The clouds parting?

[Joe]

My anxiety comes with a depressive episode. Most of the past 10 years, anxiety wasn't a huge problem. Then, this Spring, I got the "great idea" to stop my meds in a bid to lose weight needed to counter diabetes.

Not only did I fail to lose weight, despite an alternative treatment, I had a recurrence of my extremely anxious depression that started suddenly in August. I went back on meds almost immediately but it was too late.

Nearly 3 agonized months later, I am having some of the best days I've had since the early summer, after some med tweaking and a hell of a lot of mindfulness meditation and related practices. My sleep is still messed up, trying to get that straightened out.

It's hard to trust the new situation, until the improvement holds for a few weeks, or gets better still. But I do seem to have turned a corner, thank all gods.

 

[MATD]

Some anti depressants are notorious for weight gain. Like you, I quit my anti depressant early this spring. Big mistake. Weight wasn’t my issue, it was more of a disgust with my insurance raising the price of my med co pay. I got the issue resolved but I realized I got too worked up over the issue and it caused me to make a bad decision. Lesson learned. Fortunately, after restarting my med, it worked as well as it had previously. I guess we have to learn things the hard way sometimes, but it can make us a little more wise in the long run. Here’s hoping you get back on track.

 

[Joe]

Thanks Mat. We might be kind of similar, I can get really worked up about the principle of something and make bad decisions based on that sometimes. After another good day, I am really starting to think that the new med combo is working, but I'll really believe it when I see, say 2 weeks of "good enough" days in a row.

 

[suzzeeb]

I have been struggling through an anxious depression for over a year now that started suddenly. I have always had anxiety but this is the second time, the first time being many years ago, that I have had this ongoing, unrelenting anxiety and depression. I have tried many SSRIs at super low doses and the side effects prevented me from being able to get even close to a therapeutic dose. My first episode lasted over 2 years and then the depression and high level of anxiety went away. I'm hoping that happens again but most days pretty much suck. Which medications do you guys take? Did they make your anxiety skyrocket when you started taking them? I have felt bad for so long that I can't imagine feeling even more anxiety for 6 weeks or however long it takes for them to work, if they even wind up working at all. Thanks

 

[MATD]

I take generic Pristiq. Side effects for me were almost non existent, but each person is different, in how effective the medication is and the side effects can be different too. Antidepressants are only so effective, all they really do is take the edge off the anxiety and depression. They are not a cure. I’ve listed a couple books on here that are very helpful in relieving anxiety, It’s Only Anxiety by Carl James and Hope and Help For Your Nerves by Dr Claire Weekes who is renowned for “ cracking the code of anxiety.” James’ book is like a condensed version of Weekes’ book. I’m using the method described in the books, it works.

 

[suzzeeb]

I took Pristiq for a few weeks and had really bad stomach issues with it. I would love to find something that I could take without such bad side effects but after trying so many, I don't think that will happen. I have read Claire Weekes book and it made sense but I just can't apply it to myself for some reason. I can't believe that it is really in my control to make this better. I feel like my brain is so wired to worry and be anxious because I have lived like this for so long that no matter what I do it won't change anyway. I may have to give medication another try in the future though. Thanks

 

[MATD]

The problem is you can’t believe. Do you need to believe when you can’t? No. All you have to do is start practicing. Whether you can believe or not. I have had debilitating A & D for many, many years. I was depressed and anxious even as a child. I’m now 63. If it can work for me, as deeply ingrained as anxiety is in me at my age, it can work for anyone. All it takes is the willingness to try, to stick with it, regardless of the ability to believe. Your problem is no different than any other anxiety sufferers. We all think the same way, have the similar feelings. None of us can believe, and that’s the anxiety talking. Keeping us blind with fear. Your doubts about your ability are directly connected to anxiety, keeping you from taking that step in the right direction. There is no quick fix, there are no magic pills. You are standing in your own way.

 

[suzzeeb]

Yeah I know that's probably true. I watched my mom's anxious reactions to everything in life since I was a little kid and I guess that's how I learned to react also. It's probably possible to change but very, very difficult for most people. I guess that's where the medication helps to lessen symptoms if they work.

 

[MATD]

It is just as difficult to stay where you are, enmeshed in anxiety. Once you see that recovery is possible, it is all you need to keep you going in the right direction. I’m speaking with experience here, with the hope that you can make the choice to try.

 

[suzzeeb]

I guess I don't understand why medication is necessary if recovery is possible.

 

[MATD]

Medication does not change the negative thinking that gets us in this mess. All it can do is numb the symptoms a little. Medication can be beneficial to help us get started in recovery if we use a positive plan of action to change our thinking, which is what Dr Weeks work is all about. The acceptance method helps us to stop fighting the anxiety and learn, by practice, how to deal with the negative thoughts and emotions. As I said earlier, you have to be willing to try and stick with it. There is no quick fix, the method must be practiced daily and will take a little time before you start to see results. You also need to keep reading the book, you will pick up on the points she makes that you missed or get a better understanding of points. As recovery takes place, there will be very subtle changes that you will not be aware of and then one day it’s like “ wow! I just noticed that I haven’t been doing X. I wonder when I stopped doing that? Your level of anxiety will drop and one day you realize you aren’t as tense as you were. These changes are only the beginning. The fog starts to lift, you can think clearer, use logic, the list goes on. And then you enter the last recovery stage. It just keeps getting better. It’s hard work, yes, but it’s not any harder than what you are doing right now in fighting and struggling against the anxiety. You just need to redirect your energy into a different direction without giving up. What do you have to loose by trying? Nothing. And there is freedom from the anxiety if you don’t give up.