Celexa and Obsessive Thoughts??? Really need some Reassurance!!!

Hi Robert

Im sorry you are going through this first of all. I too was like you. I am currently on Cit since Aug and I am on 20 mgs. I was upped to 30mgs for about 2 months but I reduced it because I was having bad nose infections, weird as that seems, so I reduced it to 20mg. 4 weeks is still very very early to see much of a difference, if any. I am still having a bit of anxiety in the mornings myself and this is since Aug, but totally not as strong as i was having. I can only speak from experience that the bad thoughts will slowly fade, but in time..time is what is needed. Please allow enough time for the meds work before you make another increase. I allowed at least 2 to 3 months before upping any dosage. What I've been doing in the morning or whenever I feel bad thoughts is I meditate, go for walks anything to keep busy as not to think. Get out of your head and try to focus on all the things you enjoy. Right now I know this is so very hard, believe me I know. As the meds start to get into your system, you will slowly start to see a difference. It may take only a few weeks to see a difference, it may take months. It will slowly get better, be patient. Everyone who takes these meds react differently and takes different times to see the difference. Personally myself, I've been dealing with this for 31 years. This is my 4th time on meds , but this is the first time on Cit. I've been on other meds in the past. Personally, I think the more times you come off and then go on meds again, the longer it takes for it to work, but that's just my experience. As for your experience with smells, I can't say I've experienced that, but with the things I enjoyed for so long, I did experience that the very things I loved doing, I was petrified doing. I loved canoeing, but the very thought of me going out in the water, scared me to death. Tea dates with my friend, I loved it, but was so afraid because of the fear that I had of getting a panic attack. I forced myself to go just to say I went, but my legs were so shakey I had to shake my foot as to not run away, and my stomach was in knots.. oh boy it wasn't good. I looked on You Tube for some different relaxation techniques which helped. Try to get out in the fresh air and see if that makes a difference for you. Please keep going, it will get better. It IS anxiety doing all this. All the symptoms you feel either emotionally or physically are all to do with anxiety. Your mind is a powerful thing. You need to switch your thinking process. As soon as you start to get in your head and start to get those thoughts, recognise they are there and say to yourself, I AM Not IN ANY DANGER and say to it THANK YOU FOR WARNING ME BUT I AM FINE. It may seem silly, but it is telling it that you don't need assistance and that will slowly change the though process. I've been doing this throughout my recovery and I find it is making a difference. Also when I get those thoughts right after I thank it for warning me ,I count backwards, 5,4,3,2,1. It interrupts the thoughts. You may have to do that 5 times a day, maybe more. However many times you need to do it..do it..It helps.

I hope this helps in some small way and that you can get back to living life. Good Luck and God Bless.