Mental Health |OT| Depression & Co.

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Does anyone get this feeling in their chesr, right at the base of the sternum, that persists when they are sad or depressed? And if so, what the hell is it?
 
Why am I such a loser? My friend wants to go to a gay club tonight and all I can think of is that I'm way too ugly and no one would even want to be with me. My friend is handsome and slim so guys gravitate to him.
 
Does anyone get this feeling in their chesr, right at the base of the sternum, that persists when they are sad or depressed? And if so, what the hell is it?

Not related to depression but I get pressure in my chest when having a bout with anxiety. It's usually a precursor to a panic attack for me.

Why am I such a loser? My friend wants to go to a gay club tonight and all I can think of is that I'm way too ugly and no one would even want to be with me. My friend is handsome and slim so guys gravitate to him.

Well you're not alone. Most people with depression depreciate themselves and have self-esteem issues. Lends credence to depression and anxiety being tied together. I still haven't seen the new Star Wars film because of anxiety of being in public. It's really tough to overcome our own perception of ourselves.
 
Why am I such a loser? My friend wants to go to a gay club tonight and all I can think of is that I'm way too ugly and no one would even want to be with me. My friend is handsome and slim so guys gravitate to him.

I'm sorry you feel that way. The standards of physical beauty makes a lot of people feel bad about themselves. I think the best anyone can do is to be true to themselves and focus on their strengths. Be honest about their weakness. We might not be lookers or handsome, but we might have other skills that can be attractive. It has certainly happened before that people have been able to overlook physical beauty in their partners.
 
Why do you have zero optimisim, Anth0ny?

I don't know, I guess it's just the depression talking. Usually on new years eve I feel pretty good and optimistic and ready to face the next year and better myself. this time I just felt like complete shit when everyone was celebrating and doing the countdown and all that jazz.

you'd think I'd be happy that the worst year of my life was coming to an end, but not really.
 
Been pretty up and down lately, which is actually good news, since before it was just all down. So while it's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, I've been in a good mood for half a day here and there this past week.

Also, I told one of my good friends I have depression today. It felt good to stop having to lie to her with the "Oh, I'm just tired" and whatnot.
 
I'm sorry you feel that way. The standards of physical beauty makes a lot of people feel bad about themselves. I think the best anyone can do is to be true to themselves and focus on their strengths. Be honest about their weakness. We might not be lookers or handsome, but we might have other skills that can be attractive. It has certainly happened before that people have been able to overlook physical beauty in their partners.

My appearance is really horrible, fat, ugly, no good attributes or anything. Honestly i dont know why i even exist except for being a loser. i have no talents or redeeming qualities. So disappointed that i cannot even lose weight. i cannot even muster the strength and willpower to jump off a bridge or jump in front of a train.
 
Well, Brintellix has helped my anxiety a lot, but feel depressed or more. I have no motivation or thoughts of doing anything. Feel like a piece of my brain is missing.
 
My appearance is really horrible, fat, ugly, no good attributes or anything. Honestly i dont know why i even exist except for being a loser. i have no talents or redeeming qualities. So disappointed that i cannot even lose weight. i cannot even muster the strength and willpower to jump off a bridge or jump in front of a train.

Why would you think of those two methods of suicide? They are quite violent.
 
Man i really want to get off Effexor. I can never sleep on a regular schedule so my doses are spread out all over the place. And even being an hour "late" taking the medicine results in some serious brain shocks, or if I'm sleeping, night terrors. Awful awful drug. I'd rather be depressed.
 
Man i really want to get off Effexor. I can never sleep on a regular schedule so my doses are spread out all over the place. And even being an hour "late" taking the medicine results in some serious brain shocks, or if I'm sleeping, night terrors. Awful awful drug. I'd rather be depressed.

Yeah, those SSNRIs are tough.
Depending on your diagnosis, maybe a combo of other non-competing meds would do.



The metaphor I keep coming to is that we have hammers when we really need fine chisels.
 
I'm sorry your depression is kicking in hardcore, Shinypogs. I find it interesting, though, how quickly you seem to jump the gap from "things are bad right now" to "things will be bad this entire year". Surely you can see the gap there, right? The only certainty is the present moment, our future is yet to be shaped by the present moments leading up to it. The year has just begun, and there are many, many present moments yet to come.

Thanks, my brain is sort of hardwired to move from thing is bad to = everything is the worst. Apparently it's typical of borderline people *shrugs*. Sometimes I catch myself going into overdrive and can use some techniques I've been learning in therapy to settle myself and evaluate the situation but other times I've gone past threshold before I notice. I'm going to ask my psychiatrist about attending a CBT group since that's supposed to help that sort of thing. Not looking forward to dealing with other people if it has to be group therapy again but I do want to get better and i can;t do it all by myself.

I'm going to restart my daily walking/jogging again tomorrow, last year it was the thing that most gave me a schedule and a sense of purpose and accomplishment so hopefully it will help again.
 
Woke up this morning in a fantastic mood and have been in an incredible mood all morning so far. This is brilliant. It's my first day off in a long time, and I guess I needed it more than I suspected.
 
My appearance is really horrible, fat, ugly, no good attributes or anything. Honestly i dont know why i even exist except for being a loser. i have no talents or redeeming qualities. So disappointed that i cannot even lose weight. i cannot even muster the strength and willpower to jump off a bridge or jump in front of a train.

