Hi Everyone.
Day 7 on celxa and still anxious. Alot of the side effects are diminishing, but not getting much sleep and having trouble keeping busy. \i'm at home and it's quiet. Hard to focus on things. Any suggestions\?
Thanks,
linda
Hang on in there Linda. I didn't have any improvement till day 15, only more anxiety. I am now in my 3rd week and feeling so much better. You will too.
Hi linda
the dr prescribed short term sleeping pills to get me over the hump. I took them for about a week, only until I could fall asleep on my own. I also went to my naturopath and got l- theanine which really helped as well. You can take this with the celexa. I found a huge improvement at about 15 days as well.
Hi armelle,
Thanks for the kind words. How anxious were you to begin with?
Best,
Linda
I have just been prescribed escitalopram but have long term insomnia. My doctor has advised taking the dose first thing in the morning, to minimise or avoid any impact on my already poor sleep.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for responding - it's so nice to hear from people in the same situation. How long have you been on celexa? I have zoplicone for sleep, but it only gives me a few hours at a time - wake up tense and panicked.
Linda
Very. I kept having panic attacks and I was physically sick, sweaty with weakness in my legs. I thought I had some terrible illness. I was like that 2 years ago after the flu and it lasted a few months, got better in the end. This time, it started again after a urine infection which never got any better. It looks as if I have health anxiety. I feel so well now compared to 3 weeks ago when I fainted at the gp's surgery. I was taken to hospital but nothing was wrong. So embarassing!! Only then did I listen to the doctors and started taking Celexa. If only I'd taken them sooner.
Hi Linda,
Like you I suffer severe anxiety, it took at least 3 weeks before Cit started to work. I was in a really dark place and felt like life or nothing really mattered. But support and encouragement from people on this forum helped save me. I'm in my 3rd month and it's been quite a journey, but I can honestly say it's worth the wait. You'll have the occasional bad day, where you will go down hill but hang in there and as each day passes it will get better.
Please don't give up, and stay strong
I know exactly how you feel and what you are going through. You are not alone. It is still early days and give Cit a chance for it to get in your system and work.
I know it's hard but a good routine will help ie Exercise, reading, eating healthy etc
Do you have anyone to talk to, that might help also.
I still have trouble sleeping (insomnia) which is a common side effect. People may not agree with this but I take Sleepeaze 25mg from boots and 5 mls of Piriton and I sleep like a baby.
It's probably not recommended but I hated only having 1-2hrs sleep a night and feeling like a zombie the next day.
Anyway keep us updated and hang in there.
If you are not sure, go see your GP and seek advice.
Good luck,
Regards
Marcel 😀
For me, talking to someone, not necessarily about how I was feeling, just anything, helped to take my mind off anxious thoughts when I was at my most anxious. Also, I found yoga really good as your mind has to concentrate on the breathing/doing the stretch properly. It makes me start to yawn straight away when I start. The same with meditation. I'm sure you could look up some guided meditation on Youtube
Another thing I do is organising things/cleaning. I have been organising photos, making a scrapbook, stuff like that. It's good to focus your mind on something productive.
Listening to nice calming music when you're anxious is really good too e.g. Claire de la Lune, a lot of tracks by Yann Tiersen, Cavalleria Rusticana, The Swan, Debussy's stuff, all really nice calming stuff. Ennio Morricone and Ludovico Einaudi are good too
Most important thing is to remember that the tablets will start working soon and the side effects will be gone soon too.
Hang on in there! We're rooting for you!
anonymousgirl xx
Hi Marcel,
THANK YOU for the calming words. You have no idea how much you comments are helping. It's kind of you to take the time to be so supportive. I'm doing my best to get through this. The most difficult thing is that I have trouble doing the things I like to do best - no concentration to read, watch t.v or do crosswords. Still attempting all though hoping they will become enjoyable again as time passes. I am walking every evening and trying to keep the garden from turning into a jungle. Social stuff is really tuff, but I have been managing to get in to work 1/2 days. Getting through this stuff is alot of work!!!
Best,
Linda
Hi Anonymousgirl,
Thank you for your support!!!! You gave me some very useful advice. I've been having trouble focussing and I think I might spend some time putting my house back into some semblance of order - I've certainly let things slide over the past month or two. When you are down and anxious, it's hard to want to do things, but I'm going to get moving right after I finish typing this. As for music, unfortunately, I find it hard to listen to when I am anxious - it feels sad - and Claire de la lune and The Swan are favourites of mine. Ah well, life goes on.
