I dont understand

[danni1987]

Hi all,

I am new here, so please bare with me. It all started about 8 weeks ago when I was having chest and arm pains, so I went to the doctor for them to say I have anxiety but did nothing about it. I then had an headache for 10 days for a different doctor to tell me I had shingles ( there was no rash). Then last Thursday evening I was violently shaking and struggling to breathe, turns out I was having a panic attack. To cut a long story short I moved doctors as I was unsatisfied with my other GP. I went there on Tuesday and she said I have depression and have been put on satraline 50mg I took a tablet and since have not been right, my head is foggy and I can't eat. What I can't get my head around is 1. Why has this started all of a sudden ( I don't feel depressed) 2. Is it normal to get all these physical symptoms for depression.

[NixonRulz]

Hi all,

I am new here, so please bare with me. It all started about 8 weeks ago when I was having chest and arm pains, so I went to the doctor for them to say I have anxiety but did nothing about it. I then had an headache for 10 days for a different doctor to tell me I had shingles ( there was no rash). Then last Thursday evening I was violently shaking and struggling to breathe, turns out I was having a panic attack. To cut a long story short I moved doctors as I was unsatisfied with my other GP. I went there on Tuesday and she said I have depression and have been put on satraline 50mg I took a tablet and since have not been right, my head is foggy and I can't eat. What I can't get my head around is 1. Why has this started all of a sudden ( I don't feel depressed) 2. Is it normal to get all these physical symptoms for depression.

That is quite an ordeal in a short period of time.

I am not familiar with what you are taking but it doesn't take a genius to understand that if you don't feel depressed, I'm betting you're not.

Does that med treat anxiety as well and maybe that's why she put you on it?

Just seems that she may have jumped the gun a bit.

A lot of meds for depression and anxiety can give you that foggy feeling. Many will agree on this forum.

Seems like anxiety and not depression. But I haven't had depression. Or at least I didn't think so until your GP is saying that my anxiety symptoms were depression

I'm not a doctor but I saw an actor playing one on tv so I believe I only had anxiety issues

I am sure people that have had a bout with depression could speak more confidently about the depression aspect

Welcome aboard

[danni1987]

The first doctor said anxiety on the back of the chest and arm pains.

I forgot to mention that when I went to the hospital with the panic attack she gave me diazepam. She said to only take it when and I I need too as it is addictive. So I tried not to take one yesterday but felt all sick and flushed. I then took one and was ok so I have taken another this morning and have been in bed all day.

I've had an ECG an bloods done an they all came back clear. I just feel I keep been fobbed off.

Thanks for talking

[NixonRulz]

If the Valium helped you feel better, I'm guessing even stronger now that its anxiety since that works on calming your mind.

Benzos are great for immediate relief

[danni1987]

Did you have any of the physical symptoms?

[maria.g]

Danni

Sertraline usually starts at 50mg for approx 10 days and is upped to 100 or even higher. I've been on it for 2 to 3 months now. It actually made my anxiety so much worse, I could hardly breathe. Also restless, nauseated and jittery!
The psych I am seeing advised me to up it to 150mg which freaked me out - he said to comply and I did. I've been on the higher dose now for a couple of weeks and the anxiety had lessened enormously. I am also very gradually getting my mood slightly back on track. If had been VERY GRADUAL- which seems to be the way with AD's. Benzodiazapines (Valium, Xanax etc) are fast acting and are great while you are adjusting to the sertraline . My psych is an arrogant arse and 'doesn't DO them he says. Not him that had to feel like sh*t though!!
Keep taking them. The side effects can be awful but in the long run the benefits will be worth it.
Best regards
Maria

[danni1987]

It's hard though as I have a store to run. I'm scared to take time off work because I just don't want to be on my own. I hate feeling like this and just want to understand why and what caused it.

[Mrs2B]

Hi Danni,

Im new to anxiety too, I think this is what you have as I had depression when I was younger and it was very different; feelings of hopelessness, crying for no reason, and just not wanting or able toget out of bed most days...among others.

My anxiety seemingly came out of no where too I was very confused and scared by it at the start.

I thought I was very happy, Ive a great partner, getting married in august, have a wonderful family and in laws to be and my own home..

However when I read into it even seemingly happy events such as getting married, having a baby etc can cause uncertainty and you to question your identity which leads your body wrongly to believe you have something to fear when you do not.

Reading and research really helped me as the more you learn about it the more youll understand it and be less scared by it.

I hope what Ive said makes some sense and that it may help even a little.

Hang in there be kind to yourself and things will get better in time :-) x

[danni1987]

Mrs2B,


Did you have the physical symptoms. I got married in October and couldn't of asked for a better day. In November I went on a secondment for my company opening up new stores etc. the symptoms started about a week before I was due back to my store, but I can't make the connection as my team are brill. I think the physical symptoms are what scare me the most. The more I read the more I'm freaked out by it, I'm not normally the type of person to seek medical advice from google. Are you on any mediation?

Thanks

Danni

[Mrs2B]

Yeah lots of phsyical symptoms, the one I hate most is the dizziness as I freak out about fainting, but I read you will never faint from a panic attack as your bodys survival mode kicks in and wont let this happen (your body thinks its in danger so will not put you in further harm) Ive experienced headaches, chest pain, breathlessness, choking feeling and more but its just my mind my body is perfectly healthy as Im sure yours is, sometimes a check up with a doc can put your mind at ease though.

All the phsyical symptoms although scary and uncomfortable are just adrenaline in your blood, its not in any way harmful to you, youre body is trying to protect you from an imagined threat.

Im on 20mg prozac for about a month now, seems to be helping a bit, have tried benzos, valium etc, but scared of getting addicted so stopped them.

Hope this helps, feel free to message me or ask anything else, be very glad to help if I can :-)

[Mrs2B]

Sorry about the spelling..Jeez..physical! :-D

[danni1987]

Thank you, I appreciate the replies. I just feel like im being silly as it is hard to explain to people :s

[Mrs2B]

Totally understand that Im the same, I keep thinking people will think Im crazy or weak, but anyone I have told have told me either they had panic attacks themselves before or have had some problems with anxiety, its more common than youd think

[Lin]

I have not tried, i don't think, the medicine you are on, but I do take diazepam regularly every day, 16 mg per day, and I find it keeps me calm all day. It does not give me quick relief like temazipam used to do, but with that I was always desperate for the next dose so the diazepam keeps me more level all day.

It is very hard if you do not trust your doctor, and was good to change to a new one if you felt you need to. You do need to find a doctor/psychiatrist/mental health nurse/psychologist whom you can trust and take their advice. It is important that you access all the services available to you that will help you, so it is always worth going back if you have something bothering you and asking if anyone else in the mental health service can help you with it.

I go on NHS and Recovery Education Service training courses - these are really good for learning techniques to help you overcome panic and anxiety and all sorts of subjects, but also you get chance to talk to other people with problems too which really helps.

You should also see if your Mental Health Forum runs a peer support group in your town - these are just drop in times when a group of people with mental illness get together to talk and help each other - so another way to help you.

Meditation also helps if you can find a group near you, I go to a christian and buddhist group. But you can do it on your own just by sitting quietly and concentrating on your breathing for just a few minutes a day and gradually building up - it teaches you to calm down and does help.