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Anxiety and depression thread (Please read OP)

Kurtosis

Welcome to the new Anxiety and Depression discussion thread!

As the name suggests, this thread is for users to discuss issues relating to anxiety and depression. What it is not, is a support group as there are neither the resources nor expertise available to facilitate this.

Before posting in this thread, please read the forum charter and ensure that you post in accordance with the guidelines there, in particular relating to self harm and suicidal ideation. In the case of posts on these topics, please:

1. Report such posts
2. Don't reply or quote them
3. Think twice before posting anything of that nature, instead use the supplied resources (listed in the post below) to get the best help that's out there.

In these cases, a moderator will delete the post and send the user the PM at the end of this post.

We really need you to report such posts, so users can be directed to external supports that can help them in a far greater capacity than we can. It is important that the community help look out for one another and ensure that the charter is being followed in order to put this thread on a safe and sustainable footing. If the guidelines are being broken, unfortunately this thread will have to be deleted permanently.

So on behalf of the mods, thanks in advance, chat and enjoy!

Hi <user>,
Please know that you do not have to deal with this on your own.

We encourage people experiencing difficulties to talk to someone they trust and, if appropriate, to go to their GP. If you need help urgently and outside of GP hours, please go to your nearest A&E department.

Here at Boards.ie our moderators are not trained to support people experiencing difficulties. There are other organisations better positioned to provide specialised support. These organisations are listed below. We hope that you will follow these up so that you can get the help and support you need.

If you need immediate help:
Aware’s Support Line is open 7 days per week, 10am-10pm on 1800 80 48 48

The Samaritan’s phone line is open 24/7 on 116 123

Pieta offer one-to-one, face-to-face support. Click 'Contact us' to find the phone number and opening hours of your nearest branch on their site or email mary@pieta.ie for advice on getting an appointment.

If you need non-urgent help:
Aware have a support email service at supportmail@aware.ie

There are some other useful services that you can use also listed here.

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Comments

PMBC

When I become very anxious I become like a rabbit caught in the headlights and I cant get started into work stuff - it involves, numbers, writing and drawing and other stuff.
I find I get relief, as it allows me to take my mind off myself, by doing Sudoku. Strange! A crossword would probably suffice.

RabbleRouser2k

Graces7 wrote: »

I don't go with the anxiety/migraine connection - except that if you neglect to eg eat when you are anxious? Low blood sugar can cause or exacerbate.

Mine are "blessed" with severe vomiting. The last one saw me bringing up blood and being choppered hastily to hospital. As they say, in danger of a " catastrophic bleed" As in medical evacuation by Rescue118, my heroes!

There is better medication than there used to be. I can often divert it with Immigran Nasal Spray.

But we are all and each different - and we all and each agree that a bad migraine is a shade of hell on earth .

Possibly. I know there's every sort of thing that can happen with an anxiety attack.

PMBC

Thank you all for the replies.

Graces7

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

Last year, I was sufferings with some SERIOUS migraines. Took me a couple of days to recover from each one.
How much of that was tied into lockdown and stress I can kind of guess.
There may have been a few other factors too, but either way, the migraines were brutal.

Loud noises, bright lights, having to turn the TV down to very low levels because even the theme tunes of shows could drill into my brain.
(I would literally drop an object I was carrying to cover my ears.)

Then afterwards, I get really confused in the brain, trying to understand what people say. It's like 'I know that's English, but I can't understand anything you're saying. I'm really sorry'.

Only thing you can do is take a pain reliever tablet, and hydrate. Lots of water. Sometimes a lucozade or sports drink helps.

It is known that mental illness can have a direct relation on the physical wellbeing of the body. And anxiety, at it's worst, can cause all sorts of issues.

I don't go with the anxiety/migraine connection - except that if you neglect to eg eat when you are anxious? Low blood sugar can cause or exacerbate.

Mine are "blessed" with severe vomiting. The last one saw me bringing up blood and being choppered hastily to hospital. As they say, in danger of a " catastrophic bleed" As in medical evacuation by Rescue118, my heroes!

