Citalopram: 20mg for 8 weeks then 30mg for 2 weeks - feel much worse!

Hi Anna, thanks for replying. So you are saying that I might be experiencing negative side-effects of changing doses?

I will search for Katiecogs, thank you for that.

I hope you do well with your journey as I hope we all do, and I'm relieved to find I'm not alone. Thanks again for your kind words.

Hi, Your're welcome.  We all just need a bit of support now and then. yes most people seem to get side-effect when changing a dose whether it's increasing or decreasing and these drugs do make things worse before they get better.

When you read other post you will see the time recovery takes is different for everyone. 

Stay strong. xx 

Thanks Anna .... xx 😉

Hi as26 - hope I can help.

Usually when you increase your dose you will feel side effects again - they will wear off.  When you take 10mg you'll get side effects, so upping to 20mg or 30mg is adding another 10mg each time, so you'll feel the same.  What you describe are quite typical side effects.

In my experience each dose should be given plenty of time for your body to adjust to - so don't rush up through doses.  A higher dose doesn't always mean its suitable for you - each person suits different doses.  Whatever dose you're on you will get side effects and go through the same route to recovery - not many by-pass it.  Its just your body adjusting.

Anxiety is really being anxious about being anxious .... took me a long time to learn that.  All the side effects that come with it - racing mind, depression, detachment, weird thoughts etc are because of anxiety, so its not worth trying to analyse why you have them - as once anxiety starts to decrease so will the other side effects.

It is a tough journey and more-so on these meds ...... relaxing towards the symptoms, letting go of the tension, patience and perseverance are the key.  The meds are working, even though you don't think they are.  You often don't feel / see any improvement for weeks / months as the meds works really, really slow.  Its hard to see the wood for the trees.

For me, recovery happened so slowly I didn't really see it happening.  As each month passed little changes started happening ....... I noticed I could do small things easier, I wouldn't cry as much, I feel a little easier etc etc and all this whilst still getting setbacks.

Understanding what's happening to you really helps - it can seem such a maze full of fear, but knowledge is half the battle done.  I'll private message you a link which you might find really helpful.  Gerrymoo passed it to me and I've found its fabulous.

But in the meantime, I'm sure you're having side effects of increasing your dose.  It will pass in time.

K xx

Hi Katecogs.  Love your posts!!  

Ive increased this morning from 20 to 25, supposed to go to 30 but bottled out.  After about an hour, I had increased anxiety so bad that I had to resort to a diazepam which hasnt really worked as normal!  I dont want to rely on the diazepam but feel at the moment that I will have to.  Its really only the anxiety that I have an issue with.  I did feel slightly sick first thing and have no appetite but drank a complan drink just to get something inside me.  Did you increase at all and if so, did you have increased anxiety at first? 

Debbie x

Hi Debbie

Thanks  

Increasing does cause those side effects again and good idea to go up by just a small amount.  The feelings will wear off, but of course its horrible getting through them.  Relaxing towards it all helps as well as exercise - anxiety needs an outlet.

When I first started these meds back in 1997-ish (I forget when now) I was put straight onto 20mg and didn't increase at all as that dose worked for me (though it took months).  I had heightened anxiety but mostly nausea the first time.  During my years on the meds there were times when I decreased and then increased and yes had anxiety when increasing.

Taking a diazepam is fine if you need it at those difficult times.  They're there to help you.  The best thing I found was exercise and also relaxing towards the feeling.  Anxiety is just excess adrenaline and it needs an outlet (crying releases it too).  Exercise helps to burn off this excess and also releases endorphins helping you to feel good.  Relaxing towards the anxiety and just carrying on with what you're doing helps to diffuse it in the long run.  This really isn't easy to do I know and is very uncomfortable, but not reacting to the anxiety slowly gives your body the message that it doesn't bother you (ok I know it does), but this slowly diffuses 'the bomb' and starts to desensitise your body.  You begin to break that cycle of being anxious about anxiety.

Sorry, went off on a tangent there

You can increase by less too if you want to - cut or crush the 5mg and take half of that or even a quarter?  When I reduced I got down to 5mg and then 2.5mg and finally 1.25mg by crushing.

K x

Hi Kate!  Where did you get that name from out of interest??

I did 25mg this morning again.  Still waking up with anxiousness but it got a whole load worse about an hour after taking the extra cit! Almost ended up having a panic attack but talked my way out of that one.   Am wondering whether to change to night time but cant bear the thought of not sleeping!

Am trying the relaxing towards the anxiety i.e. letting go of stomach tension etc and going with it.  Damn hard to do as you soon forget and then realise your tense again!!  Im hoping the cit will work at a higher dose.  Ive probably said before, but after 4 weeks on 20, christmas day to be exact,I felt fabulous.  Woke up, no anxiety, totally normal for two whole weeks...and then my period hit and that was that!  Am being checked for peri menopause...in some ways I hope it isnt that as im not sure anxiety from the menopause can be controlled!  Too much excess adrenaline in the morning is mad!!  I think I need to know how to stop the adrenaline rush maybe but no idea how!

Ha ha, I crushed the tablet this morning and then got it all stuck around my mouth, it was disgusting!!!!

Am i doing the right thing by trying to relax into the anxiety i.e. just letting go of all the tension?

Thank you!!!!

From a pain in the butt!  x

Hi Debbie

Katecogs is a nickname my friend has called me for years, and now other friends call me that too.  My real name is Kay but so many people call me Kate ... so I answer to both 

Oh yes, relaxing towards the anxiety and letting go of stomach tension is no easy matter, and you're right, you do it and then realise a minute later you're tense again.  I used to find I'd do when I thought of it - sometimes it was just a little release for a few seconds and I'd try and stay like that whilst doing something.  Constant little practices build up.

Being on 20mg and having had a few good weeks around Christmas - personally for me, I wouldn't increase.  Whatever dose you're on you will still get anxiety, still go through the same process, and as you had signs it was working then for me I'd wait for that to return.  As you recover you'll get lots of things that'll drag you back down again - period for one.  When you feel normal (with anxiety) a period gives you PMT (irritability and tenseness), bloatedness, feeling emotional which takes its toll on you, so when you already have anxiety its bound to have an impact.  

Early morning adrenaline rush is always a problem - I had it and it was the last thing that left me.  Don't try and get rid of it - let it be there, relax towards it again, try some exercise first thing maybe ..... exercise helps burn excess adrenaline.  Tensing against it and feeling annoyed and reacting towards it produces anxiety and is keeping it alive and kicking ...... relaxing towards it, letting it be there (sort of ignoring it) will in time give the message to your body that 'hey do whatever, I'm not bothered) and it will slowly calm.  Yes..... again I know, easier said than done.  

Crushing tablets is a task isn't it.  I used to feel like a drugs baron crushing and dividing mine haha 

Yes you're doing the right thing - relaxing towards the anxiety, letting it be there, not reacting to it and just carry on as you would do normally.  Its hard I remember, as I didn't want to do anything but run away or hide.

Awwww you're not a pain in the butt haha   - when I was ill I spent every single minute of my day thinking about it, reasoning with it in my mind, searching for answers and reading my favourite comforting words from the books I'd accumulated.  We always need reassurance, need answers and need to know if we're doing the right thing.

Keep asking 

K xx

typo ..... that was meant to say 'normal (WITHOUT anxiety)......'

.... seriously 

Hi Katecogs!  Well I like the name!!!

Did it take long to get rid of that morning anxious adrenaline rush, do you remember?  Thats really the only bit I cannot handle.  Everything else is fine. I know I have done a slight increase and am still in two minds about it but might just see how I go for a couple of weeks and if it doesnt ease up then I will come back down again, slowly!

Yes I think about it all the time too, and when people tell me to think of nice things, I actually cant think of any!  My mind is so consumed with this damn anxiety but I do sleep well, go straight off to sleep but then wake up anxious.  So annoying!! x

Hi Katecogs 😉 and Hi again Debbie!

Just an update. After my recent blip and mental stress of whether I should increase or not - well I didn't. I stuck with 20mg and the blip just 'blipped off'. It's so so difficult to know whether a dose increase is required or not but Debbie as you'd been feeling good you know it was working for you.

I've been on citalopram now since last August and never thought I would feel able to get back to work but I am now back (albeit phased return) and into my 3rd week. Im still not sleeping well at all and my legs are driving me mad with burning and tingling but I actually get up now without thinking how sick or anxious I feel. I also think severuthing is related to how tired I feel.

Sometimes I could feel nauseous if I thought hard enough but refuse to allow myself to overthink everything. Did either if you get the book I recommended ? I think that was my turning point and now have a list of people wanting to borrow it !

Hi Gerrymoo

Glad to hear you're back at work and your last blip eased off (I like the 'blipped off' phrase).  Yes it is hard to know whether to increase or not but I think if you're showing signs of some changes, albeit patchy, then I'd say that dose will work if you wait.  

2 people, a friend and a family member, both had similar burning and tingling in their legs too.  Family member had restless legs and couldn't her legs still and my friend had that burning / tingling all over her body when she had it.  I suppose if you think about it your nerves are affected and equally the meds work on your nerves, so I expect they're bound to feel the vibration ... a bit like a short circuit.

Yes I got the book and am reading it and I've been passing the link onto others too.  What a find!!  Its so true - that's exactly how I read it many years ago from a different source and how I applied things to my own recovery too along with the meds.  Its not the mysterious maze you think it is - although its still scary, but it takes away a lot of the fear.

Thanks for recommending it.  Am enjoying reading it .... I keep nodding yes, and oh my, yes that's right   Very well written.  How did you come by it ?

K x

Hi Debbie

I will admit that the early morning anxiety on waking was the last symptom to disappear for me.  When I started having normal evenings which slowly spread more into my day over months, although I had that awful anxiety first thing I began not to dread it as much because I knew it wasn't how the rest of my day would pan out.  I began to look forward to my anxiety free evenings and could cope with the mornings better.  One day I woke anxiety free and though I had some more anxious mornings to come they got better as didn't come back.

Mornings are always the worst.  I think its because you go to bed, your body becomes deeply relaxed and you don't think of it at all during sleep, and on waking your body immediately goes back into the anxious mode because thats what its used to, and so it hits you.  As you recover more your body will learn to relax and in time will 'remember' the relaxed state on waking eventually.  Its muscle memory.

No don't make yourself think of anything else.  That's a sure way to make it stick more.  If someone said to you 'now I don't want you to think of a giraffe' then your mind will instantly think of a giraffe.  Same with the thoughts.   Let the thoughts be there, let them chatter away because they're going to anyway.  The key is to not let them bother you, don't react with anxiety to them, and if you do that's fine, just let the anxiety wash over you.  Again it takes time, but they will disappear eventually.  When you suffer with this illness / condition, your body and mind becomes very tired as you constantly search for an answer and relief, and thoughts stick to a tired mind.  As you recover and the anxiety eases, so too will the thoughts.  An anxious body = an anxious mind.

The illness follows the same pattern for everyone .... albeit we have different worries etc, but the pattern is the same ...  and recovery is there for everyone too.  And to think all those years ago I thought I was the only one.  I thought there HAS to be someone somewhere with the same thing.  Little did I know .......

K x

 

Hi again Katecogs (love this nickname!)

Yes I felt I could relate to the content of this book straight away, it really explained well in a very readable way how to deal with this dreaded anxiety. It made me feel like I was more in control of what was happening to me and how to regain control of my recovery. Don't get me wrong, I've still got some ongoing issues such as the legs and not sleeping which need to drastically improve but I'm trying not to get too affected by them and hope I'm taking it more in my stride and not letting how I feel stopping me doing things.

You've been such a massive help Kay and what you say and how you put it across is so calming and friendly - I'm sure you have helped so many people in their hour of need !

I think aswel your probably right about this silly leg problem, Constant itching and burning and aching but hey ho 😀 being back at work amongst my fantastic colleagues is such a tonic too. Although it's always so busy, it's very much teamwork and mutual support - my boss said she didn't think i would get back to work I was that bad at one point so each time I finish a shift it's like a mini victory for me against this awful anxiety which came like a bolt out of the blue.

Let me know when you've finished the book - he's written a sequel so think I might get that too! Thank you so much again for all your help and encouragement

Gerry xx

Hi Gerrymoo

I had a few other weird school nicknames ...... I think friends never stop giving them  I like yours too ..... dare I ask how that came about?  haha

Yes when you start reading the book you think that's it exactly!!!  Every symptom is explained perfectly and like he says, it won't stop immediately, but understanding certainly stops the a lot of the fear about it.  I like also that he explains every symptom is purely side effects of anxiety and to stop worrying about each individual new symptom and understand that its just anxiety.  I used to tell myself that when I was recovering, though I didn't feel it, but always said 'its just anxiety'.

Anxiety does cause a lot of physical problems too, like 'crawling' legs and sleeplessness, and of course they then begin to cause anxiety, especially sleep, because we need it to feel well.

These meds also help so much too though.  Sometimes we can't quite get started on the road to recovery or don't know where to start, and these meds hang onto your serotonin, making you feel happier and calmer, and in time help to break the cycle of anxiety - fear - anxiety.  Though I used the book method I'd been ill for so long I needed help from medicine too (though I didn't know I was actually recoverying when I took them).

It is good being back in the throng of things isn't it.  Its hard to return to work, but once back with colleagues doing normal things again, though you don't forget your illness ... (yet) ... you need to be doing your normal routine whilst recovering too.  Sounds like you have some lovely work friends.  Take it easy still though xx

Yes I'll let you know when I've read the book - I keep retracing my steps and rereading bits.  I saw there's another book too so expect I'll buy that too.  I have a number of books on this subject.  So handy - especially these ones.

K xx

Hi Katecogs 😉

Yes I second everything you say ! Gerrymoo just came about cause of my name but mostly I get Gerry. Being a mum I'm used to anything and everything lol x

Take care and have a good weekend kay x

Gerry x

Ah true ..... my son has nicknames for me too 

Thanks - you have a good weekend too.  Bloomin freezing here!!!

K xx

Hi Katecogs, not sure if the forum is still active but if so would you be so kind to message me the link to the book people have been talking about here?  I am new to this. Have been put on Celexa 20 mg 2 weeks ago, had a couple of good days but had a major set back yesterday with increased anxiety, depression etc. I am so down right now, trying hard to get back on track but it's just so difficult and so worried that the medication is not going to work. 

