Anxiety and depression thread (Please read OP)

Ron86

I honestly haven't got through all these replies, but I do know where people with anxiety are coming from.

Anxiety can be moderate, low or very heavy and then it needs to be treated as such, especially when it is combined with depression. Personally, I wouldn't go on antidepressants, just due to their adverse reactions. Not just yet, at least.

Anxiety (and depression as well), is often a result of a lack of some of the brain hormones or other essential chemical substances - some people have lack in serotonin, some others have lack in Dopamine, some others lack the associated endorphines and as a result, anxiety is sending all these signals.

*modsnip*

Turtle_

I spent almost 12 months on lexapro with no improvement. A few months on sertraline made a big difference. So did the cbt. I think that made the biggest difference.

Unfortunately I seem to be rightly slipping back into old ways. Lump of anxiety in my throat lately.

Hugo Stiglitz

Turtle_ wrote: »

I spent almost 12 months on lexapro with no improvement. A few months on sertraline made a big difference. So did the cbt. I think that made the biggest difference.

Unfortunately I seem to be rightly slipping back into old ways. Lump of anxiety in my throat lately.

Hopefully it's just a temporary dip there, T.

Turtle_

Hugo Stiglitz wrote: »

Hopefully it's just a temporary dip there, T.

Thanks Hugo. Suspect it's the new normal. At least I seem to have a better network of friends around me than 2 years ago. They'll pull me along with them.

Hugo Stiglitz

Turtle_ wrote: »

Thanks Hugo. Suspect it's the new normal. At least I seem to have a better network of friends around me than 2 years ago. They'll pull me along with them.

That's hugely important!

Hugo Stiglitz

Hugo Stiglitz wrote: »

That's hugely important!

Something that is largely missing here unfortunately.

Turtle_

Hugo Stiglitz wrote: »

Something that is largely missing here unfortunately.

Sorry to hear that Hugo. It's difficult, I spent a long time very lonely.

Hugo Stiglitz

Turtle_ wrote: »

Sorry to hear that Hugo. It's difficult, I spent a long time very lonely.

I isolated myself for years due to the depression. Whenever I try to break out and connect with people, I come off too desperate I fear. It's funny in a way though, I'm so set in my ways now that anything outside of my comfort zone stresses me out greatly, yet the loneliness of being stuck in my comfort zone only serves to make my low moods increasingly worse. Either becoming content in my own company or mastering the art of making friends would improve my situation. At the moment, I'm mediocre at the very best in both regards.

trixychic

Not compshottely related but I'm livid with a little sh!t whos causing mayhem for my 7yr old (aspergers and sensory disorder). I've a feeling anxieities will be on the rise in the foreseeable future.

carzony

Hi all,

Done a very stupid thing tonight.

I'm back in work on Thursday after 2 weeks off. I always feel very nervous going back to work after a long break. I decided to take the edge off and take a beta blocker but, now my whole body has gone numb and I feel very, very strange.

First time in over a year i've resorted to any medication.

Turtle_

Decided I'm going back to therapy. Just need to figure out where. Don't think I need more CBT, think I need more to deal with longer running issues.

Gremlinertia

carzony wrote: »

Hi all,

Done a very stupid thing tonight.

I'm back in work on Thursday after 2 weeks off. I always feel very nervous going back to work after a long break. I decided to take the edge off and take a beta blocker but, now my whole body has gone numb and I feel very, very strange.

First time in over a year i've resorted to any medication.

Tomorrow is a new day, shower in the morning and wash the whole thing off if you can at all. We'll always be here for chat and/or moral support. Take care..

Gremlinertia

Turtle_ wrote: »

Decided I'm going back to therapy. Just need to figure out where. Don't think I need more CBT, think I need more to deal with longer running issues.

Nice one, despite years of disbelieving talk therapy i finally went and it did a lot for me, things i still feel and use to this day. Fingers crossed for you

mickstupp

Mad anxiety lately. My friends have been good company but the commute is hard. Last night, head wrecked, I was suddenly distracted getting on the bus. Lady driver, very cute. My friend who'd been keeping me company by texts the whole way suggested when I got off the bus I should give the driver my number and say if she's free maybe a coffee, that sort of thing. Naturally I chickened out. Because intrusive thoughts always kick you in the face when you least need them. I had just about resolved to do it, wrote my name and number on a piece of paper, and my head said 'What are you playing at you fat piece of crap?'