Neojubei, I am really really sad that you're saying these things. For several reasons.

First of all, I think you're a good poster and I have always got the impression that you are intelligent and thoughtful. The Ryan Davis memorial thread is still one of the most important threads ever on Neogaf.

Secondly, what you're talking about and what you're saying hits very very close to home for me. I remember feeling the exact same way, and I have struggled a lot.
I've been very inspired by these talks about Joe Rogan/Adam Carolla/Duncan Trussell who talk about depression. It was recently reuploaded. I hope it can help you because I think the advice is sound. Particularly Duncans at the end. I'm always teary eyed when he begins talking; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siHp8U_26ys


Lastly, I want to tell you that looking good and losing weight is not the end-thing. Many people think it's the thing because we are probed to focus on problems and thinking in concrete solutions. You will have to love yourself. As a fat person, as a thin person, as an attractive person, as an unattractive person.
So start with that. By all means, lose the weight, get in shape, learn new skills, get lots of qualities, but also appreciate yourself for the good things you have. Right now.
How you look at yourself also determines how you look at other people. Changing the way we look at ourselves, and to forgive ourselves and appreciate ourselves for what we are. Cosmic beings of pure energy who exists in a tiny window in time, floating on a rock going 9000 MPH through space, for eons, until the universe itself will be evaporated and our solar system will be imploded into a black hole.

It's really scary, but it is also the most optimistic thought ever. Nobody is more or less a loser than anyone else. What you achieve in life, is pointless. Everyone is going to die. So you are not better or worse than anyone else. It is why it is such a shame if you believe in a script that is based of comparing yourself to others.

You have to understand that many people who you look up to or think has something desirable have demons themselves that you cannot comprehend. And some of those demons inhibits them from appreciating their own qualities. Most people are unhappy with themselves. At least in some aspects.
I'm not there, and I am not sure if I will ever be there, but if you can get to a place where you let go of all the judgment, you are released from your baggage of shitty feelings. Your mind rigged the rules. Your mind has set you up to fail because you base success and your happiness on criteria that does not favor you. Many people who are overweight and unattractive are some of the greatest humans on earth. So don't believe it.
 
Woke up this morning in a fantastic mood and have been in an incredible mood all morning so far. This is brilliant. It's my first day off in a long time, and I guess I needed it more than I suspected.

I am glad you are in such a great mood. I should probably be in a bad state right now because I kind of went off diet the other day but I am not as bummed as I thought I would be after waking up. Hopefully this feeling last for a extended period of time for you, you deserve it.
 
I am glad you are in such a great mood. I should probably be in a bad state right now because I kind of went off diet the other day but I am not as bummed as I thought I would be after waking up. Hopefully this feeling last for a extended period of time for you, you deserve it.

Glad you're doing better than you thought you would be as well!
And thanks! I really hope so too! Whenever I get a taste of happiness, I cross my fingers that it's the beginning of a new pattern rather than just a fluke. It's been about 6-7 weeks since I started Prozac, so there is the possibility that it's my meds kicking in. Really hoping that's the case.
 
Do you have any sense of what changed to put you on the other side of that fear, Xe4? It is quite interesting that it changed so suddenly.

Either way, I'm glad you're feeling better :)

<3

I had a huge fear of death for the longest time, and then a few months ago (it's been about half a year I think) when I was feeling really weird, the fear went away, which was funny enough the scariest thing ever.

I mean the fear of dying was still there but I stopped thinking that no longer existing would be scary. When I made the post a few nights ago the fear returned when I was thinking about my friends dad, who died in a car crash a few years back. I didn't ever know him but him passing away left the family with a lot of problems.

But then I thought what it would be like to be him and that got me very scared, which I guess was nice, and shitty at the same time.

My neuropsychologist (who plans on prescribing me Wellburin) says I need to talk to my doctor because it is uncommon for depression to arise out of the blue at my age (19), without any other circumstances. He thinks there is a possibility that it is something physical that is causing my depression.

I guess it's not that I now fear death again and I will no longer have suicidal thoughts, but when I do I have a strategy that will make me feel much worse but ultimately save my life if I need to use it.
 
Today started out okay but I got a sudden spike of pain and my mood has tanked with it. It all seems so futile, I don't know. On the bright side, I do seem to have stabilized my sleep schedule, at least for now. I woke up at 6:30 AM this morning and I can't imagine being awake for too much longer (it's 3 PM at the moment). I got to see it snow, which was pretty. We haven't had significant accumulation in Seattle for what seems like ages.

It's important for me not to take about the things I can't (and likely never will) do because it's just devastating.
 
These last couple of weeks have been really rough. I've been on Zoloft the last year, and before that Prozac, but neither have really helped. I ran out about a week ago. My therapist suggested Lexapro, but I'm still trying to see a psychiatrist to actually prescribe it. I'm just tired of everything. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be around, but either way, thanks for everything GAF. I've met some really good people on here and I wish you all the best.
 
Neojubei, I am really really sad that you're saying these things. For several reasons.

First of all, I think you're a good poster and I have always got the impression that you are intelligent and thoughtful. The Ryan Davis memorial thread is still one of the most important threads ever on Neogaf.