Hi Leonie

Yes I'll message you xx.

Thanks, much appreciated. It's so difficult to keep hope and a positive attitude when in the middle of this. Trying so hard to get back on track for myself and my family and feel so discouraged right now. 

It is a very difficult thing to go through, but you can do this.  When you're in the middle of it all it seems a never ending bottomless pit of despair, but the meds will be working in the background and will really help you - though you won't really see progress for a while yet.

I've sent you a book link and the website link too, with another weblink.  Read the Anxiety website as it'll explain about taking the fight out of it - trying too hard to get better just causes tension and frustration, so you need to do the opposite and give up the fight and let it happen.  The site explains more.  I trust the sites words 100% (and the book).

You will get better.

K x

Hi katecogs.....I'm new to all this forum stuff but I find your posts really interesting to read, you seem to know more about this illness than the doctors do...haha. I have been on citalopram for just over 3 weeks and suffering really bad, today has been a day from hell as soon as I wake up. I was wondering if you could message me this book or link everyone is talking about please? 

Thanks x

Hi Brye

Yes sure - I'll message you to 

You know, that feeling of gloom as soon as you wake is quite normal (at the moment) though know how hard it is.  For me, even as I went through recovery I'd still wake with that gloomy dreaded feeling, but by the evening I started feeling well ..... only to wake again the next day with that dread.  This happened every day throughout recovery but my days got better.  So that feeling isn't always an indication of how the day will turn out ...... though I know at the moment its early days for you on meds.

It gets easier.

Haha - forgot to say, I think because I had it for so long and also read lots of books on the subject.  Its very hard to understand exactly what it feels like unless you've had it, so I suppose its hard even for doctors too.  My doctor was fabulous and really helped ..... yet I've seen others who weren't so good on this subject.

K x

Hi Brye, Hang in there and I will try to do the same. I have just started my Third week on citalopram and after experiencing a good day on Sunday I plummeted back yesterday and last night. It was absolutely horrible. I just went to the store and bought the books and hopefully that will help as well, I now seem to be doing a little bit better.  Hope you're feeling a little better as well. 

Hi Leonie

Having a good day followed by being back in it all is completely normal and seems how the meds work.  Its all part of recovery.  You'll have many times like this - sometimes a few hours feeling good or days, weeks followed by days or weeks feeling bad again.  When those bad times comes just don't fight it - let it be, relax towards it, know its part of recovery and it will pass.

During the good days you'll feel hopeful and during the bad days you'll feel like you're back at the beginning.  You're not.  It also doesn't matter what dose you take you'll still go through the same process.  

It gets easier ..... just let recovery happen as you can't hurry it.

K x

Hi,

I’m new to Citalopram day 15. I would love to know what book this is, would it be possible to send it in a private message please. I’m literally willing to try anything to overcome this.

X

Hi Nicky

Will do - I'll private message you too.

K 

Send it to me too please! 

Will do 

Had to reread this message today to feel a little bit more encouraged and to accept it's all part of recovery. Had a few really bad days, I feel I am back at square one. 6 days ago I was switched to the brand Celexa instead of generic (every pharmacy here has a different generic). My doctor prefers to have consistency since I am sensitive to medications. Since switching from generic to brand starting 6 days ago it feels I have all the side effects again I had when I started weeks ago, increased anxiety, thoughts that go around in loops etc. I know it will pass and I have to relax towards it but it feels so discouraging at times. 

I've read from a few people on this site that they've felt a huge difference when they've taken a generic meds compared to the branded one, and have read that though the inactive ingredient can differ (that being the shell of the meds), the active ingredient is the same.  That could mean some are more sensitive to something in the difference of the meds though.

It is hard to accept feeling like this and all the backwards and forwards - its very tiring.  Yes meds increase and changes can cause the side effects again which are increased anxiety - and of course, with anxiety comes those looped thoughts all of which are just a side effect of anxiety.  It will go - really it will, even though you can't feel it or even imagine it.  Once back in the anxiety all positive thoughts go out the window ........ but once the anxiety starts to ease you'll see those thoughts will ease too.  So don't try and get rid of the thoughts, they're just a side effect.  Its like trying to curb a runny nose when you've got a cold - you know its a side effect of the cold and know it'll go once the cold goes away.

I used to just hang onto that thought 'it will pass, the thoughts are a side effect and will go once the anxiety goes'.  I didn't feel it, but I said it to myself anyway.

And yes, it did all go away in time.

 

If you have a chance I'd love to know which book has been so helpful to people on here. On week 8 and doing well for now, but could always use some motivation.

Hi Leticia

I'll have to private message you with the details as any reference to books / websites will get deleted by the moderators here 

K x

Katecogs, 

I love your inspiration it’s super helpful. this is my third time dealing with an anxiety issue and citalopram.i was wondering  if you could provide me with the link to the book. 

Hi katecogs, I love your posts. Could you please private message me the book you've been talking about?  Thank you!

Hi Mylo

Yes sure, I'll message you with the link.  I'm sure it'll be very helpful for you.  Understanding has been a huge help in my recovery and also preventing from it all returning too.

K x

Hi ac

Yes I'll post you the link too 

K x

Hi there you are famous on here Katecogs Please could you pass on the link I feel I am needing extra support, Thank you so much for all your posts

Hi gilip

Haha am I?    Yes I'll send you the link too xxx

Yes katecogs you are famous and a lifesaver!! I am now 8 weeks in on the Celexa and still am struggling big time but the resources you have emailed me have been a life saver. Progress is very slow. I am still not sleeping on my own, still struggle for most of the day but the anxiety is slowly losing a little of its edge. 

I have shared the resources with my own GP and therapist as I so related to everything in there. Hopefully my GP and therapist will share with other patients who are in this horrible spot and shared them in my own community with families who have been struggling with anxiety issues. We are all helping each other and being supportive of each other is very important in trying to get to the other side of the tunnel. Thank you!!

hi Leonie

Lol   Just passing on what helped me and see ... you're already passing on to help others too!!   Yes its good to help each other.  I also found it related to everything I read in the books too - it was the first time ever anything made sense to me, and more than psychologist had back then.

8 weeks - yes still fairly early.  Progress is slow - I remember it trickled in, in fact so slow I hardly noticed it happening.  But yes the anxiety eased slightly for me, but it was still there.  But little by little things eased off and I started getting little glimpses of 'myself' and it was a great relief.  Those little glimpses just happened at night for me - just 10 mins to start with, which slowly grew over the months.

It often takes a long time to become unwell with anxiety and so it'll take equally the same amount of time to heal too.

K xx

 

Hello katecogs , 

If  you don’t mind can you send me the book and web link you are talking about ! 

Need some help through this hard time which I pray to be just a memory soon 

Thank you 

F x

Hi fay

I'll private message you these too as can't post links on the forum. xx

Katecogs,

Could you forward me the book as well. I find for me it helps to read as and learn as much as I can about this. Also, I read through your past posts and kept noticing you talking about relaxing into the feelings, did you follow any guide for this or was it something you developed yourself? I started a mindfulness program that sounds very similar but is hard to cultivate. Any additional tips or guides would be great.

Thanks

Katecogs, could I also please have the link?

Thanks so much! Need all the help I can get :-).

Hi Matthew

Yes I'll send you the link to via private message.  Relaxing into the feelings I learnt through a book too - I'll tell you about it in the message.  I expect the Mindfulness programme could be along similar lines, as I think this method is becoming more recognised now.

It is a simple method and one that makes perfect sense - but it is hard to do as you have to work with the anxiety there.  But its something that you'll always have with you, and its certainly worked for me.

 

Hi Kelly

Will do.  I'll send via private message xx.

Hi katecogs, can you send it to me too?

Really appreciate all the info you've put here... I needed it today.

Thank you!

Hi Katecogs, trying to come to terms with this debilitating anxiety is pretty hard at times. Would you private message me the link for the book. Thanks.

Hi Linda - yes I'll message you xx.

Hi katecogs could also send me the link please, I am struggling at the moment had 4 good days last week, now I am having bad days! I'm 24 days into citalopram, been on 20mg for 14 days. Your words of wisdom have given me hope thankyoux

Hi Sarah

Yes will do.  Those good and bad days are all part of recovery 

Hello Kate, another one wanting the book link please  

Just started on Citalopram (12 days in) hoping a better general understanding will ease my journey

Tvm xx

Hi Jane

Will sent you the link too via message.  Yes it really does help knowing whats happening - takes away the scary mystery. 

Katecogs can you provide links to books appreciate all the help you have given on this forum.

Thank you

?Roisin

Yes will do Roisin xx

Kate, I finally got the book and read it, it took sometime to ship as I live in the states, but it was worth the wait. The methods are very similar to mindfulness but having a book that used those methods in direct correlation to anxiety made it all make more sense. I am by no means recovered but have already seen improvements. The whole part about stopping avoiding things has been difficult but has been the most beneficial. I had just been hiding in my office at work and trying to do everything by email and would just sit in there obsessing about the anxiety all day. Once I made the decision to get out of the office and do some things it was uncomfortable but I found myself breaking my cycle of thoughts and found myself actually enjoying myself. One thing I noticed today is that with it being a weekend and having nothing I have or need to do I am stuck in a bit of a rut of over thinking again.

Forgot to say, Thanks for the recommendation! I have already ordered the 2nd book but am hopeful that by the time it arrives I won't even feel the need for it

Hey Matthew

Oh my gosh I'm so glad the book has been beneficial already!!!   Its very true what it says about getting out and doing instead of avoiding, feel the fear and do it anyway.  Yes incredibly difficult and uncomfortable, but you're beginning to break the habit / cycle of anxiety.

Being on your own at the weekend with your own thoughts is fine too - its another part of 'don't avoid'.  Be with those thoughts, let them race, know they're just a side effect of the anxiety and will go once the anxiety goes.  Go for a walk, cycle ride or something, as being outside is quite a breath of fresh air too.

It won't of course all stop anxiety dead in its tracks, but working towards facing it and letting it just be, helps to reverse the process and breaks the cycle of anxiety / fear / anxiety.

Understanding anxiety is so beneficial along with the medication.

Yes the second book is equally brilliant, it answers many questions that weren't covered in the first.

Even though I'm recovered I still dip into the books occasionally - I just find them so interesting.

K x

I am currently sharing the book with another member in a different discussion!

Yay!! Pass it on 

I am nearly 6 months in 20mg fluoxetine mornings are so bad on high alert feel like I never go get better I am 62 suffered anxiety in bouts since I was 22 this is my second time of fluoxetine it took a long time last time but this time I feel that it's gone v deep feel afraid I not coming back any advice

It can take longer second time on meds and mornings are usually the worst time for us.  Did the Fluoxetine work the first time?  My first time on meds it took around 6 months and the second time about 8 months.

No matter how deep you feel you've become in the anxiety / depression, you can still recover from it.  We always think the worst too - our thoughts turn negative when suffering with anxiety.  An anxious body creates an anxious mind - they go hand in hand together.  When you start feeling better your thoughts will change.

You will get over this - the meds worked before and they will again.

K x

Hi katecogs

I'm new to this forum, after reading your posts you have given me some reassurance and so wanted to message you...I have been on citalopram 10mg 1 week, 20mg 4 weeks, and 30mg 2 weeks, and my anxiety is still through the roof and my depression is still there. Do you think it should be working by now, ? I'm finding it soooo difficult.

Awaiting your reassuring reply

Hi Julia

Sorry for the delay in replying.  

7 (ish) weeks is still quite early - these meds can take months before you even start seeing small changes, and often those changes go unnoticed because people look for something different.  Recovery can be so slight and you don't just start feeling well - and everyone is different too.

So whilst the meds are working, you won't notice it yet - so yes, they are working.

It is very difficult as we want to be well now.  Time should be a healer, not an enemy.

It was 3 months before I started noticing changes and 6 months before I'd recovered.  This isn't the same for everyone as it takes everyone their own time to heal.

Keep on going - you've gone a long way already, yet there's still more time to pass.

K x

Aww thankyou so so much, it just seems never ending...everyday seems to be the same! I never thought it would take this long.....doctor on about upping me to 40mg but not sure if it is the right thing to do.....very confusing!!!I find reading your posts really puts my mind at rest so thankyou so much again, do you have any links or books that you could recommend? Xxxx

Hi Julia

It does seem never-ending - every day you wake up its like ground-hog day, having to go over the same feelings and thoughts yet again.  You just can't hurry recovery, and if you try it'll just make things worse.  Your body will do it in its own time, so let recovery come to you and don't chase it.

Mmmmm ....... meds doses are all so personal to each person.  What works for one doesn't mean it'll work for another, so whilst one person will recover on 10mg another might on 40mg.  The bigger the dose doesn't mean you'll recover any quicker than a smaller dose - it just doesn't seem to work like that.  Whatever dose you take you'll still go through the same side effects, same time, same setbacks etc etc - as said its just what personally suits your particular body.  

Having said that I do know lots of people struggle on 40mg - this means they have constant side effects, and they've found after a while on them just a simple reduction sort this out.  40mg is the maximum dose.

I recovered on 20mg which took 6 months.  That dose and time was personal for my body type though - it can take longer / shorter for others and a different dose too.

All I can say is to give each dose a long time - if by about 3 months you haven't seen any sign of anything happening then talk to your doctor about a dose adjustment.  These signs can sometimes be hard to spot though because people often assume you'll just get better as if from a cold.  Throughout my 6 months recovery I woke every day with anxiety, but by the end of the day it had gone.  I'd wake again the next day and go through it all again (hence ground-hog day)   Even though I'd wake like that, my day would end and I'd feel completely normal, anxiety free.  This normal feeling slowly spread more into my days until most of my day felt like that.  At 6 months I started waking up completely anxiety free.  Throughout this time too I'd still get setbacks, which feels like you're back at the beginning.  This is completely normal - and is also something people mistake as the medication not working.  It is - and in fact it shows the meds ARE working.

So at 3 months you might feel one side effect has eased i.e. a racing heart, or it may be your mind isn't racing quite so much, or you're not feeling so sweaty (yes that can happen).  Often these things ease one at a time, not altogether.  This is why it can be hard to see recovery because you expect something miraculous to happen instead.  But it does get easier until the anxiety stops.

