Hi guys , so for 3 years now I've had chronic Derealization. I feel drunk / spaced out and high all the time even worse when tired. (Which is now all the time).
On and off I also feel like I have really bad flu but I don't. I have felt like I've had a really bad flu for 3 months now but I haven't. I've had multiple scans , bloods , every imaginable test and just get told it's anxiety but I don't even feel anxious !!!
How come I feel like I have flu 24/7 , like I feel nauseous , ache all over , easily irritated , feel really run down and poorly , shakes and am weak.
I've tried CBT and also had duloxetine and also escitalopram but neither did anything at all ! GP won't help anymore and just says "it's anxiety" but I honestly only feel anxious because of how poorly I feel when I wake up every morning . I wake up and feel like a train has hit me in my sleep .
Please please any advice? This weekend I took my dog out twice to get out the house and I could feel my flu symptoms getting even worse the longer i was walking for and had to stop and sit down I felt so ill.
I find my anxiety is a never ending spiral. I felt spaced out for years until I was put on setraline, tried to come off it a few month ago and went straight back to feeling spaced out. Used to walk around at work and if anyone looked at me I would feel like I was going to fall over. Weird cuz if you ever met me I'm a big guy and very confident when I talk. I'm not the gonna be the best for giving you answers as I relapse with anxiety all the time
The only things that sustain my mental well being is not drinking and excercising. But even then I will have bad weeks. At the mo I'm going mad, and being at work makes it ten times worse. But refuse to be beaten and stay at home .
Anyway, you arnt suffering alone. Maybe try talking about it to friends or find a local support group. Talking helps.
Hi alex it’s awful when you feel so unwell I’ve been like this for a year on antidepressants and are helping though not fast enough but I also have thyroid problems which has returned 3 times in 7 years this was picked up years ago when I first started with anxiety so maybe worth having that checked out good luck x
My sister suffers with chronic fatigue syndrome and when you said flu like symptoms it immediately made me think of this. Not saying it is that but worth loooking into. If I were you I’d try a different doctor. Took me a while to find one who really feels like they are on my side. Hope you feel better soon x
Have you been tested for the EBV-virus? Your symptoms sounds very similar to people who are having a hard time recovering from glandular fever. I have had the same symptoms since being really sick 9 months ago and I am now being tested for EBV..
First of all, I'd definitely go see a different doctor. Maybe have him/her run more tests just to rule anything else out. Have them check for the EBV-virus like someone else mentioned (if they haven't tested for that already).
That being said, anxiety can manifest in many different symptoms.
How long were you on antidepressants? It does take a good 8 weeks or so to feel the full effect of them. It's quite common for people to have to try several different antidepressants and/or dosages before finding one that works for them. Just know that the start up side effects will make you feel worse at first, and like the pills aren't working. I think that's something doctors don't often mention (mine certainly haven't).
Alex i've been suffering from Derealization since i was 17 (im now 22).
I told my Psychiatrist the exact same thing , that the anxiety is gone but my Derealization is still here and he didnt knew why . For the last 2 monthes i've been trying to lower the dose of my Sertraline from 200mg to Zero because i didnt want to relay on pills my whole life and it was not a good idea because i felt like i returned back to the feelings i used to have a few years ago and noticed that even though im on 200mg Sertraline theres always a little bit of anxiety , if its stiffen up muscles or restless leg or fatigue. Those stuff are still anxiety symptoms and to learn how to cooperate with them youll need to go to a specialist and start a session of meetings. Hope i helped you out !