Anxiety and depression thread (Please read OP)

Gremlinertia

fr336 wrote: »

Thanks guys its just citalopram so pretty mainstream lol hope youre well

Well done on giving it a go Plenty here to reassure you along the way.

One More Toy

fr336 wrote: »

Thanks guys its just citalopram so pretty mainstream lol hope youre well

Good luck with it, stick with it and hopefully you'll see a quality of life improvement.

Best of luck!

fr336

Well predictably i cant sleep after taking the citalopram this morning and despite going to work and walking there and back.... I appreciate i probably took it too late at 10:30am but all the instructions say is morning! Will 9am be enough? 8? 7? 6? 5? Lol

Then on the nhs website it says sleepy while on citalopram? Take it going to bed. Cant sleep due to citalopram? Take it in the morning. Great! Then ive seen people saying on forums to take it at night if you cant sleep as it takes a few hours to take affect and youll just sleep through it.

What to do

Gremlinertia

fr336 wrote: »

Well predictably i cant sleep after taking the citalopram this morning and despite going to work and walking there and back.... I appreciate i probably took it too late at 10:30am but all the instructions say is morning! Will 9am be enough? 8? 7? 6? 5? Lol

Then on the nhs website it says sleepy while on citalopram? Take it going to bed. Cant sleep due to citalopram? Take it in the morning. Great! Then ive seen people saying on forums to take it at night if you cant sleep as it takes a few hours to take affect and youll just sleep through it.

What to do

Take your time, ok you might lose some sleep, it's unfortunate, right now you are thinking too hard about it, a lot of us did when we started on meds first. Worrying about side effects or what have you. Just try breathing in squares and don't feckin google anything

fr336

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Take your time, ok you might lose some sleep, it's unfortunate, right now you are thinking too hard about it, a lot of us did when we started on meds first. Worrying about side effects or what have you. Just try breathing in squares and don't feckin google anything

I know grem if i was at the start of this i could cope with it but after years of sleep problems i got it back on track, its one of the only things right in my life, i need my sleep

Gremlinertia

fr336 wrote: »

I know grem if i was at the start of this i could cope with it but after years of sleep problems i got it back on track, its one of the only things right in my life, i need my sleep

It'll last a few nights, no more

Tell me how

fr336 wrote: »

Well predictably i cant sleep after taking the citalopram this morning and despite going to work and walking there and back.... I appreciate i probably took it too late at 10:30am but all the instructions say is morning! Will 9am be enough? 8? 7? 6? 5? Lol

Then on the nhs website it says sleepy while on citalopram? Take it going to bed. Cant sleep due to citalopram? Take it in the morning. Great! Then ive seen people saying on forums to take it at night if you cant sleep as it takes a few hours to take affect and youll just sleep through it.

What to do

Take it when your Dr says. Tell them your experience, and follow their advice.

It is a very common experience to intensely analyse how we are feeling when on new medication and put every twitch or sensation down to it. One thing for sure is that this practice will in itself keep us awake and anxious which could make us think that it is the medication doing so.

Most A&D medications take several weeks to impact us and for us to determine exactly what their side effects are.

If possible try to use forums as a way to empathise with and feel understood that you are sharing an experience and that you are not completely different to everyone else but to not use them for advice or direction. It can make the task of recovering much more difficult if reacting to someone elses view on a particular medication rather than your own experience.

fr336

Gremlinertia wrote: »

It'll last a few nights, no more

A few nights?! I need hours :pac: im considering getting up early tomorrow, taking it and going back to bed. Im up super early for work sundays so if i get no sleep ill have to phone in sick. And i need my work lol

Gremlinertia

fr336 wrote: »

A few nights?! I need hours :pac: im considering getting up early tomorrow, taking it and going back to bed. Im up super early for work sundays so if i get no sleep ill have to phone in sick. And i need my work lol

No,i mean you'll be ruminating about it for a few nights, that will keep your brain active, so you'll miss some sleep each night until you are not thinking about it so much, sorry my meaning didn't come across too well

fr336

Gremlinertia wrote: »

No,i mean you'll be ruminating about it for a few nights, that will keep your brain active, so you'll miss some sleep each night until you are not thinking about it so much, sorry my meaning didn't come across too well

No i understood but its not me ive been here before when trying to get better without meds. Im not thinking about it the meds just wont let me sleep. Ive had this buzzy feeling since taking them which has been tolerable all day - i felt far less anxious - but now i simply cannot sleep

Gremlinertia

Work on the sleep bit only.. Our minds are stubborn feckers

RabbleRouser2k

Agreed on the sleep thing.

I know I take my meds before I go to bed, I found that if I took them in the morning, I'd fall asleep during the day. Just a random doze off in the middle of the day.
I also would find that I'd be a little on edge until about 12 or 1pm.