So if you don't see anything at all around 3 months then consider changing the dose.

I'll private message you about a book and link that'll be helpful.

K x

Thankyou so much for your support so much appreciated I will keep you updated ❤xxx

Bravo..😘

Hi Kate,

Interested about books on anxiety and websites u mention as struggling, could u PM them please?

Many thanks,

Caroline

Hi I’m new to this sight I have been suffering with anxiety for many years,I have been stable on meds for over 20 years. This past year I don’t know what happened it has been a night mare still trying to recover.I currently on celexa started out in 10 and went to 15 stayed on that for 7 weeks busted uped to 20 still not feeling much relief. Do u think I need more time in the 20 or is the meds not working.I would appreciate any input .

Hi Gerrymoo

One of my main symptoms is burning and wobbly arms and legs so it’s a real help to hear of someone with the same strange symptom.  Would you be able to send me a link or the name of the book please?   

Many thanks

To everyone who is out there who is suffering from this illness please hang in there and don't give up. It will get better. I am now almost 6 months in and have started to finally have normal days again and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  After 3 months I was bumped up to 30 mg and after 4 months I was bumped up to 40 mg.  In the first 4 months it was this website, the resources Katecogs recommended and great medical and mental health support that kept me going but it's a very long process and it was by far the worst time in my life.  Your symptoms don't disappear overnight and will not be gone after a few weeks of citalopram use. It is so difficult to see recovery yourself but it is there doing its thing in the background. I had to look back not to days but to weeks and sometimes even months to see the immense progress I made. The books kate recommended made so much sense, it clicked and for me I knew that implementing those techniques would help me get better. The only problem was that I had trouble  implementing the "floating" techniques described in the book. I struggled with how to float through some of the very difficult emotional states associated with anxiety and depression. For me the solution to this was taking a mindfulness course and through that I learned to implement that "floating"  technique. I just wanted to share this in case other people have a similar problem with learning how to "float" and just want to encourage you all to hang in. Katecogs once again thank you much for sharing those resources on this blog. They have helped tremendously. 

Absolutely.. katecogs is a godsend...so happy for you leonie

Just done xxx

Hi Marsha

What meds were you on for years before Celexa?  I took meds for 16 years before being switch to Citalopram (Celexa) and within 6 months I recovered.  I also found knowledge about anxiety really helped too and together I was able to recover.  I'll send you a link.

Don't be in a hurry to increase meds - do it gradual.  You won't know which dose is best for your individual body unless you've given them chance to settle.  I recovered on 20mg but some people find less suits them more, and some prefer a higher dose.

It can be 3 months before you even start noticing any slight improvement to any symptom, and often people don't think they're recovering because improvements go unnoticed because they're so slight.  Things started happening for me around 3 months but it wasn't until 6 months that I felt recovered - and even after that I had a few wobbles.

K x

Hi Leonie

Its so good to see you recovering - and so glad those resources helped.  Though I had my info originally from a different book many years ago that information helped me recover along with meds too - I was so excited by these books too (Gerrymoo initially passed me the link last year - thanks Gerrymoo).  Yes these books make so much sense.

Yep, I also had difficulty understanding what floating meant too initially (from my original book source) but more reading, more understanding and much more time passed before it began to sink in.

I'm so pleased for you - and of course, we can now all pass our knowledge onto others who struggle.  Keep the knowledge going 

K x

Awwwww thanks xxxxx    And I know you do so much on here too xxxxxxx

Hi Kate, 

your words are very helpful for me, please send me a link too if possible!

You're welcome Kay, it's great to see and hear that so many are finding the link useful. It was a godsend to me in my time of need!

I decided to try and taper off my 20mg dose. Not sure if there's a better way to do it but I am snipping the end off a 20mg tablet, been do I g that for 2 weeks and just a bit of lethargy - any ideas on where to go from here . Cheers everyone and thanks again Kay x

hi katecogs, is the website anxiety cycle your website blog? i noticed you posted links to books and websites, is that the one everyone on here is asking about?

Hi Gerrymoo!!!  

That book link has certainly proved so popular!!  The method is exactly what I used when I recovered too and it just makes perfect sense.

When I reduced my Citalopram I did it by 5mg over about 1-2 months each reduction.  I bought a pill cutter and cut the 20mg tablet into 4 making each piece 5mg and when I got down to the last piece I crushed it as was too small to cut further, and took half the powder.  After many more months I then took even half of that which ended up being a few grains on the end of my finger 

My plan was 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 2.5 / 1.25 / 0 which took around a year.  I didn't get any effects from tapering off as it was so small each time.

You can taper off less than 5mg each time if you crushed it too.

K xx

Hi Christos

Yes it is   I did private message you a couple of days ago with the link and see you haven't seen it yet.    Messages are at the top left of these pages 

K x

Could you please send me info on this book as well? Thank you. 

Will do Margit xx

Hi Kate, I'm new in this forum, but I have been reading your posts which have been very helpful to me. I'm entering my 15 weeks (20 mg) and I'm still not feeling good.  Yes, there are few times that I feel fine, but after 15 weeks, I really thought I would feel much better.  The only reason I'm keeping taking them is because of your posts and that gives me encouragement.  Anyway, can you please send me the link of that book? I would like to get it, maybe that will help me with my anxiety. Thanks Kate

 

Hi Ana

Recovery really does take a long time - longer than people anticipate.  It creeps up so slowly most people don't recognise changes because they expect to feel something different - so its easily overlooked.  Small changes can happen one at a time sometimes, and that could be changes in your sleep, appetite, not feeling so emotional or tired etc.  People expect the anxiety to ease.  For me anxiety was the last symptom to go and that was at 6 months, though by then everything had got easier and I was having increasing periods of feeling happy and normal.

Throughout my recovery the anxiety went and came back too (setbacks) so don't be too surprised to feel like you're winning one day and back to square one the next.

Recovery time and experience is different for everyone and so are symptoms.  What one person reports won't be what someone else is going through.

Let it happen for you in its own time - to keep watching and waiting just adds frustration.

I'll private message you with the link.

K x

Hi Katecogs,

I contacted you on another thread to thank you for all of your kind, helpful words to everyone.

I'm 12 weeks in, (4 on 10mg , 8 on 20mg) and still feeling very down, negative and a wee bit anxious.

Would you be so kind as to send me the link for the book you've mentioned?

Thank you. Steve

Hi Steve

It does take a long time for the meds to settle - each dose increase also piles on more side effects so you need to give each increase lots of time to settle as your brain adjusts.  12 weeks is good - just keep going.  Yes I'll send you the link too.

K x

Hi Katecogs

Could you send me a link to the book

Please, I'm 6 months in and feel a bit lost.

Hi Margrit

Could you forward me the link to this book please

Hi Jac

If you have the link for the book could you forward it to me please

Hi Jac

Will do - I'll private message you.

Hi Katecogs 

Can u send the link to me please 

I have done already - its by private message.  Can't post links here or they'll get deleted.  Look in your Inbox.

K x

Hi Katecogs

I have not received it. I have looked in my private message box but it is empty, Am I looking in the right place?

Hi

That's strange - I can't find it either now.  I'm certain I sent it (must have been having a brain crash moment).    I'll send it again.

K x

Just sent xxx.

HI was just wondering are you still on them if so what dose thanks

Hi ive been on Citalopram 20mg for 1 year due to chronic pain which made me depressed/anxious. I came off 8 weeks ago and was put on Amitytiptyline. I had 10 of them and was too tired on them so came off 6 days ago. Then i had a huge panuc attack 2 nights ago, was agitated couldnt sleep foggy brain, crying etc, so was told to go back on Citalopram 20mg. I know it takes time but am i back to square one? Could i have the link to book too please 😃

Could you send me the link for book please

I really needed reassurance today and read your reply here while searching. It helped me a lot. Thank you. can you send me the link as well?

Hi Kerry

How long did you take coming off Citalopram? Coming off too quick will result in withdrawal symptoms which either start immediately or can be delayed. The return of panic attacks and / or anxiety can be withdrawal. I spent a whole year coming off these meds and avoid all withdrawal effects by doing it that slow.

It will help returning to the meds though - yes it will take a while for the meds to take effect and it depends how long you've been off them. For me restarting meds took longer second time around (first time was 6 months) but that doesn't mean that'll be the same for you.

The meds worked before so they should work again - just give them time.

I'll also send you that link.

K x

Hi

No I'm not on the meds anymore - came off them a while ago now.

Hi Cara

Glad my post was reassuring. Yes I'll send you the link too.

K x

nicky39064

How are u doing ?

What's the does u on ? Are u on 20 MG Celexa

Hope things are going better for you

just wanted to check

babdyboo

Hi debbie17569

I too get anxiety attacks and when they really bad I have to help myself by taking lorazapam . I don't like to take them but @ this moment I need to until I get to the point of this Celexa were I don't need them anymore because the anxiety is gone or has stopped

I am also on 25 MG Celexa just like u today is my 21 day on them

So I am waiting on getting better with each day

babsyboo

Hi Kate,

I would really appreciate the link for the book too please.

Thanks so much.

Ok xx

I Read the book but I'm not sure how it relates to all of us who do take medication in hopes of feeling better. I don't have panic attacks or social phobias. So how are you suppose to just accept the anxiety. He doesn't mention anything about the physiology behind anxiety. There is something chemically going on with us...low seretonin etc so you can't just ignore that.

totally agree with you cara.iam all team katecogs but i also suspect something Chemical.

Hi Cara

So the author didn’t take medication, but his method AND meds work brilliant in conjunction with each other. His book is how CBT is taught too.

Yes his book talks of panic attacks and social phobia but these were his conditions, and the book relates to all anxieties, fears, phobias - they’re all treated the same - whatever your personal fear. My particular fears aren’t in his book and I didn’t have social phobia or panic attacks either, so not everything in his book will relate to each person, but the majority of it will.

Indeed meds work on the neurotransmitter, Serotonin, and however your particular anxiety starts, it will probably start off a chemical reaction. Most anxiety starts from stress, and stress in itself affects our neurotransmitters. From there your thoughts and fears will compound and will further alter the chemicals. No he doesn’t talk of the physiology behind anxiety, but what he talks about does actively affect the chemicals.

Yes some people are low on Serotonin - but what made them like that to start with? Stress maybe? Their lifestyle? When low Serotonin starts happening it can lead to a chain reaction - the anxiety cycle - and that where you get stuck.

Personally for me, when I was just taking meds and being completely in the dark with this fearsome ‘thing’ that was happening to me, I didn’t know which way to turn and dealt with it much as everybody else does. You try and run away, because that the most natural thing your body wants to do. When I started reading about why we become anxious in the first place and how we keep ourselves in the cycle of anxiety, it made perfect sense. I had been dealing with anxiety in the wrong way - each symptom led back to anxiety, so it was feeding itself.

Just knowing how anxiety works took away a lot of my fear, it didn’t cure me, but it put things into perspective and I could see the pathway out. Following it however was harder than I thought and yes I needed medication too. But that knowledge I learnt helped me so much in my recovery and as I got better I could see exactly what the book meant. When you’re in the middle of anxiety you can’t see anything but doom, gloom and anxiety - but when you start coming out of it your thoughts and feelings change.

Accepting the anxiety. That was something I couldn’t understand either when I first read about that. What did it mean? Sure I had anxiety, I acknowledged it …… was that it? No. Accepting means obviously knowing you have anxiety, know that you can’t just get rid of it overnight, know it’ll take a long time, know that you take it with you on your recovery journey, and its about learning not to get anxious about being anxious. Anxiety produces many side effects and people go about over analysing what each sensation means, each thought, runs away from them all ……. but by doing that you simply add more anxiety onto the anxiety you already have. They are just side effects of anxiety - you will not have them once the anxiety goes, so why worry about them? Its anxiety that is the root.

Some people say ‘ok I’ve accepted the anxiety, but why have I still got it’? That is not accepting. You can’t accept something and still complain about it. You have to live with the anxiety (for now), ‘ignore’ it in the special way the book talks of, take anxiety with you and slowly your body becomes desensitised.

This is absolutely true.

All of this is in the book - each symptom, why you have it, how it then leads to another symptom etc etc. The book talks of ‘doing nothing’ and that is something else to master too.

Some people get it the instant they read the book, and some people just don’t.

So yes, it is chemical related, and yes, we do this to ourselves (unknowingly). Yes meds are essential for many (it hangs onto Serotonin making us feel better over time), and yes the book method will alter your chemicals too.

Both together are super.

thanks for your take on the book. Thats what I was thinking but it is reassuring to hear from someone who is also taking medication. I still need to take a benzo when I feel to in edge which sends me on the anxiety worry loop but than was thinking if I follow his advice, I shouldn't give in and take it. But I just can't do that yet. I also wanted to start journaling and tracking how I feel but isn't that just focusing in anxiety to much instead if ignoring it? I do try to change my thought to "I am experiencing" anxiety right now rather than I "have" anxiety.

Hi katecogs

I been on a long road of different MG of Celexa for almost 6 month one

first on 10 MG for 10 days the uped to 15 MG for 8 days then uped to 20 MG for 4 weeks then uped to 30 for 7 weeks , yes by a Dr

so then back down from 30 MG of Celexa to 25 MG because the 30 MG was to high for me

I been though all this because I can't handle med hat well so we had to start very low and slow

so my question is do they all count as my coming out or do u start all new on each dose you on at that time ?

Like I'm on 25mg right now for almost 5 weeks

also is that normal for me to still get side effects like weak , nosia , shaking , anxiety attacks and so on

please let me know something ,kind of worried .

babsyboo

Hi katecogs

about what you are saying on the top here and what's in the book

that I never got to read 😕

I got sick and after being sick awhile the anxiety came then after the anxiety the depression came what is normal , they both come together most the time

so I got this way not by stress but by being sick .

so it can come in all kind of ways the anxiety ..... fear ........depression and so on , do I get that right

And now I get to fight the Celexa and hope I be me sooooooon again

thank you for all you do and for charing babsyboo

It is very hard to put yourself in the situation and follow Paul’s advice, and of course it wouldn’t just be the once either but would be many times. This will eventually take you through anxiety and your body will desensitise.

