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Original poster

Please help, I'm struggling!

68 replies

PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 15:38

Hi, I'm on fluoxetine and I'm on my knees with it. I'm really not coping now. It's made my mental health worse and it's messed up my sleep which was already rubbish. I'm not even sure why I'm posting but I would appreciate some helpful comments or suggestions please!

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desertcoffeeyoga · 15/01/2021 15:48

Just wanted to say hi and that you're not alone .. and well done for posting .. and asking for help .. I'm sure someone will be along soon with more specific help about the meds you're on but in the meantime .. keep sharing and keep typing.. it's not the same as face to face I know but there's a lot of people here to help and listen x

FippertyGibbett · 15/01/2021 15:49

Have you spoken to your GP ?

FippertyGibbett · 15/01/2021 15:49

And how long have you been on it ?

Atalune · 15/01/2021 15:51

How long have you been on it?

I am sure it will settle down? What about taking a herbal Nytol to break the cycle and have a couple of good nights rest?

I’m sorry you’re feeling so crap with it. Can you identify any triggers that you could mitigate/eliminate? Which I know is not an easy thing to do at the moment!

LizFlowers · 15/01/2021 15:56

Fluoxetine definitely made my mental health worse. I gave up in the end. I hate that the Mental Health services only offer drugs and if you come off them they discharge you, telling you to come back if you have further difficulties. Some help, ha!

I am certainly better without any drugs though. However, that is me, you are you and have to work it out for yourself.

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 15:56

Hi desert ! Thank you for replying, was worried no one would.Sad I've had depression and anxiety all my life but it's gradually getting worse to the point where I'm scared nothing will help. I'm so anxious/exhausted I can't even leave the house very often so I have to ask someone to do my shopping sometimes. My sister is doing some right now which is good as I'm pretty much out of provisions. I have friends and family, and my faith to help me (I wouldn't be alive still without it), I keep feeling as though I shouldn't be struggling so much. What am I doing wrong?

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Incrediblytired · 15/01/2021 15:57

Are you in the first couple of weeks? It’s very common to feel worse at first.

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 16:12

Oh wow! So many of you! Bless youSmile I started on 20mg in August then after a chat with the doctor I upped it to 40mg in November. I have other health issues which contribute to my mental health issues. About 18 months ago I was very suddenly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and felt like it was the last straw. I was getting CBT last winter (I had asked for counseling to help me cope with diabetes but no they decided I needed CBT!) Then literally a couple of days before 1st lockdown my therapist decided to stop as I wasn't meeting the goals he was setting. I told that I hadn't wanted CBT in the first place and that he had been wasting my time. He apologisedHmm but I'm still cross with him. Sorry if I sound ranty, I feel like throwing all my toys out of the pram today!

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desertcoffeeyoga · 15/01/2021 16:13

@PainterInPeril in answer to to your question you are not doing anything wrong at all .. and you're helping yourself by posting on here .. you know deep down you need help and you want to her better so reaching out is a sure sign you're going to get there. The truth is so many of us have struggled more than usual with everything going on.. I'm so glad you've posted.. it's not easy and the tiredness makes everything even more bewildering .. keep talking and set small goals and steps for yourself .. that's much better than trying to over reach and feel worried or overwhelmed ..xx

desertcoffeeyoga · 15/01/2021 16:14

To get better not her better *

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 16:29

Yes you're right desert. Thank you also to fibberty, atalune, liz and incredibly for replying. I don't think I've ever taken Nytol before. What is it like? I'm waiting for the doctor to call back but as they're inundated today, I'm afraid they might not phone.

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Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 16:32

As it was, the receptionist said I couldn't get an appointment until next week. I had to phone back after an hour or so to insist someone phones today. Sorry if I'm waffling!Blush

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Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 16:57

Sorry I meant to say, "thank you" to @desertcoffeeyoga @FippertyGibbett @Atalune @LizFlowers @Incrediblytired. (Forgot the @!) Flowers to you all. xx

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Atalune · 15/01/2021 17:00

Good that you phoned back.

Nytol is an over the counter sleep aid. I take the herbal variety which is valerian root based. It helps to break the cycle of bad sleep/insomnia. Then I feel more able to cope with life.

Can you switch to a different type of med? Setraline? I don’t know if that’s suitable?

