Good days & bad days

how were you on the fouxetine?

its very early days on citalopram then

im on week 18 of citalopram 20 mg & are being very mindful, getting plenty of sleep & eating well, i think it makes a difference. hows your anxiety with it all?

i felt better after 4 weeks but mainly because the side effects dissipated however didn't help much on anxiety. I don't know, maybe i was stressed at work that my anxiety didn't lessen. My Psychiatrist changed the med to Citalopram so far, i haven't felt anxious this past days on it. I am now off from work for 2 months, somehow i guess helps knowing i'm not stress at work.

Just recently came off from sleeping pills and for 2 nights I haven't slept. Then on the 3rd night, was able to get 4 hrs of sleep but again last night no sleep. Is this normal? Will i be able to get sleep later once the med kicks in? I'm hoping Citalopram will be the right med for me..

hi thez1234

sorry late reply, im no expert but from what i read by other folk on here it works but you just got to give it time to work, there are super people on here who advise me its not a case of keep uping the dose but to take it and settle, everytime you change dose you start again. i think with the sleeping pills you just gotta get them out of your system & then the citalopram will start to work. Everybody Everybody says give it time, im on week 20 of 20 mg & im told its still early days for me.

so how are you doing so far on week 20?

hi thez1234

i honestly thought i was pushing through but i seem to be panicky & nervous all over again! im working flat out at minute trying to get jobs done and i know thats not helping matters in the slightest.

i m loads better than i was at the start of the year, im keeping my head down & just keep going!

everybody keeps saying to me 'stick with it' so i am & hopefully i will come out the other side!

i guess i could be at the half way point , if there is such a thing.......i went to the pub last night for a couple of hours & that was a biggie for me but i really enjoyed it!

i couldnt & didnt want to do that a few months ago.

hows your sleeping been?

i'm not having a hard time sleeping anymore but the thing is my sleep is broken. I usually wake up middle of the night. I only get 4-5 hrs of sleep in total which i think is better and gradually improving. I'm due to up my dosage in 2 days as per my doctor. I hope i won't be getting a lot of start up side effects again. I still have brain fog at week 2 on citalopram and not expecting to go away soon as i have to up the dosage to 20 mg.

I hope you'll feel back to yourself soon. At least now you're on week 20.. me, still long way to go... God bless!

hi laura

sorry late reply, we got back from holiday late last night so shattered & also the area where we were in the south of france had NO WIFI, i loved it. i ve been on 15 mg now for 3 weeks & i managed to get through the holiday, i really enjoyed it, whenever i felt a wobble coming on, i took myself off & did some mindfullness, breathing etc, ive surprised myself!!!

i went out for dinner, met some friends down there, all little victories for me! i drove all the way there & back, i couldnt have done that 6 months ago!

Thats ace laura you dealt with being on your own while your family was away, all these little victories must count for something dont you think?

i would like to be on 10 mg so i dont have to cut pills but im going to stay for a while on 15.

hope your good laura & feeling all the time slowly better on 20

rob

Hey Rob!

Im glad to hear your trip was a success!!

Im doing ok on 20. Nothing major to report. Try to stick with this dose to see if it'll work. Having a bit of an anxious morning but really hoping meds are still trying to settle. Today is day 30 on 20mg.

Keep up the good work! Sounds like youre headed in the right direction!

Hi Laura, I'm on citalopram 10mg for two weeks and now on 20mg for four weeks. I have constant head fog, ear feeling full still, and since i took citalopram 20mg my sleep became worst. I'm hopeless.. i feel this isn't the right med for me.... (sigh!)

Youre still early. Id give it at least 8 more weeks on 20 before you decide. When do you take the meds?

i take it in the morning. When i was taking flouxetine, the head fog was gone after a month but with citalopram it didn't go away. I'm also thinking maybe the dose is too high for me and just need a reduction.

thez1234,

I had clogged ears for a few months. Trust me it slowly goes away. I've never heard of anyone else with that issue. I had gotten so crazed that the Dr. told me I was losing my hearing. Well he was totally wrong. I'm on 10mg for 18 months. Hang in there. It's a roller coaster ride but you will be so happy in the end.

Will

hi laura

how are you feeling today?

your over a month on 20 mg, have you noticed change in mood & thinking?

its crazy how you internalise your feelings both physical & mental.

im a month into 15 mg, i think about my holiday & everything along with it, we went out for dinner last night with friends & im thinking wow look at me!!!!!!!

Then ive woke up this morning & been on edge & not quite there all day!

i guess 2 steps forward & 1 back is still 1 step forward!

hope your feeling good

rob

Hey Rob!

Was just wondering how you were doing. I think the important thing for you to remember when youre feeling off is all the good times youre having. Dont let yourself go down the worry hole. Sounds like youre doing great to me! Do you FEEL better? Like on a normal day?

Im doing well. Today is five weeks since I reduced. I DEFINITELY feel less drugged and less tired. Thats been the biggest improvement. My anxiety has also improved. My mornings are getting easier and for the last week, I have only needed a benzo once. Normally, I was taking one every morning. Im still not back to the old me, but am definitely feeling better.

