Thanks.
So I'm guessing it would be a bad idea to just take half the dosage? I'm currently taking 25mg. I'm just very afraid of the side effects. I've never been one to depend on pjlls, not even Tylenol.
Hey guys, my first time here.
So I started getting anxiety attacks for half a year now. Always been an introvert but never at this level. Basically had social phobia, especially with people of higher authority, like my boss.
Anyways, went to the psychiatrist this week and he prescribed Paxil CR. This is my second day taking it and only side effect I think is, I'm getting a bit sleepy, which is fine. Anyways, anything I should know? Is it worth it? Are there better alternatives out there?
First time taking these kinds of medication and I'm a bit worried.
I am in a tailspin and I don't know how to recover.
Always take the dosage as prescribed but as with any new drugs keep a close eye on any side effects and if you start having really bad effects immediately go to the ER. Keep your psych doctor informed of any changes and if its working or not and expect a period of trial and error. The doctor may increase your dose gradually or titrate you off of it slowly and switch to another medication. With mental drugs keep in mind the general rule of thumb is to never stop your meds cold turkey, that can have a seriously bad effect. Good luck and don't be afraid, mental health is usually a mix of dealing with your issues both mentally and chemically with meds.
Find a good distraction or someone to talk to or hang out with. We can be our own worst company in dark times. If you can't talk it out with someone or hang out find a distraction that is engaging like gaming or basketball or making fun of the newest episode of Walking Dead with the rest of GAF. If its serious please call the hotline for help in the OP.
My next step will be to get a formal diagnosis and to evaluate additional options first, but I wanted to also see if anyone had experience with these kinds of coaches and if they found the help that they were looking for in this way. And if you did find help, were you taking medication at any point before, during, or after any coaching sessions.
So, I've been writing in my journal a lot lately, mostly reminiscing on my time in the psych ward. I mentioned it a while back in this thread, but I think I'm going to take my journal entries and turn them into a blog. I have a few of my entries typed up.
I might post a couple entries for some feedback. would anyone be interested if I posted a few?
So, I've been writing in my journal a lot lately, mostly reminiscing on my time in the psych ward. I mentioned it a while back in this thread, but I think I'm going to take my journal entries and turn them into a blog. I have a few of my entries typed up.
I might post a couple entries for some feedback. would anyone be interested if I posted a few?
I got an appointment for Monday for this...I've finally come to the conclusion I need to go back to therapy.
Over the last year or so (although this has been there to some degree my entire life), my brain keeps inventing things that are wrong with something in my life that is going well. For instance, I keep getting these thoughts that my fiance (we got engaged in December, been together over four years) is cheating on me even though that doesn't make any fucking sense and I know she is not. Or for some reason I think she doesn't find me attractive anymore, or doesn't enjoy sex anymore but won't tell me. None of these things make any sense and are all invented in my head and I just suppress them and try to talk myself down from them. That still gets tiring though, because it really takes a toll on me to deal with these things even though they are false.
Also, what is that thing called where you invent bad things with a thing that is going well in your life? I know there is a name for it, but I haven't really been able to put it into Googleable terms. I remember it being discussed when I took a psych class at a community college almost ten years ago.
I got an appointment for Monday for this...
That Intrusive Thoughts thread in OT GAF made me think that was what I have. I mentioned it in there and someone pointed out that they think it is low self-esteem and thinking I deserve something bad with all the good in my life.
What do you all think?
I've been to this particular therapist before. The last time I went was last May. Then I got a job and didn't really have time to go.I think you're making the right decision to go to therapy, and it sounds like you are going through something that is pretty common. I'm not a therapist so I couldn't say what it is, but if there is a latent cause to those thoughts, a good therapist should be able to suss it out. I struggled with thinking similar things about my wife, and therapy has definitely helped our marriage.
If you've never been to therapy before, just know that the first appointment is oftentimes an "intake" session and your new therapist may seem a little impersonal at first. However, he/she is just trying to get as much information from you as possible in an hour or so, and after that initial intake, you'll probably find the rest of the session more natural and conversational. At least that's how it's been for me in the past.
I recently about 2 weeks ago started taking meds (Welbutrin) and had an experience today that confirmed its definitely working. I been listening to the podcast "S town" and have gotten to chapter 6. This episode is about people who is watching life pass by without experiencing any kind of romantic relationship, love, fulfilling sex life, intimacy. 3 weeks ago I am sure this episode would have ruined my day to put it lightly, probably the entire weekend. Now I shed a few tears listening to the episode and feel more or less fine now, with emotions ever getting anywhere close to as intense as what Im used to. Havent made my mind up really what to make of this if its a 100% positive thing, what if my parents die or something and I get over it in a few hours. But it feels great not being severely depressed.
