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not coping with anxiety

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Kitkat99
Kitkat99

Hi there I've been suffering from severe anxiety and depression for close to a year now. I had two pretty serious episodes in my early 20s and was on citalopram for over ten years until I started to decrease the dose a few years ago. I've had a lot happen to me since this time including chronic pain, a wedding and subsequent separation plus an operation all in the space of 18 months. The Drs added mirtazapine to 40mg citalopram in January and although I'm better than I was I'm really struggling again with anxiety and severe depression esp in the mornings, I'm trying hard to rebuild my life but can't seem to shake this constant anxiety, and suffer from very bad panic attacks. I'm not feeling like I'm coping at all right now and feeling very desperate.

The last 24 hours have been the worst yet as stupidly increased my mirtazapine last night - I usually take 15mg and took one and a half last night and a bit this morning and feel absolutely horrendous. Feeling dizzy, and anxiety is worse than ever. I tried increasing the dose a few months ago to 30mg and it just didn't agree with me but I don't know what other option I have right now. please help x

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  • pixie22
    pixie22 Kitkat99

    Posted

    Well I don't recommend changing your dosage without medical advice. You really need to go back to your doctor to tell him/her how you feel, and discuss your options. In the short term, could you try to tackle the anxiety in other ways? I have used warm baths, relaxation tapes, slow breathing, distraction with trashy TV and puzzles, but you could think of something else. They don't make the anxiety go away, but they can make it slightly easier to get through. Anxiety feeds on itself, worrying about it makes it worse, so you need to break into the spiral. I hope that helps a bit. Pixie xx
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    • Kitkat99
      Kitkat99 pixie22

      Posted

      Thank you, that's really helpful. I seem to work myself up into such a state tho that I can't do any of those things, but I've realised today the thing that I'm most anxious about is this illness and thinking I'm going mad which of course just makes it worse. It's all so exhausting. I've got the mental health team coming over shortly which of course I'm anxious about, just hope it helps xx
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  • oldboy
    oldboy Kitkat99

    Posted

    I agree with pixie that you must discuss this with your doctor. 

    There are other options eg increase the citalopram.  You do not say why you were cutting down on it. Other than that you could try a different AD eg sertraline (although that is also an SSRI). 

    I really feel for you.

     

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    • Kitkat99
      Kitkat99 oldboy

      Posted

      I came down of it to try and come off it, which was obviously a mistake. I can't increase the citalopram anymore as I'm on the highest dosage 40mg
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  • Kitkat99
    Kitkat99

    Posted

    Spoke to doctors today and he has suggested swopping mirtazapine for trazodone for the anxiety while still taking citalopram. Has anyone taken trazodone, would love to hear if its helped, thanks so much xx
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