New Here....Looking for Help

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I'm 26 years old, female, and suffering from depression and anxiety. I was diagnosed with depression in 2001 and since then have been on Celexa, which has worked fine. However, my anxiety seems to have gotten a lot worse in the last 6 months or so. I am really feeling myself now avoiding certain situations like meeting new people, going to amusement parks, or anything else that would be considered fun and exciting. I tend to want to stay in my own element with my own routine. I have had physical symptoms like the inability to eat, nausea/vomiting, headaches, shaky hands, and extreme tiredness to where I feel like I want to sleep most of the time. I'm getting ready to make an appt with a psychologist to start some counseling. I did this a few years ago and it seemed to help, so I figured why not try it again.

I guess I'm looking for people who are experiencing somewhat of the same as me to talk to....Thanks! :?

hey sweetie. welcome. it is pretty slow here. I told someone else this earlier but you should try the book "the anxiety and Phobia workbook" (something like that) by Edmund J Bourne PH D. my friend recommended it to me (her therapist told her to get it) and i love it. it teaches you "baby steps" to help you be able to get out again. if you can, go to a bookstore and check it out, (its $20) or buy it on amazon for like $16. I swear by this thing. I am okay out in public, but i have bad anxiety, panic as well. it totally drives you crazy and all you want to feel is normal. lol. I know. therapy is a great start though. so great job on your first step! :D

hi scoober
i;m a 35 yr old female and i've been on celexa for abouts 4 or 5 yrs now but this week Nov 26-nov 31 has been very frustrating. When i start to get anxious the first thing to bother me is breathing, and no one really understands how it feels and you try to take a deep breath and it just stops half way. This is my first time in a forum and i read your entry and i was wondering if you had seen a therapist yet?.. I was thinking that would be my next step. please reply..scootie

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Originally Posted by scootie

hi scoober
i;m a 35 yr old female and i've been on celexa for abouts 4 or 5 yrs now but this week Nov 26-nov 31 has been very frustrating. When i start to get anxious the first thing to bother me is breathing, and no one really understands how it feels and you try to take a deep breath and it just stops half way. This is my first time in a forum and i read your entry and i was wondering if you had seen a therapist yet?.. I was thinking that would be my next step. please reply..scootie

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I know how you feel as breathing and heart symptoms are the worst with anxiety. I was in a cbt group and it has helped me immensely. If you can join one I would highly recommend it. The first book we used in my group has a really good introduction to the whole process called Been there, done that? do this! by sam obitz. The tea form exercise in that book has helped me a ton and I still do them all the time when I get upset or anxious. Try and get involved in cbt it really helps.