I need to get back to work.

[Les0759]

Hi

Another newbie hoping for some answers.

I'm 59 years, and own a small service business.

My doctor prescribed medication for me last monday, and did mention it may increase my anxiety before it really started to work. He was right and after initially feeling quite good this morning, I'm suddenly back where I was 3 and a half days ago.

I've read many times that this does happen sometimes. My problem is, if I don't work we don't eat, pay rent and so on.

I am seeing the doc again tomorrow as a follow-up, so will discuss it with him of course. And I realize that with no knowledge of what medication I'm on, it'd be nearly impossible to suggest any guidance on the length of time it should take to cut in, but can anyone give me an idea or some tips on how to get some form of control?

Thanks in advance.

[Guest8901]

Hi Les, and welcome to Beyondblue forums.

Firstly, well done to you for recognising and acknowledging you had an anxiety and/or depression issue and seeking help from your Doctor. It is the recommended first step, though its never an easy one.

With regards to medications - most medications prescribed for depression are started on a low dose initially. This is usually done to determine that there are no serious unwanted side effects and that you have no allergic reactions to it. Then the dosage is bumped up to a more efficient dose over time. This allows your mind and body to adjust to the medications at a much more tolerable pace. Medications can be a trial and error thing to start with, as no two people are the same. However, in my personal experience, it takes at least a month to see much improvement. So it means you need to be somewhat patient and persevere with some increase in anxiety in the meantime.

I see you are seeing your doctor again today. Have you been seeing a psychologist at all in the past? If not, it may be helpful for you to ask for a referral to see a psychologist or a counsellor. They are the best option to help you learn self help methods to help deal with either anxiety or depression.

In the meantime, all I can really suggest is the stock standard - eat a balanced healthy diet, try to find time in your busy life to do regular exercise, devote some time to a favourite hobby or sport, distract yourself from your thoughts of anxiety or depression by keeping busy, talk to a loved one.

I hope your appointment today goes well, and that things start to fall into place for you soon. In the meantime, please feel free to post here any time you have questions or need to talk about things. There are many fine people here who are very willing to share their experiences with others. I hope you come back and let us know how things go for you, but there is no pressure on you to do so. Wishing you the best with both your health and your business.

Kindest,

Amanda

[Les0759]

Hi Amanda

Thanks for taking the time to give me a better idea of what to expect. I mentioned yesterday that I was 'back to Monday', and yet this morning feeling a lot better again. It's certainly something of a rollercoaster ride.

I was speaking to a close friend of mine who went through this not so long ago, and she mentioned a course of injections that she says changed everything for her. I'm going to ask the doc about the possibility of those being an option as I really need to get back to earning.

My wife is disabled and on a pension and I'm her principal carer, so it's important we have a decent wage coming in.

I will pop back and let you know how it goes.

[baet123]

Hey Les, Welcome to the forums and thanks for sharing your situation with us.

Beyond Blue is a caring, loving and non-judgemental platform where everybody is super supportive with the main goal of improving our mental health, quality of life and emotional well-being.

What your experiencing is super common so try not to stress and don't be to hard on yourself. Medication usually takes a while to kick in and for it to be effective and side effects are super common.

I understand your financial concerns and they are real. Have you ever considered receiving financial assistance from a neighbourhood centre or a welfare provider? Anglicare, Wesley, Catholic Care etc are really good. If you need assistance with your electricity and gas bills when your experiencing hardship, they are able to assist you through the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme.

As Amanda said above, it is super encouraging that your seeking help and assistance from your health professionals and it is important to keep them in the loop and to ensure you receive regular and sustained treatment/intervention.

A few things you are able to control yourself at present that will positively impact your emotional well-being is ensuring you:

1) Exercise regularly

2) Eat well

3) Sleep enough (even though this is hard)

4) Try to think mindfully and be aware of what your feeling and reasons why this might be (external or internal factors)

5) Keep a diary and jot down your feelings. Always express your feelings as they are better outside than inside. A diary will also allow you to see whether there are common patters as to when you experience and feel certain emotions etc.

Better days are ahead and it will get better.

Hope this helped and have a good weekend.

Nick.