Secondly, what you're talking about and what you're saying hits very very close to home for me. I remember feeling the exact same way, and I have struggled a lot.
I've been very inspired by these talks about Joe Rogan/Adam Carolla/Duncan Trussell who talk about depression. It was recently reuploaded. I hope it can help you because I think the advice is sound. Particularly Duncans at the end. I'm always teary eyed when he begins talking; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siHp8U_26ys


Lastly, I want to tell you that looking good and losing weight is not the end-thing. Many people think it's the thing because we are probed to focus on problems and thinking in concrete solutions. You will have to love yourself. As a fat person, as a thin person, as an attractive person, as an unattractive person.
So start with that. By all means, lose the weight, get in shape, learn new skills, get lots of qualities, but also appreciate yourself for the good things you have. Right now.
How you look at yourself also determines how you look at other people. Changing the way we look at ourselves, and to forgive ourselves and appreciate ourselves for what we are. Cosmic beings of pure energy who exists in a tiny window in time, floating on a rock going 9000 MPH through space, for eons, until the universe itself will be evaporated and our solar system will be imploded into a black hole.

It's really scary, but it is also the most optimistic thought ever. Nobody is more or less a loser than anyone else. What you achieve in life, is pointless. Everyone is going to die. So you are not better or worse than anyone else. It is why it is such a shame if you believe in a script that is based of comparing yourself to others.

You have to understand that many people who you look up to or think has something desirable have demons themselves that you cannot comprehend. And some of those demons inhibits them from appreciating their own qualities. Most people are unhappy with themselves. At least in some aspects.
I'm not there, and I am not sure if I will ever be there, but if you can get to a place where you let go of all the judgment, you are released from your baggage of shitty feelings. Your mind rigged the rules. Your mind has set you up to fail because you base success and your happiness on criteria that does not favor you. Many people who are overweight and unattractive are some of the greatest humans on earth. So don't believe it.

Thanks for the kind words.
 
I didn't mean to come off as serious or anything. I know you weren't being harsh or anything. I enjoy your input into the things I post. If I ever have a problem with how you respond I'll be sure to say it flat out and not have you wondering.

Thanks redlegs. Sometimes my anxiety / worry gets the best of me, even on GAF.

Does anyone get this feeling in their chesr, right at the base of the sternum, that persists when they are sad or depressed? And if so, what the hell is it?

Often my feelings of extreme sadness are accompanied by a feeling of "weight" in my chest, if that's what you're referring to. It's not painful, but I can feel it, just sitting there, a dull heaviness that makes me feel even more sluggish than I already am.

I've never thought to look into what causes it. Hmm, now I'm curious.

I don't know, I guess it's just the depression talking. Usually on new years eve I feel pretty good and optimistic and ready to face the next year and better myself. this time I just felt like complete shit when everyone was celebrating and doing the countdown and all that jazz.

you'd think I'd be happy that the worst year of my life was coming to an end, but not really.

Well, do you have a sense of anything you can do that could make this year better than the last?

Well, Brintellix has helped my anxiety a lot, but feel depressed or more. I have no motivation or thoughts of doing anything. Feel like a piece of my brain is missing.

The question is, has the alleviation of anxiety simply made the pre-existing depression come into focus and attention, or is the medication dampening you down so much that you've gone from an excited state (anxiety) to a depressed state? Either way, I would definitely mention it to your doctor, and I hope it clears up soon.

Man i really want to get off Effexor. I can never sleep on a regular schedule so my doses are spread out all over the place. And even being an hour "late" taking the medicine results in some serious brain shocks, or if I'm sleeping, night terrors. Awful awful drug. I'd rather be depressed.

Do you have an appointment soon where you can discuss alternatives, karasu? Effexor can be very difficult to get used to for some people but there are tons of other options out there.

Thanks, my brain is sort of hardwired to move from thing is bad to = everything is the worst. Apparently it's typical of borderline people *shrugs*. Sometimes I catch myself going into overdrive and can use some techniques I've been learning in therapy to settle myself and evaluate the situation but other times I've gone past threshold before I notice. I'm going to ask my psychiatrist about attending a CBT group since that's supposed to help that sort of thing. Not looking forward to dealing with other people if it has to be group therapy again but I do want to get better and i can;t do it all by myself.

I'm going to restart my daily walking/jogging again tomorrow, last year it was the thing that most gave me a schedule and a sense of purpose and accomplishment so hopefully it will help again.

Both CBT and walking / jogging could be tremendously helpful, Shinypogs. Keep us posted on those leads (if you feel comfortable doing so)!

I had a huge fear of death for the longest time, and then a few months ago (it's been about half a year I think) when I was feeling really weird, the fear went away, which was funny enough the scariest thing ever.

I mean the fear of dying was still there but I stopped thinking that no longer existing would be scary. When I made the post a few nights ago the fear returned when I was thinking about my friends dad, who died in a car crash a few years back. I didn't ever know him but him passing away left the family with a lot of problems.

But then I thought what it would be like to be him and that got me very scared, which I guess was nice, and shitty at the same time.

My neuropsychologist (who plans on prescribing me Wellburin) says I need to talk to my doctor because it is uncommon for depression to arise out of the blue at my age (19), without any other circumstances. He thinks there is a possibility that it is something physical that is causing my depression.

