Hi everyone,
Firstly Merry Christmas.
Secondly, I'm desperate to know I'm not going mad, so was wandering if anyone else's anxiety symptoms are similar.
Around two years ago and out of the blue I had a huge episode of anxiety and secondary depression. Reluctant to take any medication I started on 10mg of citalopram and gradually worked my way up to 30mg. Alongside this, I am having fortnightly therapy...
It's definitely improved things but every 3 months out of the blue, a big bout of anxiety and adrenaline hit me. Alongside this are thoughts which are irational, like thinking I see something in a mirror, my house is haunted and any rustle sends me up the wall.
I also avoid saying certain words out loud in case I trigger it again, feel petrified of almost everything and become overly superstitious...almost OCD.
I get lots of irrational guilt too...
I don't think it's depression due to the way it comes on and after a week I pick back up and continue as normal...with occasional bouts of manageable nervousness during the week.
I really feel debilitated when it's happening and am wandering if it's to do with my medication needing increasing or if I'm on the wrong one for anxiety? I'm currently on citalopram.
I had my first bout of anxiety at around 17 and I'm 30 now, but it went away from age 25-28.
Any help or advice or even reassurance would be amazing. I feel like a failure to be honest, even though I know I'm not.
Niome
Exercise your Ghosts
We used to live in an old family house and on occasions we would get the odd hello. When we moved and disappeared some of the ghosts followed and we still get those feelings someone is around, not belonging to the properties we have now, We joined two bungalows together and the original one had nothing in it until we moved in complete with all our worldly goods furniture and all
Sometimes a haunting can be nice especially if the ghosts are relatives they can keep you on your toes.
When it comes to our Anxiety and depression it does not really help us to be negative, we look for diversions to move us on to a better place, I play with my computer and also read a great deal although no my reading is looking at pictures, also when not in pain I work in the orchard, I get a great deal of satisfaction, although at this time it is busy everything needs washing to kill of the insects then bandage up the trunks with grease to stop any insects getting in the branches.
What I am trying to say is look for diversions to take your mind of any problems, it does not need to be an orchard, anything you enjoy, the bigger the challenge the better the outcome
Try something you have always wanted to do, swimming, dancing or gardening whatever your interests are. that will help with your Anxiety and depression
BOB
Hi Bob,
Thank you so much.
Can you suggest how I can clean my house from anything negative, or anything you have tried!
I don't know if it's anxiety or spirits and why I'm so petrified.
I'm going to see a medium on 30th and do read usually books how to calm and get over anxiety.
Any words such as; ghost, devil, spirit, possessed scare me. In this state it's horrible, but when I'm ok, it's less affecting. Appreciate you getting back to me.
Hi Niome, sounds a bit like things I used to imagine many years ago. My anxiety got really bad as a teenager. Mirrors used to scare the life out of me! I honestly think it's your anxiety and it might be that your meds need adjusting, or maybe the citalopram just isn't the right one for you. The thing is though, they can't actually do anything about your imagination running into overdrive! That's something you need to teach yourself how to control. It's important (as embarrassing as it might be) to tell your therapist about these thoughts. The more information they have about how your anxiety is affecting you, the better they can help you. Are they are a medically qualified therapist or just a counsellor? I'd say you need to tell the person who is in charge of prescribing your medication, as your anxiety is clearly not under control at the moment.
I'll just add that I'm not a complete non-believer in ghosts but it does sound to me from what you said that this is a case of an overactive imagination/anxiety combination.
Niome
I have several crosses, one from Jerusalem and another that was made in Jerusalem and sold on Iona. the Religious Abbey where many Saints visited after Christs Death. On my car keys I have a further celtic cross from Scotland and my House keys are the same. The Crosses in the house were blessed.
BOB
Hi hedda,
Thank you so much. Do you think the medication needs increasing if it every couple of months that I dip.
It's very difficult to get my head around and I take the dips badly as I am used to being so outgoing and enjoy life.
This is why I struggle when the GP suggests it's depression, because if I took this away, every day would be an enjoyable blessing. I don't want to feel afraid of things which are irational. I'm exactly the same with mirrors.
Are there any medications for anxiety which are good and will enable me to continue to manage my life as it is? I don't really know of any. Just wander if the dip is because it's not quite high enough, or like you say...there is a better one for me.
Thank you x
Hi Niome, I wish I could give you a good, and definitive, answer! I've not had much success with anti-depressants. I know they work wonders for a lot of people, and also there are many I have not tried yet. I'm not on any at the moment as I'm now under assessment with the mental health team rather than the GP.
Yes I think dips are normal, even if you are on the right dose. Pills can only do so much, they can't 'cure' anything. In my opinion (based on my own experiences) I think some sort of talking therapy needs to take place at the same time. I've not been offered this yet, but it's taken a long time to get to the point where I am now, seeing mental health professionals rather than just the GP. I did try counselling for a while but that didn't help. I think I need something more focused like CBT.
I feel that if I could get help with my anxieties then the depression would start to lessen as well, and then maybe the pills would start to be of more help to me. I think it's worthwhile seeing if you can get your name down for CBT. Anxiety is a hard thing to tackle alone and pills won't get rid of it.
You don't have to suffer like this, so push for extra help, even if it means having to see another GP. Some are better than others.