hi, Has anyone ever experienced forgetfulness and a kinda brain fog, and thoughts kinda vanishing away, like train of thought! Does that make sense? Maybe it's my thoughts starting to slow down, which isn't a bad thing?! skye

Hi, Has anyone ever experienced forgetfulness and a kinda brain fog, and thoughts kinda vanishing away, like train of thought! Does that make sense? Maybe it's my thoughts starting to slow down, which isn't a bad thing?! skye

Felicity What's a sensible way of using sleeping pills for insomnia?
  • replies: 2

I've had persistent insomnia for about 8 weeks now, and Ive been doing all kinds of things to try to deal with it. But I still have insomnia. If i take a sleeping pill or anxiety pill i can sleep for 6 or seven hours, though not for sure. If i don't ... View more

I've had persistent insomnia for about 8 weeks now, and Ive been doing all kinds of things to try to deal with it. But I still have insomnia. If i take a sleeping pill or anxiety pill i can sleep for 6 or seven hours, though not for sure. If i don't take anything i might sleep for 5 or 6 hours or , like last night, about 3. When i have so little sleep i easily get overwhelmed and confused and fall into negative thinking / crying easily. Things just feel too difficult and i feel very tired and a bit hopeless. Does anyone out there have a good stategy regarding using sleeping pills/anxiety medication to help with sleep. I dont want to get addicted physically or psychologically to sleeping medication. But i dont want to be cruel to myself either. So i wonder, what do you do? Like, do you have a rule of thumb about when to take medication ? eg 'If im not asleep by 1 am I will take something' Or do you take medication on Mon, Wed, and Fri, during an ongoing period of insomnia? Or , what do you do? Sometimes i just take a pill on the grounds that i feel I cant face another night like the one the night before, but i think it might be better to have a different approach...less desperate The thing is I dont want to be dependent on medication, but i don't want to make myself suffer and i know that insomnia leads to greater anxiety and sadness ( and the risk of depression, which I fear, having been there before). Any strategies anyone?

fatima turning insecurity into confidence - suggestions for succesful treatments?
  • replies: 11

hi i am terribly insecure deep inside and the more I read/think, I come to the conclusion that I just cant let myself be succesfull and feel confident. I really want to fix this as it is repeatedly throwing me into disarray. Reading the internet, the... View more

hi i am terribly insecure deep inside and the more I read/think, I come to the conclusion that I just cant let myself be succesfull and feel confident. I really want to fix this as it is repeatedly throwing me into disarray. Reading the internet, there are so many different therapies and i have tried some before (esp cbt) but this was not helping. I can understand the theory but cant change the 'worthless feeling'. Is there anyone that has succeeded and would you mind sharing how? I am happy to invest in therapy, programs etc but am just worried that most is just a 'grab for money' instead of real. E.g. i read some on pathwaytohappiness.com that sounds interesting but then again...maybe its just a moneypit. TIA

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