Thanks brain. Thanks.

Putting on weight due to medication is something that I think really can interfere with a recovery sometimes.

So because I was already feeling crap I went and got a Macari's, because why the feck not at that point. Vicious circle, knew I was doing it, still did it.

Hugo Stiglitz

mickstupp wrote: »

Mad anxiety lately. My friends have been good company but the commute is hard. Last night, head wrecked, I was suddenly distracted getting on the bus. Lady driver, very cute. My friend who'd been keeping me company by texts the whole way suggested when I got off the bus I should give the driver my number and say if she's free maybe a coffee, that sort of thing. Naturally I chickened out. Because intrusive thoughts always kick you in the face when you least need them. I had just about resolved to do it, wrote my name and number on a piece of paper, and my head said 'What are you playing at you fat piece of crap?'

Thanks brain. Thanks.

Putting on weight due to medication is something that I think really can interfere with a recovery sometimes.

So because I was already feeling crap I went and got a Macari's, because why the feck not at that point. Vicious circle, knew I was doing it, still did it.

I can relate to that so much, Mick.

Don't beat yourself up there. This is a hard thing to battle. I'm guilty of using junk food for comfort too.

The negative thoughts about self-image are so hard to fight against. In my own case here, I absolutely believe them. Rationally I know that they're nasty intrusions, but another part of me has it ingrained in me that it's the truth: I'm fat, I'm ugly, leagues exist, you're boring etc etc.

Muldoon27

Hi,
I just got a suggestion for a medication change, for anxiety - risperidone. Does anybody have any experiences to report, benefits, and, importantly, side effects?

Thanks

Gremlinertia

Today i will make tea, shower and do just a little about the house. Hopefully. Head feels terribly heavy today.

Graces7

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Today i will make tea, shower and do just a little about the house. Hopefully. Head feels terribly heavy today.

In tune with thee... So little sleep last night with the storm and after doing eg walking far too much when I was out. Noise and the physical pain..sleepwalkingzombie day.... done essentials and about to make food and close down and hibernate. reading and knitting and trying to keep warm... we live to fight or rest another day...

mg1982

Muldoon27 wrote: »

Hi,
I just got a suggestion for a medication change, for anxiety - risperidone. Does anybody have any experiences to report, benefits, and, importantly, side effects?

Thanks

I was on a drug called paliperidone for a month which is a close relation of resperidone a few years back. I found it caused a bit of restlessness and difficulty getting to sleep for me and also my sex drive was much lower. The benifits were more stable mood and a bit clearer thinking. I couldnt handle the side effects though so i tried another drug but everyone is different. Hope it works out for you.

trixychic

Sitting on the couch in my jammies... one of those "I can't even..." days.

Trebor176

mickstupp wrote: »

Mad anxiety lately. My friends have been good company but the commute is hard. Last night, head wrecked, I was suddenly distracted getting on the bus. Lady driver, very cute. My friend who'd been keeping me company by texts the whole way suggested when I got off the bus I should give the driver my number and say if she's free maybe a coffee, that sort of thing. Naturally I chickened out. Because intrusive thoughts always kick you in the face when you least need them. I had just about resolved to do it, wrote my name and number on a piece of paper, and my head said 'What are you playing at you fat piece of crap?'

Thanks brain. Thanks.

Putting on weight due to medication is something that I think really can interfere with a recovery sometimes.

So because I was already feeling crap I went and got a Macari's, because why the feck not at that point. Vicious circle, knew I was doing it, still did it.

If you use that route regularly, I'm sure the same driver will make another appearance at some point. I've got a hottie lady driver on my local routes at times, and once or twice on others. She's not a regular, but she still appears now and then. Maybe we have our eyes on the same woman :P Keep positive and I'm sure your driver will appear again

B00!

C-PTSD... I don't even wanna know.

Gremlinertia

B00! wrote: »

C-PTSD... I don't even wanna know.

Sometimes naming the beast is a relief, sometimes it's even more distressing, at least to begin with..

