1. < Depression & Anxiety

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

Posted by tmf0 @tmf0, Nov 24, 2018

For the last 10 weeks my anxiety and depression have been at a level that I’ve never experienced. My life has completely changed in such a short period of time. I am constantly nauseated, I hardly get out of bed, I have no desire to see or speak to anyone, my mind is continuously spinning with irrational thoughts, I even canceled Thanksgiving and I can go on & on. I just dont know how anyone can live like this. I’m not living but merely existing. It’s a battle every minute of every day. I just want to feel normal again.

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smilie | @smilie | Jul 2, 2019

Hi my nickname is Smilie but I cry mostly. I’ve been depressed since I was about 12 years old and now I’m 60 years old and not feeling better!!!! Everything that I learned over the years isn’t working right now. I learned CBT, DBT, mindfulness and more. I have become suicidal, but I have no plans. Life sucks right now, big time!!!!

REPLY
2 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Jul 2, 2019
In reply to @sakota "I am at a fork in the road. I do suffer from depression which started when..." + (show)
@sakota

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.

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Hi!
First off, it is not unusual for a person is an illness such as yours, to become depressed.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe meds.
Often these are the people you see every so often to that they can check to see how you are doing and if you need adjustments in your treatment.
A psychologist is a PhD, not a medical doctor.
Therefore, the psychologist cannot prescribe medication.
The psychologist is the one you see for counseling.
I PERSONALLY believe that in order for therapy to work well, you have to have a good relationship with the therapist (and that could take a couple of tries). Also, you need to go on a regular basis to TRY to prevent things from getting too much and blowing up.
If medication is the way to go, the psychiatrist will probably do a blood workup on you to make sure nothing else is going on that can impact the way you are feeling. The psychologist cannot.
As far as the chills. I am NOT in the medical field, but I can tell you that when I would have an anxiety attack, my entire body would quiver like I had the chills, but I was not cold.
Do you actually FEEL COLD?? Or, is your body just quivering?
Hope this helps!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jul 2, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Hi my nickname is Smilie but I cry mostly. I’ve been depressed since I was about..." + (show)
@smilie

Hi my nickname is Smilie but I cry mostly. I’ve been depressed since I was about 12 years old and now I’m 60 years old and not feeling better!!!! Everything that I learned over the years isn’t working right now. I learned CBT, DBT, mindfulness and more. I have become suicidal, but I have no plans. Life sucks right now, big time!!!!

Jump to this post

Hi, @smilie - I moved your post to this existing discussion where you've posted before so that those you've been talking with before can receive your update. Click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to get to your post.

It sounds like it's been a long, difficult road with your depression, especially with everything you've learned over the years not working right now.

It’s important to know you are not alone! Glad you have connected with @gingerw. I’m tagging @grandmar @hopeful33250 @pankaj @secretwhitepop @parus who also may be able to provide some support at this time. Your Connect community is here for you.

As you know, this is a safe place to talk as you feel the need. You mentioned before the idea of going to the hospital and an emergency crisis line you had on hand. I also want you to know about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org that you can call or text (988) any time for immediate help. Please call them, call your crisis line or go to the hospital if you are feeling threatened by your feelings of self-harm.

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1 reply
pankaj | @pankaj | Jul 3, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @smilie - I moved your post to this existing discussion where you've posted before so..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @smilie - I moved your post to this existing discussion where you've posted before so that those you've been talking with before can receive your update. Click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to get to your post.

It sounds like it's been a long, difficult road with your depression, especially with everything you've learned over the years not working right now.

It’s important to know you are not alone! Glad you have connected with @gingerw. I’m tagging @grandmar @hopeful33250 @pankaj @secretwhitepop @parus who also may be able to provide some support at this time. Your Connect community is here for you.

As you know, this is a safe place to talk as you feel the need. You mentioned before the idea of going to the hospital and an emergency crisis line you had on hand. I also want you to know about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org that you can call or text (988) any time for immediate help. Please call them, call your crisis line or go to the hospital if you are feeling threatened by your feelings of self-harm.

