Firstly, I’m sending you lots of 🤗 hugs. Secondly, I commend you on your courage and strength in your fight against cancer! I know from family members how challenging both physically and mentally that fight can be. Thirdly, I was just as petrified as you to start Lamictal. In fact, I delayed starting it for many days. Finally, I got tired of dealing with the symptoms of my treatment resistant depression and anxiety and decided to try the Lamictal. I just completed 7 days of 25 mg and titrated up, this morning, to 50 mg. (Some psychiatrists have their patients do a slower titration.) I am praying that I don’t develop any serious side effects.
Please know that you’re not alone. Also, remember you are a fighter. If you can face cancer head on, you can also face Lamictal head on! You have already demonstrated your amazing courage, strength, and fortitude!!! You are also under doctor’s care; so, if anything develops while you’re on the Lamictal, they will be right there to help you. Additionally, I will be thinking of you and wishing you well as we deal with Lamictal together. You are an inspiration to me and I’m sure to countless others! You’ve got this — all of this — and you will make it through!!! 🤗🤗🤗 Please keep us posted as to how you are doing and remember that we care immensely about you and wish you well.

@sksnow I feel overwhelmed with anxiety and grief when I read your post. You have so much to deal with it's no wonder you feel so anxious. It's not surprising that adding another medication brought about more anxiety. I remember feeling very anxious when I first started medication for depression and anxiety and not wanting to even try the pill. It took me awhile working with a psychiatrist to find the "right" medication for me. I had a lot of confidence in the psychiatrist so that in itself encouraged me to have a go.

It took me a long time to get to the point where I look at Acceptance for periods of anxiety. I think my baseline is anxious so when some situation presents itself my anxiety really ramps up. This has happened within the past few weeks as I got closer and closer to my next cancer surveillance appointments. The day of the appointments I felt like I was in a fog and moving my body was like walking through molasses. I have osteoarthritis and even that hurt more than usual. So I just kept up doing what I needed to do. That's part of the Acceptance I practice and reminding myself to Breathe. That meant sitting in a quiet place and focusing on slowing my breathing. Counting an inhale to 4 and then exhaling to the count of 6.

Do you have any skills you've learned and practice that work for you? Medication helps a lot but that's only one part of managing depression and anxiety for me.

p.s. My CT scan and physical exams showed no recurrence of cancer (endometrial cancer) or metastasis. I was utterly exhausted at the end of the day after those appointments. Anxiety makes me very, very tired.