I guess it's not that I now fear death again and I will no longer have suicidal thoughts, but when I do I have a strategy that will make me feel much worse but ultimately save my life if I need to use it.

Yeah, Xe4, it's a good idea to run depression by your doctor so that you can investigate several possible physical causes, such as thyroid function. For now, I'm glad you've found a way to reason yourself out of a suicidal place - though please don't hesitate to reach out to others if you find that that reasoning isn't working.

These last couple of weeks have been really rough. I've been on Zoloft the last year, and before that Prozac, but neither have really helped. I ran out about a week ago. My therapist suggested Lexapro, but I'm still trying to see a psychiatrist to actually prescribe it. I'm just tired of everything. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be around, but either way, thanks for everything GAF. I've met some really good people on here and I wish you all the best.

First of all, GT, if you're thinking of harming yourself please, please call a hotline (1 (800) 273-8255 in the US), seek emergency medical care, or both.

As far as the medications, how often are you seeing your psychiatrist? There are many, many options beyond what you've tried out there and it seems that if you've spent a year languishing on a medication it's way past time to try something else. That being said, I really, really do feel it's very important to take your medications as prescribed, otherwise it adds one more factor of complication onto the whole equation.

<3
 
After a week and a half break from work for the holidays, I feel like absolutely shit and miserable and hopeless only one day back at work. That's a new record.
 
I had my first teeth cleaning in a very long time today at the dentists. I am in so much pain right now my gums are killing me. I feel like I am going to break mentally it hurts so much. Then again I am probably just being a big wuss but whatever it is hurting like a motherfucker right now. I know kind of OT but it's very stressful and I am having trouble dealing with it.
 
I keep going back and forth on if I should just kill myself. It's a new year but it will be the same issues. No one wants to date me, I have a shitty awful job, no talents or interests. Why do I even struggle to wake in the morning. I already know for a fact come Valentine's Day I'll be alone. Everyday will be worse and worse. And it's all my fault. Best thing I can do for myself is to end it all. I'm doing more harm alive than dead to myself. I always get rejected and even when I try at something I always fail. People die everyday I don't need to be here and don't need to contribute to life.
 
To feel better I think I'm going to need to make some big changes in my life I don't think I'm ready to make. I don't feel good about much lately. I feel inadequate and the world feels distant.
 
Anyone care to share their experiences with Lexapro (escitalopram)? I've been on the drug for about a year and a half now, 20 mg a day. I was first put on it by a neurologist as I had been extremely stressed out - he called it an underlying anxiety disorder. Whether that is true or not, I'm not really certain - although I was definitely stressed and suffering from anxiety when he put me on it. There were things at home that caused me to feel stressed, which eventually (I believe) physically manifested itself in me as a tremor - most noticeable in the hands. This led to a series of events in which I went to the doctor, fearing I had early onset Parkinson's, only to be told by that doctor that my symptoms sounded like AlS, which freaked me out even more reading about these two terrible diseases I thought I might have.

I was having daily breakdowns where I would just start crying, hating my life and terribly afraid. I was seriously contemplating suicide at that point. It was pretty bad. Lexapro helped a little bit, I believe, at least at first. I think what helped more than the drug was leaving my parent's home (my father and I don't have a good relationship for differences in religious beliefs) and getting a new job, both of which reduced stress. I guess what I'm saying is I believe Lexapro helped, but I'm not sure as to what extent.

Anyway, fast forward to now, lately I feel like I've been struggling to have my mind function correctly. For the past several months, I've been experiencing:

-short term memory loss - this is something that's been bothering me a lot. My girlfriend or a friend will tell me something, and 5-10 minutes later I'll often completely have forgotten it with only a faint memory of it being discussed. Particularly an issue if I'm asked to do things and I forget to do it.

-lack of concentration - I feel like I have a hard time focusing my mind. Today I was filling out an unemployment document online (as I was recently laid off) and I spent probably a good 10 minutes trying to read the questions it was asking and trying to comprehend them. I was an advanced English student in high school and college. Now I feel like reading almost anything is a challenge.

-lack of motivation - I've felt little desire to accomplish anything. I've been coasting on the same boring job for a year now, my plans I had to continue school have pretty much gone out the window. Honestly, with how my mind is right now I feel like I'd be too dumb anyway. Things take me forever to get around to - my car's taillight was smashed a month ago (my fault) and I still haven't bothered to get it fixed. Lazy? Maybe. All I do right now is sleep late, play video games and watch some TV. I've always done those things, but I don't think to this extent.

-brain fuzziness - I've read other people describe this as a "fog" and I think that sums up my situation pretty well. I feel like my senses, emotions, interests, everything around me is dull and I'm just along for the boring ride. I feel like my mind has slowed and it's driving me crazy.

So back to where I am now. I've been laid off and haven't been taking it, cold turkey. Probably a stupid thing to do, but having gotten off my parent's insurance and being laid off I don't know if I want to spend several hundred dollars seeing a neurologist only to be told what I feel like I know already. The withdrawal is pretty bad - headaches almost constantly, feeling nauseous, dizzy at times - thank goodness I'm not working. Is this stupid? Probably. I don't know. I'm afraid the longer I'm on the drug the worse my mind will get.