Journaling your path through anxiety is an excellent idea. No I don’t think its focusing on it too much - you can ‘ignore’ it at other times.

Yes all time spent on the meds is counted - you count from day 1 regardless of what dose you start on. Afterall the medicine is in your system, whether it be a small dose or a larger one.

Its normal to still get side effects at 5 weeks after changing your dose yes. Everybody is different so there’s no one true path or timescale to follow - it differs from person to person.

Yes anxiety can be the result of stress, shock/trauma, taking drugs etc., and fear of anxiety always follows along with fear of the side effects. Both then produce more anxiety. Not everyone gets depression too but many do.

HI CURRENTLY on an increase of CITALOPRAM drops and feeling worse. LOVELY To hear words of support on here. could i have the link to the books/resources please?

Hi Katcogs

I've just read your post I know it was posted a while ago. Ive gad anxiety that leads ti depression since i was a child. Id been on Lexapro for about 10years with blips here and there because of bereavements. Through a few normal life events This year i developed irritable bowel... My doctor reduced lexapro and told me to come off it. Spent about 3 weeks crying. Then put on25mg Sertraline, couldn't drive my son to school which caused huge anxiety!! She told me to come off it and go on 10mg Celexa for 2 weeks then up it 20mg. I did notice a big difference the crying stopped and i can drive short journeys. Im 7weeks in and i feel so low im sleeping on and off but i feel crappy. I feel heaviness on my chest most of the dizzy on and off.. A d dark strange thoughts..... Is this normal... Thanks Gill x

Hi Gill

Oooh thats a lot of different meds - was that just in this year? - how long did you spend coming off Lexapro?

Swapping meds is going to cause you anxiety - so swapping yet again and then increasing after only 2 weeks is going to play havoc with your body. Not surprised you feel the way you do.

These meds can’t be used like this - they don’t act like other medicines so you can’t stop and start and change doses that quick. Recovering takes a long, long time so you wouldn’t have felt any benefit from the Sertaline. I expect you’re suffering withdrawing and start up mixed up.

Anyhow - now you’re on Celexa just stick with that and the dose too. It’ll take a while for your body to settle down - probably much longer than 7 weeks. Give it months.

Dark thoughts are a side effct of anxiety - I had them too. Its perfectly normal.

I’ll message you.

Hi Kate. Yea a lot of people are telling me this. I am going to stick with the Celexa. I feel so guilty my son seeing me like this also this time of year isnt helping either!My counsellor says ive complicated grief that ive surpressed.! Ive checked out that link and it is very insightful some times i think i fight it too much. Im going to try & go with the flow..... Thanks again for your support

Gillx

Yes it does pay to stick with one meds and one dose for a very long time - it takes an age for your body to settle down.

Try not to feel guilty - you can't help it anymore than if you had any other illness or condition. Its not your fault. I used to tell my children that I was feeling a bit poorly and I'd be well soon.

K x

Thanks for that Kate x

Hi katecogs. can uou send me link to the book too plz? Hope you're well and enjoyed the New Years

hi Kate, I'd love to know what the book is you're all discussing - could you possibly send me the link to it please? I've been struggling for 3 months with anxiety and am trying to learn all I can to help myself. Thank you Vicky

I'll message you vicky38537 x

What book are you guys referring to?

I'll send you a message too que38974 - can't quote the book here or the post will be deleted by Admin.

PLEASE SEND ME THE REFERENCE TO THE BOOK YOU MENTION ... MANY THANKS ...

Hi alanj

Will do. I'll message you.

K x

Hello, I know this is an old post but I have been searching for encouragement through this site. I have recently been increased to 30 mg of citalopram from 20 mg which I was on for at least 2 years. right now I am struggling. I feel like I will be stuck like this forever. after my first full week of the increase I felt somewhat normal for a few days then woke up one day around 2 weeks on 30mg and came crashing down. I've been down ever since with a few fleeting moments of hope. my doctor had said within a week I would be back to myself but after reading several posts this doesn't seem to be accurate, thank goodness. anyways I guess just talking about it helps, sorry for the rambling. but could you please send me the book you have been referring to. Thanks so much

hi not sure if tou are still on this site.

id be so grateful for a link to that book please x

Hi Brandi

Sorry for the delay.

No, the meds don’t work like that - they take an age to work and often doctors do seem to underestimate how long they take.

So you’ve been on 20mg and haven’t had a break but just increased? Any increase will give you side effects - sometimes people don’t feel them for the first week then they hit them.

I’ll private message you.

Hi Lisa - yes I'm still on this site 😀 I'll private message you too.

HI Katecogs

just wanted to say how helpful you have been to me and i am sure many others. Many of us were under the impression that we would feel great after a few weeks but sadly most of the time this is not the case and therefore dose upped before first one has had time to work. i have been on 10 mg for 9 weeks and just beginning to see the odd good day. You said a while ago to measure recovery in months and not weeks and this is so true. Bless you for being there for us.

Hi Sue

Yes that’s so right - everyone is given the impression that you’ll be well in a few weeks of taking medicine, but it just doesn’t work like that. I think doctors think meds work like other meds - take a pill and slowly everything will be ok.

Sadly it doesn’t work like that and its such a shame that people get their hopes up and are then filled with even more anxiety and dread when things don’t happen as they thought.

Yes absolutely - meds and recovery from anxiety needs so much time, and much more time than you’d think. You just cannot rush this at all and trying to do so just ends up with more frustration and anxiety. Recovery creeps up so slowly and most people seem to follow a similar process. You also take anxiety with you along your recovery journey - you don’t just lose it one day, but instead it’ll come back time after time (just to say hello) and this slowly phases out.

Definitely count recovery in months, not weeks. If the doctor says 6-8 weeks then take that as 6-8 months.

Understanding anxiety plays a huge part in recovery - I've just messaged you with the book too.

K x

Many thanks. Details of book received and now ordered. Just wanted to ask. Get occasional brain zaps which only last seconds but so scary. Looking this up it seems to be a symptom when you are reducing anti depressants. Have you or anyone else experienced these.

i have experience brain zaps from celexa.but it will pass they are scary but once i learn it was a side effect of the celexa i just let it be.and yes it is a side effect of withdraw but also a side effect of starting.

Thanks Lois. All these side effects to deal with. Such fun.

Yes agree with Lois.

Brain zaps can be a symptom of withdrawal - I had them when I first came off meds. They're perfectly harmless and I always think they're similar to when a fly gets zapped in a blue light. Its usually because your brain is missing the meds - totally harmless.

One way to minimise this is to reduce at a lower dose - my second time coming off meds I did it by 5mg over 1-2 months each reduction and I didn't get any withdrawal effects at all that time. Took me a year to come off completely, and this works whether just reducing or coming off. You can even reduce by a smaller dose too.

Hi Kate. I'm now down to 10mg from 20. I took your advice. Went from 20-15, 15-12.5, and now at 10 and feel great. I will recover, then go to maybe 7.5mg and take it slow. Hope you are well. Thanks again for everything

HI kay,

would you be able to send me the link for the book please.

thanks

lisa

Hey dubry. Am so pleased you've managed to lower your meds and still feel good - yes it really pays to go slow. Yes I'm very well thanks xx.

Hi Lisa. Will do.

Hi dear... How r u. I hope u will get well soon. Best wishes for your health. I want some advise from you.

I hv heart condition from last five years. I write many posts. People helps me and also some said me joker and actor etc. So i dont want to discuss all of that. Dr and some people said i have anxiety and i need proper and complete treatment of this. So short story is this physycrist give me citaprolam 20 mg 2 times a day. So 40 mg per day. But i took it already from previous psychr advise. So now psychrist said i need complete treatment and i hv to take this minimum two month. I start is 10 mg . i mean 20 mg per day. But very bad effects. All time sleepy. Slow brain. Brain fog. Not active brain and thought. Pain in brain veins. Feels brain is blasting.

So i think it is eat and creaping my brain. And if i took 40 mg per day it will make me totally fail.

Please guide me do i need to continue it. I m just on day 5. Do i need to increase 10 to 20.

Dear i already tired to visit and admitted in hospital emergency many time due to heart. I have heart sinking and droping problem. Dr said it anxiety. So please advise me what i do.

Hello,

I have just come across this Forum and it is so interesting.

I can relate on so many levels - I too have been on Cipramil for over 10 years.

Originally 10mg which sorted my anxiety out in a few months but carried on taking. I then had a relapse about 6 months ago totally out of the blue (after 9.5 years!), and Doctor upped my dose to 20mg.

I went through the worsening phase for a couple of months and though things eased off a little, it did not work completely so Doctor upped me again to 30mg - 20 in the morning 10 in the evening.

This was about 2 months ago but I an still suffering the nausea - mainly every morning.

I have been given Cyclizine - an ant-sickness and take this to combat the sickness and it does work but sometimes flares up again later in the day.

I have been told that upping dosage makes the anxiety worse and have felt like just stopping the tablets all together but that's probably not a good idea - especially as I am going away to America for hols next week - I am probably anxious about felling anxious with the stress of the airport, etc!

Hoping when I finally get there I can chill and come back a new person!

I too would love to get hold of this book that is being mentioned - could some-one send me the link too?

Hi Katecogs, I hope you dont mind me messaging you but you helped me so much last year along with Lois. I've been on 30mg of citalopram for a good seven months now and I mostly have good days, but for the first time in four months I'm having a tricky few days with it. Is this normal, I suppose I just feel frustrated that its back again. I hope its just a blip and I soon feel ok again. x

morning

read all your helpful txts on here

but i am hoping you will find this from me

i will try to cut this short

badically last july out of the blue i woke up with severe panic

i was on cit 40mg for around 5 years it was a miracle that my panic and anxiety ended but as said last july i just woke up with this crippling panic and doom

i went to my doc and she said maybe there arnt working anymore and swiched me to sertraline

i have been on these since

started at 25 then up to 100 then i felt bad again so they told me to go down which i did

i was on 50 mg

i was on them altogether 10 months

and i wasnt getting any relief

now i eventually saw a psy and she said go back on cit at 10mg its been 13 days on them and i feel so unbalanced dizzy just horrible

waking up crack of dawn in fear

i am taking diaz now 2mg a day but this unbalance feeling scares me

also my periods are all over the place

just dont know what to do

i am wondering if its the menopause on way or its the switching and changing meds

plz could you help

xxx

Hi Lisa

Sorry for the delay - I can't message you as you need to enable this function on your account. If you do that I'll send you the link.

K x

Ignore that Lisa - just found the link for you.

Hi Fearheartproble

40mg is a very high dose for your first introduction to these meds and you won't know if this dose would suit you until you've tried a smaller dose., so you're right to start on just 20mg. Just don't be in a hurry to increase the dose for a very long time.

Yes these meds will give you some unpleasant side effects at first - its quite normal to have brain fog, feeling sleepy, slow brain etc., it will wear off in time.

Taking a higher dose will not make you better any quicker - you cannot hurry your recovery at all. Generally its best to let the dose settle for a good 4 weeks before increasing, but you really do not want to go to 40mg yet.

Do you take medicine for any heart problems?

Thank you very much for your answer. Yes i m taking beta lok zol 100 mg for heart. My main problem is heart issue. I feel my heart is going down. I m 38/year old. But when i walk or do any work and then take rest my heart going to sinking. Cardiologist took my tests and mostly tests r normal. They did my CT Angio and it result is unobstructive arteries study. Now i m in great trouble from last 4 month. I m in hospital emergency in every second day. Doctors say i have anxiety but i dont believe. I visit psychologist and he give me citalopram. He said you must have take this medicine for two month and dont eat other medicine. But i have to take them because of heart sinking. Dont know what i do. My life is ruined.

Hi lyndawal

Sorry, by the time you read this you're probably already on your hols in America. Hope it's a great holiday - such a beautiful country to visit!

When you had your relapse, were you going through any stressful events at the time or leading up to it? Anxiety is a result of stress, and though the meds will help you recover from anxiety, you also need to listen to your body. If you overwork your body (burning the candle at both ends), have a stressful event or even trauma etc then this can produce anxiety again because this is a normal response. However ... once you feel anxiety you can panic about it and this will start the process off again.

The medicine you take should play its part and the anxiety should be short lived, but because your doctor has increased your meds this will increase anxiety initially - as you found. But you need to give the meds much longer, because often you'll feel better then worse, then better etc.

Now your doctor has increased your meds again you'll be going through the same process. A bigger dose doesn't necessarily help, but instead you need to let the current dose settle for a long time.

Personally I wouldn't be in a hurry to increase meds too quick as each dose needs a looooooong time to settle. I've seen many people increase meds quick, their body can't cope with the side effects, they decrease which gives them withdrawal effect (that mixed with the increase side effects) and people then find themselves in a mess.

I'll send you the book link. It explains all about the anxiety cycle, why it starts and how we get stuck in it and how to get out of it. It's simple, but it's not easy. But it works.

Hi Gemma

Glad things have been going well - and yes it can be a blip. I had them after I’d recovered, though they didn’t come with such force by then. But sometimes when a blip crops up we automatically start fearing it and worry and frustration keeps it lingering just a little longer.

Best thing to do is to just let the feeling be there, however bad or annoying it feels. Don’t question it, don’t mull it over in your head, just accept its a blip. Don’t try and get rid of the feeling either.

Instead take life at a gentle pace - everything. Get to bed early, don’t overuse any screens, try and take a walk daily …… by not ‘watching’ it or worrying about it, then it will pass. This always works.

I’m sure its a blip.

K x,

Hi Victoria

Often when panic strikes, even when we’re on meds, then is usually because something stressful has been happening in your life. Overworking, a stressful event or even trauma.

Sometimes people find their brand of medicine has changed and some do react to this.

40mg is the maximum meds you can take on Citalopram (Celexa) and some people don’t tolerate this high dose (though you were fine on it for 5 years).

When you switched meds, was it done slowly, because doing it too quick can cause side effects, anxiety, withdrawal etc etc.

So you’re back on Citalopram again. Yes restarting / changing meds can make you feel quite sickly, dizzy etc but these side effect do wear off. I’d say stick with the new meds and take things very slowly. Don’t rush up through different doses - let your body take time to adjust. You can recover on 10mg or 40mg - its all about what suits your body.

