I'm a long term sufferer of anxiety and having a pretty bad night tonight.
I started taking Citalopram again last March upped to 30mg in August. Last year for the first time i thought i would be over anxiety or know how to cope better with it having had someone help me on another forum. gave me the book At Long Last Life, explained how anxiety works and i also started to listen to audios of Claire Weeks.
At times knowing how it all works has helped but it has still been difficult. in the last week or two it's really gotten on top of me again. Just trying not to react to the thoughts over a long period time is so difficult. for the last week or so the chatter seems back almost at it's worst, i have a song in my head several times a day and am constantly rehearsing conversations (most of which i never have) in my head.
My number 1 trigger is not being able to relax especially when trying to watch films and TV. It's on my mind almost everyday. i'm a HUGE film fan watch hundreds a year. i've had the problems of switching off for years, just head chatter interrupting. it got a whole lot worse at the beginning of last year due to medication problems causing my anxiety to shoot through the roof. since then it has been a little easier especially this year. i start off watching and a few minutes in the checks come in. my head checking to see if i've relaxed, seeing if i'm "into it", then the negative thoughts "i'll never get over this" "i'm not watching this properly" it can steady after a while but it's almost (might sound stupid) like the anxiety is chasing me, trying to catch me out or something. of course by the end i'm exhausted and feel like i've wasted my time.
I can switch off and watch tv if i don't really care about what i'm watching, i watched an awards show at the weekend and was fine. i can play PS4 games without it being a problem too.
As an example how long should it take to not be sensitized? how long did it take people here?
I guess i'm looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. i really don't want to talk to my doctor because i know they'll just up the dose.
Thanks for any advice