1. < Depression & Anxiety

Need help! Depression and anxiety

Posted by pirateking @pirateking, Jul 22, 2016

I don't know where else to go without going to a hospital. I've always had issues with depression and anxiety. It is tough to deal with, but I have a grasp of what it is at least. I've been taking 10MG of Lexapro and 1-1.5 MG of Klonopin to treat it. My psych doctor died in January and I started with a new doctor that upped my Lexapro to 20MG and put me on Buspar for anxiety.

She then decided to take me off the Klonpin. She had me go from 1-1.5 to only .5 a day a month ago and then cut me off. My anxity was already starting to increase that month, and a few days after I stopped the klonopin I faced massive panic attacks among a ton of other issues. It took some begging for help until she eventually put me on .5MG of Atavan but I don't think it is working.

My current symptoms are this horrible brain fog that is impairing my basic functions. I forget things easily, I can't concentrate. It feels like I've literally got dumber. I am clumsier. I keep almost walking into poles and today I almost got run over by a bus. I'm beyond irritable. I almost attacked a man on an elevator because of his breathing, and I've never had such violent thoughts before. I've had brief sucidical thoughts that I had to talk myself out of because I rationally know I don't want to do that.

When I stretch my neck it hurts. It feels like my neck or back is violently ripping in two. I'm having out of body experinces. I am sitting at work and suddenly I am not sure if I am dreaming or not

I also have headaches, I'm pacing constantly. I am having muscle spasims, twitching, my hands tremble.

This is terrifying. I've never felt like this in my entire life and I don't know what is going on. Is it the Buspar? The Atavan? The lack of Klonopin and should I go to the hosptial? My doctor isn't around on the weekends. Any help will be appericated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

laujenkins | @laujenkins | Feb 12, 2020

I’m so sorry you’re going through all this! I don’t have any experience with the medication that you are on, but I understand how you feel to some extent with the brain fog, feeling dumber, out of body experiences and irritable. I definitely have been feeling that way with my depression medication!
Know you’re not alone! We are hear if you need to vent or chat!
All the best!

REPLY
Ellen | @helenfrances | Feb 12, 2020
In reply to @stw "I know it helps some people and the very first time I did it. It helped..." + (show)
@stw

I know it helps some people and the very first time I did it. It helped a little but in 4 months I was back to pretty much non-functional. Over the years I have had 3 different series totaling 30 different treatments. Now they just put tiny electrodes on your head and can target areas better. My 1st Series was over 20 years ago and it looked like I had metal coke cans on either side of my head. ( just like One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest) it was mortifying. AlL 3 series came with really bad short term memory loss - didn’t recognize even my family. However that does get much better within a week or two. The 1st one left me with horrible long term memory! I believe the way they do it know does affect that as bad. Between the depression itself, the medications and the ECT’s there is so much I don’t remember. Huge chunks are missing. The worst is I don’t remember a lot of my daughter growing up. This was also why I finally agreed to try the MAOI. I was pretty much out of options and I had taken most Of the medications out there in my 36 years of dealing with this. ECT does help some people but I was not one of them. The electrodes they use now do not Usually have the long term memory loss. I am so glad my doctor wanted me to try the MAOIs. I was very frightened to take the them but finally I agreed to take it 5 years ago, I started them on Valentines Day. I have been well ever since. The MAOIs gave me my life back!! Not many Drs will prescribe them today. I would think about finding a Dr that will prescribe them. But the Dr needs to really know about them. You have to adhere to food and medication rules or they can be potentially fatal. That scared me to death but I have no problem following that Cuz it gave me my life back! I had finally found an excellent and a very medication knowledgeable psychiatrist. Also he is very kind and compassionate. Rare- at least compared to the other psychiatrists I had seen. I saw him for about 6 years and he exhausted Pretty much everything before he suggested trying those.

Jump to this post

Oh it was so good to read that you have your life back. I will be praying for you that you are completely healed.
We are strong for our family, our precious little ones,
And even! relatives who do not always understand!

REPLY
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Feb 13, 2020
In reply to @stw "I know it helps some people and the very first time I did it. It helped..." + (show)
@stw

I know it helps some people and the very first time I did it. It helped a little but in 4 months I was back to pretty much non-functional. Over the years I have had 3 different series totaling 30 different treatments. Now they just put tiny electrodes on your head and can target areas better. My 1st Series was over 20 years ago and it looked like I had metal coke cans on either side of my head. ( just like One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest) it was mortifying. AlL 3 series came with really bad short term memory loss - didn’t recognize even my family. However that does get much better within a week or two. The 1st one left me with horrible long term memory! I believe the way they do it know does affect that as bad. Between the depression itself, the medications and the ECT’s there is so much I don’t remember. Huge chunks are missing. The worst is I don’t remember a lot of my daughter growing up. This was also why I finally agreed to try the MAOI. I was pretty much out of options and I had taken most Of the medications out there in my 36 years of dealing with this. ECT does help some people but I was not one of them. The electrodes they use now do not Usually have the long term memory loss. I am so glad my doctor wanted me to try the MAOIs. I was very frightened to take the them but finally I agreed to take it 5 years ago, I started them on Valentines Day. I have been well ever since. The MAOIs gave me my life back!! Not many Drs will prescribe them today. I would think about finding a Dr that will prescribe them. But the Dr needs to really know about them. You have to adhere to food and medication rules or they can be potentially fatal. That scared me to death but I have no problem following that Cuz it gave me my life back! I had finally found an excellent and a very medication knowledgeable psychiatrist. Also he is very kind and compassionate. Rare- at least compared to the other psychiatrists I had seen. I saw him for about 6 years and he exhausted Pretty much everything before he suggested trying those.

Jump to this post

@stw

I appreciate your response. The psychiatrist I see has been really good to work with over the past ten years or so. I think that all the antidepressants I've taken have been ssri's.

I've read stories about ECT experiences, from one end of the spectrum to the other. It seems to be quite individualized, much like neuropathy. I'm in a better place now than I was ten years ago, and probably don't need it as desperatelyas I did then.

I'm going to look into MAOI's. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Jim

REPLY
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Mar 17, 2020

Good morning,
Just wanted to make you aware that Mayo Clinic Connect just opened up a brand new group dedicated to COVID-19 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/covid-19/. If you're interested in following it, click the +Follow in the upper right hand of the page. Please feel free to look through the discussions, participate where you'd like and start new discussions about topics relevant to any aspect of coronavirus, COVID-19.

REPLY
tink1 | @tink1 | Jan 10, 2022
In reply to @cherylrose "I am new to this group. I just started taking Fetzima which is a replacement for..." + (show)
@cherylrose

I am new to this group. I just started taking Fetzima which is a replacement for duloxetine. Does anyone have experience with Fetzima?

Jump to this post

I have just been prescribed this so will let you know

REPLY
jawhit01 | @jawhit01 | Jan 20 8:37am
In reply to @healingone "Yes. If the US had a C-PTSD diagnosis, I would have it. I have had lifelong..." + (show)
@healingone

Yes. If the US had a C-PTSD diagnosis, I would have it. I have had lifelong challenges.

Jump to this post

C-PTSD is a condition recognized by the World Health Organization. My primary care VA doctor was aware of the condition. She scheduled a meeting with a VA therapist, but it is 6 months from now. That is a common issue, at least at the VA.

REPLY
mskathy | @mskathy | Jan 20 4:09pm

I think you need to go to the hospital. If it were me I would definitely go. Keep me posted.

REPLY
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