PinkPrincess1981
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2019
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I joined this forum yesterday and posted my first thread asking for advice but I thought I should introduce myself properly! I am a 38 year old woman living in the UK, I'm married to a super supportive man, I'm really lucky to have him. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. My depression is controlled by meds (20mg Citalopram daily) but my anxiety has been getting steadily worse over the past few years. My anxiety manifests itself as irrational thoughts and obsessive worrying. A year and a half ago I was put on Amitriptyline for nerve pain following spinal surgery. Although it's an antidepressant I was assured that the dose I was prescribed would not affect my mental health (60mg daily) I was told if it was being prescribed as an antidepressant the dose would be much higher. I decided at the end of October to come off it due to the side effects and what followed has literally been the worst 2 months of my life mentally. I weaned myself off it over 6 weeks under the guidance of my doctor but I still suffered horrendous withdrawal symptoms - suicidal thoughts, intrusive thoughts, severe debilitating anxiety, insomnia - it's been horrible. I mean it could be a coincidence but my anxiety has been on another level since I started weaning myself off it so I think it must have something to do with it. I suppose it makes sense that it would affect my mental health as even though I was not using it as an antidepressant it is an antidepressant so it must affect your brain chemicals. Anyway, it's been 2 months and I'm slowly starting to feel a bit better. I'm on the waiting list for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and I really want 2020 to be the year I get my anxiety under control and get my life back! Anyway, it's nice to meet everyone and I'm excited to be part of this community
