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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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1st of all, you are not alone. Some people need meds for life. No shame in that. If you have a seizure disorder, you need meds for life, or RA, MS, an entire list of diseases that can be relieved with treatment. So, see a shrink and get on a mild antidepressant, not anything drastic at 1st if you can help it. See what your doctor says, ask about the side effects. If you don't like that doctor then see a different one until you find one who genuinely seems to care about helping you through. I can remember being depressed since I was 10 years old. After a suicide attempt in my early 30's I agreed to take an antidepressant. I have never stopped taking them. I had to switch a couple of times, but they had stopped working. Remember, once you find the right med for you it's okay to take meds, especially if they make you feel better. I have been living a happy life and it's been 40 years since that awful day. please get help, don't accept meds that don't help. Also, most of them can give you an "out of body" feeling at 1st, but that will go away. Give it a month or 2 and see if you don't feel better. Also, adding cbd or thc to prescription meds can be tricky. If you decide to continue let your doctors know that you are taking them and what for. They might have a better option that's covered by your insurance plan.
I do hope you feel better. Good luck to you.
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3 Reactions(@ancl123
If you’re in premenopause, I’ve learned that hormonal changes can cause sudden anxiety and depression on top of a lot of things. I’m 67 yrs, had hot flashes for 15 years which is a sign of loss of estrogen. I suddenly out of nowhere, came down with an uncontrollable debilitating anxiety disorder. I found a Naturopathic Doctor who knows this problem and am having hormone replacement therapy (HRT). I’ve only started it (less than a month) so have not experienced any change so far. Unfortunately it can take months. Praying to God this is the source of the problem. I’m also taking most of the supplements, etc that you listed. And taking a very low dose (0.25 - 0.5 mg) of clonazepam per day. Just started trying CBD oil. Need to get some proper medical advice on it because I’ve come across a medical paper that showed positive results taking the right dose for anxiety disorder.
Good luck to you.
BTW, I plan to post progress on the HRT in the Women’s Health section.
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4 ReactionsIf you’re keeping up with thread, agree with another poster who suggested getting some blood work done. Something you would need to ask for is Folate levels — low folate levels are often associated with depression.
You can search for articles discussing folate and the L-methylfolate supplement; however, if you do want to try this, be careful and up the doses slowly. Even still, I became overmethylated and then suicidal. But, blood tests still the way to go (also test for high homocysteine levels which is also related to depression).
Best wishes!
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3 ReactionsI haven’t re-started Lexapro but have used it perhaps 9-10 years. AI online reports 12% of users report poor quality sleep. More cite drowsiness, & more. I don’t know if it’s helping me clandestinely in some way. My big gripe has been anxiety, more latent now, but still sucks. I take Xanax (1.5mg daily). Personally I’d never expect an antidepressant to be much of a helpful anxiolytic such as I needed when it all began, years ago. Zoloft, Prozac, Wellbutrin, no help. I am NO doctor, but some say Spravato helpful with TRD. But so many caveats come with it! I think that ONE therapist I saw for probably 10, hour-long visits, helped me to realize and accept as creditable a fully non-medically related and bygone genesis of my anxiety-laden life. And REALIZING that - in the end - while fulfilling - didn’t help a crap in dealing with my personal on-going vexation. The opportunity to weed out the roots of my fear, itself had been unintentionally uprooted and left to wither. It’s true. But understanding and remembering cannot always change the “now”. Thank you. 💊
Hi,
I’m sorry to hear you’re experiencing this. I’m having a very similar experience trying to restart Lexapro. I was on it for over 20years then rotated slowly off and started experiencing terrible insomnia after trying to restart again. Now experiencing panic attacks as well and sleeplessness if I try to go above 2.5 mg. Taking progesterone as I’m also pre-menopausal and that has helped get some sleep but doesn’t seem enough above the 2.5. Has anything helped for you? Did you decide to stay off the Lexapro or restart. I’m also navigating recent grief so think all of these factors play a role. Sending support and hope things are getting better for you!
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1 ReactionHello! I am sorry you are going through this too. My insomnia every other night and taking trazadone. I did restart and it’s been 10 weeks I have appointment today with Dr. i got up to 15 and now weaning off now on 5. Very scared. I don’t want to rely on sleep stuff. I too am now on progesterone and estrogen but it’s not helping. What does your Dr say?
The lexapro didn’t help one bit looking for alternates and praying something cuts this anxiety.
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3 Reactions@whatr4do
Thank you. So Pristiq didn’t help insomnia? What else do you take for it?
@ancl123
Hi, sorry you’re still dealing with this. The Progesterone helped me sleep on 2.5 but tried 5 of Lexapro yesterday and the insomnia came back so now thinking might go back down to 2.5 but want to talk to my Dr. the Lexapro is helping with the anxiety/panic, but not with the insomnia yet. I did use Ashwagandha last night and it finally helped me drop off into sleep. I can’t take too much of it lowers my mood unless I’m on the Lexapro but it worked to help with sleep last night, just 150 mg.
Keep me posted on how you’re doing and if you find anything that helps and I will too. Hearing about the Trazodone from a few people do if that’s helpful short term I might try some. I don’t want to become dependent on something either but something for the short term could be helpful. I was reading last night that some people who stop a medication like we did and restart can be more sensitive to it than they originally were. So that might be what’s going on. It definitely seems to spike my serotonin more now. I’ll speak to my dr this week, he’s been very sick. Keep me posted on what you find out and best wishes. Will be thinking about/praying for you!
@ancl123
Also I noticed we’re both on amino acids. The L-Tryptophan does work on serotonin so that one could be impacting you with the Lexapro. I stopped my 5HTP for now (L-Trptophan is a precursor to 5HTP I believe) as I wonder if it could be bumping up my serotonin as well. We’ll see. Right now it seems my body needs a little bit of Lexapro for “feel normal” and not panic but then I can’t sleep. Might get better as my body gets used to it or might drop down to 2.5 again when I speak to my dr. I’d be interested in if the Ashwagandha helps you with sleep/panic. I’m trying the FutureBiotics brand of 150 mg per capsule.