There is better medication than there used to be. I can often divert it with Immigran Nasal Spray.

But we are all and each different - and we all and each agree that a bad migraine is a shade of hell on earth .

Graces7

PMBC wrote: »

Anyone develop severe migraine as a result of anxiety?
Some of the stuff I read talks about anxiety as a result of migraine and that seems very logical. But any cases of the opposite?

Migraine triggers are varied and complex and indiviual. In my 50 years of them. Some are just out of the blue. Mine are sometimes lack of food ie blood sugar drops.
Many meds can cause them too.

More than anxiety too, RELIEF when anxiety ends can be a cause also .

So I don't think it is as simple as anxiety alone causing migraines. I went through massive traumas etc without a single migraine

Maybe anxiety contributes as we pay less attention to simple basic needs like rest and air and proper food.

I often wake with one - but that is probably my M.E related blood sugar problem.

Wanderer78

I'm kinna glad there was a move made on the AstraZeneca situation, my moods are definitely more unstable after it, and my fatigue is also worse

RabbleRouser2k

PMBC wrote: »

Anyone develop severe migraine as a result of anxiety?
Some of the stuff I read talks about anxiety as a result of migraine and that seems very logical. But any cases of the opposite?

Last year, I was sufferings with some SERIOUS migraines. Took me a couple of days to recover from each one.
How much of that was tied into lockdown and stress I can kind of guess.
There may have been a few other factors too, but either way, the migraines were brutal.

Loud noises, bright lights, having to turn the TV down to very low levels because even the theme tunes of shows could drill into my brain.
(I would literally drop an object I was carrying to cover my ears.)

Then afterwards, I get really confused in the brain, trying to understand what people say. It's like 'I know that's English, but I can't understand anything you're saying. I'm really sorry'.

Only thing you can do is take a pain reliever tablet, and hydrate. Lots of water. Sometimes a lucozade or sports drink helps.

It is known that mental illness can have a direct relation on the physical wellbeing of the body. And anxiety, at it's worst, can cause all sorts of issues.

sporina

Graces7 wrote: »

I honestly do not think this is bullying. It is FEAR. People are terrified of any mental or emotional illnesses.

Hence the " snap out of it." Or. as one dear lady who was prone to depression etc said, " " Why cant you Just behave NORMAL. like.. "

sorry I was talking about in the context of bullying in general.. not necessarily to someone who suffers from depression/anxiety.. maybe just a lack of self esteem in general..

Graces7

sporina wrote: »

unfortunately this can be true - bullies can sense a vulnerability in people.. and they get a buzz out of making them feel small - in an attempt to make themselves feel bigger..

not saying that this is the situation for jaxx though - sounds like he has lazy colleagues and possibly has to carry the can for them

I honestly do not think this is bullying. It is FEAR. People are terrified of any mental or emotional illnesses.

Hence the " snap out of it." Or. as one dear lady who was prone to depression etc said, " " Why cant you Just behave NORMAL. like.. "

Drumpot

PMBC wrote: »

Anyone develop severe migraine as a result of anxiety?
Some of the stuff I read talks about anxiety as a result of migraine and that seems very logical. But any cases of the opposite?

Yep.

One thing I’m only learning now with Migraines, is that The symptoms are extremely extensive. I can have a migraine with no real headache. Here’s a list of things I’ve recorded in migraine buddy (that others record):

- fatigue
- low mood
- irritability
- sensitive to light/sound/touch
- brain fog, hard to concentrate
- blurry vision
- eye strain
- nausea
- tinnitus
- upset stomach
- anxiety
- pain in head
- frequent urination
- extreme hunger

I’ve had all these symptoms rotating since 15th March. This is probably my longest running migraine. The insidious nature of it is that some days I may only get some of these symptoms in a mild manner that can make you think it’s all grand.

I’ve spent decades on mental health and sleep issue solutions. I’ve know since a teenager that I get migraines but only recently to the degree they are having on my life. A lot of the symptoms above can be treated as anxiety but I think migraines may be playing a bigger role then I had realised.

I’m also exploring ADHD, which is very misunderstood from what I’m reading and probably not as straight forward as the majority of people believe.

As far as I am concerned I’m turning over every stone I can to figure out why life can feel so hard some days and easy on others. The difference of 24 hours can be like like going from winning the lottery to losing your family. I work hard on my mental health so it’s not for Want of trying.

apache

apache wrote: »

Anybody ever been prescribed Buspar for anxiety and did it help?

Also called Buspirone. It's unfortunately not covered under DPS so it costs about €50 extra a month while still spending €114 a month.

I got a months supply anyway to try it. Not sure what to do. I've spent my money on worse things.

Wanderer78

PMBC wrote: »

Anyone develop severe migraine as a result of anxiety?
Some of the stuff I read talks about anxiety as a result of migraine and that seems very logical. But any cases of the opposite?

i think nearly anything is possible from anxiety, stress your mind enough, and weird sh1t happens, im fairly sure i experience sinus related issues due to anxiety

PMBC

Anyone develop severe migraine as a result of anxiety?
Some of the stuff I read talks about anxiety as a result of migraine and that seems very logical. But any cases of the opposite?

Wanderer78

Bartybull wrote:

Need some help. My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer last June. With the lockdown etc she hasn't left the house in over a year due to a combination of physical illness and mental illness. This has taken a severe toll on her. Always a happy socially active woman, Unfortunately she has been diagnosed with a severe case of clinical depression. It should have been dealt with earlier but it was hard to spot given her physical illness. What started as anxiety about lots of things has spiraled out of control to the point where she had paranoia, delusions of being watched, became very suspicious of some of her loved ones and a belief that all her appliances were broken and dangerous, bank accounts compromised. Etc Thankfully she is now getting help and it on a low dose tablet for anxiety and a tablet for psychosis. A couple of questions for those who may have had symptoms like these before if that's okay.

This is an incredible difficult situation for you and your family, I'm sorry I don't have much advice, but my father died of cancer many years ago, he to became very depressed during his illness, refusing to take anti-depressants, he was also prone to it and anxiety. it was deeply upsetting to watch him deteriorate, and the fact both of us had undiagnosed autism, made it even more difficult. Please look after your own well being, consider counselling for yourself, I don't know how we got through it as a family, without someone ending up in hospital with a breakdown, without a doubt the most painful and stressful period of my life, best of luck

RabbleRouser2k

Bartybull wrote: »

Need some help.
My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer last June. With the lockdown etc she hasn't left the house in over a year due to a combination of physical illness and mental illness. This has taken a severe toll on her. Always a happy socially active woman, Unfortunately she has been diagnosed with a severe case of clinical depression. It should have been dealt with earlier but it was hard to spot given her physical illness. What started as anxiety about lots of things has spiraled out of control to the point where she had paranoia, delusions of being watched, became very suspicious of some of her loved ones and a belief that all her appliances were broken and dangerous, bank accounts compromised. Etc
Thankfully she is now getting help and it on a low dose tablet for anxiety and a tablet for psychosis.
A couple of questions for those who may have had symptoms like these before if that's okay.

I find it difficult to persuade her to take her medication as prescribed. She often complains that she has stomach issues and feels like nothing is real on this medication. I would have thought they would ease those symptoms and not cause them. Are these just excuses not to take them because I know she doesn't believe they will help her? I just want to see her get some relief from the torment she is showing lately

As a family we take it in turns to spend nights in her house. She has a new set of worries/paranoid delusions every night that are completely irrational. I am able to ease her mind about some of these worries, prove they are okay but she has had angry outbursts at other times when I didn't verify what she was worried about. Any thoughts on how best to deal with this? If I agree with her I am only feeding her worry with a lie for an easy life. If I disagree it can lead to her becoming very upset and panicky.
The doctor told us the tablets should take about 6 weeks to have an effect and she has showed sighs of improvement from psychosis but she is still very down and can be very anxious.
Any suggestions are welcome.