It could be the menopause - our bodies go through big changes when hormones begin to fluctuate and eventually dwindle, so it could be initially that and of course now a mix with the meds change.

i have read all of your post .from my understanding you have severe anxiety .anxiety mimics lots of heart issues .if your doctors havent found anything after all those test you have done then it is certainly severe anxiety.anxiety comes in all different shapes and forms.i for one thought i was having a heart attack and after lots of blood work n all kind of test all it was .was anxiety.the celexa will work but like kate says stay on 20.this medicine works real slow .but it will work trust me .best regards

Thanks lois. Did you have same problem like me or you experienced like me. Many cardiologist check me and my cardiologist is well qualified. Same thing and advice many people gave me like you. But i think i have heart problem because ii often in normal mood eat health and my heart start sinking. Its feel heart is so weak and its going to fail.

20 mint ago i took bath and after bath i have same problem. I feel my heart is not bearing any stress of work and exercise so it feels i have towards heart attack. Do you still think i have anxiety. Please give me any useful suggestion. Thanks.

you have sever anxiety your nervous system is sending signals to your heart and thats why you keep thinking your heart is failing .its been five years with your drama and you aint decease yet.

Agree with Lois - you have anxiety. Anxiety makes you think fearfully and it is making you believe you have a heart problem, but it is just anxiety you have. You said your heart tests have come back normal, so thats good.

Anxiety will give you palpitations, but palpitations are quite harmless even though they feel very unpleasant.

Anxiety causes you to overthink, to constantly think negatively and fearfully and this fear will then i turn cause you more anxiety, so you get stuck in a cycle of anxiety / fear / anxiety. Anxiety is a fear of anxiety and it will make you think obsessively.

If the professionals have said there is nothing wrong with your heart and all tests have been cleared, then trust in them.

The feeling of weakness is just anxiety, and your fear is causing more anxiety.

K x

I agree with you and all people said me same. But i have doubt about my doctors. Even they are top and well qualified. I have this problem from five year. Three times in five year my ecg became abnormal. But doctors dont care about it. Two time they took my CT Angio. Five year ago it result was normal arteries study. And now its result is unobstructive arteries study. I said to my cardiologists that result is different they said unobstructive mean is normal. Cardiologist give me betalok zol 100 mg per day. If i dont have a heart problem why he gave me this medicine.

I cannot walk and bath. Because after this my heart to sinking.

Please you tell me is it all anxiety. I m alone. I mean nobody is with me to fight with it. I have fear. Tonight i cannot sleep. So please guide me how i over come this disease. Thanks for encouragement.

Hi

You seem like going throw a lot of anxiety. Like Katecogs said, its all a cycle! You dont believe your doctors because you feel bad, so anxiety rise and you are really scared about your health.

First of all, if you feel that you are not well and you dont understand the different diagnosis and why the prescription for you heart, then I think you should make an appointment with a different specialist to have another point of view. Or even go to a different clinic/hospital. Maybe you can be reassure!

But IF you have that med, It can also be for prevention. The best thing you can do for your heart and health, is having a super clean life hygiene... eating fruits/vegetables, no sugar or process food, avoid cafeine, lots of water, etc. Vitamines like vitamin d, magnesium....for that, you can ask a naturopath at a natural food store for advise. And of course, meditation, nature, walking....all things To decrease your high anxiety. cause anxiety mimics heart problems.

Hope you find relief soon.

which medicines are you taking.please name them.

fearheart .are you male or female.?

I am male i m taking Metoprolol succinate 100 mg once a day and citalopram 20 mg once a day.

First of all I am thankful to you for your answer. I also consult different cardiologist when they see my previous papers and test reports they said i also have anxiety.

As for you ask for healthy life style i try to live and eat healthy. But i live in Pakistan and you may know in third world countries food is not much ...

Here milk is not pure. The second problem is this nobody is with meme who take care of my food. My mom is 70 year old. I did not marry. So you know with health issues i become more lazy and all time i have fear about health. Psychologist said you dont take betaloc zok. You have no need for it. But my cardiologist said you need this heart medicine. Both doctors are well qualified. So can you tell me the food name or fruits and vegetable name that i eat. And how much i daily eat.

Is any time table is available please tell me. I am again very thankful to you for your encouragement and advise. May u have a healthy life.

ok first of all metroprolol in the usa is a highblood pressure med.it can treat heart conditions .but is still a high blood pressure med.i say have your doctor switch your metroprolol to propronolol.the propronolol is also a beta blocker high blood pressure med .the propronolol also takes care of anxiety.it wont hurt to try to ask your doctor.also stick with your twenty of the celexa .i know when i was taking blood pressure medicine my anxiety was extremly severe.and my palpitations became worst from the blood pressure med.how long have you been on 20m.of celexa?

is your heart rate normal /fast/slow?because beta blockers slow down heart rate.and that sometimes creates fatigue.

In rest position my heart rate is slow. Its between 51 to 59.

how about not resting .what is your blood pressure numbers.

Inderal (Propronolol ) i have been taken last 3 year. Now my cardiologist put me on metroprolol. Two month ago i goes to hospital emergency for my bad heart condition. There was not specialist doctors. My ecg became abnormal. So i go to my specialist cardiologist who is about two drive from my home. He took my ecg in his clinic that became normal. I show him that abnormal ecg he said yes that is abnormal. He suggest me angio graphy to confirm have i anxiety or heart issue. Then i went to my regular cardiologist and tell him all story and show him abnormal ecg. He said no neef for angio graphy we do your CT Angio. So i took. They report or result of CT Angio is " unobstructive arteries study" . my cardiologist said its a normal report. But i want to tell you when five ago i took CT Angio that's report was " normal arteries study". I asked more than one cardiologists about difference between unobstructive and normal arteries study. They all said its normal dont need to worry. They said unobstructive mean is normal. But i always has double about on unobstructive.

I asked its mean by one doctor who is neru surgen who has 50 experienced about this. He said unobstructive mean not normal. And there is some problem. So doctor has to take your angio graphy. But Pakistani doctors said its normal. I am so much confused about this.

I m not taking celexa. I sm taking citaprolam 20 mg from about one month. But before this doctors gave me citaprolam by different mediicine nsme from ,3 year.

So this is all story and i m confused between anixety and heart problem.

When i m not resting it is about 60 - 100. And blood presure is different but near to normal. Now i m laying on bed. My bp is now 108/69 and heart beat is 60.

keep taking the 20 citrolopam.you have severe anxiety .so when they do test you are very anxious and that gives sketchy readings. you have to control your anxiety first with the citalopram which is going to take many many months to work.once anxiety is under control go again and take test.anxiety will give you those ecg readings .dont eat any greasy food .you may have a little plaque in your arteries.

your blood pressure seems pretty normal .remember beta blockers come with side effects been very tired and not able to take a bath is a side effect of the beta blocker combine with the cit.will make you feel weak.

Lois you said may i have little plaque in my arteries. But why not pAkistani cardiologist understand this. Why not they giving me any medicine that clean my arteries. Which foods are greasy foods. You write about plaque. Do i have to serious about it. Do i meed angio graphy.

stayaway from anything fried in oil .oil horrible for plaque build up.yes go get angio graphy that will tell if you have any plaque in your arteries.in the meam time keep taking cit.the cit is also a mild blood thinner which is good for your vascular system.

You should throw away all the BP monitors, stop recording everything, stop watching out for every little dip, peak, movement, tweak and squeak. Instead of listening for your heart heat, instead listen to the radio, instead of reading your BP monitor read a book instead. You will not get well if you keep indulging yourself in what you fear.

The heart is a strong organ and has evolved over Centuries to carry us forward through life. It will beat fast when we run, it will flip when we’re in love, and it will slow when we rest. Sometimes an ECG will show inconcistencies at times but that does not mean you have a heart issue - some people’s hearts will have a normal irregularity.

Anxiety is feeding your fear of heart issues, and this fear is feeding your anxiety. To break this cycle throw away everything about your heart, stop reading things about it and go and live your life. It will feel uncomfortable, but let the worry be there, take the anxiety with you and go out and grab life.

I’ve had strange heart flips for years and recently got myself checked out with my Doctor and had an ECG. All is fine. I continue to have daily heart flips (odd pangs that sometimes make me momentarily feel weak, though its a strange pleasant feeling) ……. and I trust my Doctor and the ECG and I don’t keep watching myself. If I drop down dead tomorrow (though I know I won’t) then so be it, but at least I’ll have lived my life to the full instead of sitting at home worrying about every little tweak.

Anxiety is feeding this fear and anxiety will make you think the worst. It foxes you. Trust me - I know it does.

Agree with Lolita - eat fruit and vegetable. All fruit and veg are good for you - there are no particular ones that are better and no particular amount. Just eat fresh food and as much as you want. Don’t smoke either, and take a walk every day. Our hearts need exercise as cardio is good for them.

Here in our country every food cooked in oil. So how i get away from it. And please advise me if my cardiologist dont suggest me angio graphy do i need to take it on my behalf.

I am really thankful to you by my heart that you give me so long Anwer. Kate i dont know where from you but i guess you are from developed country. I need your personal help but first read this ( Two month ago i goes to hospital emergency for my bad heart condition. There was not specialist doctors. My ecg became abnormal. So i go to my specialist cardiologist who is about two drive from my home. He took my ecg in his clinic that became normal. I show him that abnormal ecg he said yes that is abnormal. He suggest me angio graphy to confirm have i anxiety or heart issue. Then i went to my regular cardiologist and tell him all story and show him abnormal ecg. He said no neef for angio graphy we do your CT Angio. So i took. They report or result of CT Angio is " unobstructive arteries study" . my cardiologist said its a normal report. But i want to tell you when five ago i took CT Angio that's report was " normal arteries study". I asked more than one cardiologists about difference between unobstructive and normal arteries study. They all said its normal dont need to worry. They said unobstructive mean is normal. )

But i always has doubt about it that unobstructive is not normal. I m fear about it.

Kate please can you asked from any qualified person of your country that unobstructive arteries mean any plaque in arteries. I have fear about it.

Kate went i try to walk its feel my heart is going down. Please sueggest me how i over come these feelings or its really heart problem. I feel heart disrub so i dont believe on doctors because i m still in bad condition.

Thank you again kate for your time.

if you and a bad heart condition you would be dead by now.

I know you are anxious and WAY TOO MUCH increasing it by overthinking your condition.

Having that much anxiety and overthinking your problem over and over is definitly making you WEAK and it just DOUBLE your side effects.

I saw that you wrote your story of having differents diagnosis for your heart a LOT of times to several person.

And you get the same answers...

1. you have severe anxiety

2. you need to continue with citalopram

3. est good fresh food, no oil....GOOGLE HEALTHY FOOD FOR HEART AND HEALTH..... You will have your answer.

4. You have to re-work your health....take small walks every day. After a while, increase the time of walks.

5. STOP ASKING everyone the same thing. I know its hard but you are not helping yourself. And we are not doctors. And we CANT ask specialist for you.

6. if you feel too bad with managing you seve e anxiety and condition, ask to be hospitalise for mental health. Its okay to do so. They Will help you and check on you.

7. Stop thinking about your heart!!!!!! Its been months and years that you do it and nothing happenned. You are WEAK because you are soo anxious and probably depresse that your body is sooo tired of all that.

8. And last, read again the answers people gave you.....Instead of asking over and over the same questions.

Good luck!

Please trust the professionals who say everything is normal. They know what they’re saying or they wouldn’t be in their job. You are not a cardiologist. They are, and if they say all is normal, then there is nothing wrong.

Unobstructive means it is NOT obstructed, meaning its clear. Its normal.

Where is your heart going if you say its going down? If its becoming slower when you walk then you’d fall over and die.

This forum is for anxiety not heart conditions - so nobody can advise, or would want to on heart issues. I strongly suspect though that you do have anxiety and a healthy heart.

There is however a heart forum on this Patient site you could ask questions on re heart issues if you want to continue with that.

Lolita thanks alot. I m agree with you. As you know i m from third world country. Here government not much help. I m jobless. I have to treatment on my own behalf. I already spend about 800000 on my treatment like fare of traveling to dr. Dr fees and medicial test. I also want to admit in mental hospital. I discuss this with my heart psychologist but he suggest here mental hospitals are not good. You will become more mad or patient or increase your anxiety.

I want to ask you where from you. Are you male. And advise me when i feel difficulty in walk then what i say to my mind? How i encourage myself to fight for my life.

Kate i feel exact this you write " If its becoming slower when you walk then you’d fall over and die."

When i put pressure on my heart like work or walk i feel heart has difficulty to pump blood and has difficulty to provide oxygen blood to all through body. There fore i cannot walk and feels heart is not taking proper oxygen and going down.

Kate do you think its anxiety or my heart has problem. How i can check this.

Im sorry but I dont think we can help you.

Its only a mental health forum and there is too much going on for you.

The best way to go would be To relate on medical expertises ( psychiatry, health or heart doctor??)

You sure need to address you intense and severe anxiety.

I know you live in a poor country and I dont know the expertise there. maybe try to go somewhere if you can or research for go doctors/hospital.

But sorry, I cant do more.

We are also patients and trying to recover.

Good luck

As for expertise or doctors question in my country yes they r well qualified and well know in my country. But the medical facilities in europe and usa are advanced.

Now

Now as for my case concern that i have anxiety or real heart problem. Dr or people said i hv anxiety so i feel heart is ill. But i think my heart is ill because i cannot walk can notnot pick weight.

As for going abroad matter u know i cannot afford it. But i m really thankful to you that you are with me and encouraging me.

once the cit kicks in you are not going to have those issues you keep asking about.in the end you will be laughing .

I can not understand what r u saying. Please explain it.

I can not understand what r u saying. Please explain it.

if you where having severe heart issues you would not be typing on this forum!!it is anxiety.i also thought i had heart issues.after thousands of dollars with test.it was simply ANXIETY!!!!!!!!

once your antidepressent starts working you will be laughing at all of this drama you are going thru.

You have only been on antidepressant citalopram for a month. Maybe check with your doctor for an increased or wait a bit. full effect can take between 6 to 8 weeks.

You say you have good doctors where you live. maybe not advance like America or Europe but still... So toi have NO control over that and you have To do with it.

Just relax, do breathing and meditation.