Well, that was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Again, if anyone's been on Lexapro (or any other antidepressant), I'd just like to hear what it's been like for you, if you don't mind. Thanks.
 
DKQ, here's a post I wrote a while back summarizing the mental health treatment options that are out there.

It sounds to me like you're looking for counseling / a therapist, rather than a psychiatrist at this point. There are several ways to go around finding one (in the US, at least). You could go to your GP and ask for a referral. If you know someone else who's seen a therapist they've worked well with you could ask them for information. Otherwise you can call your insurer / go to their website and get a listing of the covered providers in your area. Once you've got some information you'll have to call a few and leave messages, and they'll get back to you about whether or not they have openings. If they do, you schedule an appointment to see if you get along, and then you either keep seeing them or try someone else.

As I said in that post, it may take a few tries to find someone whom you work well with but it IS worth it, and there is a sense of relief that often comes just with feeling like you're making steps towards finding solutions.

Let me know if anything is unclear or you have any other questions!
Thanks once again, Piano! That really cleared up a lot of things. If everything works out I will see my GP on Thursday.
 
After a week and a half break from work for the holidays, I feel like absolutely shit and miserable and hopeless only one day back at work. That's a new record.

Do you have any sense of what created the more sudden turnaround, StaticJam?

I had my first teeth cleaning in a very long time today at the dentists. I am in so much pain right now my gums are killing me. I feel like I am going to break mentally it hurts so much. Then again I am probably just being a big wuss but whatever it is hurting like a motherfucker right now. I know kind of OT but it's very stressful and I am having trouble dealing with it.

Ain't nothing wuss about dental pain, redlegs. Sorry you're feeling so much of it. I hope it's at least a bit better today.

My psychiatrist talked with me about a suicide action plan today. Hm.

How did it make you feel? Was it useful?

I keep going back and forth on if I should just kill myself. It's a new year but it will be the same issues. No one wants to date me, I have a shitty awful job, no talents or interests. Why do I even struggle to wake in the morning. I already know for a fact come Valentine's Day I'll be alone. Everyday will be worse and worse. And it's all my fault. Best thing I can do for myself is to end it all. I'm doing more harm alive than dead to myself. I always get rejected and even when I try at something I always fail. People die everyday I don't need to be here and don't need to contribute to life.

If you're still motivated to come here and share your feelings, though, neojubei, there must be some part of you that's still got a shred of hope.

I agree with much of what Vigilant Walrus said on this page. You seem to have a singular focus on this one issue - being attractive by a certain metric - which betrays the complexities of what actually makes us content and happy in this life. Often times when we get so tied onto one thing being the source of our misery we're missing the forest for the trees and overlooking bigger, more general issues.

That being said, I also continue to notice in every post that you treat this condition as permanent, as a given, as something that just is and will always be, when I strongly feel that it is the opposite and that things could be very, very different just a few months or a year down the line if we could only make sense of the path between here and there. Still, that journey often requires us to face some issues by walking straight through them since there is no way around them, and that can be quite difficult.

I hope some of this or what others wrote was helpful or lent some useful perspective. Let us know if there's anything we can do, and feel free to PM me.

To feel better I think I'm going to need to make some big changes in my life I don't think I'm ready to make. I don't feel good about much lately. I feel inadequate and the world feels distant.

What sorts of changes, AHB?

Anyone care to share their experiences with Lexapro (escitalopram)? I've been on the drug for about a year and a half now, 20 mg a day. I was first put on it by a neurologist as I had been extremely stressed out - he called it an underlying anxiety disorder. Whether that is true or not, I'm not really certain - although I was definitely stressed and suffering from anxiety when he put me on it. There were things at home that caused me to feel stressed, which eventually (I believe) physically manifested itself in me as a tremor - most noticeable in the hands. This led to a series of events in which I went to the doctor, fearing I had early onset Parkinson's, only to be told by that doctor that my symptoms sounded like AlS, which freaked me out even more reading about these two terrible diseases I thought I might have.

I was having daily breakdowns where I would just start crying, hating my life and terribly afraid. I was seriously contemplating suicide at that point. It was pretty bad. Lexapro helped a little bit, I believe, at least at first. I think what helped more than the drug was leaving my parent's home (my father and I don't have a good relationship for differences in religious beliefs) and getting a new job, both of which reduced stress. I guess what I'm saying is I believe Lexapro helped, but I'm not sure as to what extent.

Anyway, fast forward to now, lately I feel like I've been struggling to have my mind function correctly. For the past several months, I've been experiencing:

-short term memory loss - this is something that's been bothering me a lot. My girlfriend or a friend will tell me something, and 5-10 minutes later I'll often completely have forgotten it with only a faint memory of it being discussed. Particularly an issue if I'm asked to do things and I forget to do it.

-lack of concentration - I feel like I have a hard time focusing my mind. Today I was filling out an unemployment document online (as I was recently laid off) and I spent probably a good 10 minutes trying to read the questions it was asking and trying to comprehend them. I was an advanced English student in high school and college. Now I feel like reading almost anything is a challenge.

