Week 5 of Escitalopram - feel more anxious than ever

[PerryCormo]

I'm halfway through 5th week of Escitalopram. I was on 5mg for the first 4 weeks and my GP upped it to 10mg last Friday. I've only recently been diagnosed with depression but got an acute anxiety diagnosis back in 2016 and have had an "as needed" Xanax prescription since then. And now the Escitalopram. And just the last 10 days or so I'm bursting into tears for no apparent reason and super anxious, worse than ever.

I should add that I've had probably the worst three years of my life. I'm living with my 80 year old Mum as her primary carer as well as trying to balance a really busy work life (tenured university lecturer/professor). I also nursed my Dad to his death 2 years ago, he had Alzhiemers and I found it really traumatic to watch him deteriorate and then Covid took him in April 2020. Now I'm watching my Mother's physical health deteriorate and she is in constant pain which really upsets me because I can't help her. Also, my life partner of 18 years has just come through cancer surgery. I'm also trying to manage a very toxic family situation with 3 control freak sisters who haven't lived in this house for many many years but because they're mothers and women believe that I, a gay man in his 50s who has never parented, am incapable - however, they have a financial agenda for getting me out of the house and my mother into care home elaborate below. They constantly interfere and my eldest sister in particular is extremely toxic; texting me that I'm useless and that I f**k up everything etc. If I said to her they sky is blue she'd accuse me of lying - in fact, with my training in humanities studies to PhD level I'm certain she's a narcissistic psychopath. She's even had me beaten up - and all this to serve her agenda of proving me unfit to care for my Mum so that Mum will be put in a nursing home and then the family home can be sold and she'll get some money (the house is old and big and would do well on today's property market). Recently, through gaslighting and lying she obtained keys to the house (my Mum got the locks changed after she'd organised the assault on me) but now she has keys again and I don't' feel safe.

Would this increased anxiety be because of the family situation rather than the Escitalopram not really taking? Like I say, I'm 4 weeks on 5mg and half a week on 10mg. I know people say it takes a full 6 weeks, but I thought I'd feel better, not worse. I see a therapist once a week, but with the current inflation crisis and being on an austerity salary (please don't believe the myth that university profs are well paid, we are not, not anymore) I haven't been able to afford to see my therapist for the last 4 week.

many thanks for reading this - all and any advice welcome.

[Agora1]

Hi PerryCormo...As someone who is also on Lexapro, I can tell you that 5 mg is a very smalldosage and while you have been put on 10mg now, the increase can cause a little more of a

delay in reaching full efficacy. However, with all you have going on in your stressful life, it

doesn't surprise me that your anxiety is breaking through.

The medication will take effect in time but with all that's going on in your life, you will need

additional tools to help you calm your mind and body.

I have found that learning proper breathing as well as meditating each and every day can

help control situational issues.

My go to is YouTube where I find short meditations that I listen to first thing upon awakening, mid afternoon as well as before bedtime. Within time, it will give you an

over all peace of mind that can be used whenever you need to regenerate.

I'm happy that you are here with us and Welcome you to this safe and caring forum xx