LisaD
20-04-05, 03:32
Hi everyone,
Before I introduce myself, I just want to say how impressed I am with this site...much more uplifting and positive than anything else I've seen on the internet!
My name is Lisa, and I have just recently been having problems with anxiety. It all started about a month before I had to defend my Master's thesis. It felt like something "snapped" inside me...I started reading every sentence I had written, and thinking of every way the examiners could attack me on it. This caused extreme anxiety (rapid heart rate 24-7, sweating etc etc) that then lead to not sleeping and not eating (I lost 30 lbs in 2 months, and I wasn't that big to begin with!). Somehow I made it through the defence. I had 4 days break, then I started my new job (I know, I know, bad idea, but my start date had been decided months in advance!). I lasted 4 days at work. The anxiety got even worse, if thats possible, and I started getting panic attacks. Had to quit the job because I felt that I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and could not go on.
That was 2 months ago. The first month was H**L, I was feeling extreme anxiety 24-7, still not eating, and terrified of sleeping. At times I also felt like I was losing my mind and might have to go to the hospital (probably a result of the sleep deprovation). My doctor started me on Citalopram, and I've been going to acupuncture twice a week. The physical symptoms of the anxiety have subsided, and I'm sleeping a bit better, but my thinking patterns are still highly anxious....I constantly think about my medication. I've been on the citalopram for 7 weeks now, and my doc just increased my dose to 30 mg. I've been having problems with the side-effects: dry eyes, ringing ears, lethargy etc. Is anyone else on citalopram, and do these go away? I guess because I'm anxious I am more sensitive to these effects, but its starting to worry me that they won't go away. I am also taking Zopiclone to help me sleep, and am constantly worried that I won't be able to come off of it...anyone else had this experience and successfully weaned themselves off? Before all this happened I was a big believer in natural/holistic remedies, and the fact that I'm on these serious meds is also causing concern. Sorry for the long rambling message, but I just needed to get this off my chest to someone who understands. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Lisa
Before I introduce myself, I just want to say how impressed I am with this site...much more uplifting and positive than anything else I've seen on the internet!
My name is Lisa, and I have just recently been having problems with anxiety. It all started about a month before I had to defend my Master's thesis. It felt like something "snapped" inside me...I started reading every sentence I had written, and thinking of every way the examiners could attack me on it. This caused extreme anxiety (rapid heart rate 24-7, sweating etc etc) that then lead to not sleeping and not eating (I lost 30 lbs in 2 months, and I wasn't that big to begin with!). Somehow I made it through the defence. I had 4 days break, then I started my new job (I know, I know, bad idea, but my start date had been decided months in advance!). I lasted 4 days at work. The anxiety got even worse, if thats possible, and I started getting panic attacks. Had to quit the job because I felt that I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and could not go on.
That was 2 months ago. The first month was H**L, I was feeling extreme anxiety 24-7, still not eating, and terrified of sleeping. At times I also felt like I was losing my mind and might have to go to the hospital (probably a result of the sleep deprovation). My doctor started me on Citalopram, and I've been going to acupuncture twice a week. The physical symptoms of the anxiety have subsided, and I'm sleeping a bit better, but my thinking patterns are still highly anxious....I constantly think about my medication. I've been on the citalopram for 7 weeks now, and my doc just increased my dose to 30 mg. I've been having problems with the side-effects: dry eyes, ringing ears, lethargy etc. Is anyone else on citalopram, and do these go away? I guess because I'm anxious I am more sensitive to these effects, but its starting to worry me that they won't go away. I am also taking Zopiclone to help me sleep, and am constantly worried that I won't be able to come off of it...anyone else had this experience and successfully weaned themselves off? Before all this happened I was a big believer in natural/holistic remedies, and the fact that I'm on these serious meds is also causing concern. Sorry for the long rambling message, but I just needed to get this off my chest to someone who understands. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Lisa