Hi Bartybull,

The difficulty with your mum's condition is that cancer can play havoc with pretty much everything in your body.
My father was diagnosed with terminal cancer many years ago, succumbing to the disease 12 months after his diagnosis.
It messed with his mind also, often giving him erratic moods. He was suffering from seizures too, and every seizure left him confused afterwards.
Sometimes he would get upset and panicked too.

The medication takes time to work-it can take 6 to 8 weeks for the meds to start to take hold. Your mum's condition may affect this, I don't know-I'm not a medical expert.

I know the situation you're in is very difficult. It's easier said than done, but patience with your mother is important. She's in a very difficult situation right now, and her condition may exacerbate her mental health.

If needs be, you may need to discuss some of these things with her doctor. Often, with terminal diagnosis, there's this feeling of wanting to get 'everything done' before passing.

Bartybull

Need some help.
My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer last June. With the lockdown etc she hasn't left the house in over a year due to a combination of physical illness and mental illness. This has taken a severe toll on her. Always a happy socially active woman, Unfortunately she has been diagnosed with a severe case of clinical depression. It should have been dealt with earlier but it was hard to spot given her physical illness. What started as anxiety about lots of things has spiraled out of control to the point where she had paranoia, delusions of being watched, became very suspicious of some of her loved ones and a belief that all her appliances were broken and dangerous, bank accounts compromised. Etc
Thankfully she is now getting help and it on a low dose tablet for anxiety and a tablet for psychosis.
A couple of questions for those who may have had symptoms like these before if that's okay.

I find it difficult to persuade her to take her medication as prescribed. She often complains that she has stomach issues and feels like nothing is real on this medication. I would have thought they would ease those symptoms and not cause them. Are these just excuses not to take them because I know she doesn't believe they will help her? I just want to see her get some relief from the torment she is showing lately

As a family we take it in turns to spend nights in her house. She has a new set of worries/paranoid delusions every night that are completely irrational. I am able to ease her mind about some of these worries, prove they are okay but she has had angry outbursts at other times when I didn't verify what she was worried about. Any thoughts on how best to deal with this? If I agree with her I am only feeding her worry with a lie for an easy life. If I disagree it can lead to her becoming very upset and panicky.
The doctor told us the tablets should take about 6 weeks to have an effect and she has showed sighs of improvement from psychosis but she is still very down and can be very anxious.
Any suggestions are welcome.

Airyfairy12

Dogmum89 wrote: »

Really struggling with sleep at the minute. Previously I would fall asleep no problem and then wake in the middle of the night for a couple of hours and fall asleep again. Lately Its physically trying to fall asleep is the issue. It was after 3am before I fell asleep last night and I was awake again before 8am. Its like a vicious circle, when my sleep cycle isnt good my anxiety and depression seem worse. I think Ive developed ocd now as well, hair pulling has become a new ritual and I now have a small patch of missing hair, which is making me anxious of what people are thinking when they see it.

Sorry to hear this, im experiencing the very same thing with my sleep cycle, it was after 3am last night that I fell asleep and I also woke up just before 8am. Im awake but feeling mentally drained and lethargic. Its been like this now for weeks & it's beyond annoying. If you find any solutions please leave an update.

Dogmum89

Really struggling with sleep at the minute. Previously I would fall asleep no problem and then wake in the middle of the night for a couple of hours and fall asleep again. Lately Its physically trying to fall asleep is the issue. It was after 3am before I fell asleep last night and I was awake again before 8am. Its like a vicious circle, when my sleep cycle isnt good my anxiety and depression seem worse. I think Ive developed ocd now as well, hair pulling has become a new ritual and I now have a small patch of missing hair, which is making me anxious of what people are thinking when they see it.

RabbleRouser2k

Sleep's gone to s**t this week. Been waking at 2 am, some mornings-then sleeping 20 hours the next day.

