Been on 20mg for the best part of 8 weeks now and although the side effects have pretty much gone I’m just can’t get the circling thoughts out of my head. I am constantly thinking about my anxiety / panic and even when I don’t have it I keep thinking / waiting for it to start again. Do you think I need a dose increase? I was hoping since posting 2 weeks ago I would be feeling the effects more than I am
I still do that and Im seven months in. I tried a dose increase and it didnt help. I only felt more drugged up. Are you exercising? Getting out and staying distracted is the only real thing that helps me. Some days thats easier said than done. Id give it three months before changing anything. I do have better days, but the days you describe still happen often. I feel for you!
Hey John I know how u feel I upped my dosage of citalopram to 40mgs bout 6-7 weeks ago now an over the last 1-2 weeks felt really good could do anything but since yesterday an today my anxiety has come back a little bit an some what my depression but I’m the same when I’m busy I hardly think about my anxiety or depression but in the back of my mind I do get scared when will I get anxious or panicky again.. So I’m in the same boat I think all I could say is try it best not to think that way an focus on the hear an now an with it medication speak to ur doctors an see what he recommends thing is when u up ur dose u start all over again an with me for the first 2 -3 weeks of start my high dose my anxiety went threw the roof an depression but it will calm down they say it can take 4-6 weeks to feel the benefits an he has to get worse before getting better!! so good luck hun!!
hi John , i haven’t been on this forum for nearly 2yrs , and it really helped me , i was on 20 mg for 2 yr I was fantastic , but Christmas time it stopped working for me and i went down hill so changed meds , im doing ok but still not 100% but im plodding on as you do, i really hope your anxiety improves big hugs xx
hi john
sorry to hear your struggling at the moment ! please dont up your dose ! not yet !
you will recover i know the circling thoughts are horrible i still get them too but i am well enough to ignore them ! please believe me when i tell you that 8 weeks is still early ! give yourself another 8 weeks and you will be feeling better than you do now ! i dont know a home who was more ill than me and im getting better trust me you will get better x
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John
It can take many months before you feel truly anxiety and thought free - took me 6 months on 20mg. 8 weeks is pretty early still. Take heart, it sounds like things are moving along the right lines for you.
Circling thoughts / intrusive thoughts - they are a side effect of anxiety. Anxiety makes your mind over-think as it tries to make sense of whats happening to you as it tries to fix things, but all you end up doing is over-think, digging yourself in deeper. Understand that these thoughts are only present because you have anxiety, and they will go as the anxiety eases, and though you say the anxiety has pretty much gone you still have the thoughts. That’s perfectly normal - not all side effects disappear at the same time, so just give it more time and you’ll find (probably without even realising it) that your thoughts will start to turn outwards into the world instead of thinking inwards constantly.
Don’t be to surprised if your anxiety spikes up again - that’s perfectly normal too throughout recovery. It usually comes and goes in waves and often we think its gone … only for it to return. Doesn’t mean you’re ill again - its just part of the recovery process.
The thoughts will come and go too, usually along with the anxiety.
You will go through this same process whatever dose you’re on - increasing won’t remedy it. You just have to be very patient, try and relax when the anxiety and thoughts spike - they will pass. Just keep on going throughout whatever is thrown at you - remember it can be many months.
The wait is worth it.
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hi there
excuse me for jumping in, i was on 20 mg for 5 months & i felt to high, dropped to 15 mg & been 11 weeks, so far so good apart from today, had busy day at work and gradually felt myself slipping into anxiety, feel awful at minute, thought id seen the last of those horrible days!
reading this has helped me
thanks kate
Hi Rob
Yes different doses suit different people - glad you found one that suits you.
Yes the anxiety will come back time after time - you start feeling better and think yes, its gone, I’ve beaten it … and a few days or weeks later it comes back making you think you’re ill again. You’re not - its just that it never went away really, just that it was taking a break. The returns are setbacks or blips, and they’ll happen time after time all through recovery, usually getting less intense as time passes. However, sometimes one might feel much worse even when you think you’ve recovered - it can happen.