Hugo Stiglitz

B00! wrote: »

C-PTSD... I don't even wanna know.

Poor B00

Mind yourself Boo. It is difficult and painful to endure but remember you are far more than your experiences. You are you

B00!

Thanks everyone (very kind of you).

B00!

My anxious curiosity got the best of me and I finally read the net descript of C-PTSD. Not all of it applies to me (can't imagine being imprisoned or kidnapped - wow!), but I could relate to some long-term aspects and my learned resultant behaviours - it sure explains a lot... especially why I draw some conclusions (they even used the exact wording my mind generally goes to - which stunned me). Also helped me understand where my coping skills stem from, and why I react the way I do.

Also good to know it isn't just me, or who I am (like a defect I always equated with simply being me). In the nature v nurture game, it's good to see the 'nurture' part played a strong role in swaying the 'nature' part, as opposed to the opposite... and I don't have to accept (or take inward) ALL of the worlds blame and shame anymore. But taking responsibility for changing my mindset will make life a whole lot easier! (living on high alert and hyper vigilance isn't a pleasant way to survive).

B00!

B00! wrote: »

My anxious curiosity got the best of me and I finally read the net descript of C-PTSD. Not all of it applies to me (can't imagine being imprisoned or kidnapped - wow!), but I could relate to some long-term aspects and my learned resultant behaviours - it sure explains a lot... especially why I draw some conclusions (they even used the exact wording my mind generally goes to - which stunned me). Also helped me understand where my coping skills stem from, and why I react the way I do.

Also good to know it isn't just me, or who I am (like a defect I always equated with simply being me). In the nature v nurture game, it's good to see the 'nurture' part played a strong role in swaying the 'nature' part, as opposed to the opposite... and I don't have to accept (or take inward) ALL of the worlds blame and shame anymore. But taking responsibility for changing my mindset will make life a whole lot easier! (living on high alert and hyper vigilance isn't a pleasant way to survive).

I'm on my phone Boo so I can't send you any links but if you google Pat Ogden you might find some interesting insights. She specialises in trauma. Also Babette Rothschild is another one.
I have a few infographics on complex trauma which are also useful. They are saved to my pinterest but I'm sure Google will point you in their direction.

Remember knowledge is power

Turtle_

So work has become incredibly difficult. I spent the day on the brink of tears. I just wasn't up to it today. At some HR level work are aware (year gap while I went off to be "cured") but nobody on my team knows. I was on the verge of going up to my manager and asking if I could go home. The only reason I didn't was because I had stuff to do this evening so even if I went home I'd have to go back out, and if I went home I'd have to explain why I was home..

In some ways it was good to stay. The day wasn't AS horrible as I expected. But in other ways I wanted to hide in bed and do nothing. I'm just really tired and stressed which is making it soooo much harder to cope. I have also been completely unable to decide on what to do about some counselling. I found one place that looks good. Problem is that getting to it means going past a place that really doesn't hold good memories for me. And it's expensive. Life is just really difficult.

weirdspider

Turtle_ wrote: »

So work has become incredibly difficult. I spent the day on the brink of tears. I just wasn't up to it today. At some HR level work are aware (year gap while I went off to be "cured") but nobody on my team knows. I was on the verge of going up to my manager and asking if I could go home. The only reason I didn't was because I had stuff to do this evening so even if I went home I'd have to go back out, and if I went home I'd have to explain why I was home..

In some ways it was good to stay. The day wasn't AS horrible as I expected. But in other ways I wanted to hide in bed and do nothing. I'm just really tired and stressed which is making it soooo much harder to cope. I have also been completely unable to decide on what to do about some counselling. I found one place that looks good. Problem is that getting to it means going past a place that really doesn't hold good memories for me. And it's expensive. Life is just really difficult.

Trying to hold it together in a professional work environment where people have high expectations is one of the biggest challenges of having a mental illness.
I work with the public and there are times I had to keep a steady conversation going about serious things while tears were coming out of my eyes. Extremely difficult situation and I understand what you are going through. Dealing with people, be it co-workers or members of the public, while in that situation is absolutely gut-wrenching.
Hope you get sorted Turtle. I tried counselling, didn't help much (neither is my medication) but may work for you. Worth a shot.