I have a trip to Mexico in two weeks, so am a bit anxious about that, but trying to remind myself we are going to relax. We have no plans while we're there but to sit on the beach. However, sometimes too much sitting can make me anxious, too.

I really noticed some improvement this last week, so Im hoping your week five brings more improvement for you!!

Thank you Will! You gave me hope! There was one person who told me she had it also and it did go away. I booked an appointment with my GP to ask if she can refer me to ENT. I think it is a side effect it but just want to check and make sure nothing else causing it.

i also had clogged ears that came and went .but it subsided.it definitely is a side effect

Hi Lois95799! Yeah i think it was you who told me you had ear issue too. Thanks! I hope mine will subside soon! 😃

thez,

Just dont get down if they tell you otherwise. But get it checked. Let me know how you did.

Will

Hi Lois,

How is Kate Cogs. I haven't seen her post lately. 😦

hi laura

how are you feeling?

its funny i know what you mean when you say sometimes sitting around can make you nervous, im like that because im busy & always got jobs on so just to sit for a week is defo hard for me, i find it difficult to relax. While i was in france i had a few monents where i tool myself off for 5 mins to regroup, listen to dr clare weekes on my phone on ibooks & then i was good. I think some people can sit on a beach for 8 hours a day, id be bored!, rather go back to the tent & chill out but you can be made to feel.......why dont you like it?.......because im me & your you!

its fab laura that youve only needed one benzo, that speaks volumes....it sounds like your defo going in the right direction, great news, are you finding youve got more energy?

i seem to be having a really nervous night, for some reason i dont know why?

when you feel like your starting to level out a bit & then you feel horrible again!

i hope you keep improving & have a great holiday

hopefully sunshine ahead!

rob

Hey Rob,

Was just thinking about you this morning. Im sorry youre having a nervous night. I hope you wake up feeling calm. Have you tried adding magnesium? It seems to help me. I also take a multivitamin and fish oil pills. Im going to start a probiotic, too. Do you tend to be more nervous at night than the morning? When do you take the meds?

I guess Im just about six weeks in on the reduction at this point. As of today, its been a full week since I needed a morning OR evening benzo. My mornings continue to be less and less anxious. Its not gone, but its only taking about an hour or so to calm down instead of hours. My husband leaves town Monday so we will see how I am for that. Him being away generally raises my anxiety quite a bit. Ive felt fairly normal long enough now that I get nervous for the bottom to drop out. I know a blip will come and its hard to enjoy to easy days knowing its not permanent. Does that make any sense?!

I cant sit on the beach for hours either! Even before I had anxiety! Way too boring!

I hope your good days start to outnumber your bad days. I do seem to have more energy, but I am not sleeping super well off the benzo, so I do tire out early. Not a big deal. My body just got used to the benzo induced sleep, so it'll take me a few weeks to get back on track. I also do think Im thinking a lot more clearly than I was on the higher dose. I am still seeing improvement each week, and I sure hope you will continue to see it as well.

Think about adding the supplements I suggested if you arent. How is your water intake? Ive been drinking a lot more water lately and I think that is helping all around-energy, anxiety, clear mind.

Look forward to hearing back from you!

hi laura

it sounds like your feeling better all the time which is fab news, i wonder why your anxiety is high in the morning? , mine is after work when i get home for some reason. I ve just had a nice weekend chilling, so i know thats good, i only helped a mate on a job for a morning & then went to me local pub for lunch.

I think thats good advice laura about taking supplements/magnesium, every little bit carnt hurt but can only help

im on day 36 of dropping down to 15 mg & i seem to be exhausted! ive had a busy day at work & havent stopped also were having a heatwave here so i guess you overlook that dont you!

How did you feel this morning because i know you said your husband was away?

i bet you ve coped loads better than you thought!

The few times i feel a bit out of shape i just take myself off for a few minutes, nobody ever knows i just get on with it!

do you have something you do laura when you feel 'out of sorts?' , im learning to deep breath on the move, in a shop, in the cinema.....whereever!

Are you struggling to sleep?

getting good sleep is so important to good mental health, i hope that improves with time

hope your good

rob

Hey Rob!

I cant tell why its worse in the morning. Possibly just the expectations of the daily commitments. Ive heard morning anxiety is fairly normal.

Glad to hear you had a nice weekend! Thats wonderful!

One thing about your energy level...how much water are you drinking and are you drinking any caffeine?

My husband left yesterday and I did really well and didnt need a benzo. I have been more anxious today, but still didnt take a benzo. I stayed out really late at a concert, so I think some of my anxiety is because Im tired today.

I think what you do when youre a bit off is great. Thats usually what I do as well. Deep breaths when I feel my nerves coming on. Distracting myself with a task usually helps, too.

Im a light sleeper but I still get about 7 hours a night. I toss and turn some night, but Id say its getting better. What about you?

Are you happy with your dose? Do you feel like it still has the potential to improve more?