Just go with the flow, let the anxiety come and go, let it be there and don’t try stopping it. Relax with it and work with it there. It will go.
It takes much longer than you think - but you’ll get there.
K x
hi kate,
your comments always make me feel better. however, i did expect the dips to be less severe for me by now at 7 months in. its hard not to feel like its going to be these major ups and downs forever. pressing on…
Hi John, posted similar post to yours. Nearly 6 weeks on 10mg of citalopram for intrusive thoughts due to zopiclone withdrawal. Like you getting despondent that things aren’t improving any quicker. I do get the occasional not too bad day , but get really scared be stuck in this loop forever. How are you, you aren’t alone in feeling like this. The question of whether to increase dose is a tricky one!
I’m not doing too bad to be fair. I’ve just got back from a week in Spain and I think the tablets are helping more than I realise. When we got to airport I started to feel anxious (I’m not scared of flying by the way) and tingles in my arms and fingers which is usually a sign I’m going to have a panic attack. I was however able to bring myself down and stop it progressing to that stage. On the way home I was totally fine. For me my anxiety is caused by busy places and eating infront of other people. It all stems from my first panic attack out of nowhere as that’s what situation I was in. The holiday was helpful as we were eating out every day and night so I couldn’t refuse to do it like I do at home. I do believe the tablets are working for me, I was just hoping I would be free from the anxiety by now but as Kate says it’s early days still.
That’s good to hear you have been able to get away sounds like you are making real progress. I have real fear being around people and what I might have done, haven’t managed to get away apart from a couple of days this year and cancelled several holidays so well done to you. Have booked a weekend break in couple weeks so will see how that goes. Haven’t been able to drive for few weeks but hoping eventually will be able to do it again. Hoping meds eventually kick in think fact I’m dealing with withdrawal doesn’t help. But glad things improving for you!
Hi Laura
Dips generally lessen over time, but never underestimate the power of anxiety as it can catch you out occasionally. Sometimes even when you think you’re through the worst and you’ve had a long time feeling good, a bad anxiety dip can suddenly loom out of nowhere … I often think though that we become used to feeling well and the sudden spike in anxiety isn’t any different in intensity as you’ve had before - just that you’ve forgotten what it feels like. Also we have to remember that when we have anxiety, your body is also physically overtired and it needs to heal. As we start to recover and begin to do more things, we underestimate how tired our bodies actually are and start to pick up the pace again as we used to live. Your body physically isn’t ready and often I think it grumbles at you with an anxiety spike. Remember what it feels like when we’re getting over flu - we’re still a bit weak and tired and have to pace ourselves…
Everyone also thinks the same - when you’re in the midst of anxiety you can only think negatively and can’t see your way forward. That’s perfectly normal and anxiety is just clouding your judgement. An anxious mind produces anxious / negative thoughts … and a calm mind produces calm / positive thoughts.
K x
Does anybody else feel like their eyes can’t keep up with their brain? Almost a drunk sensation. I had it, it went and now its come back
hi john
yeh mate, its like theres a delay , ive exsperienced this & its weird, like a drunk feeling
i just keep my head down & try to plough through!!!
It’s the most annoying part I find as I can’t switch off from it. It’s like I look at something and can’t focus. I try to explain to people but they just don’t get it. It’s just very disheartening as it went and now its come back!
its a tiny side effect of the cit.it will subside .i had it for a few months in the Beginning stages.best regards
thanks for reply kate
fab as usual
many thanks
hey laura
how are you?
ive not heard from you in such a while
hope your feeling better & the good days are on there way
rob x
Hi Rob! Im doing pretty well! Ive been out of town several times this month, so Ive had a lot of good distractions! Trying to stay busy. If I slow down, thats when the anxiety hits.
How are you??? I hope well!