You are really obsessing and beeing paranoid with your heart. Stop it or you will really get a disease. By asking continualy, It feels like you want us or a doctor To tell you that you have a heart problem. You are tired, your mind is tired but all the stress you are casing it and you need to let go.

oups

that reply was for Fearheart........

lYou have only been on antidepressant citalopram for a month. Maybe check with your doctor for an increased or wait a bit. full effect can take between 6 to 8 weeks.

You say you have good doctors where you live. maybe not advance like America or Europe but still... So toi have NO control over that and you have To do with it.

Just relax, do breathing and meditation.

You are really obsessing and beeing paranoid with your heart. Stop it or you will really get a disease. By asking continualy, It feels like you want us or a doctor To tell you that you have a heart problem. You are tired, your mind is tired but all the stress you are casing it and you need to let go.

Lois thanks. Which anxiety medicine works for you. I m on citalopram 20mg daily. Doctor said take 40 mg per day. How much time it take to work. Can i know where from u and your age.

You r right . alot of respect for you. Yeah i m tired from five year. Dont know what i do. I dont know i got now real heart disease or i m still save.

Actually i m worry about my symptoms. Its heart disease related and make me worry. But you people told me in anxiety same symptom occures. But when my condition bad like high blood presure i become panic and again my mind said you have heart problem.

And one question is this that what is anxiety. Is anxiety attacks with out any tension and worry.

anxiety creates high blood pressure.i take citalopram .10ml.iam from usa.see if your doctor can prescribe you alprazolam it is a fast working anti anxiety medication.so you can get relief quick n fast.wont hurt to ask your doctor.

Here is 5 23 am. I cannot sleep all through night. Its feeling my heart will blast. I cannot walk. I want to go in park that is 2 mint distance from me. But i cannot standup and go.

My psychologist gave me 20 mg citalopram.

4 days ago i go to my cardiologist he gave me also citalopram with different medicine name and prothedian

25 mg and ativan 2 mg and beta

Lok zol 100. Now i m confused which doctor's preciption i take. My chest is tight. So much uncomfortable.

First of all, It would be good that you always refer to the same doctor instead of going around .

Always refer to the same doctor for your medication. Cause nos, you just go see everyone and get different prescription.

What do you EXACTLY take daily for medication?????

take your ativan.for quick relieve

I m taking betalok zol 100 mg and citalopram 20 once daily.

My cardioligist add prothedian 25 and ativan also. Now i m distrub wich preciption i take.

Is ativan really works. I never took.

it works real fast.for anxiety

Lois here is 3 pm . took still one cup of tea and two pieces of bread. My heart still feel down. I cannot eat any thing and cannot walk two steps. I m on bread. I ask my sister to go to cardiologist. She said last thursday we went. Doctors makes joke with u. So i m not going with you. I m laying on bed. I know what you all said me. I remember your advises and suggestions but my heart is sinking. How i walk. What i do.

relax .and take a ativan.your eating problem is a side effect of the citralopam.

Thanks lois. I m really thankful to you. You Anwer me. Now 5 28pm . i eat half plate of rice.

I have to ask one question. How we can cook with out oil. Every thing is cooked in oil. So how i cook vegetable without oil. Healthy food is no processed. But how we can cook with out process. Please tell me.

boil everything .including meats and vegetables you dont need oil for anything.in the old days there was no oil.and you can put all your spices in the water boild chicken with your exotic spices is delicious.

Can i put black pepper on it. Becsuse boiled things are taste less. How i can make them tasty.

Can i put black pepper on it. Because boiled things are taste less. How i can make them tasty.

you can put any spice black pepper onion powder salt etc.

My bp became high. I cannot eat salt. Sir what is your age.

then dont eat salt .eat everything else all spice in your country lovely

Hi Victoria

Anxiety comes from stress and often we don't just get anxiety overnight but instead stress has built up without us realising it. The meds don't actually stop working, because they will still be hanging onto your Seretonin in the synapses gap between each nerve ending, so they're still doing the job they're designed to do, so I do think it's stress that's built up.

When anxiety rears its ugly head again we automatically start fearing it, and that fear then causes more anxiety - and then we can caught up once more in this cycle. The feeling of doom is just memory from past suffering, so as anxiety crops up we remember what it was like before and therefore start feeling the old feelings again too.

Usually if you just allow the feelings to be there, not to question it, not try and fix it and just get on with life taking those feelings with you, then they will subside and go away. However we automatically panic and try and run from it which is the worst thing to do.

Changing meds can help some people but then you'll start getting withdrawal effects from one meds and start up effects from the new one making you dip for a while. Changing meds is as lo lengthy as we have to wait for the meds to kick in which can be months. So no, they aren't a quick fix for relief.

Feeling dizzy is probably due to meds side effects.

All feelings ie dizziness, fear, thoughts, feeling detached, racing heart, etc etc are only present because of anxiety. If you didn't have anxiety then you would t have these feelings.

Problem is people tend to get frightened of the side effects which then causes more anxiety - but the side effects are only present because of anxiety, so you end up feeding it the anxiety and keeping it there.

It could have been the menopause that kick started the panic too of course - during this time our hormones are all over the place.

I'd stick with the Citalopram and don't rush up through the doses. Give each dose about 4-6 weeks to settle before increasing - and remember, a bigger dose won't make you better any quicker and will do just the same job as a lower dose.

Take your time with everything - don't rush through life, slow yourself down. Stress is your body's alarm system telling you it wants to slow down and rest, and anxiety is the final result.

Anxiety / panic always shock when it first hits you, but it's just a feeling. Let it be there, slow down / relax, carry on with Citalopram and it will all work out for you. Promise x.

kate you are always on point.xo

xxxx Lois

Hi Kate, my name is Lisa and I have never ever signed up to a forum in my life but I have today as I wanted to let you know that you have been the one person on the net that has helped me get though my darkest days. I have got complex PTSD and now terrible anxiety and depression. I was in such a dark place last year and I would spend my days reading stories about how people have come though to the other side and have healed. I was prescribed Lexapro which I had an allergic reaction to, then Prozac which made me so ill for three months and now I am on Citlopram and I have finally found something that works for me. I am only on 10mg as I am still so sick with nausea but I am having these moments slip in when I feel calm and I actually notice how beautiful the day is. I have successfully made it to day 24 on Citlopram and that is a big deal for me. I wanted to say that you have given me such hope that I can beat this. You words at times have been the only thing I have been able to hold onto when I thought I could not make it through another day and finally I am starting to realise that the dark cloud is slowly lifting. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a stranger out there in the web somewhere who has been the ray of light I needed in my darkest hours.

Hi Lisa

Wow thanks so much for your lovely words - and I’m so glad that you’ve found my posts helpful.

I was the same when I was ill and in a very dark place - I found some books that were the only thing that made sense to me and it gave me hope.

I’ve seen your private message to me to so I’ll chat further on there.

K x

He is just looking for attention. you will go around d in a circle with him. he post in every forum. A lot of us members have called him out. He used to use different usernames all the time. He also contradicts himself. Check out his post in upper chest pain. you'll see. It's not worth the time.

perhaps his allah will help him.best regards

He/She is 100% taking the p**s.

hi Anna.i hope you can help.i am suffering anxiety and detachment and have tried a few antidepressants but am now relying on ashwaganda a herb.however the anxiety is starting to cripple me and i am tempted ti go back on antidepressants.they are suggesting citalopram.just fed up with being detached and anxious.any advice would be welcome.thanks dave

hi katecogs

wonderful words of wisdom from you, so conforting, thank you Please may i have the name/link of the book you talk about? anything that can help would be so much appreciated thanks very much

Hi Amanda

Thanks xx.

I’ll private message you re the book as if posted here the Moderator will delete it, especially links.

K x

Hi, so sorry to bother you Kate. Any chance I could get the link too?

Thank you so much, your posts fill me with hope xxx

Hello Katecogs,

I too want to thank you for the helpful, encouraging words.

After several years of taking Celexa, I tried tapering off. After having a difficult time with side effects of, I decided to go back up to 5mg.

No major s/e at 5mg; however, increased to what slightly via a pill cutter to 6mg-feeling more anxious and very nauseous.

Definitely in need of some support. When you have moment, can you please send me the name of the book?

Thanks again for sharing,

P

Hi Wendy - I'll message you.

Hi Paulina

I'll message you too.

K x

Hi Katecogs,

I've read almost all of your posts in this thread and I just want to say you seem like such a wonderful & compassionate person and I'm so glad you have shared so much wisdom with everyone. I started 20 mg of Citalopram 3 months ago which seemed to cut out 80% of my anxiety, but I would still start the morning off with anxiety and I wasn't able to kick it. So, I decided to up my dosage to 30 mg 3 days ago. So, I know I'm only on day 3 on 30 mg but I just feel so nervous & scared. I'm able to go to work but I have this deep sense of fear that I just can't seem to kick. I'm hoping it is just a side effect of starting the 30 mg, because on 20 mg I was pretty calm and relaxed except in the morning. I also was freaking out because I got a sinus infection around the same time and I was worried that my lack of energy was depression, but I'm pretty sure it was just my illness because I'm normally a very happy guy. I may have been able to stick with 20 mg after rethinking it, but I don't really want to turn back now. Do you think these are normal symptoms? Also, could you private message me the popular book that everyone else is asking about?

Thank you,

Kyle

Hi Kyle

3 months on Citalopram isn’t long enough and its normal to still get early morning anxiety at the moment. As I recovered, even though I started feeling well I still woke every day with crippling anxiety. That eased throughout each day.

Increasing your dose will not stop the anxiety - yet. The bigger the dose doesn’t mean you’ll get better any quicker or alleviate the symptoms you’re having a the moment. Whatever dose you’re on, you will still go through the same symptoms - you can’t avoid them. Its all about being patient and giving the meds as much time as they need.

Anxiety is actually a fear of anxiety - its such an awful feeling to have and so begin to dread it which causes more anxiety. The side effects (racing and intrusive thoughts, physical symptoms) frighten the sufferer too which also cause anxiety. Its this fear of anxiety that keeps us in a constant cycle.

However, the medication will help you immensely, but you do have to give it time. No you won’t feel anything working at the moment, but it is silently in the background. You really have to be patient and give these meds lots of time - it took me 6 months to recover, some people take longer and some quicker. Again its all personal.

When we’re anxious we only think anxious thoughts, and everything to us makes us frightened. Thats perfectly normal.

The medication will also make you feel worse to start with as it actually heightens anxiety, but do hang on in there because this will pass. Also every increase in meds will give you side effects again, so you may be feeling the effects of the increase at the moment - again this will ease off.

Yes 20mg may be better, but you should discuss that with your Doctor. 3 days on the increased dose isn’t long and if you do decide to go back to 20mg then its not too late.

Yes I’ll message you too re the book and a little more info too.

All that you’re going through is absolutely normal with anxiety.

Chat via messaging.

K x

Hi Kyle, just wondered how you are and why you decided to increase your dose? I've been on 10mg citalopram just over 6 weeks mainly for intrusive thoughts due to withdrawal from zopiclone. I do sound bit like broken record but not noticing lot difference yet, lot people seem to say 3 months seems to be when improvement starts. I have ordered the book Katecogs recommended, she does seem very knowledgable so hoping it works. Just get very despondent when not lot change. I felt awful anxiety through the roof first week or so so imagine the change of dose could be causing that. Have had the odd day when I'm not quite so bad, do seem very up and down from one day to the next so hoping sign things are changing! I get very bad sinus which seems to have intensified bit on citalopram but read it can dry out your mouth a bit so maybe that!

everthing you mention will subside .it just takes time lots of time.you will settle.six weeks is nothing .it took me 8 months for all my drama to subside.

Thank you this site gives me hope! Think it was you said zopiclone used for anxiety, think mine partly PTSD, also got a very difficult unsupportive mother , so maybe zopiclone was enabling me to deal with all that, now like Pandora's box has opened. Did manage to drive with my husband in car last couple days which haven't done for couple months so maybe citalopram starting to kick in. Book Katiecogs recommended just arrived so I'll start reading. I just get despondent when don't seem be making progress but will try and stay on lower dose I think as obviously need to give it bit more time, especially as these symptoms slowly got worse over last 18 months!.

it will happen gradually .if you werent having positive moments like driving with your husband or not having any type of improvement and lets say you been taking it for three months then i say talk talk to your doctor but thats not the case here.have a review at 12 weeks with your doctor.saying a prayer for you. once the cit kicks in your mother wont be such a bother.wink wink

Thanks lois. Think because the intrusive thoughts still there get bit depondent, but the depression definitely lifting, and not bursting into tears anymore. Being around other people sets them off so end up having to go with my husband to lot things but do seem be dealing with them better when they come and I do want to go out more now.. The book seems quite helpful I'm trying to stop finding a "cure" and go with the flow more! Mother told my husband on wedding day wouldn't blame him if our marriage didn't work. Been married 43 years !!!

lol for the mother comment.you are doing well according to your post.stay the course.

Thanks I'll try no doubt chip in again when getting a bad day. Yep really got lovely mother! Think the intrusive thoughts probably be last things to go I am very up and down but going away for weekend in couple weeks so hoping I'll make it. Thanks for the support.

i have now been on 30mg citalopram for theee months having increased from 20mg . for the last week i have had the worst symptoms i have had the whole time dreadful anxiety, depression and tinitus . i saw the doctor about three weeks ago ( not quite so bad then) and she said it took a time to work on me when i fiirst started the medication in 2013 and to stick with it ,however the symptoms are so dreadful it is difficult to bear. has anyone else suffered like this? is there anything one can do or take to alleviate things whilst waiting, hopefully, for pills to work . it is unbearable

Hi Amanda

You’ve been on 30mg for 3 months - how long have you been on meds in total, from the start? You mentioned 2013 - have you been on it since then or had a break and just restarted?

Maybe 30mg isn’t for you? Sometimes the dose can be too high and adjusting to a lower dose often remedy’s this. I’ve seen many on here who’ve found that.

If you’ve retstarted and been on it a short while then yes, restarting can take longer second time round.

