Anxiety part 3

[marilynmonroe]

This is my 3rd thread about anxiety.

I've been suffering from this for a few months and have been on 20g of fluoxetine for about 4 weeks. Last week I felt so much better. The butterflies had gone and I had started getting my spark back. I was so relieved.

Then on Friday I started to feel anxious again and now it's back with a vengeance. Is this normal for it to come and go.

I'm staying with my sister and getting a break from the kids so not sure why I'm feeling like this.

I've also just finished 6 hours of cbt which was ok but not as helpful as I thought.

I'm really desperate to get better so feeling emotional, frustrated and like I just want to cry and stay in bed.

I need hand holding and reassurance that it will get better.

(Holds hand) There's no bloody rhyme or reason to anxiety, is there? Up we go, and down again. It's absolutely normal for it come and go. But with your meds the ups and downs will get less rollercoaster-y. You've only been on them 4 weeks, so hang in there and it will get better. It's easier to say that than believe it, I know. I'm on 100mg sertraline, have been for 5 days, and am just dying for there to be some improvement. But kind, helpful posters here help me feel better by reminding me to realise it'll take time. Well done for doing the 6 hours of CBT - that's an achievement in itself!

Can you and your sister do something nice together while you're staying with her? Nothing big, doesn't even have to involve getting off the couch - daft DVD perhaps? I'm feeling like a nervous wreck, but am planning on going to my lovely mum's tonight to watch Alan Partridge and doing nothing else. Take care. x

Thank you for your kind words. It's what I need to hear and realize!

I have been doing lots of nice things while visiting my sister and some of it does help to distract me.

Time will tell I guess.

Yes, it is normal - or was for me. I'm on 60mg now and they won't give me any more. I started on 20mg like you, but after a while it stopped working so was increased. Was great again for a while, then it came back and was given more.

They keep suggesting I try a more modern AD but I'm reluctant as they did that with my BIL and messed him around so much, he's now a lot worse than when he was on his original px.

Keep a diary - I get a kind of depression/anxiety downer at around PMS time. I've started taking agnus castus and have found this helpful for the "breakthrough" period.

Give yourself a break - this horrible condition is NOT your fault. Tell your family members if you're going through a bad period. And try to find something that helps you cope (exercise/peace and quiet/whatever - though I wouldn't recommend my method). I self-harm to cope which horrifies my family, but I told them what my old CPN told me about it being one of many coping mechanisms and now they're a teeny bit happier, although they do insist I tell them when I'm having a hard time and if they can't stop me, they make sure I cut/burn as safely as possible and have made me promise not to do it alone in case I cut too bad.

I really wish you luck with this and hope that you feel better soon.

Good advice about keeping a diary, evans and it's so hard to help your family understand your coping mechanisms, so it's good you've made progress there. It's interesting what you say about PMS time - I've just had the mother of all heavy periods and felt suicidal at times, but now it's cleared up I'm starting to feel a bit better. Will check out agnus castus.

Hope you're doing OK today marilyn and you've been enjoying your time with your sister. Keep in touch.

Thank you both for your kind words. It really means a lot.

It's really interesting you say that about pms. I think it is linked. When I was feeling better last week it was during my period. The month before I felt better for the first 2 days of my period. It felt like a real release.

So I am going to keep a diary.

I feel ok today. I went out with my mum and sis. I had a couple of drinks but I felt really sick through the night. I guess it's the ad s.

My dh is understanding about how I'm feeling but only up to a point. He does get really frustrated.

Back home tomorrow and really hope this break has done me good.

Glad I have seen this thread. Its a relief to hear others feel the same.
Im on propranalol for my anxiety. It works most of the time but there are times when the horrible feelings win and Im stuck feeling totally alone and stranded. Mine has been triggered by my neighbours this time and Im really struggling at the mo. I dont want to be in my flat but Im scared to leave.
There are times when I want to hurt myself......this is usually quite minor. I dig my nails into my skin and sometimes scratch myself with keys. Little things that I can do when people are around without them noticing.

Hope you dont mind me adding my thoughts. I have explained things to my family but non of them have experienced it so dont always undetstand.