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.

Manysilver | @manysilver | Sep 5, 2016
In reply to @nene58 "Have had to deal with being depressed since I was young. Have had to deal with..." + (show)
@nene58

Have had to deal with being depressed since I was young. Have had to deal with it on my own also. Parents did not believe in helping with therapy, Meds. Has been hard to get thru it at times on my own. Ended up in the psych ward a few times, tried to kill myself. On Meds and in therapy again now. When will it ever end? Just want to feel normal for once. I am so tired of therapy and have been trying to get my therapist so mad at me that will will tell me that she can no longer see me. Pushing my family away, pushing everyone as far away from me as possible. Work is becoming so hard to get up to go to. I feel so lost right now and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

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Hi: Try & find a doctor that does TMS or try a holistic DR. It may help than going through ECT. Manysilver<br><br>

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cowboy1997 | @cowboy1997 | Sep 5, 2016

What is a Holistic Dr?<br><br>

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1 reply
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Sep 5, 2016
In reply to @nene58 "Have had to deal with being depressed since I was young. Have had to deal with..." + (show)
@nene58

Have had to deal with being depressed since I was young. Have had to deal with it on my own also. Parents did not believe in helping with therapy, Meds. Has been hard to get thru it at times on my own. Ended up in the psych ward a few times, tried to kill myself. On Meds and in therapy again now. When will it ever end? Just want to feel normal for once. I am so tired of therapy and have been trying to get my therapist so mad at me that will will tell me that she can no longer see me. Pushing my family away, pushing everyone as far away from me as possible. Work is becoming so hard to get up to go to. I feel so lost right now and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

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I've been pretty stable for a year now, and at this point, I don't know that I need ECT. I just try to take one day at a time, as far as depression is concerned. I may talk with the psychiatrist about the appropriateness of TMS. Thanks for the observations. I don't know if I have said, but I also have chronic pain and burning in my feet, due to peripheral neuropathy, non diabetic. The constant pain does affect the depression. I don't know if I'll ever be able to be free of the pain. I've tried every medication available for peripheral neuropathy, and one (Lyrica) put me in the hospital, while none of the others have had any effect on the pain. Right now I'm trying Cymbalta, and I've weaned off morphine sulfate contin a couple of weeks ago.

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Sep 6, 2016
In reply to @IndianaScott "@pirateking I was sad to read your post regarding your challenges with depression and anxiety. While..." + (show)
@IndianaScott

@pirateking I was sad to read your post regarding your challenges with depression and anxiety. While I do not have untreatable depression, my wife had debilitating anxiety as a result of her battle with cancer. While her medical team was able to work effectively on her cancer-related difficulties, they never really understood, nor took seriously enough, the challenges she faced due to her anxiety. It took a constant vigilance by her neuro-oncologist, who was very good at trying varying medical 'cocktails' to attempt to alleviate her anxiety.

As an outcome of what I witnessed with her, as her caregiver, I would say this: As hard as it is, keep at it. Keep communicating with your doctor(s) as much as you can. If you can, keep a log of your feelings so they can fully understand the effects of your anxiety and depression on you. When they strike most, when it is the worst, exactly what time of day you take each of your meds. Good doctors can often see patterns we ourselves miss.

Peace and strength!

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So sorry to hear of your loss, Scott. We've had a number of losses of friends and family over the past few months. Saying goodby to a spouse is surely hard. I'm thankful that I can look forward to seeing loved ones when I join them in Heaven. That brings me a great deal of comfort and peace. I pray that you'll be comforted during your time of grief.

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Minnie1971 | @lesbatts | Sep 6, 2016
In reply to @IndianaScott "@pirateking I was sad to read your post regarding your challenges with depression and anxiety. While..." + (show)
@IndianaScott

@pirateking I was sad to read your post regarding your challenges with depression and anxiety. While I do not have untreatable depression, my wife had debilitating anxiety as a result of her battle with cancer. While her medical team was able to work effectively on her cancer-related difficulties, they never really understood, nor took seriously enough, the challenges she faced due to her anxiety. It took a constant vigilance by her neuro-oncologist, who was very good at trying varying medical 'cocktails' to attempt to alleviate her anxiety.

As an outcome of what I witnessed with her, as her caregiver, I would say this: As hard as it is, keep at it. Keep communicating with your doctor(s) as much as you can. If you can, keep a log of your feelings so they can fully understand the effects of your anxiety and depression on you. When they strike most, when it is the worst, exactly what time of day you take each of your meds. Good doctors can often see patterns we ourselves miss.

