Anxiety

[Tamka39]

Tomorrow I have appointment with my psychiatrist am scared because of the Prozac didn’t work and now am worried what medication will he put me on next and am feeling a little better I still panic when I get off my couch to go to the bathroom and my head feels weird and am going on a month sober this week I just want to feel better please keep me in y’all prayers than u

[Stilltrying_]

Glad you are feeling a little better. Have you thought about asking the doctor as to whether you really need anti depressant medication as it is causing you very bad side effects? I am not saying this is the answer but just I think that sometimes we think we need to "take something" to cure a problem but maybe the answer is that we don't need to take something? ie taking nothing and returning to the more natural rhythms of our body and mind may be just what we need? It's just a thought and maybe not appropriate to you.

Keep up the sobriety. I am so proud of you and following your posts x

[Tamka39 in reply to Stilltrying_]

I been going through a lot and I have tried multiple medication probably is not for me I have tried natural ways to help myself and my anxiety is always through the roof am just praying everything it better soon

[Fishmonster]

The medication is there to help but can also be detrimental. Keep a record of how you feel morning and night. It will be easier for the doctor to know if it’s anxiety or side effect but so proud of you being sober never give up

[Tamka39 in reply to Fishmonster]

Thank you so much I really appreciate it 💙

[justanote]

I'm so sorry you are going through this difficult time! It sounds like you have tried a number of things to help ease your anxiety. If you are unsure about taking more medication, perhaps you could discuss alternatives with your doctor. I'm praying that you find a solution that helps you feel better both physically and emotionally.

[Tamka39 in reply to justanote]

Awwww thank you I appreciate it

[MoreThanFun]

In addition to all of the help and advice people have already offered, remember that most medication for anxiety and depression is simply ineffective for the first week to month, as your body goes through an adjustment period to the treatment, before making a judgement about whether or not one is working. I was on Prozac for a long time and, in combination with my birth control, it dramatically worsened my stomach issues. I stayed on because every day I went off I would have a terrible depressive episode, but eventually my psychiatrist was able to switch me to a different drug with far fewer side effects for me. As we know, all bodies are different and react differently to drugs. If you do want to take this route, patience is a pretty important factor.

Also, depending on what you’re sober from, your withdrawal symptoms may be feeding into the bodily discomfort and the way you’re processing your new meds.

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

U right as soon as, I stop taking Prozac. I got very depressed and anxious and was lightheaded and couldn’t get off the couch without feeling breathless and off balance and my head felt weird and I didn’t get off my couch or wouldn’t get off my couch or leave my house. I thought by stop drinking alcohol after I self medicate for so many years and getting on a antidepressant that I would be safe from having withdrawals and being depressed and anxious and I was so wrong everything backfired on my and every feeling and emotions I was numbing for all so long came out all at me and it was to much for my body I want through a lot of physical pain and mental pain and is going on a month this week November 1st being sober but I don’t feel better at all, don’t know how crippling depression and anxiety and PTSD and trying to be sober could be and now am struck at home afraid to leave my house and am disappointed because I thought i did everything right this time and still feel awful am praying things get better soon

[MoreThanFun in reply to Tamka39]

It’s impossible to truly understand how crippling these issues can be until we are, by definition, feeling crippled. I think that the best you can do as far as drugs go is give your psychiatrist as much information as possible. As Fishmonster said, keeping a record of how you feel throughout the day, before and after taking the meds is very important. Especially if you miss a day of the meds and you notice certain differences, record them. It’s hard to be so self aware when it feels like there are so many different pains to keep track of, but I admire you for continuing to try so hard. There is hope and the medical professionals around you are just trying to help, so the more information you can give them, the more likely you guys are to find answers together.

You are loved. You’re obviously strong (so proud you’ve made it this far sober in the face of everything). It will get better. Again, I’d just stress patience. Possibly the hardest part of this process is maintaining hope and patience.

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

U right is so hard right now because as soon as I think am good something bad happens and I start back feeling awful I really don’t know if am still having withdrawals am just very depressed right now and don’t know what to do right now

[MoreThanFun in reply to Tamka39]

Were you able to see the psychiatrist at your appointment date?

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

No tomorrow

[MoreThanFun in reply to Tamka39]

Okay. For now, I would just focus on that goal. All of your issues won’t be solved in one session, but hopefully you can get some reassurance that they will be addressed. Please, keep reaching out for support. We’re here for you.

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

Thank you

[laura920]

I’m in the same situation. I tried Prozac. Had weird side effects. I’m going back to my doctor later this week to discuss other options. I’ve been super depressed and anxious and only way I really cope is going out with friends, but I don’t even know how I manage to do that. It like I get a bunch of energy and then swing down to this depressed state where I’m in bed for days. It’s hard. I reach out to friends with similar issues and it’s good knowing they love me and have been through similar

[MoreThanFun in reply to laura920]

When this happened to me, it was actually because my dose was too low and would not stay in my system long enough to continue benefitting me over long periods of time. I don’t know if this helps, but I hope you’re able to figure out a balance soon.

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

How bad things got for u? 2 year ago I couldn’t get out my bed for 2 months didn’t eat sleep or barely drink anything it was awful being afraid in your own house the only place I felt safe was in my room

[MoreThanFun in reply to Tamka39]

I believe things would have been this bad for me if my family hadn’t physically taken me in for treatment. Although I wasn’t allowed to stay in bed, I would dissociate randomly elsewhere (sometimes collapsing in the middle of the sidewalk). Medication did help me with getting from one day to the next without dissociating for a while, but it did also make me feel more numb (worth it at the time). It feels like it’s always a give and take. My worst episodes culminated in my most recent posts on this site, a whole 10 months ago, when I was struggling fairly heavily with self-harm. If you want to talk more about it I’d love to chat with you in DM’s.

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

Sure I will love to talk to u more

[Tamka39 in reply to laura920]

That’s great u was able to get out with friends. And they understand what u going through. Am scared to get off my couch to walk to my own bathroom and afraid to walk out my front door and is ruined my relationship with my boyfriend because I haven’t left to go see him am struck in a dark deep black hole 🕳 I have no energy or no motivation depression and anxiety is very crippling and I feel so awful and numb and disconnected and alcohol has ruined my life too I stop drinking 3 weeks ago and still don’t feel any better am going to see my psychiatrist tomorrow and see what medication is next for me to take my family don’t understand what am going through and I feel like a burden to them and am making they sad because they can’t help me

[MoreThanFun in reply to Tamka39]

I just wanted to make a quick note here that you shouldn’t blame yourself for your family’s reactions. Depression is something that is alien to most people until they or a close loved one are in the full swing of it, so it’s very difficult to understand. If your family cares about you, your sadness will naturally affect them, but you are not choosing this and shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the blame for their feelings about it. What your family can do to help is continuing to try and understand you. It is hard to care for someone with depression - that much is clear - but there’s support out there for them as well. I think they’d probably agree that it’s more important for you to take care of you than them. And maybe try explaining techniques they can use to help you when you’re lucid, so that they feel more prepared for new episodes.

[Tamka39 in reply to MoreThanFun]

U right