I suffer from quite bad anxiety, I started taking mirtazapine 2 years ago and at first it worked a treat but now my anxiety is back.

[Wanna_be_free]

I am 21 years old and have always been a very head strong person, right from a child if I wanted something or believed in something then that's the way it was, no questions asked.

At 18 my now ex boyfriend and I moved in together, at first it was great but after I had ditched all my friends, he didn't like them, and devoting my days to him things took a very bad turn. We were constantly fighting and I became depressed. I soon began having panic attacks and wouldn't leave the house, I had no one to turn to but my immediate family. Our relationship continuted to circle the drain until finally a year after my first panic attack we split. I started taking mirtazapine and at first it worked, I had no anxiety whatsoever, began making new friends, going out, even the odd drink. It was great!

Now however I feel like I am back at square one, every day is a battle, headaches, dizziness, feeling like there is a band around my head, derealisation, racing pulse, sweaty palms and feet, numbness, and many more symptoms. However panix attacks are rare these days, I mainly just get the symptoms. I still can't go out though, I haven't been shopping in 2 months, haven't seen the few friends I have in weeks, I do work though monday to friday so that is something. There are things from my past I haven't dealt with and I am seeking counsilling for the anxiety.

I know many of us suffer from this and I guess I am just looking to share stories and see if we can help each other over come this. I for one am sick and tired of always feeling sick and tired! I get so mad that I am only 21 and have to live like this. I wanna go out and have a good time! I wanna have a vodka with the girls and go shopping, eat something without being worried there's something wrong with it! I wanna live life while I'm still young enough to enjoy it! But most of all I just want to be able to walk around knowing that I have overcome anxiety and am free from the hold it has on me.

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Hi Wanna_be_free.

Welcome to our community.I think you may need a change of medication or maybe even an increased dose.I am glad to hear your still able to work,I understand how you miss your friends and not being able to go and have a night out.Go and have a word with your doctor and see what they say, I would advise not to have too much strong drink as it does not mix with anti depressants.I hope you feel better soon.

Kenny-w

[Wanna_be_free]

Thanks for your reply Kenny-w,

I'm currently on 45mg, my doctor said he isn't really wanting to change my medication at the moment as I have only just started couciling. I don't drink anymore however when I was I would only have 3-5 and wouldn't take my medication that night, which my doctor said while he won't condone it, if I was going to do it that would be okay. Only ever happened once a fortnight. Now due to my anxiety getting worse again I avoid alcohol all together, and caffeine!

I am doing a lot better but I am very hard on myself and tend to focus more on the things I can no longer do or avoid rather than seeing how far I've come. I do try to stay positive as I find my anxiety is a lot better when I keep telling myself that I can do this, I do have a lot of bad days though where I want to give up. Unfortunately for us giving up just isn't an option!