Hello - I feel helpless

[Darren555]

Hi, I have just joined and am desperate for help. I am on citalopram and doc thinks I have extreme health anxiety. I started waking after 90m sleep shaking and feeling panicky and distressed, the days are becoming bad too. This has gone on for a month and without zopiclone I get no sleep at all. Do others suffer like this? I cannot take much more.

[Vapei]

Hi there, I am in the same position as you and I have just been put on the same medication and although I’ve only been on it 10 days I am feeling slightly better mentally. I have severe health anxiety and constantly worrying that something was wrong with me any niggling pain etc and I would work myself up to a panic attack and would affect me sleep. Your not on your own but it’s a horrible feeling isn’t it

[Darren555 in reply to Vapei]

Thank you for replying and I’m sorry to hear you are suffering similar problems. Not sleeping is so difficult, I really feel I cannot take much more. Even when I feel ok, I can feel myself going downhill as soon as bedtime arrives.

[Whiskers16]

Darren555 I completely sympathise with what you are going through in the past 10 days or more I’ve been lucky if I’ve managed 2 hrs sleep all night and cannot sleep during the day as so agitated.I was sleeping as was taking diazepam but now they are weaning me off it.

I feel absolutely dreadful as combined with the anxiety all day it’s torture.

[Brighterdaysahead]

Hi Darren...Have you discussed this with your Doctor???I was taking Sertraline and found they did nothing for me...I am now on 40mg Citalopram and 15mg Mirtazapine...I do feeling theses are helping as I am having more good days than bad with no side effects...Hope you get sorted and find a medication that helps you....

[Darren555 in reply to Brighterdaysahead]

Hi Brighterdaysahead, thank you soooo much for replying. I have and he upped my dose of 10mg to 20mg of citalopram, but I have only been taking it for 11 days in total. I managed to get through the first 3 weeks of feeling this way with the help of sleeping tablets but the doctor will not give me more. The last 3 days have been the worst of life and I have been climbing the walls. I am so desperate to close my eyes at night and get some sleep, but I just lay there trembling. If I do fall asleep it’s for 90 minutes then an emotional dream wakes me in a panic.

Thank you again ❤️

[Brighterdaysahead]

I take the Citalopram in the morning do you???I take the Mirtazapine at night and it certainly helps me to sleep...All’s I can advise is keep in touch with your Doctor and be honest with how they are making you feel...My Doctor calls me every 2wks to see if the medication is helping me...Take Care

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer]

Welcome Darren. The anxiety is a symptom. What is “underneath” it? Treating the anxiety is important because it will allow you to go deeper to see what causes anxiety for you in the first place. Then you can begin working on that. Ultimately that is where healing will take place.....

[BlueLlama]

Last year I had a mental break that I caused me to get 10 hours of sleep over three nights. I couldn’t sleep without a sleep aid. Couldn’t be in the house alone. Couldn’t drive. A couple of nights I couldn’t even sleep in my room because I felt too alone there. Sought counseling, and we learned that I have ptsd and a panic disorder. We’ve been working on these issues, and now I’m much more capable and don’t need to rely on my sleep aids as much.

[Hidden]

No I don't suffer the same the citalopram is very good for me as it helps my anxiety and depression. I feel more relaxed on it.

[Wingz26]

Hi Darren, I used to be on citalopram, but as I am older I couldn’t have anymore than 20mg and I was struggling with anxiety and depression, so he started me on escitalopram as it works slightly differently and gives a better level of effect on a smaller dose. It does take four to six weeks for them to fully build up in your system and feel the benefit from them. I have suffered most of my life with anxiety/depression and obviously with the pandemic it’s affecting us all and adding to our issues. Counselling and a good GP have been essential for me, also I find keeping busy helps, cleaning or gardening , one of the best things for me is either knitting or crocheting , these also help me to relax a bit. It’s the rhythmic action of these two things help to focus and distract the mind, and in turn help to calm you. I hope you start to feel better soon Darren, sending gentle hugs and very best wishes.

[Darren555 in reply to Wingz26]

Thank you so much for the reply Wingz, it does help knowing I’m not just going mad. The worst part right now is either sleeping 90 minutes and waking up shaking and panicking or just not sleeping at all.

[xsor in reply to Darren555]

Darren sorry to hear this hun I’m on citropram and struggle to sleep and unfortunately I understand about the anxiety I hope things get better for you sending u some big hugs don’t ever think your alone there are lots of lovely people in here to support u 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[1greyhorse]

Hi Darren so sorry to hear your feeling so bad but it will get better..... I was on 20mg then upped to 40mg and actually feel like myself again so much that i no longer need the zopiclone.... please spk to a doctor first though! Also it took a good 2 weeks for full effect i found taking them at bedtime helped me.. maybe worth a try.Hope you feel better soon xx