Have you joined a type 1 diabetes support group online? Lots of great Facebook groups

FippertyGibbett · 15/01/2021 17:19

My DH was prescribed Citalopram.
I remember that it wasn’t until the end of the first month that we saw a glimmer of hope. It took six months to feel the full effects.
Perhaps it’s time for a change of medication if it’s not working for you ?
Take this weekend to write down your questions, then phone again on Monday and say that you are feeling worse and that you need help.
Hang on in there 💐

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 17:40

I would love to stay off meds altogether but after 2 or 3 years I need to go back on them. I've tried quite a few over the yearsBlush but I can't remember which were the best.
The irony of it is, that I'm very smiley and jokey when I'm with other people so you wouldn't know I had these feelings.
My sister dropped off the shopping so I can relax about that for now. She gave me some beautiful tulips in various shades of pink and purple. Absolutely gorgeous! Set me off crying again! She's so lovely! We had a brief chat and I cried. She wanted to hug me but couldn't because of covid laws. (GO AWAY COVID, NOBODY WANTS YOU!) I haven't been able to hug anyone for nearly a year. Sorry if this sounds self-indulgent, I just need to get this out. I don't want to bore everyone!Grin

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Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 17:47

@Atalune I will look into Nytol, and ask the doctor if he/she phones today. I can't remember whether I've had sertraline but no doubt that will be next on the list! I haven't joined a diabetes support group yet. I felt I couldn't cope with it at the time. It might be a good idea though.
@FippertyGibbett again I'm not sure if I've had citalopram before but I'll have to go through it all again with the doctor. They're probably all sick of me by now!Grin

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LizFlowers · 15/01/2021 18:31

I went through every type of drug and in the end was told I was particularly sensitive to medication of that type so decided to go it alone.

The Mental Health Services really suck in my opinion, all the doctors are in the pockets of the drug companies and so many of the drugs are horrendous.

Never again.

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 19:08

@LizFlowers I'm sorry you didn't get the help you needed.Flowers I agree the mental health services leave a lot to be desired. Some areas are worse than others. The only options we seem to have now are medication or CBT. Confused

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LizFlowers · 15/01/2021 19:11

CBT is a short term thing aimed at sorting out a specific issue so it works for some things. Longer term psychotherapy is better for most.

For illnesses like depression, anxiety disorder, panic, etc, drugs are not the answer.

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 19:20

I've had different types of therapy. Most were rubbish for me as they were CBT- based. I've only ever had one really good therapist but she moved out of the area!Sad She used an analytical approach which suits me down to the ground. I'm very analytical (i.e: an overthinker!Grin)so I really enjoyed it. @LizFlowers may I ask what you do to help yourself, please? Only if you're comfortable with sharing that, obviously!Smile

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Atalune · 15/01/2021 21:11

Well if it makes any difference to you, you sound like a really lovely person and I think you have a brilliant attitude.

Do you have good string friendships? I like very much to have a good talk with my friends to help me feel grounded, that helps me feel better if I start to spiral.

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 15/01/2021 21:26

@Atalune Aw thank you!BlushSmile I do have a lot of friends but unfortunately due to how I'm feeling I've not been able to keep them as strong as I'd like to have. There's one particular friend who I love talking to, she's so level-headed and has a great sense humour too. Sadly I haven't heard from her for over a year. I've been trying to contact her on and off since April but to no avail. Her mother said she was ok. It's not like her though. I'm gutted about it and that has affected me this year. I will try to contact some of my other lovely friends a bit more often. The doctor hasn't phoned so it looks like I'll have to wait a few days for help. I'm a bit calmer now. Thank you to all of you for being there for me. You're a lovely lot!GrinFlowersCake xx

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desertcoffeeyoga · 16/01/2021 03:02

@PainterInPeril hope you're ok .. you sound great and by reaching out for help each day might get a little easier. Maybe the friend you haven't heard from is going through a silent struggle too ... but it sounds like there's a lot of other support there which is a good .

Original poster
PainterInPeril · 16/01/2021 03:17

@desertcoffeeyoga That's what's worrying me, that she's struggling. I want to support her and help her if I can. She's so lovely.

Yes I'm ok thanks, apart from still being awake!Grin But then, so are you...I hope you can sleep well soon. Smile xx

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