The Whole Family Suffers if Your Depression or Anxiety is not Treated
My medication has kept my anxiety and depression under control for some time. The celexa and neurontin have not had to be adjusted for over 2 years or so. I visit my psychiatrist every few months to check in, and he is available if I need him. Recently my husband has begun to suffer from anxiety and depression. He worries about every little thing and walks around moodily with a scowl on his face. He does not talk to anyone and rarely interacts with the grandchildren when they visit.
Our adult children notice his mood instantly, and the grandchildren should not have …
My depression/anxiety medication is always challenged by one crisis or another.
I am amazed at how well the medication works. I have some serious family crises going on right now (or any given day). I became depressed for one day, which scared me, cause I felt a hollow deep in my chest. This is how I used to feel most of the time. I could not find a place for myself all day, could not motivate myself to do a single thing. Luckily, the next day I was back to feeling good, despite the fact that the same crises are happening.
I want to encourage you to seek medical help if you …
Meds are well balanced finally
Sorry that I haven’t posted in so long. Life has just been too hectic. I had to return to work part time and this really took up so much of my life. In any case, I want to say that my current cocktail of medication has been working well for me. I am taking 90 mg celexa and 3900 mg of neurontin. I take 50 mg of trazadone to sleep. I dont alway sleep through the night. But if I read for awhile I become drowsy enough to fall back to sleep.
Just When My Anxiety is Under Control, Life Acts UP
Living with generalized anxiety disorder is difficult. Here I am, spouting how well I do with my anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications. Then, suddenly, I turn around and find myself face to face with a life situation with the potential of driving me over the edge. It is hard not to feel like I am “being tested”. It is hard to remain confident that I will get through yet another mini disaster.
I admit that without my xanax, I might not make it through those days. Not even the best of anti-anxiety medication can always be enough for someone like me. Well, on …
Had to Tweak My Celexa and Neurontin Again
So after the last adjustment, (See the post “My Psychiatrist Tweaked my Anti Anxiety/Depression medication“) I felt good for a few days and then not so much. I was feeling down each morning and very jumpy during the day. Upon visiting the Psychiatrist for my regular maintenance visit. he said we should go down a drop on the Celexa which could be over stimulating me, and up a bit on the Neurontin. So I am taking 90 mg of Celexa now and 2700 mg of Neurontin.
Guess what? I feel great again. I feel happy when I wake up and …
My Psychiatrist Just Tweaked My Anti-Anxiety/Depresson Meds
So my doc just called me back. Only a few hours after I’d left a message saying that I was not feeling so great. (See the last post Advocating-for-your-anxious-self-with-your-doctor.) He agreed that it is a good idea to make some small changes today and then discuss the results when I see him next week for my regular visit. He said to increase the Neurontin from 2100 mg to 2400 mg, and the Celexa from 80 mg to 100 mg. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!
Advocating for Your Anxious Self with your doctor
It is so hard to realize when I need a change in my medication. Now that my depression and anxiety disorders have been stabilized, problems do not jump out at me. Bad feelings creep up slowly, and I find myself being sucked down without realizing I need a rope. And/or I question my own judgement, accusing myself of being dramatic or overreacting. If I discuss this with my now part time therapist, she will focus on my reactions to daily life. While this is relevant, I know that it is more than just life’s bumps. It is my inability to deal with them. And not because I need …
Don’t stop taking your anti anxiety medication if you feel good!
My daughter, who I have written extensively about here (see the post My Daughter Got Help with her Anxiety) had been doing soooo well. Anti anxiety medication alone was not enough for her. With the addition of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, she began to have many anxiety free days and was sleeping well. In addition, she started acupuncture for her migraine headaches which had not been responding to medication (and are connected to her anxiety). The acupuncture was working well for her too! And then her therapist and her psychiatrist decided that maybe Beth should try to wean off of some …
Paxil Withdrawal
I added a 4th Celexa, bringing my dose to 80 mg. In the US, that is considered too much but in Europe, according to my doctor, they use as much as 100 mg. Since I was on a high dose of Paxil, I probably will need the 100 mg eventually. My psychiatrist said that although the Paxil is now out of my system, my body is craving the Paxil and the Celexa does not satisfy the craving. Therefore, it will be about 6 more weeks until the craving is gone. In the meantime, I will continue to have days where …
Off Paxil CR and On Celexa
So it took about a month but I did it. So far so good. I have some morning drowsiness which one cup of coffee is taking care of. I am feeling pretty good, despite some unusual stress happening right now. This is just a quick entry to let you know the switch went well.
| older posts »