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How to Help Myself with Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks
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 Hi there, wanted to check in and see how things are going for you and if they've improved at all on your new medication. Hope you're doing a bit better! Sending you support.
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1 Reaction@climbingmountains81
Hello! Thanks so
Much for checking in. I am so far 🤞doing better and have been sleeping 6-7 hrs per night on the Prozac. I am going into week 6 on Prozac 20mg. Most nights I don’t need any sleep
Stuff which has been frankly a miracle. Maybe once a week if that. I even had one 16 night stretch with no sleep meds using sleep restriction window of 6 hrs. How are you??
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2 Reactions@ancl123 Oh I'm SO glad to hear that! That's amazing! I'm still figuring things out. I felt better for a bit on 10 mg of Lexapro but then tried to go up a little bit for mood support and things blew up a bit again sleep and activation/symptom-wise. Definitely seems to be a kindling response from what I've read about where the body can become overly sensitized to a medication. Might end up having to switch meds like you did. I am getting more sleep thank goodness without meds and just with 2 mg of melatonin but was waking up at first early with the dose change. So glad to hear you're doing better! Very hopeful! Are your mood symtpoms doing ok on Prozac as well?
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1 ReactionHello! Glad to hear you are overall sleeping well!! The Prozac helps a bit with mood nothing groundbreaking. I still have a lot of anxiety the day after when I don’t sleep well. They recommended I go up to 30mg but not sure. I am
Gonna give it some more time. Please keep Me posted on how
You do. How
Long have you been on the lexapro?
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1 ReactionYou will get through these hard times. This is a chapter in your life and try to see it as temporary. The medication is tough I know. But, there are many psychiatrists out there that can offer second opinions if you choose to do that. Hang in there. I’m very sorry for your loss. I personally understand. You’re never alone. Remember that.
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3 Reactions@katnewton thanks for these kind words. Not even sure who they’re for but I’m taking comfort in them! ❤️❤️
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1 ReactionYes, I am on meds for life! I have an immune deficiency and an auto-immune disease as well. I do struggle with anxiety and with depression at times. Lexapro didn't work for me. I am a natural type of lavender oil, called Calm Aid, I believe. Have you thought about doing something without medication- like Neuro feedback? I am exploring that, my son had it done and it really helped him. He struggled with attention issues, anxiety and depression in the past.
There's also other non-traditional therapies as opposed to medication, like counseling/therapy, TMS, exercising like walking, taking an exercise class, deep breathing, yoga, pilates, mindfulness, meditation. Natural type over the counter remedies- going to a health food store and trying anxiety/depression medicine there. There's also Melatonin for help in sleeping at night. I have seen a functional medicine Dr. and she and he have been wonderful and helped a lot. It is pricey, especially since insurance doesn't cover for everything at the Functional Medicine Dr. There is a lot of out of pocket expenses. However, I had a ton of testing done and I found out I had an auto immune disease from that testing. They also told me I was lacking in B vitamins and suggested supplements for me to take. I had extensive food testing done. Awhile back, I had it done and it showed dairy and gluten/wheat were the problem for me. My Dr. said for me to go gluten free and avoid cheese, milk/dairy. Well, I started with gluten free and it helped so much! I moved on to dairy free, yes it is way more difficult to shop, eat out and eat at other's homes/potlucks, etc... It is worth it, for me to be pain free and not deal with the diarrhea, coughing, throwing up, clearing my throat a lot and of course, tummy aches. I had no clue before then that I had food intolerances. I was using aloe vera leaf juice every morning and it helped till I forgot my aloe vera leaf juice on weekend trip we took. Then, I saw how bad I was after eating at Red Lobster! The functional medicine Dr spends way more time with you, as they are different than your traditional Dr. It wouldn't hurt to go this route, if you are able and willing to do that. They could suggest more natural type supplements for sleeping/anxiety/depression, etc... As far as traditional medicine goes, Bupropion has worked for me in the past. It made me sleepy, so I took it before bedtime. I get a lot of side effects from medicine prescribed from a Dr. Find another Dr. if that is the route you want to go, another Psychiatrist, there are some great ones out there. Get recommendations from friends or family or online reviews, etc... I hope things improve for you!
I'm sorry for this late post. Some of what I write may have been covered.
Please get a Dr's opinion - it sounds to me like you have chronic depression. I had my first panic attack at 19 back in 1972. There were no good drugs to treat. panic attacks, OCD, and of course chronic depression.
30 years later and I finally went to see a Dr again with overwhelming depression. He prescribed Paxil and it has mostly worked for the last 22 years, although I recently increased my dose to 50 mg, the max.
So please check with your Dr. To your last point, yes I believe I'lll be on anti-depressants for life. Much better than the alternative for me. Gettting regular cardio exercise has also helped me.
You are most certainly not alone! Please take some comfort that what you describe can be treated with meds and talk therapy.
All the best to you!
Joe
@ancl123 I’ve been on the Lexapro now since December at varying doses trying to find the right one. Tried to go up to 15 mg of Lexapro and was way too shaky. I found another friend who is going through this same thing after restarting meds and she was taking amino acids like 5HTP before she got back on. Weren’t you taking amino acids too before you got back on meds? I’m thinking that might be the cause of what’s made my system so sensitive. Are you completely off amino acids now and how are things continuing to go for you?
I was taking tryptophan and some 5htp for a short while before fully getting on lexapro. Didn’t help like in the past. I am
On Prozac 20mg now and it seems to be helping overall. Not
Perfect but better. I am also
Taking 100 progesterone and estrogen patches.
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