kirklanddpt
12-05-2012, 02:41 AM
Hi everyone! I am thankful to have found a place of kindred spirits.
4 years ago I was diagnosed and treated for Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism). For anyone not familiar w this disease, the thyroid essentially affects EVERY system in your body, including your brain. This autoimmune disease continues to significantly affect my physical, emotional, and mental health. In the first year a physician, in hopes of getting my symptoms under control prescribed a buffet of medications. Needless to say, I became addicted to a few (Adderall, Xanax, Adivan, and Ambien), and can no longer take these to help w my anxiety or insomnia.
I had dealt with normal anxiety and depression before, but it was nothing that exercise and a good nights sleep couldn't remedy. Over the course of time since I was treated, I have experienced 3-4 pretty extreme bouts of depression. Eventually the anxiety kicked in, as well as OCD. At first it was minor, then it started affecting my ability to see new patients. I felt like I had stage fright and at times would hide in the bathroom to calm myself down. Over the past year I have developed regular nausea and vomiting, debilitating anxiety which has interfered w daily function, and agoraphobia. Each increase of my anxiety and depression symptoms always coincide with a flare up of my thyroid symptoms. I had another bad flare up about 2.5 months ago, an since have been too anxious and fearful of crowds to leave my house.
Between my thyroid symptoms, and my anxiety and depression I went from one of the top professionals in the country in my field to losing 5 jobs. Bc if this I have regularly had no insurance and at times no income. It's difficult and verging on impossible to get access to services and resources that I need bc of financial issues. Being in the healthcare field, and my experiences as a patient, services offered for those wo insurance and an inability to pay up front are less than suitable in terms of quality of care.
I just started on Cymbalta, and hope that it will be my miracle drug. I look forward to interacting with everyone, and gaining some much needed insight into controlling my anxiety and getting a grip on life.
4 years ago I was diagnosed and treated for Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism). For anyone not familiar w this disease, the thyroid essentially affects EVERY system in your body, including your brain. This autoimmune disease continues to significantly affect my physical, emotional, and mental health. In the first year a physician, in hopes of getting my symptoms under control prescribed a buffet of medications. Needless to say, I became addicted to a few (Adderall, Xanax, Adivan, and Ambien), and can no longer take these to help w my anxiety or insomnia.
I had dealt with normal anxiety and depression before, but it was nothing that exercise and a good nights sleep couldn't remedy. Over the course of time since I was treated, I have experienced 3-4 pretty extreme bouts of depression. Eventually the anxiety kicked in, as well as OCD. At first it was minor, then it started affecting my ability to see new patients. I felt like I had stage fright and at times would hide in the bathroom to calm myself down. Over the past year I have developed regular nausea and vomiting, debilitating anxiety which has interfered w daily function, and agoraphobia. Each increase of my anxiety and depression symptoms always coincide with a flare up of my thyroid symptoms. I had another bad flare up about 2.5 months ago, an since have been too anxious and fearful of crowds to leave my house.
Between my thyroid symptoms, and my anxiety and depression I went from one of the top professionals in the country in my field to losing 5 jobs. Bc if this I have regularly had no insurance and at times no income. It's difficult and verging on impossible to get access to services and resources that I need bc of financial issues. Being in the healthcare field, and my experiences as a patient, services offered for those wo insurance and an inability to pay up front are less than suitable in terms of quality of care.
I just started on Cymbalta, and hope that it will be my miracle drug. I look forward to interacting with everyone, and gaining some much needed insight into controlling my anxiety and getting a grip on life.