Have you tried big major chains? I just applied at Target and got call back the following morning. Not my first choice but ill take it lol (of course, I still got an interview so I'm not out of the woods yet >_<)I can't even get part time retail work right now
I'm pretty scared about my future
I can't even get part time retail work right now
I'm pretty scared about my future
Week 1 report with Paxil:
First few days I've been sleepy as fuck but it seems it's getting better. Barely any sleepiness now.
I've been feeling a lot better now. No anxiety at all (for now), though it could be a placebo effect? idk
Also, I can't seem to ejaculate now. I do get hard-ons just as easily and my libido has stayed the same but I can't climax. I guess it isn't so bad.
yeah, that "I wish I didn't have to work" one is for the real dicks. Like it's a choice. Though I have never had to endure "you have that because ...". That's just mean.
The skeptic in me does want to keep a somewhat open mind towards options that are somewhat looser supported by data or intuitive connections though. Exercise, or rather getting back into some kind of sync with the body, would be something I would bring up (very loose concept though: I would include dancing and gymnastics, whatever a person feels good about). But that's very specific to depression and possibly anxiety, since there is at least data to back that up. I personally kind of reject the idea of depression as chronic as well, though bi-polar is (or presumed to be, this might change in the future at some point).
Then again, I also believe that a lot of mental health issues (including substance abuse) are actually social (or worse: socially induced) problems, not a defining property of a person. It's not a person's essence to be depressed, or joyful, or brimming with vitality, if you know what I mean. That's not the same as rejecting current treatment paradigms (you got what you got), but I'm hoping to see more effective ones emerge with time. Or the Epicurus answer from 2.5 millennia ago: a good life is one with friends.
( see the end of Andrew Solomon's TED talk on depression: the response by non-westerners is amusing, because it's true. Who would think that individual talks without community serve anything? )
Great storyThank you so much for linking to that Ted Talk video.
Although I'm okay now, I suffered badly with anxiety when I was in my teens and 20's, and that video articulated well the troubles I had and the unhelpful GP's and work mates I was subjected to and in some ways, I subjected them to.
I think the trouble I had was I retreated into myself in my late teens after my Nan died, we moved house but as I was part of her will, I was lucky to receive a large sum of money. Because of this I could treat myself but the money became the coping mechanism for losing Nan, dropping out of College and then moving house.
I slipped downwards but as my life got better outwardly (Got into the games industry, learned to drive girlfriends etc.) I thought why do I never want to go out? I was nearly 20 stone, sweat all the time in social situations & felt happier at home in my bedroom. My wake up was going to the GP about the sweating and he diagnosed me with anxiety. Problem was he offered me 2 routes out: Beta Blockers and a support group in my local village. Trouble was I was against drugs preferring self help and the support group was just 1 day a week, on a Wednesday at 3pm and it was run by Mum's and had no male members... Just what you want to hear as a 22 year old bloke who works Monday to Friday!
I got better slowly after that point through self help. Walked every lunchtime round the research park, eat better, stopped my OCD habits like games collecting, listened to relaxing music and when I was stressed, I realised my shoulders were almost touching my ear lobes! When I realised, I closed my eyes, calmed down and my shoulders would drop. A form of meditation before I knew what it was!
I'm now 14 stone, healthy and love running, moved out of my Mum's, Martied my beautiful Wife, have a House and a job I love which pays triple what I was paid 5 years ago with people I call my friends. I'm in such a happy place now it's brilliant but I still have little moments where I hear the negative voice, I get stressed & want to hide away. The trick is to see those moments, relax and then remember how it used to be.
I think I'm done with life. After my trip I'm just going to die. If the after life is one whole apocalyptic world or nothingness so be it. The grass there is much more greener than here.
So I've been dealing with nerve pain since November and the doctor gave me three options: Neurontin, Lyrica, or Cymbalta. I used to be on Paxil for years and got myself off of finally and was doing really well. Well this nerve pain has been quite difficult to deal with so I was at the point of trying anything.
I chose Neurontin because I didn't think it would effect my serotonin levels and therefore not make me feel foggy or out of sorts. I was originally going to wait for a day off but this week my allergies have been killing me which may have lead to more jaw pain so I took one last night as prescribed and today was the worst day I have had at work in a long time. And that was just ONE pill! 300mg to start and eventually I am supposed to work my way up to 900! There is no way in hell that will happen. In fact the next time I try, it will be 100mg once a day for quite a while. Anyways I just wanted to post this in case anyone has dealt with that drug before and I really didn't know where else to post.
Thanks.
I need to get out of this apartment before I go stir-crazy. I don't know how I ever thought I could live alone, this is dangerous for me.
I need someone to talk to