Just started Fluoxetine

so glad you found this site i started on fluoxetine about 7 months ago and i cant tell you how its changed my life i hope it does for you too good luck keep in touch sharon xx

You've certainly come to the right place! There are loads of us just starting our Flu journey and loads of support and reassurance from others who have been on it for much longer.

I'm in my third week and feeling better - not brilliant, but better by a good distance. There is space between me and anxiety and when it starts to flood me, I use distraction and slow breathing. It's too much adrenaline pumping into our systems, so calm thoughts and behaviour really help. Sometimes, anyway.

Stick with it and do a day at a time - advice I found here and am taking myself.

its because there's been a stigma attached to mental health for so long (particularly for blokes) but help is out there from things you can do your self and from your GP and local mental health team

heres my advice but I'm no expert and certainly not medically trained just someone who's going through similar.

- firstly well done for starting recovery by seeing your gp

- there's usually a root cause to all types of anxiety - try to pinpoint what that is and resolve to face it through talking therapy or cbt. One to one counselling is comforting but if you're anxiety is deep rooted you may need to actively address the negative feelings through cbt classes and good old fashioned practice

- good that the fluoxetine is having an effect but don't be deterred if you feel it works more days than others OR if you find it increases your anxiety, this can be a normal side effect in the early weeks.

- sounds like your partner is on side which is great just be honest and positive with your nearest and dearest - this is not your fault you are human and the mind needs treatment just like a broken bone

- sleep issues - I'm not an expert but know of a lady who is - check out the effortless sleep method by Sasha Stephens on Amazon. It's written by a woman who knows about it, you'll see if you read the reviews

- be patient as lapses will happen and are normal

- if you feel you need more help ask your GP to be referred to your local mental health team they know more about these conditions and can prescribe if necessary

- another book I read was 'self help for your nerves' by dr. Claire weeks - a very simple but reassuring book think I paid 3 quid off amazon

- don't want to lecture but cut back on the booze or eliminate it- it makes it worse and I did the same but learned to cut down.

hope this helps as I'm going through similar..

best wishes

( I cannot "Scroll" up whilst typing to comment on everyones posts, so I will try to add a bit more info.)...

My Anxietys Main Cause is Insomnia, and a terror of not getting "Enough" sleep.

I lived in a very noisy house back when it began to become a problem, and i worked night/day shifts. Sleeping properly through the day became a massive problem, and, to try and settle my nerves, i would drink a few pints in the nearest pub...this eventually became a few pints and a couple of Brandys....but the noise at home did not stop....Then, When changing to Day shift, my nerves would Kick in, and the slightest sound through the night (especially when trying to Nod off, would Make me suddeny wide awake and alert), and, without realising, I was lying awake for most of the night using up energy by being tense and fidgeting, and worrying. This started to make me lose days at work through Extreme exhaustion, and i eventually made an appt with my GP. I was immediately diagnosed as an Alcoholic, and the treatment offered was for that. I was desperate by now, so didn't argue...

I DID get some advice from various Councellors/Therapy groups, But the situation at home got even worse. I moved to my own flat, and slowly started to feel better, and my sleep patterns improved...

I began to then get "Threats" from the car factory about my attendance record, which agian increased my Anxiety and PanicsI got NO help at all from them, just threats of them sacking me.......I eventually left the factory in 1992, as I was STILL getting threats, even though my attendance had Vastly improved..Their medical department was useless....since then I have felt Good on some days/weeks, but still had the Odd anxiety attack....Recently, there has been some Major Upheaval at my new home ( Including a Flood whilst a new bathromm was being fitted, which also took a week or so longer than expected, and some "Family" problems..

I sought help this week as i realised i was reverting to My initial Breakdown symptoms ( and, I Had begun drinking drinking heavily again to "Calm Down")....I am determined to Drastically cut down the alcohol, and have already started to significantly reduce it.....However, as of typing, I feel I am having a "Tremors" attack, and I KNOW, in the short term, a few pints would help, But I am determined NOT to go the pub today,as i REALLY want to give the Flu a decent chance to work. Thank you all SO much for your kind reponses, and i am sorry for waffling on!!

I've suffered from anxiety and depression since 1979, and it was only in 1997 after years of other medication that I was changed onto this medication that I began to get better, and have been well ever since.

I also used to work in a car factory (office) and so did my husband.  When he lost his mum his grief hit him hard and with a difficult boss he had to take time off for months - the company hounded him and even questioned why he had gone away on holiday!  Obviously for peace and quiet.

Its a shame there's such a stigma to this illness, but I believe it's getting less over time.  When I was first ill I felt embarrassed and made to feel 'weird' by the medical professionals I saw.  I've cried many times at the doctors, desperate to stop whatever was happening to me.  Probably why I was ill for so long before I got better.

My son had a melt down 2 months ago and has exactly the same as I did all those years ago.  I feel blessed I'm able to understand and help him through his difficult journey .... maybe my illness was meant to be so I could help others.

I agree that the books by Dr Claire Weeks are a tremendous help.  She explains it so well and it seems to unravel the mystery of this illness, and she gives good sound advice.  I wish her methods were adopted by our medical professionals today.

During my illness I told nobody, only my husband.  I hid it from everyone, even family, for fear of being thought of as odd.  Only in the last few years have I been able to talk about my experience, especially since finding my sister, nephew and now my son all have this too.

This illness needs speaking about more ..... it's not being weak, weird or anything.  It hits anyone, whatever their nationality, gender, wealth .......

I wish you well in your recovery.  You'll get there xx

I laso had terrible GPs during my early panics, who I feel, utterly mis-diagnosed my mental state. I also Had NO help whatsoever from any of my family, they all just "Put their head in the sand" and walked away from me when I was having a bad time ( During my first breakdown, I voluntarily attended a clinic for drinking problems for four weeks ( part of the "Treatment was total abstinence during my Stay, which i found easy to do...I was also free to leave at anytime, but the peace and quiet ( and even some of the Talking Therapy) Helped me greatly.

However, when I returned to work soon after, I was greeted with cheers of "Watch out!!! The Psycho's Back" and suchlike by my ( So Called) Colleagues, because my OWN (Older) Brother had told/Bragged to the workforce that i Had been "Sectioned" in a certain Local mental health hospital ( Rain Hill, merseyside). Now THAT is exactly the support you need from family!!! (PS,He never once visited me during my four week stay either...)

...Even my friends at the time became distant, as they too did not have any understanding of what i was going through..and avoidance became their way of dealing with me...

But - you are here now and on the way to recovery. I was told that alcohol and Flu don't mix which would mean self-medicating at the pub would have to stop. I gave up alcohol over seventeen years ago and it was the beginning of turning my life around. I couldn't cope without the ability to think clearly nowadays - especially when Flu side effects are lurking about.

I bought the two recommended books and look forward to reading them. It was quite a self-admission, buying them - I might benefit from them, books about nerves and sleep! Who? Me? Well yes, actually!

A friend I was talking to ( Yup..in The pub....BUT....Drinking sensibly...) also gave me some Great but simple Advice, which may be of help to others...

He used to suffer from Anxiety and Depression (he still does, but has it now under control), and he told me a good way to relax in bed was, instead of constantly Thinking about the past, and all of its difficulties, I should try instead to turn my thinking around, and "Point" it towards future events ( Christmas/Birthdays etc), and try to think about how to plan and enjoy them...I have been sleeping much better with this in mind, and, I had the first REAL good nights sleep last night...even with Fireworks going off way into the night!!