-lack of motivation - I've felt little desire to accomplish anything. I've been coasting on the same boring job for a year now, my plans I had to continue school have pretty much gone out the window. Honestly, with how my mind is right now I feel like I'd be too dumb anyway. Things take me forever to get around to - my car's taillight was smashed a month ago (my fault) and I still haven't bothered to get it fixed. Lazy? Maybe. All I do right now is sleep late, play video games and watch some TV. I've always done those things, but I don't think to this extent.

-brain fuzziness - I've read other people describe this as a "fog" and I think that sums up my situation pretty well. I feel like my senses, emotions, interests, everything around me is dull and I'm just along for the boring ride. I feel like my mind has slowed and it's driving me crazy.

So back to where I am now. I've been laid off and haven't been taking it, cold turkey. Probably a stupid thing to do, but having gotten off my parent's insurance and being laid off I don't know if I want to spend several hundred dollars seeing a neurologist only to be told what I feel like I know already. The withdrawal is pretty bad - headaches almost constantly, feeling nauseous, dizzy at times - thank goodness I'm not working. Is this stupid? Probably. I don't know. I'm afraid the longer I'm on the drug the worse my mind will get.

Well, that was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Again, if anyone's been on Lexapro (or any other antidepressant), I'd just like to hear what it's been like for you, if you don't mind. Thanks.

I've been on LexaPro for quite some time, Loco, though never at that dose. The highest I've gone is 10mg, but I do know others who have been up to 20mg. The fog is definitely something I've experienced from several SSRIs (less so from LexaPro, but your mileage may vary with all of these things), but the rest of the things you've listed could just as easily be from lingering depression issues as from the medication. Either way, it sounds as though LexaPro isn't working for you and it's time to consult a doctor about alternatives.

I really, really, really do not think you should make dosing changes / go cold turkey without the supervision of a doctor, though.

Beyond medications, have you ever tried counseling?

<3
 
Anyone have any experience with Wellbutrin? I take it because of the low side effects and the fact it also helped some family members. However, after a month on 300mg (150mg 3 weeks prior) I couldn't really be sure it's doing anything. I guess I expected something more noticeable, whether good or bad. My doctor recommended I go up to 450mg which is the max and I've been on that for 3 days so I guess we'll see.
 
Anyone have any experience with Wellbutrin? I take it because of the low side effects and the fact it also helped some family members. However, after a month on 300mg (150mg 3 weeks prior) I couldn't really be sure it's doing anything. I guess I expected something more noticeable, whether good or bad. My doctor recommended I go up to 450mg which is the max and I've been on that for 3 days so I guess we'll see.

The thing I appreciated about Wellbutrin is that it kept my dick functional, unlike the vast majority of antidepressants I've tried. Unfortunately, it didn't do anything for my depression so I ended up on Prozac.
 
The thing I appreciated about Wellbutrin is that it kept my dick functional, unlike the vast majority of antidepressants I've tried. Unfortunately, it didn't do anything for my depression so I ended up on Prozac.

Yeah, that was another reason I went with it. Can't have your cake and eat it too I guess.
 
Ain't nothing wuss about dental pain, redlegs. Sorry you're feeling so much of it. I hope it's at least a bit better today.

<3

I am feeling much better today still some pain but it's much more dull.


Anyone have any experience with Wellbutrin? I take it because of the low side effects and the fact it also helped some family members. However, after a month on 300mg (150mg 3 weeks prior) I couldn't really be sure it's doing anything. I guess I expected something more noticeable, whether good or bad. My doctor recommended I go up to 450mg which is the max and I've been on that for 3 days so I guess we'll see.

I am on Wellbutrin 300mg and it's been working wonders for me personally. I started off at 150mg then went to 200 and finally all the way to 300mg I've been at that for at least 3 months now. It took some time but after about the second month is when it really took hold for me. Then again I am not really sure how much it is just the wellbutrin cause I also take Latuda for mood stabilization.
 
So I recently found out that I am somewhat physically dependent on alprazolam. Now I have never abused them but I have taken them more as of recently since I had a pretty stressful semester and end of semester so I was taking them a little more liberally (I used to take them as needed and controlled it perfectly) but over the past month I stopped taking them for a day or two and had some overwhelming anxiety... So I am taking to my doctor about coming off of my script. I am only taking 1mg and looking to taper since I heard/read that it is the much much much better option rather than stopping altogether cold turkey. I know that it is a relatively low dose but does anyone have any experience with coming off of alprazolam cold turkey or taper? Any advice or words would be appreciated.

One thing I did hear is that after you come off totally people feel better overall. Right now I feel trapped by the pills so I think it is better if I come off as soon as possible. But I am about to start an even more stressful/crazy semester than last so how bad are the withdrawals?
 
I haven't made much progress with my anxiety lately and it's getting me down.

I'm trying to revamp my online dating profile but having great difficulties finding things to write about myself. What am I doing with my life? Not much, really...
 
Still continuing this good mood streak! I mean, it's not as if everything is rainbows and butterflies, but I would certainly say that I've genuinely been feeling good this past week, and it's been a long time since I could say that.
 
Still continuing this good mood streak! I mean, it's not as if everything is rainbows and butterflies, but I would certainly say that I've genuinely been feeling good this past week, and it's been a long time since I could say that.