Some people have other meds temporarily to help take the edge off whilst waiting.

take a benzo for all your start ups from cit.it will relieve you Immensely

meant to say ask your doctor for a short term benzo.best regards

i started meds in 2013 when out of blue depression started. gradually went from 10 to 20 to 30mg . so was on 30 successfully for some years then thought i was ok and decided to come off about a year /18 months ago. reduced VERY gradually, fine until down to 10mg, then it all came back with a vengence, so went up to 20 where i was until three months ago, when doc said to increase to 30 as symptoms had returned. So 30mg was ok for some while. can one become ammune to them after a while?

thanks Lois, what is Benzo?

is a quick acting anti anxiety med.giving to patients for start ups of ssri.or panic attacks.can be addictive so small doses are recommended.and short term.

A benzo is a benzodiazepine aka xanax, kolonopin, valium, ativan. They are a fast acting anti anxiety medication. They do work wonders on helping with severe anxiety short term because they can be addictive. I've taken kolonopin in the past and it helped a lot get through start ups or really rough patches.

Ahh thanks. Yes, the doctor gave me some diazepam, which i havent yet taken as apprehensive about what it might so and getting 'hooked' . Obviously no need for these feelings. Many thanks for your input, all so very helpful .

Thanks Lois. The doc gave me some diazepam which i didnt realise is also called Benzo. was a bit nervous about taking it, but will think again. Many thanks

That can happen when you've reduced or withdrawn completely - anxiety can show its ugly head again and we naturally respond to it as before and get anxious about being anxious which brings all the overthinking and intrusive thoughts back too.

No you can't become immune to the meds. I suspect you're now feeling the symptoms of increasing meds which is heightened anxiety and its associated side effects.

Yes agree with the others - use the benzio's as prescribed to help you through until the SSRI meds start to settle. When I restarted meds many years ago I had a different experience to the first time - but give it time and the meds will work for you again.

K x

Thanks, you are always so reassuring.

Do you have any views about whether to take the citalopram at night or in the morning? The doc said in the morning but as the meds take so long to work, weeks or months, surely when you take them wouldnt make any difference as the effect is not immediate?

It makes no difference what time of day you take them, but your Doc may have suggested the morning because the meds can affect sleep (to start with) so taking it early may be better than just before bed.

Its a personal choice though and some people prefer to take them in the morning and others at night.

I took mine in the mornings.

They work the same whenever you take them.

K x

Thanks Kate, just hope they start to work rather than cause problems! After three months I had hoped things would improve, I hope to goodness its not that I need a higher dose of 40mg. Have you ever been on 40mg? XX

They can take longer second time around - when I restarted many years ago I just kept reminding myself that they worked before and they would again - even when I felt rubbish. Just let them do their thing and wait for them. They'll work again.

No I've never been on anything more than 20mg.

Thanks so much. Are you still on them?

No I came off meds sometime ago.

How wonderful! i am so happy for you, I wish I could. Just to be normal again . Did you have side effects coming off the meds?

How very kind of you to keep supporting us the way you do . Thank you . xx

Hi Amanda, just wondered how you are doing, I'm nearly 8 weeks on 10mg citalopram like you feel pretty rubbish. Felt almost like been going backwards last week.. Everyone seem to say at 3 months should be seeing a bit of improvement so interested to hear how you are. I had short course diazapam when husband had a heart attack, it's OK short term just need to be bit careful as can be addictive. I take citalopram at night, was really interrupting my sleep but switching to night seemed to improve it, bizarre I know!

Hi Lemanna well i am afraid i am not doing too well. Not what you want to hear! Infact today, for some unknown reason has been HORRENDOUS. overwhelming feelings of displacement, dreadful depression, anxiety, tinnitus, etc It is now three months I have been taking 30mg and i just dont know what to think. Not sure if its a reaction to the extra 10mg and body is adjusting, or they are not working, or I am going mad! All very distressing. I hope you do better, I renember when I started they did take months to fully work but I had to increase from 10mg

Sorry you are still suffering Amanda, I know the feeling that you are going mad! Does seem can take longer second time round, I'm just getting despondent not seeing any progress yet. Friend's son had his meds drastically increased also on a benzo, and has taken months to stabilize, does seem to take time. He's now seeing psychologist who is helping a lot. Maybe go back to your doctor see if you can be referred for some sort of therapy as well? Mine caused by horrendous zopiclone withdrawal so want to try stay on 10 mg avoid more withdrawal problems in future. Hope you improve soon I know it's very hard to be patient though I'm struggling too! Take care.

Amanda, can you remember if improvement was a gradual thing first time round? Sure the meds will work again if they did for you in the past, just takes time, my hair now seems to be getting very thin as well just to add to the mix. Try going back to doctor see what he thinks about the dosage ?

Thanks Lemanna . I had talking therapies first time round which was very helpful but now the waiting list is horrendously long. I worry whether my symptoms is as a result of med increase, or the condition and the meds have not worked. As you say just have to be patient. I cant really remember how it went first time round, wish i had written it all down! I also find I am forgetting things and muddling things which I hope is another symptom and not dementia.

FYI I did not go down the road of NHS Talking therapies but found by recommendation a private qualified counsellor to talk to face to face & working with her has helped me enourmously. I know this type of therapy is sadly not available on NHS £££ . IF you can afford it find a good therapist by recommendation even maybe ask your medical centre & go for this IF you can.

Again good luck. I think some of hte NHS 'talking therapies' are over the phone by appointment for several weeks & whilst they may well help some folk it was to be for me.

Hi Amanda.

I was exactly like this this time last year I thought I was losing the plot completely! Waiting and waiting for the medication to work. Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, fatigue, no appetite pain everywhere, brain fog and no memory. I'm 45 turns out I'm perimenopausal. I had a hormones blood test and I basically functioning on very little. Hormone replacement has made a huge difference. I don't know if you're in the age bracket but how you discribe how you feel I can definitely relate. I thought I had dementia or a brain tumour last year I couldn't remember the rules of the road!!!! !!

Hope thís helps

Gill x

I've been off meds twice. First time I halved my pills from 20 to 10, and again halved that. Spent 6 months coming off but it was too quick and too big a jump so yes, that time I had withdrawal effects ie nausea, headache, dizziness, brain zaps ........ Second time I came off I reduced by 5mg each time and even went to 2.5 and 1.25, spent a year doing it this way - no withdrawal at all.

could I have the link as well.. I'm on day 25 of citalopram 10mg and feel the anxiety returning along with intrusive thoughts they scare me so much..thank u

Thanks Gill, so conforting to know someone else has suffered the same . This morning I asked mu husband who won the world cup. Yet I watched the Semis last weekend abd was watching the match this morning for third place. Very worrying. Just praying every day things take a turn for the better. Sometimes i have one or two good days and I think yes! its gone, then the next morning I wake up feeling awful.

Hi

I noticed you posted this a few weeks ago.

I would be interested to know how you are now.

I am having good days and bad days, but I also feel the low mood has lifted some what, but I still cant get over interested in things, when I have had a good day I feel happy and myself again maybe two days like this and the next day not so interested in anything.

Are you better now?

Hi Amanda... Sorry only getting back now. I didn't see your reply.... I went through all this last year it was horrendous 😒the cipramil kinda helped but in May this year tge doctor tested mymy hormones.... I had very low oestrogen she says that explains the anxiety and depression!!! I started taking hrt the anxiety and depression have gone! Took affew months though..... I still taking cipramil 20mg going to try and come off it after xmas..... Hope you re doing OK

Gill x

Hi

Still struggling i am afraid. Went to doc who said after four months i should see a difference, so she has said to come back down to 20 and see if the increased dose is cause of symptoms. Also said if she changes meds, I would have to decrease anyway. She is also talking to psychiatrist re some new meds which are meant to be good although she has not prescribed them yet. Terrifed of changing and new not working and feeling awful with no hope . When its bad its REALLY bad. Hey ho! trying to teach my brain new patterns of thinking!

Also, asked doc about HRT she said would give me if i wanted but didnt think it would make a difference Too old!

Week 8 on 10 and 4 weeks on 15 and feel horrible. Still too early?

hi Gill, i dont want ro be nosey but are you less or more than 60. if less i think they are happier to prescribe hrt x

Yes that's quite early. It can take many months to even begin to feel any tiny little sign. It took me 6 months to feel completely well and still recovered more after that. It was about 3 months before I noticed anything.

This isn't the same for everyone - some people get better quicker, some longer. There's no 'one shoe fits all'.

K x

hello kate! could you please send me the link and the book to.. i am also suffering right now.. been almost 4 weeks on antidepressant and had two beautiful weeks.. but yesterday again the anxiety 😦 i dint know what else to do

Hi Katecogs, not sure if you still post on here. Hope you are doing well.

I'm new on this forum and have seen all the comments about books you have recommended and was wondering if you could let me know what they are?

I'm back on the citalopram journey after 15 years. Forgot how tough it is, just upped my dose to 20mg from 10mg this week, so going back through the side effects and increased anxiety!

holding tight and hoping things will improve. Just trying to remember its an endurance marathon not a sprint. X

Hi there,

I also would be grateful for info on the book. Like others on here struggling with anxiety, but this thread has given me real hope. Thanks.

Hi! i am going through the same at the moment. Having always been a little bit of a 'worrier' i experienced my first real case of anxiety after the birth of my first child. i was prescribed 10mg cit and this helped and after a year or so i stopped taking it. fast forward 6 years and i have been fine! then in november i was diagnosed with a cyst on my ovary and had to have a blood test for cancer markers. I am 32 and have two young children and this had a very negative affect on me. the cyst was fine, it has gone away on its own but the anxiety it has left me with it horrendous. i started 10mg cit 8 weeks ago and have increased to 20mg this week as it hasnt improved things. now the anxiety is even worse, waking up in the night when normally sleep well, waking up panicking and heaving in the bathroom every morning. i am over thinking everything! i know these worse symptoms are due to the increase in my dose but it doesnt make it any easier!!

Hi Garr

I've messaged you.

K x

Katecogs, think we should get royalties on that book, sales.must have surged 😉

Hi Gerrymoo xxx ❤️

Haha I always think the same too 🤣

although it is 2 years old this post has helped me more than you will know. knowledge is power tha

nk you!

Hi vicster123

Glad the post has helped you lots. Yes, knowledge certainly is power as it stops you floundering around in the dark, tying up loose ends and enabling you to follow one path to recovery. Just make sure its the right knowledge and don't go picking up tonnes of useless conflicting information from the internet because it'll just confuse you.

K x

yes too many hands in the soup spoils the brew.lol

Good description 🙃 xxxx

hi kate!! im in the same road, could you please send me the link of the book and sites that helped you.. im so anxious rihht now.. been 9 weeks on treatment and had only two weeks fine and again bam full anxiety 😦

I would love to see that post from Gerrmoo. It's been two weeks on the Meds and was wondering If I will feel like myself again. the morning anxiety is kinda horrible and I know it will take time for the meds to work. just need reassurring. It made me feel some hope reading your post.

Thank you.

hello,

not sure if this is still active, but may i also have the link to the above book you were talking about? thank you also for your posts-extremely encouraging!

please send me the book and website link as well please! and thank you for posting here! it helps!

Could i have the link to the book please @katecogs

Many thanks x

@katecogs could you send me the link to this book please? Thank you!

Hi katecogs

questions not to this discussion sorry

I'm on week 22 and been having bad all day long headaches for the last 3 days 😡😢 I tried Tylenol but they did not work at all 😢 they were so bad that they made the anxiety higher that I had in a long time . Could that be that does headaches were blips ??? Also can that be after 22 weeks on Celexa still happen if u think they are blips ? I thank u ahead of time for all your help to me and so many other people . Hope this finds u well stay safe babsyboo

be waiting on your response back please , I am scared don't know what to think

Babsyboo

I’ve just been reading your other thread on this, and you said that your side effects had gone for some time? Really? You felt well? Symptom free? Blimey, that is good!

Why on earth would your hubby say its time to come off because the symptoms are back? This is the time NOT to come off. Yes blips can happen at 22 weeks, they can happen even after a good spell. They can happen after a year, 2 years ....... (not often mind).

You aren’t there yet - there’s so much more these meds will give.

When you don’t have any blips at all, when they stop completely and you feel well all the time - that’s when you’ve recovered.

And even then - why come off when you’ve reached recovery, knowing your history? I stayed on meds for 16 years before I came off, and I'd said I was never coming off meds.

Why rock the boat?

Headaches - mmmm could be a blip, though could have been you being tense? You also said you’ve had days of crying - well that in itself causes headaches. Lack of sleep (or too much of it) can cause headaches, colds, allergies ……. even hunger. All sorts of things cause a headache, and there's usually nothing sinister happening.

Maybe its a migraine. They're usually more painful and prolonged.

You’ve been on and off meds for a long time and I’d imagine that 22 weeks may be a long time for some people, but remember that meds seem to take longer second time round - and so I imagine its going to take you longer.

Remember what I’ve said before about relaxing into the blip - they’re going to happen whatever you do, whatever dose you take - they’re part of recovery. When a blip happens you just need to let it come, know it temporary, know it will go. Fighting it is useless because it’ll happen anyway, and fighting it just makes things worse.

I expect you became very tense about having a headache which probably brought anxiety on.

Which do you find the worst - a headache or anxiety?

Try and practice relaxing your body, let go of tension - this will help headaches and anxiety.

K 😉

Hi Deborah01, its Gerrymoo here ! I've just seen this, can I help in any way ?

Hi and thank u for ur fast reply back to me

no not coming of the meds Celexa yet but hubby thinks if it does not go away with time and days it may be a sigh of not needing to be on it any longer and I don't know if I let u know I'm on a very small amount because I'm so sencetive to any medicine 😡

so yes it scared me badly having bad headache for 2 full on days with not even getting help from tylonal to feel better it was bad lots of crying . Now worried because u don't think it could have come from a blip . I don't get migraines ever but it was very painful to go though . Today I fill like full in my head like drunk or headcold and sins so weird don't know what to make of all this 😡 so scared to stay like this and never get to feel like me again it's been so long and all the stuff I went though when is it done or enough ? How are u doing ? Do u still take Celexa ? Yes u are right I have had good days here and there like 5 or so and then bam they are not 😡 so why is that when I'm so far along on 5 MG Celexa ? Still have the daily anxiety, low ,sad , scary thoughts and crying just don't get it this far along . I thank u so much for all u do and ur help to everyone ☺ I could not do it without the help of u and the plot . Thank u so much hope to hear back from u soon and ur thoughts on what u think is going on with me and what u think I should do . Why not coming of the meds if they continue to give u this roller-coaster of few good days and then back to feeling bad and anxiety up don't understand that , why ???

