Early Days-need a bit of support.
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi everyone, I have suffered from quite severe periods of anxiety in the past-both during life events,work stresses but also out of no where when I feel there is nothing to look forward to ! The combination of insomnia, panic anxiety and feelings of hopelessness to be honest terrify me! Feels like a rollercoaster and I can't get off. For the past five years I have kept well but about two weeks ago the anxiety started again and along with it the catastrophization of life. I manage to get to work and function but want to run away. I have a supportive partner but his work means he is away the odd night and weekend. After a week of horrendous insomnia I got some sleeping tablets but then made an emergency appointment with a private doctor as I had terrifying panic attack. He prescribed Citalopram which I have had before which I started but after a few days I felt almost suicidal and panic stricken. He then prescribed Diazapam-very short course to use as and when. I am sleeping slightly better but the whole situation is compounded by watching my mum be consumed by dementia and my father refuse support. Also approaching a milestone birthday and probably menopausal and usual worrys about children etc. Any advice would be welcome and best wishes to everyone using this page,
0 likes, 6 replies
Chris00000 pauline94895
Posted
hi, it sounds like your having bad stressful and worrying times in your life which has caused anxiety & panic, citalopram helps this alot but you have to weather the storm of side effects first and they should make you alot better in time, i know its not nice what you going through as most on this forrum have been or still going through, keep taking it and come on this forum for answers and support whenever you need it, much luck to you x
pauline94895 Chris00000
Posted
Many thanks Chris for your reply and support, Still have terrible insomnia and when I do sleep wake in a panic but holding on in the hope it will improve.
Guest pauline94895
Posted
Hi Pauline
There seems to come a time in our life when we all have to face challenges, some more than others such as yourself with your mum, it's a sobering thought but inevitable. Sometimes these challenges catch up with us, we sail along coping with everything until one day it's like a switch going off when our bodies just cannot take it anymore. Sometimes we feel the need to open up to people, even those we do not know, but if it's any consolation to you, many of us here share your feelings even though our circumstances may be different. For me it helps knowing I am not alone with my feelings, sometimes reassurance is all that is needed to help perk me up a bit. I have had great support here and it has been a Godsend.
As you know, citalopram can take several weeks to take full effect, for some people earlier than that, and sometimes people's anxieties are heightened in the beginning. You say you have been on it before, sometimes people get a different experience on it the second time round. It's very early days for you yet so I'm afraid it's a matter of time will tell but from what others here have said, the diazepam should help you through.
There are many experienced people on this site and hopefully they will respond to your post and future posts with support like they did for me. Best wishes😊
pauline94895 Guest
Posted
Thank you so much for your kind reply. I think you are right about the switch going off after stress building up. I have opened up to people more but I do feel like I am at times completely detached from the world everyone else is living in, I am keeping at the Ciprimil and the doctor gave me very few diazapam and I am using them sparingly because I don't want to run out.They help take the edge off the anxiety but the insomnia and panic attacks at night are still a problem.
marsh23433 pauline94895
Posted
Hi Pauline,The reason you suddenly got anxiety was as you mention near to the bottom of your message which you mention about menopause and milestone birthday.The reason that you mention of feeling suicidal and panic problems are the side effect from taken Citalopram ,so just keep on taking that medication and soon that will wear off.If you are going too take sleeping tablets then don't take them every day,only take them when you really need them.
pauline94895 marsh23433
Posted
Thank you so much for taking time to reply. I do think the menopause is adding to the problem and I do try to just take half a tablet for sleep but as you say the initial side effects of Ciprimil might be adding to the panic. Its Day 15 and sometimes I do feel a glimmer that I am settling down a little. One little victory today was going to the gym this morning instead of sitting in front of the TV. I was feeling I was falling into a massive panic attack after a very bad nights sleep but decided to try and do a positive action. I might have had a bit of an up and down day but I feel I took a bit of control.