That's awesome I am real happy for you. I've been doing pretty good had some harsh news from my dentist appointment earlier this week but it isn't hopeless. Now though I am feeling very anxious as I have to get 2 wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow. Haven't felt this anxious in some time it feels so foreign now I don't like it at all. Hope they give me some laughing gas to calm my nerves a bit.
 
Still continuing this good mood streak! I mean, it's not as if everything is rainbows and butterflies, but I would certainly say that I've genuinely been feeling good this past week, and it's been a long time since I could say that.

You're a badass, Kipp!
 
It's nuts that even in my mid thirties I still have serious self esteem issues. It actually seems worse than it's ever been. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in, but somehow I find myself even more vulnerable to crazy mood swings from happy to sad based on the smallest things. 99% of which are in my head. I work with several beautiful women and the slightest look or thing they say, or don't say can completely ruin my day. It doesn't help that I'm extremely socially awkward, especially when it comes to women. The scariest part is how old I'm getting. I feel like every day I'm alone I'm one day closer to this creepy, or creepier, bald old guy just attempting to make small talk to women.
 
So I recently found out that I am somewhat physically dependent on alprazolam. Now I have never abused them but I have taken them more as of recently since I had a pretty stressful semester and end of semester so I was taking them a little more liberally (I used to take them as needed and controlled it perfectly) but over the past month I stopped taking them for a day or two and had some overwhelming anxiety... So I am taking to my doctor about coming off of my script. I am only taking 1mg and looking to taper since I heard/read that it is the much much much better option rather than stopping altogether cold turkey. I know that it is a relatively low dose but does anyone have any experience with coming off of alprazolam cold turkey or taper? Any advice or words would be appreciated.

One thing I did hear is that after you come off totally people feel better overall. Right now I feel trapped by the pills so I think it is better if I come off as soon as possible. But I am about to start an even more stressful/crazy semester than last so how bad are the withdrawals?

I would greatly, greatly suggest you consult a doctor. It is absolutely possible to safely get off of benzodiazepines but it's definitely something that has to be done with care and caution. Do you have a doctor you could consult?

I haven't made much progress with my anxiety lately and it's getting me down.

I'm trying to revamp my online dating profile but having great difficulties finding things to write about myself. What am I doing with my life? Not much, really...

Well, it's not just about what you're doing with your life, right? It's also about what you're interested in, what you do in your free time, and just who you are more generally. There aren't necessarily clear answers to those at all times, either, but you can try your best to figure them out, and if it really isn't happening at this time then maybe this is a period better suited for personal growth and exploration. There isn't a black and white, of course, but it's interesting to think about.

Still continuing this good mood streak! I mean, it's not as if everything is rainbows and butterflies, but I would certainly say that I've genuinely been feeling good this past week, and it's been a long time since I could say that.

Glad to hear it, Kipp!

It's nuts that even in my mid thirties I still have serious self esteem issues. It actually seems worse than it's ever been. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in, but somehow I find myself even more vulnerable to crazy mood swings from happy to sad based on the smallest things. 99% of which are in my head. I work with several beautiful women and the slightest look or thing they say, or don't say can completely ruin my day. It doesn't help that I'm extremely socially awkward, especially when it comes to women. The scariest part is how old I'm getting. I feel like every day I'm alone I'm one day closer to this creepy, or creepier, bald old guy just attempting to make small talk to women.

Do you feel that the things they say, divorced from your anxiety about them, are hurtful? Like, is your mind magnifying worries or creating them? Maybe both? Sorry if that doesn't make sense.

Creepy is a tough one to figure out (I often, OFTEN worry that I am creepy even when told otherwise), but a big part of it is just feeling comfortable and learning how you play off of others socially. Do you have any friends whom you can discuss your demeanor with, who might have a third party perspective? Often things look differently from the outside.

Also, I don't think the age is an issue in being creepy as long as you're not 35 trying to pick up teenagers or whatever is outside the "usual" age range.

Yeah, that was another reason I went with it. Can't have your cake and eat it too I guess.

It's worth noting that different SSRIs may or may not cause sexual dysfunction in different people. Cymbalta totally wiped me out at a low, low dose but LexaPro has been fine, for instance.

<3
 
The pain that's been brewing at my back has finally become chronic and, though not a nightmare, has killed my old self. Nothing really gives me the same joy anymore and where I was always attempting to never be a burden to anyone, now I just feel like anyone who can't tolerate me or who I can't tolerate can fuck off. My life's now just a balance between possible pain killer addiction and a spiraling depression caused by this constant pain.
 
I've been on LexaPro for quite some time, Loco, though never at that dose. The highest I've gone is 10mg, but I do know others who have been up to 20mg. The fog is definitely something I've experienced from several SSRIs (less so from LexaPro, but your mileage may vary with all of these things), but the rest of the things you've listed could just as easily be from lingering depression issues as from the medication. Either way, it sounds as though LexaPro isn't working for you and it's time to consult a doctor about alternatives.

I really, really, really do not think you should make dosing changes / go cold turkey without the supervision of a doctor, though.

Beyond medications, have you ever tried counseling?

<3

Well today I said screw it, ended up calling and scheduling an appointment with the neurologist who put me on it. Took a pill and two hours lately the headaches, nausea, everything went away. Guess I'll have a lot to ask him when I see him.
 
So after being on Lexapro for about 7 months and taking a turn for the worst, I changed doctors and this new guy is throwing everything at me.

