How to Help Myself with Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks

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 😊

No more lexapronstarted Prozac a week ago. Prozac less activating but still sleeping bad. Psychiatrist Recommended adding trazadone 100 at night or Remeron or Doxepin🥹

No more lexapronstarted Prozac a week ago. Prozac less activating but still sleeping bad. Psychiatrist Recommended adding trazadone 100 at night or Remeron or Doxepin🥹

@sarawiet thank for sharing about your experience! Are you still on the Lexapro? Are you doing Progesterone and Estrogen? So glad you’ve found some relief!!

@climbingmountains81 yes I’m on all three.

@sarawiet I’ve been on lexapro for years and now estrogen and progesterone for a month and a a half and feel like a different person.

@sarawiet wow, so helpful to hear!! Thanks for sharing! I tried the progesterone and it seemed to affect my mood a little and cause acid reflux some so was nervous to take it without knowing for sure if I need it. Just got some testing though so should know more soon! Appreciate you sharing your experience ❤️🙏 Perimenopause is definitely not talked about enough and impacts so many of us!

@sarawiet wow, so helpful to hear!! Thanks for sharing! I tried the progesterone and it seemed to affect my mood a little and cause acid reflux some so was nervous to take it without knowing for sure if I need it. Just got some testing though so should know more soon! Appreciate you sharing your experience ❤️🙏 Perimenopause is definitely not talked about enough and impacts so many of us!

@climbingmountains81 I hope you find some relief🫶🏻

@climbingmountains81 mod course wish I had the answer! Hoping to come back on here and share what helps. Let me know when you get results and what helps. It is not talked about and I feel like some women suffer more than others. Lucky me