Comforting words needed

@ancl123
Hello! Wow your situation sounds similar to mine. I feel so alone. Did you go back on lexapro?

@ancl123
I have taken Remeron and trazadone too!

Is celexa
More calming ?

So sorry to hear what you’re going through. I’ve been there - sort of. No kids but anxiety and panic attacks for many years. I had it under control but lost a family member that was very dear to me during Covid. I spiraled down to a severe depression, panic attacks and agoraphobia. Zoloft had been my saving grace for over 20 years. My PCP finally talked me into switching to Pristiq. I’m better but still battling insomnia. Recently started hydroxyzine at night. Its really helped me fall asleep, stay asleep and had knocked the anxiety down a notch. Non addictive and can be taken as needed.

While I don’t have good answers for you. Some of us need medication to moderate the serotonin, dopamine and cortisol. I’ll likely be on some anti-depressant forever. Talk to your doctor. Counseling sometimes helps. Support groups and talking to people who understand (like us!) helps a lot. Helps us to realize we aren’t losing our minds and there’s hope.

The only other advice I have is to really watch your diet. Whole, natural food really helps. Junk food, processed food, sugar, nitrites and nitrates all exacerbate anxiety and other health issues. Drink water! Water. Water. Eliminate soda. Watch caffeine intake.

Best of luck to you and let us know how we can help support you and get you through this.

Try Zoloft in combination with Wellbutrin. Zoloft is very effective and well tolerated by most people. Wellbutrin is really not a stand alone drug but it works well with Zoloft. They actually called the combination Welloft.
Good luck.

1st of all, you are not alone. Some people need meds for life. No shame in that. If you have a seizure disorder, you need meds for life, or RA, MS, an entire list of diseases that can be relieved with treatment. So, see a shrink and get on a mild antidepressant, not anything drastic at 1st if you can help it. See what your doctor says, ask about the side effects. If you don't like that doctor then see a different one until you find one who genuinely seems to care about helping you through. I can remember being depressed since I was 10 years old. After a suicide attempt in my early 30's I agreed to take an antidepressant. I have never stopped taking them. I had to switch a couple of times, but they had stopped working. Remember, once you find the right med for you it's okay to take meds, especially if they make you feel better. I have been living a happy life and it's been 40 years since that awful day. please get help, don't accept meds that don't help. Also, most of them can give you an "out of body" feeling at 1st, but that will go away. Give it a month or 2 and see if you don't feel better. Also, adding cbd or thc to prescription meds can be tricky. If you decide to continue let your doctors know that you are taking them and what for. They might have a better option that's covered by your insurance plan.
I do hope you feel better. Good luck to you.

(@ancl123
If you’re in premenopause, I’ve learned that hormonal changes can cause sudden anxiety and depression on top of a lot of things. I’m 67 yrs, had hot flashes for 15 years which is a sign of loss of estrogen. I suddenly out of nowhere, came down with an uncontrollable debilitating anxiety disorder. I found a Naturopathic Doctor who knows this problem and am having hormone replacement therapy (HRT). I’ve only started it (less than a month) so have not experienced any change so far. Unfortunately it can take months. Praying to God this is the source of the problem. I’m also taking most of the supplements, etc that you listed. And taking a very low dose (0.25 - 0.5 mg) of clonazepam per day. Just started trying CBD oil. Need to get some proper medical advice on it because I’ve come across a medical paper that showed positive results taking the right dose for anxiety disorder.
Good luck to you.
BTW, I plan to post progress on the HRT in the Women’s Health section.

If you’re keeping up with thread, agree with another poster who suggested getting some blood work done. Something you would need to ask for is Folate levels — low folate levels are often associated with depression.
You can search for articles discussing folate and the L-methylfolate supplement; however, if you do want to try this, be careful and up the doses slowly. Even still, I became overmethylated and then suicidal. But, blood tests still the way to go (also test for high homocysteine levels which is also related to depression).

Best wishes!

I haven’t re-started Lexapro but have used it perhaps 9-10 years. AI online reports 12% of users report poor quality sleep. More cite drowsiness, & more. I don’t know if it’s helping me clandestinely in some way. My big gripe has been anxiety, more latent now, but still sucks. I take Xanax (1.5mg daily). Personally I’d never expect an antidepressant to be much of a helpful anxiolytic such as I needed when it all began, years ago. Zoloft, Prozac, Wellbutrin, no help. I am NO doctor, but some say Spravato helpful with TRD. But so many caveats come with it! I think that ONE therapist I saw for probably 10, hour-long visits, helped me to realize and accept as creditable a fully non-medically related and bygone genesis of my anxiety-laden life. And REALIZING that - in the end - while fulfilling - didn’t help a crap in dealing with my personal on-going vexation. The opportunity to weed out the roots of my fear, itself had been unintentionally uprooted and left to wither. It’s true. But understanding and remembering cannot always change the “now”. Thank you. 💊

Hi,

I’m sorry to hear you’re experiencing this. I’m having a very similar experience trying to restart Lexapro. I was on it for over 20years then rotated slowly off and started experiencing terrible insomnia after trying to restart again. Now experiencing panic attacks as well and sleeplessness if I try to go above 2.5 mg. Taking progesterone as I’m also pre-menopausal and that has helped get some sleep but doesn’t seem enough above the 2.5. Has anything helped for you? Did you decide to stay off the Lexapro or restart. I’m also navigating recent grief so think all of these factors play a role. Sending support and hope things are getting better for you!