Feeling like im freeking out, and derealization , shallow breathing
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i take 225mg of effexor and it has helped but not much especially now. Ive been having breathing issues for over a year, lightheadedness and facial twitches and severe anxiety and depression. its got worse in the past 2 days. bloodwork and ekg say im fine but i feel like i cant get enough air my breathing is shallow or very fast when my anxiety is higher. im starting to think effexor may cause this. ive been on it for 4 years and these symptoms started a year and half ago. kinda hard to beleive that breathing problems would start after 2 and half years since starting the medication but i do remember going off it for a few weeks to try a different medication and my breathing was deffinitley better!? but that was zoloft and i was onlt taking 100mg of it and my depression and anxiety was coming back so i went back to effexor. sorry for the long story but latley ive been getting derealization which is giving me panic attacks and makes me feel like im freeking out! i was in the grocery store and after a few steps inside i just felt instantly weird seeing other people it didnt feel like i was actually there it felt like i was in a dream and it scared the heck out of me and i got my stuff left the store asap. is that a derealization experience? i tried taking ativan to calm myself down but it doesnt really work and now my breathing is just shallow and noticeable. anyone else getting shallow breathing on effexor?
0 likes, 4 replies
Richado dave00515
Posted
Hello Dave, sounds like you are going through a bad patch. Please remember first that you are NOT ALONE. Whats happening is not un-typical and indeed I have experienced it. Certainly the kind of separation feeling of being detached from your immediate reality. It happens and is kind of the way your mind is trying to cope. It will pass.
Looking at some facts - your bloods and ECG have been done and show you are fine/healthy/normal. Remember this especially if you are tempted to worry on a health basis.
Its not your meds as they would have created issues a long time ago. This issue is from you / your mind and is a typical (if not scary) anxiety response.
Your dosage is not that high as up to 450mg can be prescribed. By the way Effexor can have a different effect dependent on its dosage. So keep taking the correct dosage, know that it is helping and that occassional bouts of anxiousness may occur but not from your medication.
So then I can hear you thinking - why the anxiety and what can I do?
I believe your breathing and other issues are initiated by some events or triggers which your mind thinks are threatening your well-being. In other words being enclosed with a shop with people who might react or challenge you creates a threat and your brain creates adrenalin ready for fight or flight from this perceived threat. Your breathing is affected by the adrenalin and the erratic breathing adds to causing you to panic because somethings 'wrong'. This is essentially what all anxiety is about. This adrenalin release as we think we are under threat. Very difficult to stop as its very quick and automatic.
Given that you know rationally there is no threat to you in a grocers you cant simply tell your brain to stop reacting- its in the subconcious and wont happen. You can however stop the adrnealin/reaction continuing by calming your physical body and symptoms. As you notice this occurring, find a corner or quiet space and take three large slow breaths consciously. Best to breath in on a count of 3, hold for 3 or 4 and breath out on 4 plus. This will ease your body and mind. Keep doing this until any racing or fluttering etc has gone. Remember to hold you breath otherwise you will hyperventilate (overbreath and take to much oxygen in.
Try this and you will in time see that its just the adrenalin release thats panicing you. You will be calmer and start taking back a little control. Later on you can look at what might be triggering these bouts. Environments, social encounters, memories associated etc
So enough from me. Please practice these breathing exercises ready fro when you may need them.
If you are in a more private space it helps to hold your arms out straight and rotate them gently as you continue deep breathing.
Good luck, and please remember you will be fine and have been fine before. Set-backs occur but they are just bumps in the road to you improving your well being and enjoyment of life. Stick with and see how things get better. All the best R.
dave00515 Richado
Posted
ty for the reply. thats a very good point about calming down anxiety is the holding ypur breath part for a few seconds. otherwise more co2 builds up and it can be a slipperly slipe and worsen. do you know how much seratonin vs noreperephrine is in effexor? just curious if say 150 is seratonin and the remaining 75mg i take would be noreperephrine? i really want to try a different drug. i was on celexa first and than switched to effexor honestly u think an snri would make u feel better but it was the same effect as celexa for me. i havent worked in years the effexor really only helps me to ne a bit less depressed and anxious. enough to have hobbies like working on a dirtbike, pc parts, play video games, watch documentaries and even than i dont enjoy doing those things much! like i feel very little gratification and im just going through life like a zombie or hermit. gave up on work and friends and it just doesnt feel right. i moss the days when i was a teenager because i was and did normal things. im in good need pf trying a different medication maybe i need a different class drug? because im always locked up and anxious and just going through the motions in life!
Richado dave00515
Posted
Okay Dave, read your comments. Obviously you MUST see your GP regarding medication, changes in medication and their effects. Please book an appointment and tell your doctor about whats going on. You might also get a referral to iTalk.
This is the NHS talking therapies and they can help with anxiety and depression etc.
I used them and they were very good. Do it now as it can takes weeks to get booked in.
Of course we all look back at early times in our life and we tend to remember the good times. You will get better and you are now seeking help, which is good. Depression will desensitise you to enjoying some things in life. Keep going with your hobbies and you will see that these are beneficial and in time the enjoyment or your appreciation of enjoying these hobbies will return. Be kind to yourself - you are going through issues and dont need to be so hard on yourself.
Get these breathing exercises going and you will feel less anxiety. This will ease the feelings that you are not in control. Definitely get your meds sorted with your GP and give them time to take effect (usually 2 weeks at least).
Keep going, things will get better and wont be as bad as this over time.
All the best, R
NothinforNothin dave00515
Posted
Derealization for me was due to severe perimenopause anxiety. It took time to ease up. I never had anxiety before that so, it scared me to death. I haven't tried effexor. Zoloft gave me no high's or low's I just felt flat so, went off that. I started cbd pills now and they are slowly easing off my anxiety and depression. Nothing else for me has worked besides getting good quality sleep, and eating very clean. I've had the same experiences before walking into a store though when my anxiety was so severe and it does send you into a panic. The only thing I've learned through all of this is that you have to try to remain as calm as you can. I know easier said than done and I couldn't do that in the throws of it but, you have to try. It's horrible because all you want to do is run from where ever you are. For me it was best to stay home until I calmed down during that time because it was making my anxiety worse and making me exhausted. Hang in there. Sending prayers to you.