Originally Posted by
jessed03
Hey Connor, welcome my friend.
I'd say your problem is pure and simple: Severe anxiety.
Severe anxiety sounds a little nasty, but it's just regular anxiety... Only a bit more extreme in your case. Sounds a lot like my experience.
The Lexapro will be more of less out of your system now, but it can take time for things to settle down again, so you can probably put some stuff down to that still.
My opinion, but you do need a drug, yes. You will struggle without one. It can take some tries to find one you like. Took me about 5. In your case they will make you feel worse before better, so you may need to grit your teeth and get 6 weeks under your belt on a drug. At that point it should all settle down, and you'll be able to get some relief, and get stuck into dealing with the root of your problem.
I wouldn't bother trying chlortrimeton if I were you. I just wouldnt. I've been where you are, I've tried many remedies, they won't hit your problems hard enough I'm afraid. All of your symptoms are your body telling you it's suffering from extreme levels of stress. Stress relievers won't help enough, you need something better.
That's why the Lexapro made you feel rough. It's changing your brain chemistry. And that's never easy to do without side effects. It just shows how much your brain chemistry needs changing if that's how you react.
Not every antidepressant will make you feel bad. You may luck out on your next one and find one that works easier.
Good luck, and don't worry about your family's words too much. Extreme anxiety freaks people out. It can appear crazy, gosh, I've appeared crazy many a time. But when it settles, you'll be right there again, as yourself, right back to normal with no crazy bullshit anymore.
It's just extreme levels of adrenaline making you seem a bit off to people. It's hard for them to understand. When that adrenaline level returns to normal, then there's normal Connor, safe and sound.
You don't have schizophrenia, or bipolar, or anything other than anxiety. I can pretty much say that for certain.
Good luck, let us know what med you go on next, if you do choose to go on one. We'll try and guide you through it. Quite a few of us have been there. It does get better.