It takes a couple of weeks to adjust to the meds. It takes a little time, as well as adjusting to routine.

penovine

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Is this a GP?. Do you have a pain specialist at all? I was on it for a while years ago however it wasn't a good mix with various other things, no real side effects, my blood pressure went up marginally is all

i am not with a pain specialist - just a Neurologist.. they wanted me to start Lyrica but I said no.. then they suggested Gabapentin, but i refused that also.. I am so reluctant to take meds.. but my neurological symptoms are getting worse by the day and I am not coping v well on a psychological level.. and thats putting it mildly..

fr336

Well i had about 4 hours sleep when its usually 8...got up and took another one earlier then went straight back to bed, little sleep but no weird dreams yet!

One More Toy

I'm at my wits end, exam in 3 weeks time. My brain isn't working or absorbing knowledge. Anyone any advice?

Tell me how

One More Toy wrote: »

I'm at my wits end, exam in 3 weeks time. My brain isn't working or absorbing knowledge. Anyone any advice?

I used to try this technique when doing college work and still use it from time to time in real life work when I have to be productive.

It's called the pomodoro technique and it involves committing to a task for 25 minutes with the knowledge that you will get a 5 minute dedicated break after it.
There are plenty web browser plug ins or apps which you can use to assist with this.

Pomodoro

This might work perfectly for exam prep as each block could be to focus on a particular question or topic and then leave it and move on to the next one.

The other thing that worked for me when prepping for exams was to write summary statements and then identify them or start the first word of each statement with a key word. I would then repeatedly write the x number of statements, then just the key words and get to the point where I would be able to recall the statement based just on the keyword so by remembering a list of words, I'd have 10 bullet points I could recall easily on a topic.

One More Toy

Tell me how wrote: »

I used to try this technique when doing college work and still use it from time to time in real life work when I have to be productive.

It's called the pomodoro technique and it involves committing to a task for 25 minutes with the knowledge that you will get a 5 minute dedicated break after it.
There are plenty web browser plug ins or apps which you can use to assist with this.

Pomodoro

This might work perfectly for exam prep as each block could be to focus on a particular question or topic and then leave it and move on to the next one.

The other thing that worked for me when prepping for exams was to write summary statements and then identify them or start the first word of each statement with a key word. I would then repeatedly write the x number of statements, then just the key words and get to the point where I would be able to recall the statement based just on the keyword so by remembering a list of words, I'd have 10 bullet points I could recall easily on a topic.

Thank you, I will try the 25/5 minute technique!

banie01

penovine wrote: »

i am not with a pain specialist - just a Neurologist.. they wanted me to start Lyrica but I said no.. then they suggested Gabapentin, but i refused that also.. I am so reluctant to take meds.. but my neurological symptoms are getting worse by the day and I am not coping v well on a psychological level.. and thats putting it mildly..

Try and get to see a pain specialist if you can, it will make a huge difference to your quality of life.
The impact of prolonged pain, particularly long term and of a neuropathic type is fúcking awful.

There is a degree of overlap between some neuropathic pain relief drugs and some anti-depressents that sometimes allows a greater degree of relief than either therapy alone.
Duloxeteine and Gabapentine are one such dual therapy.

Seek out a referral to a pain specialist, seriously it could well be life changing.

fr336

Feel sick

One More Toy

fr336 wrote: »

Feel sick

What's up?

penovine

banie01 wrote: »

Try and get to see a pain specialist if you can, it will make a huge difference to your quality of life.
The impact of prolonged pain, particularly long term and of a neuropathic type is fúcking awful.

There is a degree of overlap between some neuropathic pain relief drugs and some anti-depressents that sometimes allows a greater degree of relief than either therapy alone.
Duloxeteine and Gabapentine are one such dual therapy.

Seek out a referral to a pain specialist, seriously it could well be life changing.

2 Neurologists have recommended both drugs you mention.. don't think a pain specialist is required at this point as surly they will prescribe more meds and as it is i am not taking any..

fr336

One More Toy wrote: »

What's up?

Ah just meds making me feel all nauseaus nothing major just want to feel okay!

banie01

penovine wrote: »

2 Neurologists have recommended both drugs you mention.. don't think a pain specialist is required at this point as surly they will prescribe more meds and as it is i am not taking any..

Don't wear not taking any meds as a badge or an achievement.
Particularly when it comes to neuropathic pain, it's insidious and honestly can become quite soul destroying.
Martyring oneself to pain when treatment may help is a sure way to compound any mental health issue extant too.

In fairness a neurologist is as close to a pain specialist as many people in Ireland manage to get and they are wholly appropriate to treat you for neuropathy/neuralgia.

I've plenty of experience of the impact of such pain and the treatment options available.
When you get so used to a "background" level of pain as being normal.
It affects your mood, your relationships, your interactions and every part of your life to a huge extent.
It wasn't until I had a few nerve blocks recently, that while successful were all too short lived that I remembered what being totally pain free was like.

