Confused

[Rox92]

Hi guys. Me again. I started to get bad anxiety almost a month ago now whilst I was away on holiday. However I was fine before this. Sometimes I would get emotional but I would consider myself a happy person.

I got prescribed citalopram 10mg the week after I got back because my anxiety was terrible. I feel that the citalopram has made me feel quite low which I understand can happen. But if they are making me really low is it likely that I was a little depressed before this but I just didn't realise?

What I can't get my head around is why I would feel this sad when I had them for anxiety??

I feel now if and when I come off them I will be depressed.. if that makes sense?

My doctor has now prescribed me 20mg starting this morning.

[ianpp1983]

Depression and anxiety is a hard one and different for all. Personally I HATE Citalopram the last time I was on it, I was on 10mg and it made me feel like a zombie. I had no emotions at all and that is not normal, while I may suffer from anxiety and depression I don't want to feel nothing. So I came off them.

Unfortunately a lot of doctors answers is to increase dosage, when actually it may be that, that particular drug does not agree with you. I was later put on setraline which was not quite as bad, but ultimately at the beginning of this year I decided I was fed up of messing with my body so stopped taking them. I have been drug free all year and yes I still have days when I don't want to get out of bed and talk to anyone, but I tell myself that actually most people probably have days like that and I just do my best to get on with it.

Maybe talk to your doctor about the suitability of the drug, sometimes they can make you feel worse before better, but increasing the dose is not always the answer from my experience.

[Rox92 in reply to ianpp1983]

Thank you. But is it a usual procedure when a person is anxious to have antidepressants? I have also.been prescribed beta blockers to help with the anxiety until the citalopram kicks in.

Just feel so different and I long to be that happy go lucky person again!

I have experienced depression before when I was 15-17 and was on citalopram then too. So I know how it feels to be depressed but never had the anxiety. I did not feel depressed before taking the antidepressants this time. 😔

[ianpp1983 in reply to Rox92]

Different antidepressants are for different things. It is not completely uncommon to get prescribed them for anxiety. Did your doctor refer you for CBT? I found it really useful, it helps identify your triggers and way to cope with them. I work with a lad who only got prescribed beta blockers on Monday for having a panic attack due to anxiety. He got offered antidepressants as well but declined them.

I truly believe the tablets make you feel different (for me I felt like a zombie). Depending on how long you have been on them, maybe coming off them (speak to Doc first) and just trying beta blockers and CBT may be enough.

Just remember the main thing is you are far from alone in these feelings and the crap that is anxiety and/or depression. The biggest thing is how you deal with it and how you let it effect you, because ultimately you are the only one who can make you happy. Drugs help with the imbalances, they are not happy pills. Think about what makes you happy and focus on that.

[Rox92 in reply to ianpp1983]

Yes I have been to three sessions of hypnotherapy. That's the problem I don't know what my trigger is. As I say it started when I was on holiday and I was scared about being in a different country away from my children and scared to get back on the plane to come home. So I figured I'd be fine when I got back. This is why I'm so confused about everything.

The doctor didn't even offer anything else he just put me straight on antidepressants.

[ianpp1983 in reply to Rox92]

CBT is good and usually you can self refer. Google to see what is in your local area.