Take care,
Linda
Happy to help Linda as I know how you feel!
I know it can be difficult to motivate yourself to do things but pick something easy even just that you enjoy and you will feel better having done at least one thing in the day rather than nothing! Just don't put too much pressure on yourself to do too much.
A tip a counsellor gave me for when I'm feeling really anxious to bring myself back to the present moment is just to say "I'm here.", I have found it really helpful since I started. Sometimes I also say what I'm doing to help me focus on the one thing or just say "I'm ok" or whatever helps.
Also breathing tricks can be really handy, you can try a 4 counts in, 2 counts hold, 6 counts exhale. If that's too difficult when you're really anxious another good one is in for 1, out for 1, in for 2, out for 2 and so on up to 5
Hope these tips help too!
Keep in touch and let us know how you get on!
anonymousgirl x
Hi Linda,
Glad to help and support you anyway we can. Yes it is hard to get motivated, and get through all of this, however your doing all the right things by keeping busy etc.Hang in there.
As Anonymous girls says, just talking about anything may help too.
Fingers crossed the Cit starts working soon, just a little more time and you will get your life on track in no time
Take care and keep us update
Regards
Marcel 😀
Hi again Marcel,
Nice to hear from you this morning - I am in Canada, by the way. Feeling slightly better today. Had an anxious evening last night - am trying to be positive today. Sat outside for an hour and did some crosswords - it's a beautiful day here. I'm going to go to the department store to pick up a few items. Usually, I really like to shop so I'm going to try and keep that frame of mind and not let the anxiety stop me from doing something I usually enjoy. How are you doing today? I hope you are feeling more your old self.
Best,
Linda
Hi Anonymousgirl,
Guess what - I cleaned a closet. Yay. Still stressed out, but feel better knowing accomplished something. Hope you are well.
Best,
Linda
Hi Linda,
Glad you are feeling better
Jealous your having nice weather, crap here in the UK although it looks like it will be a sunny day today yay. Canada, a place I'd love to visit one day, I hear some parts are very similar to where I'm from, New Zealand.
I'm feeling ok today, thanks for asking Just a little tired, had a sleepless night
Also had an anxious night last night. Went to the supermarket, read my book then watched a movie with a glass of bubbles to take my mind off things, did the trick until I went to bed.
I agree, don't let the anxiety stop you from doing the things you like. (I also like to shop too.)
It's important to have some sort of routine otherwise I find if you aren't doing anything the anxiety can creep up on you. I know it's never going to go away, but I am learning ways to help fight it.
Yes, as each day goes by, I get a little bit of myself back. People at work have noticed a big change in me, I like to make people smile or laugh, and I'm able to do that again which I am extremely happy about.
I hope things improve for you, I'm sure as each day goes by you will get a bit of your old self back too.
It's good you're trying to stay positive, you are doing all the right things and you are doing really great, keep it up I'm proud of you😀
Things will get better.
Take care,
Marcel😄
Hi Linda,
That's great, welldone!! Keep up the good work! Do try the "i'm here" thing in moments when you're starting to panic, it does help!
I am quite good thanks!! Also keeping busy
Best wishes
anonymousgirl
Hi Linda
I am actually on Cipralex which is a more refined form of Celexa, the generic name is escitalopram, it's supposed to have less side effects, but as you can see I had the same issues as you. I have been on it six weeks. It has really helped though I am finally feeling back to normal.
Hi Judy,
Good to hear you are feeling back to normal - truly back to normal? I just can't imagine it right now, though I am definitely better than I was before I started. Now on day 11. We're you anxious beyond anxious when you started? I know that you said earlier that you you fely better aroun the 2 week mark. Did it just keep getting better from there? I know everyone is different, but I take alot of comfort in the success of others. It makes me feel that I can do it too. I think I'm doing the right things - trying to keep doing the things I usually do to some extent. Am working half days - work is still hard, and I get very tired, but I am managing to get in there. I also try to spend some time outside and I walk every evening. Any other suggestions?
You comments help alot.
Best,
Linda
Hi anonymous girl,
Glad you are doing all right. I love to hear positive feedback. It is very motivating. I have been doing the "i'm here" thing since you suggested it and it does help
I have been trying very hard to make my self talk more positive - "it's just anxiety, it won't hurt you", "it will pass", "breathe", "you can do things just fine", etc. Anymore suggestions?
Best,
Linda