I know I'm projecting a little there, but the in my own experience.
The benefits of the meds, far far outweigh the risk.
Add to that, that medical support and advice while taking them should always be followed and it's a path to some potential relief.

One More Toy

fr336 wrote: »

Ah just meds making me feel all nauseaus nothing major just want to feel okay!

You just started new meds didn't you? I find the first week of two of a new med is the hardest, there's light at the end of the tunnel Trust me!

fr336

One More Toy wrote: »

You just started new meds didn't you? I find the first week of two of a new med is the hardest, there's light at the end of the tunnel Trust me!

Thanks, yeah only on my second day. I should have done this years ago when I wasn't this far down the hole, I could have rided it out easy. But now im at rock bottom so anything extra is insult to injury lol...but I'll take it one day at a time 2 weeks will come eventually! I just think of how many meds I may have to try it's like what do I do in the meantime I have a basic job but can't concentrate on getting myself places in life or arranging basic things I have no motivation!

One More Toy

fr336 wrote: »

Thanks, yeah only on my second day. I should have done this years ago when I wasn't this far down the hole, I could have rided it out easy. But now im at rock bottom so anything extra is insult to injury lol...but I'll take it one day at a time 2 weeks will come eventually! I just think of how many meds I may have to try it's like what do I do in the meantime I have a basic job but can't concentrate on getting myself places in life or arranging basic things I have no motivation!

It will come don't worry, be gentle with yourself in the mean time

penovine

banie01 wrote: »

Don't wear not taking any meds as a badge or an achievement.
Particularly when it comes to neuropathic pain, it's insidious and honestly can become quite soul destroying.
Martyring oneself to pain when treatment may help is a sure way to compound any mental health issue extant too.

In fairness a neurologist is as close to a pain specialist as many people in Ireland manage to get and they are wholly appropriate to treat you for neuropathy/neuralgia.

I've plenty of experience of the impact of such pain and the treatment options available.
When you get so used to a "background" level of pain as being normal.
It affects your mood, your relationships, your interactions and every part of your life to a huge extent.
It wasn't until I had a few nerve blocks recently, that while successful were all too short lived that I remembered what being totally pain free was like.

I know I'm projecting a little there, but the in my own experience.
The benefits of the meds, far far outweigh the risk.
Add to that, that medical support and advice while taking them should always be followed and it's a path to some potential relief.

thanks - i know.. but i would rather try and determine what it is exactly that I have exactly before going down the meds route.. or at least get some clinical evidence of damage,.

my neuropathy seems to be small fibre... burning all over hands and legs and stiffness etc..

its not in specific areas so nerve blocks etc don't apply..

i am trying to eat better - less sugar etc.. as it makes it worse - inflammatory agent..

taking some nutritional supplements too - no B6 mind you - they think that B6 might be the cause of all this - mine is sky high and it won't come down to normal level even though I am no longer on a B6 supplement (was in the past - little did i know that too much B6 can cause Neuropathy)

RubyXI

Keep coming on here thinking I should say something. Then I realise I don't know what to say. I want to be nowhere.

Kitty6277

Can’t decide if it’s my anxiety acting up again or if I’m actually genuinely sick. Not been able to eat properly bar picking at stuff for the last week despite being starving, feeling sick and nauseous, have a vague (but sometimes stronger) feeling of anxiety right in my chest, even though there’s really nothing for me to be worrying about. Even though I’m well aware that anxiety doesn’t need to have an actual reason to show its head

RabbleRouser2k

Kitty6277 wrote: »

Can’t decide if it’s my anxiety acting up again or if I’m actually genuinely sick. Not been able to eat properly bar picking at stuff for the last week despite being starving, feeling sick and nauseous, have a vague (but sometimes stronger) feeling of anxiety right in my chest, even though there’s really nothing for me to be worrying about. Even though I’m well aware that anxiety doesn’t need to have an actual reason to show its head

I've had similar since Sunday. I woke up with a pounding headache Sunday. Just 'WHAM' inside my head. There was thunderstorms Saturday, and I felt like crap since. (When I was a kid, and a teenager, I often would get migraines and upset stomachs if there was thunder around. Dunno why, my mum and dad were similar.) Haven't had a 'thunder' related headache in years.

My appetite sucks. The last few days I was picking at food, not really hungry but needing to eat. Today I was hungry, and overdid it. I felt nauseous after. Had to take a panadol. Sweating too, sadly.

Think it might be a virus going around. My mom was sick Sunday-had to go to the bathroom to throw up. She blamed the weather, because thunder often gives her migraines.

I can't focus or concentrate, and noise is really irritating me at the moment. Like a drill thru my ears. Had to turn down anything that played even the loudest music. Have my phone on vibrate atm too. I don't normally have noise sensitivity, this is a rarity.