Sick of these ups and downs

Haha! It's ok, I understand what you meant anyway even with missing letters etc

My doc also prescribed me apo-lorazepam to take only when I really need to. Which a few times I had to which made me just feel bad about myself for having to take it.

What dose are you on and for how long?

I'm sure you're just having off days and it will get back to being better.

I had a really good day yesterday and then wasn't too bad today but now it's 8:12pm for me and the last 2 hrs I've been getting more anxious so feeling sad about that! Thought i was getting better

Hi Isabel, yes it sort of sets you back a bit when you've had good days then anxiety comes in i but try and stay positive. The last 2 mornings I've woke up and had a nervous tummy and bit of anxiety but after about half hour it eases. Where are you from is it UK or US? X

I'm from Montreal Canada

Wow so far away but we can all help each other it's so good. I'm having a hard time in the mornings and today I took my son to nursery which is about a /5 minute drive I was do panicky it was awful when I got home I cleaned the house with my nervous energy and was meeting a friend at 12.30 which o was going to cancel but I talked myself into going. It was in a busy town centre then I went and done a little shopping afterwards I was a bit spaced out but I'm so pleased I did it as it's hard lately but I didn't let it beat me. Do you get like that sometimes?

Always wake so anxious in the mornings and I don't understand why, i guess I am just expecting it to always be there. It's annoying. I want to wake without that feeling and feel amazing. Nauseas yesterday and today again. Thought that was gone...

I try not to beat myself up and let the anxiety get to me and sometimes I'm good but sometimes I let it affect me. It's hard when you know this is all just anxiety yet still can't stop it and still feel that fear.

How was your day today

Hi yes I've been on Citalopram 3 and a half weeks now and I still find mornings a bit hard I get the nervous tummy on waking up but it's gone in a few minutes it's getting better each day so that's good and I've been out to shops today didn't really feel like it but I'm glad I did and I've been jogging and fast walking the last 3 days and it's helped I do jigsaws in the house and now starting to look forward to things especially Xmas with my little boy and family x

Sorry to but in in your posts, but just wanted to say that when I was recovering, the early morning anxiety was the last symptom to disappear for me.  When I started to have good days that anxiey was always there in the mornings.  Finally I woke without it ... and it felt strange at first.

Recovery can be slow - took me 6 months to get there.  A long wait, but it was worth it.  I've been well for years now.

You'll get there too.  xx

No I really appreciate when you or anyone comments. Especially letting me know that that was how it was for you and that was the last thing to go. I am entering 6 weeks on 40mg...

I look forward to when I can wake and not feel anxious. Just want it to all level out.

Hi Debbie,

Sorry too, but hope you don't mind me butting in either.

Good news that you are doing as well as can be expected, you are thinking about and dealing with the anxiety.  I'd say, a sure sign that Cita is working and you are progressing!  Being physically and mentally active certainly does help, but little steps do not try to run too fast.  Just remember if you get a bad day, that's all it is and just take it as that and get through it, you may not, but it is best to be aware.

For me, the anxiety the latter part of the period of side effects and that was around month four into five. 

6 weeks is good - you've come a long way already, yet it can still be early days.  Relaxing / letting go of tension really helps too - we sometimes tense our up stomach, jaw, clench teeth etc without realising.  Anxiety likes a tense body.  I often think that's why you suddenly get anxiety first thing in the morning, because you're completely relaxed when asleep, and upon waking your body automatically tenses up and also fires off anxiety.  Try slowing down your pace of life - take every day calmly.

Doing daily exercise is good too - a walk will do - exercise releases endorphins, our feel good hormones, making you feel better.

Recovery crept up on me without really realising it.  I just started to get brief glimpses of 'normality' during the evenings - I was scared to move in case it disappeared!  It did of course, but it came back.  Slowly this normal feeling increased over time so that my whole evening became calm (though I'd still wake every morning feeling dreadful).  Eventually my afternoons became normal and then mornings.  Finally I woke with no anxiety.

Even though I'd recovered, I still got blips occasionally, but they eventually stopped happening.

Lots of patience.