Jump to this post

@smilie: You have travelled the journey from 12 to 60 years successfully, despite your illness. That should encourage you. That means you can travel further. Please see your doctor and begin treatment right away. Our good wishes are with you.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jul 3, 2019
In reply to @pankaj "@smilie: You have travelled the journey from 12 to 60 years successfully, despite your illness. That..." + (show)
@pankaj

@smilie: You have travelled the journey from 12 to 60 years successfully, despite your illness. That should encourage you. That means you can travel further. Please see your doctor and begin treatment right away. Our good wishes are with you.

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@smilie - just wanted to check in with you today and see how you are feeling?

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 7, 2019
In reply to @sakota "I am at a fork in the road. I do suffer from depression which started when..." + (show)
@sakota

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.

Jump to this post

@sakota- Morning Joan. Usually when I get the chills it's because my system is off is some way. Have you checked with a Neurologist about any of this, chills, shaking, etc?
As far as choosing between a counselor or therapist it's a roll of the die. Try one and if that doesn't help try the other. But don't settle for "I just don't know." You've had this for a while now and one of your doctors needs to address this seriously. Did your chills start after your immunotherapy started?

REPLY
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jul 8, 2019

Thought it might be nice to get an update from some of you who have talked about anxiety and depression, for the benefit of all those in this discussion.

@stressedmesseddepressed - wondering how things are going? Did you end up hiring a life coach?

@beebz - thinking of you. How are your aripiprazole (abilify), Fluoxetine (Prozac), modafinil and clonazepam (Klonopin) working for you? Are you noticing any side effects?

@guener - how are you doing? You talked about your psychiatrist prescribing 5000 units of vitamin D per day as well as a "stress complex" vitamin B. Do you find those are making a difference?

REPLY
1 reply
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jul 9, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "Thought it might be nice to get an update from some of you who have talked..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Thought it might be nice to get an update from some of you who have talked about anxiety and depression, for the benefit of all those in this discussion.

@stressedmesseddepressed - wondering how things are going? Did you end up hiring a life coach?

@beebz - thinking of you. How are your aripiprazole (abilify), Fluoxetine (Prozac), modafinil and clonazepam (Klonopin) working for you? Are you noticing any side effects?

@guener - how are you doing? You talked about your psychiatrist prescribing 5000 units of vitamin D per day as well as a "stress complex" vitamin B. Do you find those are making a difference?

Jump to this post

Hi all! FYI, my doc prescribed generic seroquel for one week and then add Zoloft to it. Been on the Zoloft for three days now with minimal anxiety side effects.

Doc thinks I may be bipolar and that is why the Lexapro caused high anxiety.

I like seroquel and it truly zonked me out at first. (Only been on it a week and two days) but now it doesn’t make me as sleepy.

Hoping to ween off seroquel and just do Zoloft, probably for the rest of my life.

I think my body needs SSRI assistance.

REPLY
1 reply
BoneHead | @stsopoci | Jul 9, 2019
In reply to @secretwhitepop "Hi all! FYI, my doc prescribed generic seroquel for one week and then add Zoloft to..." + (show)
@secretwhitepop

Hi all! FYI, my doc prescribed generic seroquel for one week and then add Zoloft to it. Been on the Zoloft for three days now with minimal anxiety side effects.

Doc thinks I may be bipolar and that is why the Lexapro caused high anxiety.

I like seroquel and it truly zonked me out at first. (Only been on it a week and two days) but now it doesn’t make me as sleepy.

Hoping to ween off seroquel and just do Zoloft, probably for the rest of my life.

I think my body needs SSRI assistance.

Jump to this post

Glad you have found the med that works. It takes courage to keep going until you find it. I hope it brings calm to your life.

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smilie | @smilie | Jul 12, 2019

Hi. I took all my medicines, had breakfast, turned on the washing machine and I went back to bed. I still feel sleepy.

REPLY
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