Depression and Anxiety at an older age

Thinking of you, @parus. How are you doing?

@stsopoci Good for you for recognizing these episodes. It must be offputting to experience these. Understanding that you need to suss things out with a psychiatrist is also a big concession, and I hope you take your own challenge and look for someone to help you. Other than talking to your wife or sister, do you do deep breathing exercises to relax, or another method to get through it? How long does the feeling last?
Ginger

When my deep valley feelings occur they last all day, and night and gradually go away as the sun comes out. I exercise and play my instruments (trombone. piano, Clavinova, etc.. I like yoga and reading

@ailean55 , me too. My hubby has not always understood my situation. Therefore, he was not always able to provide the support that I needed at the time.

But I have learned, in hindsight, that I was not always the easiest person to understood. Neither was I the best communicator of what was needed for survival, on my part. Like some of the others on here have expressed, I too was abandoned by those I had grown up thinking were my family and best friends.

Having recovered from all that I choose to spend whatever time I have left on this planet with the ones who love me back. Unconditionally. I have done what I can to improve my health and get at the root causes of conditions that plagued me most of my life.

I am happier now than II ever have been. Genetic testing may not be everyones cup of tea. But for me, it has been an answer to prayer. I hope everyone gets to feeling better and gets everything they need for a content life. There is room at the table here for all of us

Love and light, my beautiful warriors.

Mamacita Jane

I am 78 and going thru anxiety and withdrawal. Was in the hospital in mental health. Put on remeron 7.5 and now , trintellix also another anti a drug to take every four hours . Withdrawal from opioids , not easy. Have family. Hard to focus. And drive. Had illnesses and pain and was put on meds and now hard to get off. I am home alone. Have family I can call. Not many close friends. Always been very independent. I am trying to live in the present

I take Sam e and duloxetine with no interaction but I note you take other meds also. I am 78 and started with anxiety and depression 2 yrs ago when I started having a lot of health issues. The duloxetine has helped me a lot with the depression for the anxiety I take tranxene as needed. My integrative doctor put me on a supplement called serosyn which has a lot of vitamin b's and it really helps. I am also a Christian, a leader of a widows group where I have a lot of support and comfort

Hi, @iplaybunco1970 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Since you mentioned you take duloxetine (Cymbalta) and clorazepate (Tranxene), you may be interested in:

Mayo Clinic information on clorazepate (Tranxene) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/clorazepate-oral-route/description/drg-20072306

Mayo Clinic information on duloxetine (Cymbalta) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/duloxetine-oral-route/description/drg-20067247

Connect thread on duloxetine https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cymbalta-2/

Have you experienced any side effects with these medications?

I experienced nausea on duloxetine when I first started taking it. I had to take Zofran along with the duloxetine for approximately a month. Now I am fine with no side effects and it has helped me tremendously. I take a low dosage of Tranxene with no side effects

How are you doing, @rae456? How are your anxiety and the withdrawal process going?

I am also 78 and was a career lady and very independent in excellent health and traveling all over the world until 2 years ago and suddenly became very ill. Doctors were never able to find out exactly what happened but think I had an autoimmune attack or a virus that killed the nerves in my left vestibular and nerve damage in my legs. I went from teaching dance lessons to a wheel chair and became very anxious and depressed, concerned about losing my independence and afraid of being alone. I have had a lot of physical therapy, counseling, and taking duloxetine and transxene which has helped. I have worked hard at building a network of friends that has really helped me a lot. I am president of a widows group and we now have 55 members. I reach out daily to one of them and since I can now drive and walk with a cane, I help someone else whenever I can and in return it helps me feel better. I find that if I stay home alone for any length of time that the anxiety and depression rears its ugly head. I encourage you to find friends through your church or community as that has literally saved me.