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How to Help Myself with Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Posted by littleonefmohio @littleonefmohio, Mar 19, 2018

I have had depression most my life. I have took medication for it but I do not stay on it long because of being scared of the side effects or the withdraws from coming off of it. I do not want to become addicted to medication. I have never been addicted to anything so not sure why I feel that way. I have my ups and downs like most people do with mental health I guess. Its hard to talk about it to doctors because I do not trust them either. So how do I get help for myself. I always feel alone even though I am not. I was blessed raising my granddaughter 3 years ago which has helped me stay focused off of me and on her but I constantly feel alone. I live with my ex husband because he helps me with my granddaughter both raising and supporting her. I never want to go anywhere. I have no friends. I have siblings but they have their own life. I do go out once in a great while just to get out and I do enjoy it when I am out but then I come home and right back not wanting to go anywhere. I feel guilty all the time about my life for one reason or another. I have panic attacks, anxiety, along with the depression. I have tried talking to doctors that just want to talk it out but I don't stay long with that because I feel guilty talking about me and my problems and my past. So can someone tell me what they do for this that works if anything? Thanks for letting me vent this.

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ancl123 | @ancl123 | Apr 5 7:43am
In reply to @climbingmountains81 "@ancl123 hey! How are you continuing to do on Prozac? Any better with the insomnia? I’m..." + (show)
Profile picture for ClimbingMountains81 @climbingmountains81

@ancl123 hey! How are you continuing to do on Prozac? Any better with the insomnia? I’m not sure the Lexapro is working well for me anymore so I might need to switch to a different med soon to try. Thankfully sleep is better but not perfect. Hope you’re well!

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@climbingmountains81 I hear you on this I am on Prozac 20. It helps but it’s not perfect. It’s definitely more helpful then the lexapro was though the second time around. I slew most nights 6.5-7 hrs with about 2-3 nights insomnia a month. I just wish it would totally go away.

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1oldsoul | @1oldsoul | Apr 6 8:46am
In reply to @climbingmountains81 "@ancl123 wanted to let you know I tried something new that helped with sleep that my..." + (show)
Profile picture for ClimbingMountains81 @climbingmountains81

@ancl123 wanted to let you know I tried something new that helped with sleep that my sister who is a nurse practitioner recommended. It’s called phosphatidylserine. I tried the Now brand 150 mg. Didn’t have any negative hangover feeling the next day and also helps with cognition and mental clarity. ❤️

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@climbingmountains81
Did the phosphatidylserine help with your sleep very long? Did you have chronic insomnia?

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ClimbingMountains81 | @climbingmountains81 | Apr 6 9:19am
In reply to @ancl123 "Hello! I am a 47 year old mom of 4 kids. When my last daughter was..." + (show)
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Hello! I am a 47 year old mom of 4 kids. When my last daughter was born I went on lexapro due to very upsetting insomnia, anxiety and depression postpartum. I had this issue of insomnia and anxiety before my first was born as well but thankfully I was ok for many years while my kids were little and was on no meds. I was prescribed lexapro after my last daughter born, rough startup but eventually It overall worked for 8 years at 10mg. I would still have flare ups of insomnia which I wasn’t crazy about occasionally still once or twice a month. I slowly weaned to 5 went off and had no issues other then some crying spells. 4 months have gone by. I went off because I didn’t want to be on meds longer and felt overall better and was hoping to loose some stuck weight. I did loose my dad in February and have a very stressful issue with my 16 year old behaviorally so perhaps wasn’t best decision.2 weeks ago I started to spiral with depression and anxiety I was waking up at 5am often I think brought on by stress. Decided to go back on 5mg lexapro a week ago. My insomnia got much worse after trying to restart 5mg lexapro I wake up at 1:30 and can’t go back to bed. Freaked me out and stopped it. My new symptom is panic attacks which I didn’t have in the past where adrenaline rushes through myBody multiple times a day. I am now trying tryptophan, theanine, valerian, and cbd and thc gummies is my next option.the last 3 nights I have slept 3- 4 hrs last night I popped a Xanax because woke up after one hr and couldn’t go back to bed. Not sure whatTo do. I also am getting to premenopausal age so perhaps some of this factors in. I’m thinking this is a relapse and will need meds for life 😭Has anyone restarted lexapro or there drugs and had a success story? Scared to go through side effects startup and have to switch meds. Anyone here on meds for life?Thank you in advance 😊

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Hey! I’m not sure if that directly what it’s helping with but I’m sleeping much better not that my body is regulating back to being on the meds. I think the insomnia was thankfully temporary and due to restarting the Lexapro which caused more serotonin to stay around in my system. But I do this the phos is helping somewhat to calm my system overall. It’s very subtle and gentle so not sure but don’t think it’s hurting at least so I’m going to keep up with it!

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