Peace and strength!

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Scott, I am so sorry about your wife you must be having a difficult time which is certainly normal. You will always miss your wife but as the days go by the pain will become a little more bearable.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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safetyshield | @safetyshield | Sep 6, 2016

when I have physical reactions to a medication I go directly to my doctors. I deliberately go to a practice that has more than one doctor working. So I do not have to waite if I need an appointment. its good that you are constantly thinking about your actions and its effect both on you and others. If not already while taking your meds it would help to have a therapist that you can see weekly. So that your reactions to either the meds you are taking or need others can be address ASAP. Look in your area for clinics that have counselors Psychologist (Ph.D) Or Clinical Social Workers. And of course stay in this chat so you can hear from others and others can hear from you. It helps

REPLY
1 reply
jacko | @jacko | Sep 6, 2016
In reply to @cowboy1997 "What is a Holistic Dr?" + (show)
@cowboy1997

What is a Holistic Dr?<br><br>

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Holistic Medicine is defined by the Canadian Holistic Medical Association as follows.

Holistic medicine is a system of health care which fosters a cooperative relationship among all those involved, leading towards optimal attainment of the physical, mental emotional, social and spiritual aspects of health.

It emphasizes the need to look at the whole person, including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values. It encompasses all stated modalities of diagnosis and treatment including drugs and surgery if no safe alternative exists. Holistic medicine focuses on education and responsibility for personal efforts to achieve balance and well being.
Naturopathic physicians combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Steeped in traditional healing methods, principles and practices, naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician’s role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment. Copyright © 2016 AANP.

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kellieb58 | @kellieb58 | Sep 6, 2016

Yes please keep in touch with your doctor ,I finally found A great counsler and a great physic doctor and also got myself a social worker also. I still have problems in the am with my bad panic attacks this last doctor took me off my 2nd pill i have been on for 14 years. I don"t get it they worked i was not a space cadet i wasn"t numb new everything i was doing.Now i"am asking my new doctor to see the difference in me if i take 2 mgs in the morning of my meds or at least let me take 1/ 1/2 in the morning. I keep in touch all the time about my meds. sometimes i drive them crazy because i"m s freaked out about my panic attacks. it"s like wow they last 6 hpurs 4 hours sometimes all day . and i need to go back to my 4 times a day I"am not going back to having these out of control attacks when this med was helping me control them.So please keep in touch with your doctor all the time please. Good things coming your way. We will get thru this together. kellie

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2 replies
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Sep 7, 2016
In reply to @safetyshield "when I have physical reactions to a medication I go directly to my doctors. I deliberately..." + (show)
@safetyshield

when I have physical reactions to a medication I go directly to my doctors. I deliberately go to a practice that has more than one doctor working. So I do not have to waite if I need an appointment. its good that you are constantly thinking about your actions and its effect both on you and others. If not already while taking your meds it would help to have a therapist that you can see weekly. So that your reactions to either the meds you are taking or need others can be address ASAP. Look in your area for clinics that have counselors Psychologist (Ph.D) Or Clinical Social Workers. And of course stay in this chat so you can hear from others and others can hear from you. It helps

Jump to this post

Not sure to whom this is directed.

REPLY
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Sep 7, 2016
In reply to @kellieb58 "Yes please keep in touch with your doctor ,I finally found A great counsler and a..." + (show)
@kellieb58

Yes please keep in touch with your doctor ,I finally found A great counsler and a great physic doctor and also got myself a social worker also. I still have problems in the am with my bad panic attacks this last doctor took me off my 2nd pill i have been on for 14 years. I don"t get it they worked i was not a space cadet i wasn"t numb new everything i was doing.Now i"am asking my new doctor to see the difference in me if i take 2 mgs in the morning of my meds or at least let me take 1/ 1/2 in the morning. I keep in touch all the time about my meds. sometimes i drive them crazy because i"m s freaked out about my panic attacks. it"s like wow they last 6 hpurs 4 hours sometimes all day . and i need to go back to my 4 times a day I"am not going back to having these out of control attacks when this med was helping me control them.So please keep in touch with your doctor all the time please. Good things coming your way. We will get thru this together. kellie

Jump to this post

I would surely have a talk with the doctor about cutting your med in half. If it was working, it doesn't seem reasonable to change it, unless he/she was wanting to see if the reduced dosage would work. I try to give changes 2-4 weeks before I decide it's working or not. My pain doctor likes that I'm willing to put up with the pain long enough to be sure what helps and what doesn't.

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