am i depressed, or just anxious?

[lizaloo91]

Hello!

I'm new and am in desperate need of some insight. Out of the blue two months ago I was hit with a wave of intense anxiety that has stayed with me for two months straight. I am in the midst of trying a new med (lexapro) and am on week 3. Lately it seems like I'm feeling more than just anxiety, however. I feel really discouraged, frustrated, and sad that I'm feeling so awful. At times I feel like i'm about to burst into tears and i feel like i'm losing steam and overall motivation. I try to remain positive and hopeful but as time goes by it gets harder and harder. Am I depressed? I have an intense fear of depression but I can't tell if i'm depressed or just really anxious. Any advice, personal stories, etc. would help.

xo

[BabyJo84]

Hi, I'm new here too and also new to anxiety. I've had it for around 2 months now, and it is literally one of the worst things ever. It really, really drags you down. Thinking about it constantly and worrying when the next attack is coming is genuinely exhausting. Like you, I've been fighting off the possibility of depression until I no longer could. Since having anxiety I have lost all motivation to do anything that isn't absolutely necessary. So just changing some bed sheets or taking a shower feels like a huge achievement, and this is one of the major symptoms of depression. Most people who have anxiety, have also at one point had depression. It is nothing to be ashamed of, although trying to talk to friends or family about it, and have them look back at you like a rabbit caught in the headlights, or struggling to find something to say to make you feel better, is just a sucky feeling which makes you feel like holing yourself up even more.

My own personal advice is, see your doctor and get on some anti-depressants. I know it's the last thing you want to do, believe me, I waited until I was on the verge of a breakdown before I accepted I was not only anxious but depressed. But this will only get worse before it gets better, and the pills are just supporting me through the worst. I refuse to let them become my lifeline. So if I am invited anywhere with friends I go, or theres a job around the house that could be done, I do it.

I'm really sorry you're going through this because I know exactly how you are feeling.

[JustaGal]

Hello!

I'm new and am in desperate need of some insight. Out of the blue two months ago I was hit with a wave of intense anxiety that has stayed with me for two months straight. I am in the midst of trying a new med (lexapro) and am on week 3. Lately it seems like I'm feeling more than just anxiety, however. I feel really discouraged, frustrated, and sad that I'm feeling so awful. At times I feel like i'm about to burst into tears and i feel like i'm losing steam and overall motivation. I try to remain positive and hopeful but as time goes by it gets harder and harder. Am I depressed? I have an intense fear of depression but I can't tell if i'm depressed or just really anxious. Any advice, personal stories, etc. would help.

xo

HI,

You will feel better with the Lexapro. I have gone through the same thing. Anxiety and depression go hand in hand. After a anxiety period, depression follows. It is a "natural" course of the body. My advice is, try not to obsess and figure out every detail of what you are going through, you never will have all the answers, and it just adds stress. That is the biggest thing I took away from my horrible experience with anxiety/depression. Taking care of your self is what you can do, sleep, diet, exercise..... its does get better. :)

Best wishes!

[Soulcatcher71]

Not familiar with Lexapro, but i remember when i first started on meds myself & I felt worse for a few weeks before I started to feel better, so hang in there.

[JustaGal]

Not familiar with Lexapro, but i remember when i first started on meds myself & I felt worse for a few weeks before I started to feel better, so hang in there.

Yes, I have heard that frequently.

[MainerMikeBrown]

Many people who suspect that they may be either depressed or anxious are actually both depressed and anxious.

But a reduction in anxieties will likely mean less depression for you, Liz, I think.

[JustAnotherMe]

Hey Liz, I struggled with a similar thing when I was first diagnosed, I thought I was depressed but it turned out I was also very anxious.

The doctor I saw ran through some basic questions which give you a better idea of what you are feeling. I am from the UK so I hope you can access the below link. It's far from perfect but it might help you work out the balance of your feelings:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/mood-self-assessment.aspx

I also just tried this:

http://www.wb-dat.net/WB-DAT/

I found it useful for when you're not sure exactly what you're feeling. It goes into more detail but I found the summary less of a comparison between anxiety and depression.

[Silhouette]

Were you having those feelings before you started on Lexapro? If not, definitely talk to your doctor about that as it could be a result of the medication. For me SSRIs (like Lexapro) had a really bad effect on me. I had depression to start with, but every time I tried to go on SSRIs I would get much much worse. I'm now on different anti-depressants: bupropion (Zyban in Australia, Wellbutrin in the US and UK) and modafinil (it was created for people with narcolepsy but massively improved my fatigue etcetera) and have been so happy since. There are a lot more options out there than SSRIs, but a lot of GPs don't really know about them.

[lizaloo91]

I just finished week 6 of Lexapro and still feeling pretty anxious, and also just "off" and not feeling quite like myself. I'm fatigued and just worn down in general. I make an effort to go out, see friends, keep busy, but it's exhausting being anxious all the time. I'm hoping that the meds will start to help more soon. It's just hard to tell if I'm depressed or just anxious and fatigued. Any insight is appreciated..

[CarlaB]

Hello!

I'm new and am in desperate need of some insight. Out of the blue two months ago I was hit with a wave of intense anxiety that has stayed with me for two months straight. I am in the midst of trying a new med (lexapro) and am on week 3. Lately it seems like I'm feeling more than just anxiety, however. I feel really discouraged, frustrated, and sad that I'm feeling so awful. At times I feel like i'm about to burst into tears and i feel like i'm losing steam and overall motivation. I try to remain positive and hopeful but as time goes by it gets harder and harder. Am I depressed? I have an intense fear of depression but I can't tell if i'm depressed or just really anxious. Any advice, personal stories, etc. would help.

xo

Did something happen to you recently? Depression and anxiety doesnt just come out of nowhere its usually a build up over an event. Even if you try to act normal your mind has to leak out those emotions it might come out as anxiety or depression. To me it sounds like depression which is making you feel anxious.

[Katie1234567]

Hi
I have awful anxiety I think it's anxiety I'm dizzy can't go out anywhere afraid I'll die feel awful always my dad passed and I have a baby so I need to feel good doc gave me lexapro 10 mg I took once and felt even worse should I stick w it? I really want to feel better I'm not living at All like this thanks xo

[Katie1234567]

Hope lexapro works for me I am crying always I'm suffering so much from panic n anxiety I'm even afraid I'll faint in shower ugh hate this

[elharto]

I think, knowing and accepting that you're going thru a tough time will make things lighten up, even for just a bit. Communication is definitely a key point. Talk to friends, family, doctors, engage in social activities, life will be better, I can tell you that. :)

[liqshot]

Hey Katie,

Hope you're still doing ok but after coming across your post I hope you know that there is still light at the end of the tunnel. I know that you will do well!

[RoderickLariviere]

I have no idea about Lexapro rather than this my doctor has given me Doxepin. I feel well after that. You should tell your doctor if the medicine is not working.

[Twobluebutterflie]

Hi, when depression and anxiety hits you like that for no reason, you shall get a blood test and check on your vitamins and hormones, it's proven that a deficiency in vitamin d3 is causing depression and here i am i suffer from depression from 8 years ago i tried many meds and like you i felt worse taking them and felt angry at myself for being in this week state. just few days ago, i got my blood tested and it showed a vitamin d deficiency and hypothyroidism. we shall treat our body issues just before we go to take meds that are not healing.