Enlyte
Buspar
Rexulti
Fetzima
Deplin
Brintellix

I'm sure I'm forgetting some. He's saying these are fast acting and to try them and see what works. Not really sure what to think about all of this. I went to see him for anxiety/depression and the first session was very overwhelming. Thank god I asked my wife to sit in or I would have jumped out the window. He had asked me to write down 3 pages before I got there. Issues I have been having, goals and questions for him. One of the things that he asked when he read my symptoms were, if anyone in my family was bipolar. There isn't but when I got home and researched it, i was nervous because reading up on bipolar 2 was me exactly. I also did the swab gene test and have an appointment for blood work on Friday.

Im feeling really off the wall right now and hope I improve fast because I'm taking my wife to NYC for her birthday this weekend and want to be mentally stable. She's tolerated so much of my crap that this is my way of thanking her for that, but don't want to ruin it because of my issues.

Just trying to make sense of everything.
 
I would greatly, greatly suggest you consult a doctor. It is absolutely possible to safely get off of benzodiazepines but it's definitely something that has to be done with care and caution. Do you have a doctor you could consult?

Yeah I do. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with coming off of it since I heard withdrawals even tapering can be pretty tough.
 
Thanks, guys! I hope you're all doing all right as well!

I am doing really good myself. I think I finally got through to my mother about changes that need to happen around the house and in our lives that only she can initiate. Besides that I am anxious about getting my two of my wisdom teeth out today but I can get over that pretty easily....I hope.
 
Thanks, guys! I hope you're all doing all right as well!

Eh. My mom's coming over this afternoon which is always immensely stressful. She means well but she is relentlessly naggy (a trait that I picked up from her, albeit in a less severe form) and as I deteriorate, is getting increasingly desperate which just makes her even more unbearable to be around.
 
Anyone care to share their experiences with Lexapro (escitalopram)? I've been on the drug for about a year and a half now, 20 mg a day. I was first put on it by a neurologist as I had been extremely stressed out - he called it an underlying anxiety disorder. Whether that is true or not, I'm not really certain - although I was definitely stressed and suffering from anxiety when he put me on it. There were things at home that caused me to feel stressed, which eventually (I believe) physically manifested itself in me as a tremor - most noticeable in the hands. This led to a series of events in which I went to the doctor, fearing I had early onset Parkinson's, only to be told by that doctor that my symptoms sounded like AlS, which freaked me out even more reading about these two terrible diseases I thought I might have.

I was having daily breakdowns where I would just start crying, hating my life and terribly afraid. I was seriously contemplating suicide at that point. It was pretty bad. Lexapro helped a little bit, I believe, at least at first. I think what helped more than the drug was leaving my parent's home (my father and I don't have a good relationship for differences in religious beliefs) and getting a new job, both of which reduced stress. I guess what I'm saying is I believe Lexapro helped, but I'm not sure as to what extent.

Anyway, fast forward to now, lately I feel like I've been struggling to have my mind function correctly. For the past several months, I've been experiencing:

-short term memory loss - this is something that's been bothering me a lot. My girlfriend or a friend will tell me something, and 5-10 minutes later I'll often completely have forgotten it with only a faint memory of it being discussed. Particularly an issue if I'm asked to do things and I forget to do it.

-lack of concentration - I feel like I have a hard time focusing my mind. Today I was filling out an unemployment document online (as I was recently laid off) and I spent probably a good 10 minutes trying to read the questions it was asking and trying to comprehend them. I was an advanced English student in high school and college. Now I feel like reading almost anything is a challenge.

-lack of motivation - I've felt little desire to accomplish anything. I've been coasting on the same boring job for a year now, my plans I had to continue school have pretty much gone out the window. Honestly, with how my mind is right now I feel like I'd be too dumb anyway. Things take me forever to get around to - my car's taillight was smashed a month ago (my fault) and I still haven't bothered to get it fixed. Lazy? Maybe. All I do right now is sleep late, play video games and watch some TV. I've always done those things, but I don't think to this extent.

-brain fuzziness - I've read other people describe this as a "fog" and I think that sums up my situation pretty well. I feel like my senses, emotions, interests, everything around me is dull and I'm just along for the boring ride. I feel like my mind has slowed and it's driving me crazy.

So back to where I am now. I've been laid off and haven't been taking it, cold turkey. Probably a stupid thing to do, but having gotten off my parent's insurance and being laid off I don't know if I want to spend several hundred dollars seeing a neurologist only to be told what I feel like I know already. The withdrawal is pretty bad - headaches almost constantly, feeling nauseous, dizzy at times - thank goodness I'm not working. Is this stupid? Probably. I don't know. I'm afraid the longer I'm on the drug the worse my mind will get.

Well, that was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Again, if anyone's been on Lexapro (or any other antidepressant), I'd just like to hear what it's been like for you, if you don't mind. Thanks.
I cant say much, been taking it regularly but it helped me along with the Vitan (?) alot more than what i was taking before with another Doctor, one thing the Doctor said me is depending on your heigh and age, thats the portion you should take,i was taking too little. Also read about the secondary effects and you should take them at proper hours after a meal.
Also had those things like memory loss, lack of motivation /concentration etc cant say its going to change much but it definetly helps.
 
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