Thank u babsyboo, please get back with me it helps me so much and calms me and my mind down

If the symptoms don’t go away it is absolutely NOT a sign to come off meds. It means the opposite - stay on them as you haven’t fully recovered yet. If you had a broken leg and were taking meds for the pain, you wouldn’t stop the meds before the pain stopped and it had healed??

You may have never have had a migraine but there’s nothing to stop you developing one, and it does sound like migraine. I wouldn’t worry I said probably not a blip - it’s a headache, and not as if your head is about to fall of lolol 😉 I get migraines from time to time, and more pointedly tunnel vision where I can’t see very well.

Migraines are painful, and yes could be if you feel a bit heady. Also get your ears checked out as blocked ears can make you feel drunk as again this is something I regular get which leads to vertigo. You may not even know your ears are blocked.

But you know, there’s always a simple answer to whatever ailment you have.

But do see your doctor and mention migraine if it persists as there are special meds that can help.

I’m very well thanks, and no I don’t take Celexa any more - I don’t take any medicine at all now, not for anything. Oh, I do have Vitamins but they’re for aches and pains.

I have explained before that having these roller coaster days ie 5 days good then bam you feel anxious again is a blip, and yes you can get them any time, whenever, and sometimes after you’ve recovered, though generally you don’t. It is all to do with how you react to a blip that matters, and the more you fight, run, try to suppress or avoid them then the harder you’ll fall.

I’ve said many a time that the less you react to the feelings, thoughts, blips and any side effects then the anxiety will calm down. If you stop fighting it and step out of the way then your body will heal itself.

The anxiety condition is a self perpetuating cycle.

Thank u

yes understand until I'm recovered I will get a few blips 😡😢

how long can they last as I am on day 8 😡 it got better headache wise but not back to my better days . U right I had almost 8 days of good days and then bam I got hit with blips 😢 now on day 8 with this . Thank u hope to hear back from u soon ☺

hi would i also be able to have the link to the book and website please x

Hey

u still on here if so u still answer questions

if so I'm starting third week into 7 month on Celexa

have not changed a thing

is it normal on ur bad days to get sinus headache like u can't believe ?

They hurt so much that tylonal is nothing to it or ur anxiety meds because they went up do to the sinus pain

please get with me on what u think

thank u so much for all ur help in the past and to everyone else

Could I have the link too please? If someone could send it to me that would be great, have been struggling a few weeks. Reading posts here is helping calm me down, would like to try the book etc too. X

Hello, im totally new to this! Id love to find out which book everyone is talking about, recommended by Kate Cogs?!! Thanks so much!xxx

Hi Sarah

I'll message you.

Can I ask also for the link to the book please? Being 3 years on Citalopram 10mg (recovered on 15mg and then reduced to 10mg ), but month and a half ago after speaking to my doctor I wanted to come off and reduced the dosage (cut off 1/8 of the tablet) and the same evening got a huge anxiety attack. Back on 10mg for 10 days and then increased to 15mg, which is 4 weeks I am on and see some improvement, but I am not there yet. Need any help to recover I can get. This forum keeps me going and giving me hope.

Hi aggievv

Yes I’ll pm you. I spent a year coming off Citalopram but whilst on meds (16 years) I armed myself with lots of knowledge about anxiety, slowly came off meds over a year, used over-the-counter meds for a while then applied what I’d learnt then went completely meds free.

It could have been your subconscious tricking you into thinking you’ll not cope without meds and so having this in mind it’ll play on your mind and you sort of talk yourself into feeling anxious when you start coming off meds and also if you tense up. The mind is a clever little thing.

I’ve 2 books I’d recommend - one is how the anxiety habit works and how we fall into it which then keeps you in the loop, and the second book explains how our head chatter (intrusive thoughts) also keep you locked in the continuous loop - all of which keeps the anxiety alive. So in effect we do this to ourselves.

We all look for an outside cause, and yes there usually is something that has helped caused this - often stress. Also we all go on the hunt for a cure, continually researching, reading everything we can, avoiding things, running away, fighting it - all of which makes it worse and will keep you ill.

Many will find it hard to understand when reading the books because anxiety will make you think otherwise - whatever you’re frightened of feels so real, and often that fear overrides ‘sense’. In other words ‘its hard to see the wood for the trees’.

Also applying the book method you won’t feel relief or see results for a while (just as you wouldn’t with the meds for a while), so it feels like you practice ‘blind’. However - repeated practice will bring about the relief we all so crave.

Again as with the meds, there will be ups and downs (blips) but working with the method, seeing it work, seeing how you bring yourself out of the blips time after time builds confidence so eventually you’ll stop fearing going into the blips - because you know your way out so well you no longer fear going into them. You are in control.

Anxiety becomes a habit and as with all habits - they can be broken.

Its a simple method, but not always easy.

K

Hi Katecogs. Thank you so much for your replies. So helpful. I have been on citalopram for two months now. It took about 4 weeks to get used to. By week 5 I felt 100%. No more anxiety. No more jitters. No racing thoughts. I was calm and back to normal energy levels. I felt myself!! Around week 8, I started getting anxiety and jitters. Started experiencing difficulty concentrating and just didn’t feel 100% anymore. My energy levels decreased. At one point I felt like an anxiety attack was coming on. I am on 20mg a day. Not sure if I should increase it or not. I did introduce a daily multivitamin a few weeks ago. Otherwise, everything has been the same in my life. But the comments give me hope that things will go back to normal again since it was working before.

Any advice? Also, I saw that you mentioned some book that helped you. I would appreciate if you wouldn’t mind sharing it with me.

Thanks so much!

• Nate

katecogs are you still on here?

Hi Nelle - yes I'm on here - I'll pm you.

Hi K, hope you are keeping well, can I ask what the link is you mentioned please?

Regards

Gary x

Hi Gary

I'll pm you as can't post links on the forum or the post will get deleted.

Hi Kate - I have been reading your posts, which I know were a long time ago but i just wondered if I could please trouble you for the book & link you talk about.

Many thanks

Emma

Hi Emma

I normally send the books and link via private messaging but unfortunately the forum site has temporarily taken down private messaging so I can't send anything at the moment.

The site doesn't allow links to be posted here on the forum and I'm also not allowed to mention the book titles or authors either, so there's no way I can mention them at all. I can keep your post notification and send these when the private messaging service is back running again,

Hi there

i have upped from 20mg of Citalipram to 30mg . After 3 weeks, i suddenly felt so much better for a week or so . I met a friend and had a few drinks (3pints). Next day i felt as if i had had 5 times that amount. I have since been waking up with bad headaches and have had aches and pains and am feeling wiped out. You mentioned the recovery is slow but can it also happen as described above with periods of noticeable peaks and troughs? Any help is much appreciated. Many thanks, Ian

Hi Ian

Yes this is how recovery usually works - lots of peaks and troughs (called setbacks / blips). Absolutely normal.

Some people do feel better after a few weeks of taking meds or increasing, and often this is short lived because a setback usually follows. This does not mean you’ve relapsed but this is the way recovery works (whether you’re taking meds or doing it naturally).

Also be careful with alcohol, especially in the early days / weeks of taking meds. It affects different people in different ways.

But yes - setbacks will happen all through recovery, getting easier and less intense as you get better.

Thank you so much for replying to me it is very much appreciated

@KateCoggs

Hey Kate,

Sorry to jump in,

I left 2 messages for you, so difficult to keep up with messaging since they took private messaging away. Hopefully, itll come back soon

Good to see your still here

xx😊

Sorry to jump in too. is Self help for your nerves Dr C weeks the book you refer to?

Sorry to jump in too. is Self help for your nerves Dr C weeks the book you refer to? @Katecogs

Hi Deb

Yes, one of the books is that one though there is another author who follows on from her with a super book and website. Strange you can mention this book and author as when I do my post gets deleted (obviously they flag up certain words for certain people) 🤣

But yes this is a super book and as said there is a male author who I thoroughly recommend.

Hi Katecoggs

if there any chance you could send me the link to the book please. ive been on cit for 18 days i can see some improvements in my anxiety but then sometimes i feel like im going backwards. my anxiety has affected my hearing, my gut, my throat, my eating! its awful!

The advice and support you have provided on this post have been amazing.

thank you

Hi Tinky

I can't post the link here on the forum - usually I send it by private messaging but that's been temporarily disabled at the moment. I can send it when its back. Look at the 2 posts above to deb31216 as I mentioned the author - you may be able to find him online.

Anxiety affects our body in many ways and often our stomach is the first thing it affects (appetite, indigestion etc). When we're anxious our body is on high alert and we become super sensitive to all our feelings and thoughts - even hearing can seem amplified. Try not to be alarmed by it, nothing bad can happen by these strange sensations. Its just the same as when flu affects our appetite, energy etc too.

18 days is really early on the meds - there will be many ups and downs as you recover, and those early days the more difficult. Keep going as it does get easier.

Hi Kate

ive just figured out how to log back in 

ive been reading the posts you are an absolute diamond! thank you for taking the time to help me and so many others.

i started suffering with anxiety 6 months after the birth of my second daughter. shes 6 now and ive had 2 major set backs where ive needed medication. i had my second daughter via ivf and seemed to cope ok but i think it just caught up on me.

This second bought is due to the pandemic. My husband is a police officer and we have stuck to the rules to the letter. he had covid and so did my 6 yesr old daughter. The pressure of sticking to the rules when others havnt sent my stress levels up. My Dads a porter too, i seemed to take on everyones stress when they wernt bothered. 梁

So 3 weeks in im focusing on whats better

1. im actually up and about. My husband took 2 weeks off to help with my 2 daughters and hes back at work.
2. ive decorated my bedroom with my Mom, i found it challenging but stuck with it.
3. sleeping is getting better
4. my appetite has got better
5. ive arranged 3 playdates this week
6. tightness in my throat easing
7. There have been a couple of occassions where i havnt thought about my ears and anxiety. Its when i hear the sounds etc that stsrt it off.
8. im planning to go back to running on Monday.
9. Not crying but do feel a bit depersonalised.
10. stomach not churning as much.
11. Sunday night i camped out in the back garden  tee hee!

Its been hard to push through it and still is as I know your aware. Hopefully these are signs that things are on the way up. Actually reading that list has made me feel better xx

ive ordered the book, Ive already got the one by the lady.

Hopefully your enjoying this beautiful weather, Im in the garden messaging now 

Many thanks

Hi Tinky

Anxiety is usually the result of stress or trauma - having a baby can be a stressful time for some and of course our body is undergoing major physical changes. Then there’s the birth - and though a magial time its quite a trauma physically and emotionally, followed by the tiredness of looking after a little one. Maybe thats how the anxiety could have started. It seems though that no matter how our anxiety started, we all seem to go down the same path and end up at the same place, and once anxiety starts its the same route back for us all (albeit we all have different fears, thoughts, emotions and background).

Its made lots of people angry watching those who flout the rules of Covid. Some do it deliberately of course but there are those who are just not clued up and that’s just how their brain works I guess.

That’s good you can see the changes - they’re often hard to see as they’re often so slight.

Love the idea of camping in the back garden - I love camping and always feels so cosy inside the tent snuggled up. An adventure!!

I hope the book ame - it really is a great read, and that one and the lady author really do explain how to help yourself with acceptance. Took me a long time to understand that.

The weather has been great (a little too hot for me though) and today the rain came which is actually quite a relief - still warm but love the smell of rain.

Hi Katecoggs

Thank you so much for your reply.

Im on week 5 i think, the anxiety is settling. I still have some physical symptoms but when i hear/feel them. In my head i say " its anxiety, it wont hurt me, accept it. Still early days but i think im breaking the cycle. my stomach doesnt immediately churn when i feel a symptom so thats an improvement.

Ive started running again and i managed 5k in 36 minutes today. i feel so good after. ive also started back at the charity shop where i volunteer. when Im busy I dont notice any of the symptoms. This past week has been better so much better. Sleeping is so much better, averaging 6 hours a night . Ive been doing the school run, taking the girls to school and been meeting up with friends.

Ive also found a guy who talks and offers advice on tinnatus. Again its all about letting go, accepting it and living with it for a while. Its stress and anxiety that keeps the cycle going. He has got an app to which is fantastic.

I look back and i found that i was constantly googling and talking about my anxiety as a habit ( not because I needed someone to talk to). Continually doing this was feeding the cycle.

Ive stopped doing this.

Ive got the lady book and the man book, when i do feel a bit wobbly. I refer back to them and they really do help.

yes fresh rain, its raining now although warm is lovely! hope you have a great weekend! Oh come on England!

Thank you so much for support.

Best wishes

Tinky

Hi Tinky

That’s so good you can see changes - it will gradually get better as you continue on the meds and adopt the new attitude of ‘not caring’.

Yes this is what everyone does - googles and talks about how they feel (I did too, though not internet as it didn’t exist when I was ill) - and this is because we don’t understand it and constantly look for a cure, an instant cure. But yes, this is exactly what keeps the anxiety running all the time.

This is why reading those books you first learn about anxiety so it answers lots of questions and unravels the mystery of anxiety, and it also points you in the right direction of recovery. It also stops you searching and ending up with countless causes, cures, so called quick fixes, potions and whatever else.

Running is so good for anxiety (though any exercise is), and just getting on with life as you would do if you didn’t have anxiety.

Its good when sleep gets better as it helps to refresh our body.

Tinnitus can result from anxiety or even the meds too - thats good you’ve found someone who’s helping you with that, and would never have thought using the same method of accepting.

Those books are great and are definitely the way forward. We can all recover from this - medicine, understanding and acceptance. Reading them over and over I always found something new to read.

Yes ….. eek England vs Scotland tonight 😄

please could you send me the link to the book your all on about please i have been in citalopram a year but rather stupidly stopped taking cold turkey stupid i know that was over a month ago now and have been put back on them am on 20mg at the moment with the plan to increase to 30mg tomorrow so would love to know what book your all talking about as would really like to read it thanks