Hello there,
Been feeling dreadful yesterday and today! Had horrid 2 weeks, felt better Sunday and back to zero since yesterday!! Absolutely terrified. Everything feels too much and I'm so so aware to be unwell. Wanna cry but feel like I can't, wanna relax I can't, only 8 days before Christmas and our holiday and I'm so scared - I feel I won't be me before then!! Such frightening feelings 
I booked an appt at docs for this afternoon. Been on cit 25mg for 2 weeks, don't think its suiting me. Been on 20mg for about 13 years before that. Can a slight increase make you feel this bad and petrified?! I need to be well!!! Anyone else feeling the same? The word Christmas, holiday, family... Just makes it worse as I'm so aware of the little time between now and then... To be back to normal!! Please help! X
I know how u feel I'm like this and 37weeks pregnant! I'm on fluoxetine 5weeks. Sertraline saved me years ago but when I tried it this month my system went into shock. CIT never suited me it turned me into a wreck but that was within the third dose. 2weeks to 3 is always the hardest. Is there a fear or is it general constant anxiety? I would always start meds on half doses to wean in as start up is awful xx thoughts yours way xx
Are u in the spaced out anxiety panic bubble ?
Thanks Rachel. I'm just terrified of not being well, I'm scared I'm becoming insane, I'm terrified about our 2 weeks holiday coming... Hate flying and just so scared not to be in my comfort zone (( just feel like jelly, wanting to vomit, feel like things aren't real.. so scared. X
Hi I remember when I was taking then. 3 weeks into them i was in hospital. Your the only one who knows your body. I am now taking sertreline which they did work. Doctor s don't know everything. Good luck. And your not alone feeling bad because Christmas is coming. The way you should look at things is to think it will be what it will. No point worrying only make you feel worse. Regards shell
Sounds like you're really putting pressure on yourself hun. Thinking of you xxxxx
Hi Babette, like you I was hoping to be well by Christmas but it's not looking that way for me so I'm just accepting that it's going to be a Christmas and NewYear of me feeling unwell, My family are all aware as are my friends so there is no pressure on me to be my old self.
Lets put things into perspective though, whilst it's a holiday and over a couple of weeks in reality it's just 3 days, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and NewYears Day, in between it's just boring anyway and for most people so we've only 3 days after which it's as though nothing has happened and folk are left wondering what the fuss was all about.
My advise is to do just as you want, if you feel like celebrating do, if you don't then by all means don't but you can compromise a little and see how it goes by attending a family get together but don't feel obliged to "enjoy it" and say to yourself I'll stay for a certain amount of time and then go if I don't feel like staying.
Regarding the meds, that's a discussion for your GP but any increase can have a temporary negative effect if that's how your body reacts, you might be able to get an anti anxiolitic such as Valium for a short period abd to take when you feel the need.
For most of us here it's not a great time of year so your not alone in how you feel.
neil
Hi I was told that increasing the dose can take a few weeks to settle down.....just like first starting
Therefore all your anxieties get worse for a while. Check with your doctor please as the dose may be ok an you are just in the adjusting period. There never seems enough time re xmas even thp we know about it for a year!. Prioratise what you hav to do and remember.....its really only one day! X
I've responded further down but noticed the insane part, your definitely not becoming insane, to be insane you need to believe your not and that there hasn't been anything wrong with you in the first place but medically and psychologically you are if that makes sense . In other words there is absolutely no way you can be or will become insane.
Things don't seem real you say ! I know this all too well its been constant for 2months and it scares me so so much and makes me feel I can't do anything. I pray for it to leave but it won't I really dont know how to rid of it although its better then it was its far from OK. I find CIT is great or awful no in between, I found all start up bad though till 4weeks x
Hi I was told that increasing the dose can take a few weeks to settle down.....just like first starting
Therefore all your anxieties get worse for a while. Check with your doctor please as the dose may be ok an you are just in the adjusting period. There never seems enough time re xmas even thp we know about it for a year!. Prioratise what you hav to do and remember.....its really only one day!
Try lots of relaxation things for the flight...you know yourself that its us that makes us worse.on panicking.....I know I do. Good luck
I feel like I'm going insane too and that one day I'll wake up and have lost my mind due to the meds, u hear them turning people crazy but maybe they had issues before 
anxiety and depressing hold a place in hell its awful and ruins life's
Thank you Neil 
It's just so horrid isn't? How can I possibly go to the US for 2 weeks on Boxing Day feeling like this?!! I feel I really can't cope with anything sounds silly but it's almost like everything frightens me for no particular reason. Christmas does in the sense that its close to the holiday but also as I had Christmases with panic attacks in the past it reminds me of it therefore scares me even more. I'm not seeing my family this year but just the thought of them makes my head spin as I want to be well and don't want them to worry about me so I always have to pretend. My sis is coming the day after I live so I won't see her - yet the last time I saw her was in August where my anxiety was right up there!! And for some reason can't stop thinking about that time ( horrid horrid horrid.
I hope the GP will be able to help me this pm! X
Dear Babette,I feel your pain...I too am dreading Christmas,any words or reminders of it just make me panic. I desperately want to be well as I am a single mum to a 13 year old daughter,and I want her to enjoy Christmas. My advice to you would be to ask your gp to give you a short course of diazepam to get you through the flight and the holiday,it can help so much. In my experience with Citalopram each dose increase takes about 3 weeks to settle in. I wish I could help more,but I wish you calm and a big hug x
Thank you so much Justine just to read messages makes me feel less alone. I'm scared to take diazepam... I've started propranolol about 10 days ago but had a massive panic attack after I took it yesterday and have felt awful since... Got a doc appt in 15 min so hopefully they ll be able to help me. I send you loads of hugs x
Hi Babette,how did you get on at the doctors? X
Just thought I'd let you know. Got out of the GP, one I never saw before. He said that either I increase cit from 25mg to 40mg or wait another 2/3 weeks, or keep the cit as it is but increase the propanolol to 2 or 3 tablets max a day. I've decided to do the latter as I just don't wanna mess with the citalopram anymore. Propanolol is not addictive so I'd rather try that. I have one more week before Christmas and our holiday so I guess I have to think positive! The doc said that there are a lot of things out there but it doesn't mean that it works for everyone but that we just need to try... X
Thank you for asking Justine I keep thinking about what you said, so if it takes roughly 3 weeks to settle in then I might be ok next week... I truly hope so x are you still taking citalopram? Xx
I got told increase and it might work better but I didn't was too scared x
That's exactly how I felt - if 25mg is making me feel like a mess what is 40mg gonna do?... I can't risk taking it before our holiday. I'm petrified as it is and even trying to find some excuses on how not to go so bad I feel (