It really does sound like youre doing better as a whole! Celebrate all that good!!

Thanks for checking in! Look forward to hearing from you soon!

hi laura

ive had a really busy day today at work & not really thought about much else, i think your right when you occupy yourself physically & mentally you tend not yo stray off that path, mind you i damaged my shoulder on site today so ive been icing that all night & again occupy your mind.

i took my dog on a really long walk tonight on my own & i know thats great headspace to free up some room.

i use to drink bucket loads of coffee but know i only drink tea & loads of that!

i know theres a tiny bit of caffine in tea but only a little bit & nothing on par with coffee.

i hope the concert was good and worth staying out for! its great that your doing that laura & it doesnt phase you but i know what you mean, when im tired & run down im a trifle more anxious

i never seem to be able to get enough sleep, im trying to get plenty of sleep though as i know how important it is, 6-7 hours a night, i m usually asleep within 10 mins but i got a funny feeling my shoulders going to keep me awake tonight.

its intresting you ask laura about the dose because i think my dose is 10 mg, id like to drop again but am going to stay where i am for a while

you sound like your doing grand on 20 mg, just anxious that little bit less, hows your appetite been through it all?

are you finding your thinking more positivly?

hope all good

rob

Hey Rob,

Sorry for the delay. Been a busy few days.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder!! I hope its feeling better!

I asked about the caffeine because I wonder if a little extra might help your fatigue. I drink a soda in the morning and it helps.

My appetite is pretty normal now. Maybe even a little up from normal! What about you?

Id stick with it a bit longer, too. I hope it keep leveling out for you! I feel like mine is still leveling out.

My thinking is about back to normal. Very few intrusive thoughts these days. Hoping that stays true!

What about you? How is your thinking? Able to enjoy life? Down days? Etc?

I better jump off here. Early morning flight to catch! Hoping to make it through this vacation with as little anxiety as possible! We will see!

Talk soon! Have a good day!

hi laura

hows your holiday going? i bet your having a fab old time with your family, i hope your relaxing and enjoying some down time. If you feel a bit anxious then thats ok, it ll pass, take a walk laura, lie down and have a few moments to yourself, dont fight it, just let it come & it will leave as soon as it came! thats what i did, i think you ll surprise yourself.

its a weird thing i think when you just plonk yourself on a beach and exspect to calm dowm immeadiatly!!!! some people can do that i unfortunatly am not, ill read a book or listen to music to help me unwind.

my appetitte is ok, i have a pritty good diet, i enjoy good food so thats alwsys been ok really, i try to eat good, i bet theres lovley fresh seafood where you are!

i went to a party saturday night & realky enjoyed it, mind you i was hung over all sunday, i didnt have alot to drink but i think because i havent partied for a while & also the medication it all doesnt go in your favour!,

i m ticking along and will do on 15mg for a while, i would like to drop to 10mg if im ok with everything

relax & enjoy your holidsy

rob

Hey Rob!

We got home from our vacation Wednesday night! It was fabulous. I didnt really have any anxiety while we were there! I had some on the flying days, but was a peace while there. It was great!

Since being back, my morning anxiety has been pretty crummy. I guess just being back in the real world and not where someone caters to my every need and having to adult again. Ha. Ive been especially tired, as well. Just taking it easy the last couple of days. We came home to sick kids so we’ve all just been lazing around.

Is your shoulder all better?

How are you feeling this week?

hi laura

i m glad your had a nice holiday, sounds like you proper relaxed......good on you!

i think its normal to be a bit edgy regarding flying, i think thats perfectly normal, you cannot erase all anxiety from your life but yeh nice one for enjoying your break.

my shoulders fine thanks, just everyday work & trying to rest it

i wonder if your morning anxiety has come back laura because of falling into the habit hole, when you were away it was all good but as you say, back to reality & its all back but at least you ve proven to yourself you can have mornings with no stress that are all good which is defo heading in a right direction

i hope your kids wernt too poorly, i guess they were missing there parents bless em.

i ve been really busy these last few days with work & family life & im just hitting everything head on & trying not to over think it & just accept it for what it is, i still enjoy taking the dog out by myself and have a bit of down time which i enjoy,

hope good rob

Rob,

​

Since returning home from my trip last week, my anxiety has gotten worse. I dont know if this is a blip or what. Im really tired again, shaky, not wanting to leave the house, etc. UGH! Its definitely not as bad as early on and I havent taken any benzo for it, but its not great. I need to get out and exercise and socialize, but every chance I get, I end up staying home and resting. How are you doing this week? I hope well.

hi laura

ive just picked this up

im sorry your feeling awful at min, im sure its just a blip. You ve proved it to yourself on holiday that you can do it.

try not to overthink it & obsess how your feeling at every step, ive been down that road & it leads nowhere!!!!

ive been told by many there will be good days & bad days but what you ll find is the good ones start to creep in more & more.

you ve hit some bumps in the road at the min but keep driving forward & i know you ll come out the other side!!

be safe

rob