Light headed/dizzy

Just don't rush back to work. I made that mistake and ended up back on the sick after one. Saying that trying to get back into a routine is meant to help but I just found my side effects were to bad in work. You might be different 

Thanks for your reply Gemma, glad to hear it’s not just me who feels like I’m on a rollercoaster all the time! - I switched to taking them on a night yesterday, I had a good day yesterday, no anxiety & almost felt like myself again. It’s defo helped taking them at night when I don’t have to do anything. I actually think my anxiety now is because I’m anxious about the anxiety kicking in, if that makes sense. It’s as if I’m anxious about been anxious. X

That’s my problem too, I think when you’ve been through a difficult time with strong anxiety that leaves you with physical symptoms too, it’s completely normal to feel afraid of it as no one would ever want to live like that. But as hard as it is we have to not fight against it instead try to accept it and remember it will pass and it can’t hurt you. Once you stop fearing the anxiety it can’t  get to you anymore and it will ease off but it is a slow process for us all but we’re getting there and you will too in time.

That’s all I try to think when I feel the anxiety coming on, ‘it can’t hurt me, it will pass over’ - seems to be helping. I managed to go out to watch the football in a very crowded bar at the weekend. Felt slightly anxious when I first arrived but I settled down. I only hope It’s the same when I return to work. I’m dreading it! X

As hard as it's is, try not to fear it, make sure you tell others at work about how you're feeling because having their support and understanding will help u a lot. I think you may feel better once you get back into it. I think my anxiety would b worse if I stayed at home or had too much time to think about it. Just take it steady and too push yourself too hard a thing work by taking on a larger workload or more responsibilities until you're feeling better. Thinking of u.x

Should have been don't push yourself too hard.x

Thank you Gemma, I really appreciate your replies. I’ll let you know if I decide to go back & how I get on. X

That’s okay, we’re all here for you but yes keep me posted on how you get.x

 

Hi Gemma. So I went back to work yesterday on reduced hours. 3 hours yesterday & today. 

Yesterday was ok, i obviously felt anxious but I felt like I could handle it. Today, not so much! I had clammy hands, tension headache, dry mouth, mind working ten times over! - just  went to do a bit of shopping afterwards & couldn’t get out of the shop quick enough. I’ve been taking my citalopram last thing at night but I’ve had to take it early today to see if it eases my anxiety. 

I’m a loss of what to do now, do I go back to work Monday & hope it’s a better day! - it’s like 10 steps forward, 9 steps back! 🙁 x

Hi Laura, how were you feeling on 10mg? The anxiety symptoms could be purely down to the increase and if so will settle down. Try not to let them scare you. My side effects of these are physical anxiety symptoms and fuzziness everytime I wake up and start to subside early afternoon. What helps me is to just accept it, easier said I know and we are all different. Also, when going to work, try to focus on the moment and break the day down for example, morning routine, travel to work, the first hour at work, take frequent breaks that kind of thing it can make it less overwhelming.

Hi Paul, I didn’t feel to bad on the 10mg, I think it was when I actually stopped them (after Doctors advice) that I really struggled. I originally went back on 10mg however my anxiety was at its worst so doctor prescribed 20mg. Ive had some really good days but equally some bad. It’s very unpredictable & I hate that I can’t plan anything in advance because I’m not sure how I will be feeling that day. I have come to realise when been thrown into situations that i cope a lot better than having something planned for weeks in advance, I sit & over think about how I’ll feel or if I’ll feel ill when I go! It’s horrible. 

I know exactly what you mean about not knowing how you will feel going from one day to the next, I lead a very simple and easy life at the moment to assist me with the horrible stuff. Am thinking you going from 10mg to 0mg back onto 10 then onto 20mg is definitely what is causing you all these problems.

Totally agree with you Paula..

Hi everyone, I’ve just been in for a chat with my pharmacist today as my dizziness, shakey & general weak feeling is still the same. He advised me to call my doctor & see what the suggest. I’m think she may lower me from 20mg to 10mg. Does this sound like something they might do?? I’m just wondering if the 10mg is to strong for me & it’s taking a while to settle down. I feel as though my anxiety has improved however the side effects are now making me anxious! - after 5 weeks surely the dizzy/spaced out feeling should have subsided x

Hi Laura, sorry for the late reply, it didn’t flag up on my notifications. It is very hard but it will get easier. I took three weeks off but then I went back and found it too hard, so I ended been off for another three weeks and then I went back again. I do feel better but I still have some wobbly days, just not as bad as before. I think if you persevere you will settle down but for some people I know, they have been off for up to four months. It depends on your job and how supportive everyone is. You can do this just don’t push yourself too hard, maybe going to the shops was a step too far. I did that with taking my daughter into the school playground, I found I could take her into her breakfast club on my way to work but on my day off, walking her into the playground was really hard and made me anxious. I think when we’re on the road to recovery it’s about taking small steps so don’t think that you’re going backwards, it’s just part of getting over this. Keep in touch with us or you can private message me if u need to talk.x

If you can I would hang in there Laura on the 20mg because it has helped you. If this is your first time on citalopram, it can take a few months to settle down. Are you eating enough and getting enough sleep? Speak to the doctor and see what they say. I’m on 30mg and I’m still getting a bit of anxiety but I often feel spaced out, dizzy with headache but I’ve been on it before and our bodies do adjust in time. Let me know how you get on.x

Laura, all this changing dosages and not giving your brain and nervous system a chance to settle down is going to cause you lots of problems, I would think very carefully with changing dosages again so soon. Give yourself a minimum of 6 weeks to settle.