K xx

Thanks David yes I'm going g to take it easy jogging and thanks for the support I will get there

Hi Kate thanks for that as your right the morning anxiety is the last thing to go and that totally makes sense that we are so relaxed sleep then wake and tense up as I've always had the tense tummy when I'm anxious but today I've just woke up and the anxiety is the best it's been

Thanks x

It's a strange illness and even stranger when we take the meds ...... and recovery stranger still 🙄  It all behaves like no other illness you'd expect ... 'get ill, take medicine and get better in no time'.  Nope ... not in this case.

Sadly it requires so much patience, and yet patience is something we don't have as we want to be rid of this 'thing' now.  But patience, relaxation, acceptance of the symptoms (for now) and float calmly throughout your day is the key in most cases.  This helps a great deal whilst waiting for the meds to do their thing.

Glad to hear the anxiety feels a bit better today.  It does get easier as time goes by.

K x

 

Hi Isabel,

I just wanted to add my support at this stage and cannot advise any better than Kate has (she's da best!).

Anyway, little steps - you are doing just fine!

David x

 

No problem.  Anytime you know where I am!

Regards,

David x

Hello

Yesterday was a much better day, but last night I kept waking every hour and this morning I am full of anxiety it's getting frustrating.. just when I think things are looking up. I know I just have to stay positive and try and not make the anxiety worse by over thinking and feeling like I'll never ever feel good again but it's hard

...

Just as I was reading about tensing up that you wrote, I noticed I was clenching my jaw and had my belly all tense too. Funny how I didn't even notice til I read what you said.

I'm trying to add walks and exercise in. I used to exercise every day and go for walks before this bad Anxiety hit and now I feel like I have no energy to do it. Yesterday was a much better day but last night I was up every hour and this morning full of anxiety I would just like to have more good days.. I get too hard on myself telling myself I should be feeling better by now and to snap out of it.

I have a three year old and I just want to play and be silly again with him. I hate always saying mama doesn't feel good right now.

I feel so guilty.

I hope the day gets better.... It's 10:50am here for me ... So anxious

Yes releasing tension in your body really does help - not immediately, but with practice it'll help over time to calm your body.  Don't just slump in the chair though - releasing tension whilst you move about is the way.

Yep, you don't even know you're holding yourself tensely until you take a step back and take a good look.  We do these things automatically - jaw clenching, teeth grinding and tummy tensing are ways we subconsciously  fight against anxiety - but instead of fighting it, try and go with it and roll with the punches.  You need to soothe those nerves, and is is done by releasing tension.

You can't just snap out of it ..... it's like telling someone in a coma to 'just wake up'.  They can't, and neither can we.  Your body is physically complaining.  It's hard not to beat yourself up, but your body will heal in its own time - and it really does take time.  Your body has to wind down slowly, and with the meds and relaxation it will in time.  If you had a broken leg you wouldn't expect it to heal in a matter of weeks ..... that would take time, and when the cast was off you'd still have twinges for some time too.

I was ill when my children were little too and know how hard it is.  You can't help being ill just the same as if you had flu and couldn't play with them.  You'll get through this, and you'll once again enjoy playing with your little one.

K xx

Hi today was ok hardly any anxiety when I woke up and went for a jog again and my appetite has come back a lot now which I suppose is good!!' X how are you feeling?

Thanks skate you've helped me look at my tensing etc and seen it differently and like you say it will take time as I've had a tense tummy as long as I can remember and now when I wake up I try to relax it before anxiety gets a full grip

Great info and support x

Hi Isabel,

We know, but you are thinking about it and eventually you won't even bother about it, promise, it will happen!

Have you tried to think if anything may have triggered this all off?  What woke you precisely every hour and what part of the hour, each time the same time or various times past the hour?

Get the emergency duvet out and crawl under and curl up in it and let it pass.  Hope yer feeling better soon.

Best Wishes,

David

Yoga is good too at helping you relax.  Start your day with a daily session 🙂

You will get over all this.  I was ill on and off for 16 years and within 6 months of starting meds I'd recovered.  It will happen for you too xxx