Anxiety and depression

[Scotland49]

So , I have many muscular/skeletal issues which causes me incredible pain, so much so, that I have now been diagnosed with GAD ( general anxiety disorder) and I'm on medication for this but it it has yet to kick in...I'm scared all the time for no reason

[Dinkie]

Chronic pain conditions often go hand in hand with anxiety and depression. Please believe you are not alone. Has anyone suggested the pain clinic to you or have you tried some CBT. It's not for everyone, the CBT that is, but if one goes with an open mind it can open up different thoughts of dealing with life and all that goes with it.

I have hypnotherapy occasionally when things get on top of me, it helps me, but again very much a personal choice. It can make you feel vulnerable so finding the right therapist is essential. I chatted to about half a dozen before I found the one I felt I could trust and build a relationship with.

Do hope you start to feel less anxious soon.

[Scotland49 in reply to Dinkie]

Hello Dinkie, thank you so much for your reply . I'm seeing the pain management team on 15th January.When I start to get answers, ( it's my spinal pain ) to this I feel sure my anxiety will get better and then I will talk to a therapist

Once again, thank you

[fibrogirl41]

Poor u, i have had that its not easy sometimes but hopefully with help and support and seeing the therapist it will help over time x I hope you get on okay xx

[Scotland49]

Thank you , it's really horrible. This awful weather we are having adds to it too. Xx

[Sarahvit]

Hi Scotland, I have been recently diagnosed with that too. My old psychiatrist left and my new one doesn’t believe in prescribing anti anxiety meds for a long term basis. I have been on Klonopin since the mid 90’s. I called it my CNS lubricant. Without it my back muscles would go into spasms like someone scratching the black board with their nails. I didn’t have the emotional symptoms of a panic attack but had the physiological symptoms. In the last year to 1 1/2yrs my doctor had to stop prescribing hydrocodone and tramadol together. I had been taking them together for years. I don’t mean to get on a rant but it just has been frustrating. I went back to my doctor to ask what do I need to do to be able to take the hydrocodone for my back pain? She said to stop taking the Klonopin. So that was a Thursday when I stopped the Klonopin well by Sunday afternoon I was having my very first and only full flown panic attack. So I started back on the Klonopin. Now my new psychiatrist is weaning me off of it. I have had a few bumps in the road but am weaning off of it. I don’t remember how long it took to kick in initially but that Sunday I felt better by the next morning. I guess my symptoms are more like I feel like I stock my finger in a light socket. That is how I am feeling right this moment as I am typing this. I didn’t take one (1/2 of 1mg tab) last night. Chronic pain does lead to depression and anxiety. Patientslikeme website has partnered with the Kaia app for people experiencing pain to go through their program of mindfulness, education on stress effecting pain and talking with a health coach. Every 4wks you focus on what ever is causing the most pain in your body. I did my upper back, neck, then back to my upper back now I am focusing in on my balance because it has been off, oh I have been taking glucosamine with turmeric which has really helped with the inflammation and pain.

[Scotland49 in reply to Sarahvit]

Gosh, Sarahvit, it's awful. I'm so sorry for you! I would say that a mental health illness is the worse! At night, I take mirtazapin, which really helps my sleep. My back pain, like you, is horrendous, it feels as though I'm on fire, I'm now getting nauseau with it.I'm seeing the physciatrist tomorrow where I know they will be increasing my Sertraline to 75mg.im good with that as I will take anything that eases my anxiety/panic disorder .

I will keep in touch on here and let everyone know how I am getting. It's still early days for me, and my anxiety is awful .

Much love ❤️

[Sarahvit in reply to Scotland49]

Thank you Scotland49, mental and physical health go hand in hand. Back in 94 was when my back pain started and nothing OTC even touched it. Finally after a few months my doctor prescribed what I considered a “miracle pill” that after I took just 1 took 100% of the pain away. It was wonderful to feel “human” again. I was later diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and what I call “and company” all those other things that tend to go along with it. Panic attacks are very scary, dehumanizing and embarrassing. 🙈 when I experienced it that one time I felt like a drug addict trying to find the Klonopin that I had put under the bathroom sink which I couldn’t find for a good 20-30 minutes. Having both physical and mental health problems does make life more challenging and stressful. I am not sure if this is still available for OTC supplement but valerian root I have taken in the past for my CNS lubricant. It has a calming effect on those nerves especially in the nerves that trigger muscle spasms. Please keep us updated on how you are doing. Hugs 🤗 💕

[Scotland49 in reply to Sarahvit]

Thank you SaraMy anxiety is a little better, but very much depends on my pain level . I'm being supervised, (for want of a better word, ) by my local mental health team as I'm off an age (75) where other problems could arise.

I will also be attending a pain management course beginning February run by my local NHS trust . It's last for 4 Fridays in February

I will let you know how I get on . It's a brand new course.

🩷

[Sarahvit]

I ran into that “of an age” of “getting older” 62, where doctors, pharmacists Etc say “your body responds differently” so they want to change what has been working for years without any problems. It has affected my mental health and brought on anxiety which I didn’t experience before.

[Scotland49 in reply to Sarahvit]

I would rather have anything than Anxiety. I never had this until the pain went beyond what I had ever experienced before . I'm 2 months into medication and although improved, I've still away to go. I also have very low mood, again never experienced this before and I'm 75 .

[Sarahvit in reply to Scotland49]

I am so sorry you are experiencing anxiety. It is pretty rough to deal with. I had never experienced an anxiety attack until they said I had to stop the Klonopin in order to take the hydrocodone for my back pain. I had only been getting 30 for a 3 month supply for the high pain days and then I only took 1 a day. Been doing this for years. 10+yrs if not 20+yrs. The opiate epidemic (people taking it to get high rather than for pain) has really affected chronic pain sufferers. So stopping the Klonopin cold turkey caused a panic attack and I felt like a drug addict when I couldn’t find the Klonopin that was hiding under my bathroom sink. It was awful. I felt so embarrassed feeling like that. Now my new psychiatrist wants to gradually decrease my Klonopin and then stop. My anxiety is starting to become a problem and depression too. I’m sorry for ranting. I know it is hard. Intense pain definitely leads to depression and anxiety especially when “advancing age” is used as a reason to not treat the pain and is used as an excuse to decrease the pain and depression medication that you had been taking for years. All this leads to decreased mood. My heart goes out to you.

[Scotland49 in reply to Sarahvit]

And my heart goes out to you, Sara. My Rheumatoid started in my 30's but I managed it well . It was only when I started having back issues these past few years, which has impacted me the most. I also have Osteoporosis in my spine and hips and was injected with a drug for this. I believe that this was the beginning of my severe back and neck poblems 2022 . How you have managed, I commend you.