Anxiety and Depression: I just want to feel normal again.

I have severe anxiety and panic. I have a hard time leaving the house. I have been on many different antidepressants but none seem to help. I have Xanax but rarely take it of fears of dependence. I take Buspar but it doesn’t help. I have Librium but can’t feel a difference. I take meds to help me sleep but still wake up 2-3 time a night! I wake up with anxiety so rest is hardly a reality. I would love someone who could help me

Hi @csimpson55, You'll notice that I moved your message to the discussion Depression and Anxiety where you already connected with several members like @guener @parus @secretwhitepop as well as @stsopoci. Severe anxiety and depression can make it hard to leave the house, and it is a long journey to find the right medication or therapy that can help.

I'd also like to bring @gettingbetter75 and @fluffykitty who have talked about managing sleep and anxiety. This must be a frustrating cycle for you, not being able to sleep, which makes the anxiety worse. What do you do when you're woken up 2-3 times a night? Are you able to fall asleep again or do you stay awake for long periods of time?

Hi. I was drug free since February. My anxiety and depression became noticeable to family and friends. Just went on Lexapro. Day 3. My anxiety is worse. I don’t feel like myself and I do t know what to do. Was prescribed 10 mg. Pharmacist said to start with 5. So I am on day three of 5 mg. Should I keep going? Other side effects are severe dry mouth and tired. I’m fine with that. Mom is having a hard time where she lives so that co tributes to my anxiety. Also, was on SSRI in the past and worked fine. Any advice is helpful. Thank you

Follow your doctors advice and contact your doctor immediately if you are feeling worse which you have said. Please be careful and call now.

Yes. I will. The feeling has passed yet I still have some feeling of bleh. This is horrible but I am also going through crazy family changes. Grateful for my husband and daughter. Not sure how to handle my mom.

Hi, @smilie - how are you feeling with the increase in one of your antidepressants?

@pankaj - wondering how how things are going with the pregabalin?

@csimpson55 - how is the anxiety and panic lately? How is your sleep at night?

@lisa: Many thanks for your concern. Things are OK with pregabalin. My anxiety has come under control and sleep is OK. Let's see how long it stays like this. Thanks again for asking. Regards.

I am at a fork in the road. I do suffer from depression which started when I was first diagnosed with lung cancer and copd in 2011. I started seeing a psychologist, every so often and then during the holidays I would get a little sadder so was put on a low dosage of....??? Since then been up and down but never so bad that I could not get up, get going, go out and do things with my family. Well now the next thing is I started in December of waking up with getting the chills and then start shaking. This would last just a few minutes. Now am to the point of it still happening , having 2 or 3 of these episodes in a day or sometimes none at all. I have had a MRI and a EEG and everything is fine...... so why the chills. Getting counseling was mentioned for anxiety but my daughter thinks going to a psychiatrist would be better then seeing my counselor. I think I would be better off seeing my counselor. How do I decide which one would be better for me. I also want to find out if my thyroid is functioning properly. Could this be a possibility? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Visit your doctor. Usually chills indicate lack of sleep, eating, exercise, vitamin deficiency,etc..

@smilie I am glad you are reaching out. Depression is a very real thing, as you can attest. I wonder if this time of year is difficult because it is summer, with many families doing vacations or trips together? If that is not something you ever had much of as a child or adult, it might make you feel sad, and wonder what was so wrong with you. Could that be a reason? I'm sorry things look so dark right now. Is there a close friend you sit with for a cup of coffee? Have you called your Dr? Perhaps there is a change in therapies that would help? Do you have any animals that you can focus on, and think about their well-being? Please come back and let us know how you do today. We care.
Ginger