Newbie here...

[Fretesa]

Hey y’all...I’m a newb here. Trying to get my life put back to it’s twisted little pieces after a very pleasant manic episode due to my doctor putting me on new medication. I literally felt crazy...more so than I usually feel.

My whole life I’ve been suffering from OCD/Anxiety/Depression. For as long as I can remember, I was overly cautious. My friends in High School called me “the voice of reason”. The only reason I had friends (made friends for that matter) was because of my social anxiety. I figured if I threw myself out there and attempted to make friends, eventually someone would like me enough for the crazy person I am. It worked.

After that, I went through a severe bout of anxiety that left me crippled. I wouldn’t leave the house. I was constantly paranoid. I would check things multiple times. Wake up in the middle of the night to check the locks. Grocery shopping was next to impossible. I was having severe panic attacks and unable to get the help I had needed.

Now, while on medication, I’m still dealing with the anxiety. Yep, I get it. It won’t ever go away. No matter how much I question it, no matter how much I talk to the multitude of therapists, no matter how I chose to cope with it....it’s always there. That stupid voice in the back of my head. That one that says I’m going to fail. The one that says that I shouldn’t have made that joke,...2 years ago. The one that says the car is going to crash while my kids are in it.

The extent of my anxiety is worsening and it’s putting a strain on my marriage. My husband doesn’t know how to cope well with it...does anyone have advice that I can hand down to him to help him? He always asks how I’m feeling or what can he do to help...but I never have answers.

[Hidden]

You're fortunate to have a caring and compassionate husband. He wants to help, yet doesn't know how. Try not to burden him with too many problems, accept assistance from him with the children and all.

[Sprinkle1]

You have my empathy, I am not manic but Bipolar II, so the depressions, along with the crippling anxiety and acrophobia are ruining my life. I have been on different meds, some worked. I suggest you try and find a Good Psychiatrist that know what she/he knows what he is doing. I am on some new meds now, there is a program Genesight, my Dr. ran the test on me for mental health. A mouth swab is run and sent to a lab, they then recommend the medication that suits our body chemistry. I am now on Pristiq and waiting for it to kick in it takes about 6 weeks. It is something you could talk to your doctor about. When you are searching for help, try to find someone competent not just a pill pusher. I send you success and peace. Sprinkle 1.

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[Hidden]

Hi there is info online about how to tell others what you need them to do and how they can help you so have a look at this. x

[ladymeathead]

Hey! I can relate to your severe bout of anxiety. I've struggled with anxiety/depression, and a lot of it stems from obsessive thoughts. At the beginning of this year I had a bad breakdown where I was afraid to go outside, was almost fainting, constantly checking locks and burners, etc. It was terrible!

As far as advice for your partner, I actually JUST stumbled across this article a few days ago and I thought it was pretty accurate, semi-lighthearted and easy-to-understand:

mygreatminds.com/partner-an...

It gave me a few laughs

[Fretesa in reply to ladymeathead]

AH! Thank you so much!

Great post! I really like the stuff she posted about the caregiver giving directions. There’s nothing worse than coming down from a panic attack and having to bark orders to someone as to what you think you want/need. I can’t ever think clearly after/during a panic attack! The whole “What can I do?” Question bothers me. It’s like, I get that they want to help...but at the same time, if I KNEW what I wanted, I’d make it known.