Connect
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
Hi!
I'm so sorry you are going through all of these problems! Are you seeing a doctor? Also read the side effects of the medications that you are taking. That may provide some information to the symptoms that you have.
I don't take any medication for anxiety but I do have anxiety! My husband died in 2024. I miss him terribly. Here I am at 79 and all alone. I have no family except one son who hasn't spoken to me in 20 years! There are many times when I am terrified on how to deal with things! When that happens I turn to God and put all my problems in his hands and it works! Just talk to God like he's your best friend and he is! You don't have to go to church to find God. Although church can be very nice. God made you and he can fix you!
You have some problems now but you also have some very nice things in your life. You are only 47! I wish I was 47 again! You have a lot of wonderful years ahead of you. And, you have 4 wonderful children to share those years with!
I hope things work out with your medications. I'll say a prayer for you.
God Bless You!
PML
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@ancl123
Per my Mayo medication psychiatrist specialist when you go on Lexapro it is for life. It brings you back to a normal state. It can be raised up if needed but I was told would be on if for life.
You mentioned sleeping problems. Have your doctors mentioned sleep aids like Trazadone. It worked for me. It kind of stops your brain from jumping from one thought to another. There also many other medication out there that can help.
Are you working with your doctors before coming off medications or going back on them?
You mentioned stress and anxiety. How is your lifestyle? Do you enjoy any type of exercise? After checking with your doctors exercise you (the ones you smile while doing) can help remove stress and anxiety and release endorphins that trigger feelings of well being (comes from my medical doctors).
Don't like any type of exercise (I do 5 days a week of water aerobics) how about a hobby? Hobbies also help you relax and enjoy an activity with same release of endorphins.
Talk to your doctors. Stress, anxiety, cause a release of adrenaline. That is the fight or flight hormone. If you don't do something like exercise or hobby to release build up it can cause a anxiety/panic attack as body had to release the adrenline.
Hope this helps. But you need to work with your doctors when stopping or starting medications.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@ancl123
I have been off and on anxiety/depression medication since my 20s and now in my 50s. Hormone changes, especially with pregnancy/postpartum/peri-menopause and menopause increased my symptoms and made my panic attacks worse.
You have some stress and loss added to your anxiety/depression which is affecting sleep. Are you working with a psychiatrist to help you manage your medications?
Don’t worry about how long you are on medications. Make sure you are getting the treatment needed to help you sleep and manage your day to day life as best as possible.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI have been on and off medications for a long time. I take Trazadone for sleep. It helps. I also take duloxetine (30 mg. lowest dose) for depression. It is an SNRI. I found that those work better for me than SSRI's. I used to exercise every morning to combat stress and anxiety as well as just for my health. I am also on the Long COVID page here as I have had it for 3 years now. I am no longer able to run or do weights like I used to. I try to practice mindfulness when I start spinning out if I am triggered by my thoughts. They are usually thoughts about the past or thoughts about the future. I remind myself that all I have to do is today. It makes it easier. I breath as well. Inhale for 7-8 seconds, hold for 5 seconds and then breath out for as long as I can. When I do that about 4-5 times, I can feel the anxiety dissipate. Hang in there!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@ancl123
For depression I am currently on Vraylar. It’s a fairly new drug that is technically for schizophrenia but is being prescribed for treatment resistant depression with excellent results.
For sleep I take Temazepam which is a very strong benzodiazepine but the only thing that works for me.
My situation is very different from yours so please don’t judge the medication that works best for me as something that would work best for you. They both have some initial side effects that can be tough to deal with and both are extremely difficult and painful to get off of.
Keep talking to your doctor and keep posting here, hopefully you will find people that have more similar circumstances to you.
In the end though, pain is pain, and I can surely relate to yours and extend my deepest sympathies and greatest hopes that you will get through this and end up in a better place. Best wishes to you and your family.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHere are my thoughts. Please go to your family doctor and get some blood work done to see if there is an organic cause of your panic attacks. I say that because it is a new symptom for you. Also, you need to see a female doctor who can deal with your peri- menopausal symptoms. Lastly, at 47 your melatonin levels have dropped. It regulates your sleep cycle and also helps in preventing dementia, and, it is thought, some cancers. I started out with 1mg. one hour before bedtime and now take 3 mg. Cleveland clinic has helpful information on melatonin and sleep disorders. I have gone through very stressful times that affected my sleep. But I have also dealt with illnesses that also affected my sleep until I was properly diagnosed. Two conditions, at the same time, or one illness, coupled with a stressful situation are all possibilities. I think you need to get some medical testing, certainly take a small amount of melatonin from now on, ( and raise the level by a few milligrams to see if that helps ). And please talk to a good therapist. I think that this is a multi- faceted problem. I have gone through something similar.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@mbixler could be perimenopause. HRT could help
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI am 70 years old, so not perimenopause. Plus I have a clotting disorder, so HRT is out, as it increases risk of clots. I thank you for the thoughts, but I’m a medical oddity, with 26 health issues - some autoimmune. Doctors have been struggling to treat me safely for my whole life. Truly a lemon since birth, which didn’t help with my parent’s abuse. Seems that having a kid with numerous medical issues causes a lot of anger.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI didn't taken lexapro, but tamoxifen I took for 10 weeks. I have been on amitriptyline for 40 years. Take 25 mg at bedtime to keep Chronic Fatigue Syndrome away. It isn't addictive. I know because when in my 20s I took same med for depression. After 8 years I stopped cold turkey with no problem at all and stayed off for many years. Until 40 years ago I got CFS. Restarted the med and it got my CFS under control. I will keep taking it until I die. It's an old drug, but effective drug. By the way, I'm old, in case you haven't figured it out.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@jc76
Hello! I exercise atleast one hr each day.
I didn’t talk to the Dr when coming off it was very slow ween. but sure am now going to going back on.
I have taken Remeron and trazadone before but don’t like to every night. I really want a medicine that will take care of the insomnia anxiety so then I don’t need a sedative at night. The lexapro I would take at night once I got up to 10mg.
Thank you 😊 I need to start thinking that when I was having babies I was so scared of meds. Now that I’m past that point I need to relax about that. It’s a challenge for me.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions