Heey everyone !

[Jimmybump]

Heey, my names is James. I'm 21 and from Australia. I was diagnosed with GAD and depression around 3 years ago after a hospital visit with appendicitis, I was convinced i was dying which is where the anxiety started. I also have health anxiety and I'm slightly hypochondriac. I was referred to a psychologist who basically squashed all of my fears and had me on the path to recovery, to the point where i had forgot i had any problems. I stopped seeing her as the service was no longer free. I lost my job and went into a horrible slum for about 15 months. I thought i would never get back to my old self,all of my anxiety returned and i was on the verge of suicide. About 3 months ago i finally found another job and moved out of home for the first time. It has been going so well,meeting new people and enjoying life again until suddenly i was back in the black hole. Not wanting to get out of bed for work,crying for no reason,having no motivation to do anything (everything seems like the hardest thing to do). My doctor told me there was nothing wrong with me and that i was just making it all up for attention. I finally went and saw another doctor, who told me he was very concerned for my health. It feels great that someone was actually listening and has the compassion to helping me get better. He prescribed me for the first time with Anti- Depressants which i was a little reluctant to take. Initially i was given lexapro 50mg. First dose i felt ill,burning skin,extreme nausea and depersonalization,insomnia and terrible night terrors. He told me to half the tablet (25mg) to try and i was still just as bad. I really wanted to cry thinking that not even AD's could work for me! Until i realized they are many others and that i wasn't the only one who didn't get the good one first shot. The next medication i was told to try was Effexor (37.5mg). The same thing happened but made my anxiety so much worse to the point where i couldn't get out of bed,i had terrible vertigo. Now i am on Zoloft (50mg) but at the moment taking just 25mg. I of course did the whole *check internet for side effects. Convinced myself i would have every one of them,didn't take it* It wasn't until my mother knocked some sense into me today that i decided to stop the worry and to just take it. I am crossing my fingers that this is the one,the reviews and threads i have read on Zoloft seem that the side effects aren't as terrible as other AD's, so here's hoping (yn)

Wow ! i didn't realize i written a bloody essay ha ha ! Feels good to get all of that of my chest. I look forward to interacting with some of you and sharing our experiences and helping each other out in these stressful times.

Peace and love, James :)

[Kuma]

Hi James. Are you sure your doctor started you on 50 mg of Lexapro per day? That would be a very unusual starting dose. A more common starting dose would be 10 mg /day. Some people will need to increase from there (others will not) -- but starting at a lower dosage gives your body an opportunity to get acclimated to the medication. Best wishes.

___________
* I am not a medical professional and nothing I write on the board is medical advice. All medical issues should be discussed with a qualified medical professional.

[Carolinitaa95]

Hello James!
I also have health anxiety. Listen to me!
I know its hard to convince yourself this is all psychological. BUT!!!
The biggest proof that it is indeed all in your head, is the fact that you actually got better for a while! And also, whenever you have a really good day and things go well, anxiety kinda disapears! So, given these facts (that I also try to apply to my whole life) we can agree this is psychological, right?

Now, if we know it's in our head, Im here to tell that, James, do not take your life away for something that's inside your head! I know this is hard, I also believe Im about to die at any second whenever I feel like this, I cant breathe, I feel weird all over, I experience despersonalization (when I feel like Im disconnected from the rest of the world) and I know how much it sucks to wake up feeling like you'll be like this forever!

But we're all " inside the same boat " ! You're not alone and you're not crazy. Find a med that will help you get through this, and then build up the strength to battle for yourself!

Get your life back, you're 21 :)

Believe me, this is hard and Im not always strong. In fact im so weak I end up crying most of the time. But whenever I have a better day I realise IM DOING THIS TO MYSELF

Like, you and I are both healthy. We who suffer from anxiety are fine! But we make ourselves feel ill! Its what we fear the most, and yet, here we are doing this to ourselves!

I hope, I know we can reach the light!

[Jmillhimes]

I to have had the burning skin with citalapram! I halved the 10mg pill and don't have them as much! Probably need to try something else! Also have nigjt terrors

[Jimmybump]

Hello James!
I also have health anxiety. Listen to me!
I know its hard to convince yourself this is all psychological. BUT!!!
The biggest proof that it is indeed all in your head, is the fact that you actually got better for a while! And also, whenever you have a really good day and things go well, anxiety kinda disapears! So, given these facts (that I also try to apply to my whole life) we can agree this is psychological, right?

Now, if we know it's in our head, Im here to tell that, James, do not take your life away for something that's inside your head! I know this is hard, I also believe Im about to die at any second whenever I feel like this, I cant breathe, I feel weird all over, I experience despersonalization (when I feel like Im disconnected from the rest of the world) and I know how much it sucks to wake up feeling like you'll be like this forever!

But we're all " inside the same boat " ! You're not alone and you're not crazy. Find a med that will help you get through this, and then build up the strength to battle for yourself!

Get your life back, you're 21 :)

Believe me, this is hard and Im not always strong. In fact im so weak I end up crying most of the time. But whenever I have a better day I realise IM DOING THIS TO MYSELF

Like, you and I are both healthy. We who suffer from anxiety are fine! But we make ourselves feel ill! Its what we fear the most, and yet, here we are doing this to ourselves!

I hope, I know we can reach the light!


Hi, thank you for your kind words. It has made me less crazy lol! I'm on my 3rd day of Zoloft and finding it pretty well,some crazy spacy feelings but calmed myself down and got on with it :) New psych called today and have my re connection appointment next week (which i cant wait for).
I hope you find the path to recovery too,we will get our lives back :D