Gremlinertia

One More Toy wrote: »

Now counting down the minutes until work finishes

If someone told me this was the circle of life when i was a kid i would have stayed a kid forever!

One More Toy

Now counting down the minutes until work finishes

Wanderer78

One More Toy wrote:

Counting down the minutes until I've to get out of bed

I've started covering over my clock so I'm not clock watching, think it's working

One More Toy

Counting down the minutes until I've to get out of bed

sporina

Meeoow wrote: »

I'm beginning to feel that way myself. When people sense that you have anxiety and depression, they can chip away at you till they break you.

unfortunately this can be true - bullies can sense a vulnerability in people.. and they get a buzz out of making them feel small - in an attempt to make themselves feel bigger..

not saying that this is the situation for jaxx though - sounds like he has lazy colleagues and possibly has to carry the can for them

Graces7

Meeoow wrote: »

I'm beginning to feel that way myself. When people sense that you have anxiety and depression, they can chip away at you till they break you.

They are scared. Makes them feel...vulnerable. Took me years to see that. Also they feel you need to …...get over it! YOU know?

Much the same with M.E which if course is AITM so I hide away happily. Folk only see me when I am well enough to seem well.

Meeoow

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I had to leave a job a few years ago, it was having serious negative effects on my well being, it wasn't an easy decision, as it was a step into the unknown, but I'm really glad I did, it was an extremely toxic environment for me, but the right decision, be well

I'm beginning to feel that way myself. When people sense that you have anxiety and depression, they can chip away at you till they break you.

Wanderer78

jaxxx wrote:

What to do when you're in a job you absolutely loathe. Not so much the job itself, i.e. the daily tasks, but more so the hours, the nights, the absolute lazy buffoons you call your colleagues when your dog could be more competent than them. Location wise? Perfect, 20 minutes by the time I leave the door until I sit at me desk. Very good pay and job security. But the cons weigh far more than the pros. Affecting how I eat, how I sleep. Quality of life takes a heavy hit.

I had to leave a job a few years ago, it was having serious negative effects on my well being, it wasn't an easy decision, as it was a step into the unknown, but I'm really glad I did, it was an extremely toxic environment for me, but the right decision, be well

jaxxx

What to do when you're in a job you absolutely loathe. Not so much the job itself, i.e. the daily tasks, but more so the hours, the nights, the absolute lazy buffoons you call your colleagues when your dog could be more competent than them. Location wise? Perfect, 20 minutes by the time I leave the door until I sit at me desk. Very good pay and job security. But the cons weigh far more than the pros. Affecting how I eat, how I sleep. Quality of life takes a heavy hit.

Be good everyone. No, don't be good. Be well. Be WELL.

apache

Anybody ever been prescribed Buspar for anxiety and did it help?

Airyfairy12

PMBC wrote: »

Anyone know how Brintellix 10mg would relate to the severity of anxiety i.e. if you were severely anxious would it be 10 mg, 15 mg or 20 mg that would be prescribed.
I appreciate that it is very difficult to say what is severe and what is mild for these illnesses.
Thanks and wishing everyone good health and happy days in these trying times.

Im on Brintellix for anxiety & im on 15mg but that was my choice to move up to that amount, I requested a higher dose.
Your doctor is unlikely to prescribe you 15 or 20, they'll likely start you off on 5 or 10 and see how you get on, they might move you up a dose if you request it & depending on how you feel but it can take 6 - 8 weeks for a dose to settle so you'd probably be giving it a month atleast on each dose before moving up.
I dont mean to give medical advice, I hope my reply doesnt come across that way, what im trying to say is no one here can give you an answer as your experience could be different to someone elses.
Everyone is different, some people with sever anxiety feel that 10 mg is enough for them, some people feel that Brintellix doesn't help their anxiety at all, some people need take this with other meds to help their anxiety. Its subjective I think. If you think a dose is working well for you, keep going with it, if your doctor advises.