Blip nearly 7 weeks in

Posted , 6 users are following.

Good morning i am nearly 7 weeks in (20mg from start) and after starting to have a few good moments i seem to have gone backwards with my health anxiety these last couple of days, ive been awake feeling really anxious and worried since 3am this morning.

Ive even started worrying about moles ive never worried about before and side effects / anxiety symptoms ive had for a while have suddenly made me worry about them more.

I read that people normally start to see improvement after 6-8 weeks but i seem to be getting worse.

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Edited

    completely normal to be having a blip in week 6-8 some people get better in 6-8 weeks but not many. the fact you are having a few good moments proves that the meds are starting to work. it takes a lot longer than people say. I'm week 10 and experiencing the worst blip I've had. I've seen though that it is completely normal. some people just take longer than others x

    keep going the blip will pass .

    • Posted

      sorry to hear you are still struggling at 10 weeks. I was hoping by now id be getting a bit better and less anxious but my health anxiety seems to be getting worse with my moles and any skin sensations etc

    • Posted

      just remind yourself it's just anxiety x because it is x it's easier said than done I know. trust me I've had some really weird symptoms this time round on the med and have worried about similar things x

      the skin sensations are really normal too x you'll be surprised how much anxiety can cause to your body. especially with the med mixed in too but it will pass for sure.

      itching

      tingling

      chills

      burning

      tickling

      numbness. all of these things but they are only temporary! 👍👍

      you will notice soon you will be able to rationalise everything a lot better.

    • Posted

      Thats what i try to do and need to learn. All my moles have been checked yet i still worry about them and think theyve changed and im getting lots of skin sensations and soreness as well as aches and pains im my abdomen, back and ribs mainly

      Did you get aches and pains as well?

    • Edited

      I would say at least 12 weeks on the same dose. I still get all the muscle aches, weakness twitching and tiredness 23 weeks in on 30mg but am so much better mentally and can rationalise my health anxiety alot better. It will improve.

  • Posted

    I know exactly how you feel. I am 6 weeks in and have been having anxiety again and nausea tired and just blah like I did when I started Celexa again. scary I do not want to go back wards.

  • Edited

    Graham,

    I've been reading up on this forum for the past several weeks as I have been going through anxiety issues myself. Reading through some of your posts were almost as if I had written them myself. I have had abdominal pains galore, groin pains, chest tightness, lower back pains, sore and even numb limbs, my legs get twitchy like you wouldn't believe, and digestive issues/pains on almost a daily basis. My appetite has suffered huge as well. There are times when I just cant seem to eat. I almost never get even a hint of a hunger pain. I've convinced myself that I have every type of cancer one can think of in the last 8 weeks. Pancreatic, kidney, liver, thyroid...you name it I have been convinced I have them all.

    Like you I am 8 weeks in on 20mg of citalopram. It has been one hell of a rollercoaster. Luckily enough the past couple of days have been good emotionally for me. I still have the gut issues, but my mentality is starting to lean in a direction that maybe just maybe this is all in my head.

    I was so frightened that I setup appointments to go through a complete physical in the near future and I'll likely continue to go through with it, but I will say that I'm starting to believe the adjustment to the med is causing most of my symptoms. I'm most definitely seeing improvement in my anxiousness, it's getting easier to recognize when an anxiety or panic attack is starting and I'm able to talk myself down from it. The anxiety hangover is still there afterwards, but its easier to recognize.

    Good luck on your recovery and all the best my friend.

    • Posted

      It does get better. I had severe health anxiety suffered with numerous physical effects including muscle twitching which I still get! I also could not swallow living on prescription shakes and soup. My swallow has improved although I still find it uncomfortable. I had so many tests barium swallow, camera down my nose and throat, at one point I was strugglingto drink water and ended up in a@e. I had neurology appointments, ent appointments, I even had a head and neck mri scan as had debilitating neck and shoulder pain. Mine all started last June it has been the worst time of my life and I have a young family. But things over the last 2 months have massively improved. I was off work for 3 months went back in November. I was on 10,20 then I saw a psychiatrist once who upped it to 30 after 5 weeks. I am now in my 24th week yes it takes time but i am now so much better especially mentally hang in there.

    • Posted

      Hi Randall thank you for your reply its reassuring to know that other people are also experiencing similar side effects and thoughts.

      A lot of mine appear to be easing apart from the skin sensations (sore, burning, itching etc), soreness near my shoulder blades and upper back and the discomfort occasionaly in my groin or testicles.

      My health anxiety still hasnt improved much yet, i still worry everytime i look at a mole or blemish on my skin or if my skin feels sore especially near a mole.

      My dr wants me to go up to 40mg but im going to give it at least 12 weeks on 20mg and see how i go.

      Hope you continue to see an improvement

  • Posted

    Likewise my friend, this thing is an evil monster to say the least. I still have health anxiety as well and the side effects of the med can send it through the roof. My biggest fear is ignoring a real health issue and equating it to anxiety.

    However, I'm starting to feel better little by little and things are looking up. One day at a time we'll beat this thing.

    • Posted

      Thats my fear too, im trying to tell myself that its all just the anxiety or side effects of the tablets but then worry one thing might not be so still need to check everything

      Ive had all sorts of heath fears and irrational thoughts, cant wait for the day i go back to normal. At the moment every sore feeling or itch or burning makes me scared

    • Posted

      It will get better my health anxiety definitely has and my mental state too and I was really bad

    • Posted

      ive had really bad health anxiety all the way through withdrawal (never before the med) except my few good days! ive just had every blood test under the sun

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