missanxious
10-08-08, 04:01
Hello all
I'm 24 years old and have suffered with anxiety for the last 6 years. It started with panic attacks when I was travelling on my gap year and has developed over the years into a more generalized anxiety. I still have the occasional panic but never as full blown as the first ones - I have learned to prevent this with breathing and distraction techniques now. I've had CBT on and off and found it very helpful, however it hasn't been able to completely nip this problem in the bud. My anxiety creeps back up as soon as I have something stressful going on. The first symptom is always my stomach - my digestion goes out the window and I have to rush to the loo lots, feel extremely nauseous and or be sick, and lose appetite / ability to eat. When the anxiety subsides I get this flood of emotion - as if I have just got the old me back - and I want to call my other half and tell him I love him or I want to do something creative. This is an upside but it makes me sad as it reminds me what that the anxiety smothers these feelings and my personality :weep:
I went on Citalopram for a year and came off it one year ago. It really helped me through a difficult time. However I put on two stone and it affected my sex drive so I was really keen to come off as soon as possible. It has taken me a year to lose this weight again and it has been difficult!
I am currently considering going on Escitalopram though. My GP has prescribed it and I have been carrying the prescription around in my bag for the last 3/4 weeks. I feel really reluctant to go back on an AD but I think I might have to. I've been feeling more and more anxious recently, and here I am at 4am posting on this forum because I can't sleep because of my anxiety and I just feel terrible.
Off to read forums about Escitalopram. Nice to meet you all and hope I'll be able to offer others support / advice.
I'm 24 years old and have suffered with anxiety for the last 6 years. It started with panic attacks when I was travelling on my gap year and has developed over the years into a more generalized anxiety. I still have the occasional panic but never as full blown as the first ones - I have learned to prevent this with breathing and distraction techniques now. I've had CBT on and off and found it very helpful, however it hasn't been able to completely nip this problem in the bud. My anxiety creeps back up as soon as I have something stressful going on. The first symptom is always my stomach - my digestion goes out the window and I have to rush to the loo lots, feel extremely nauseous and or be sick, and lose appetite / ability to eat. When the anxiety subsides I get this flood of emotion - as if I have just got the old me back - and I want to call my other half and tell him I love him or I want to do something creative. This is an upside but it makes me sad as it reminds me what that the anxiety smothers these feelings and my personality :weep:
I went on Citalopram for a year and came off it one year ago. It really helped me through a difficult time. However I put on two stone and it affected my sex drive so I was really keen to come off as soon as possible. It has taken me a year to lose this weight again and it has been difficult!
I am currently considering going on Escitalopram though. My GP has prescribed it and I have been carrying the prescription around in my bag for the last 3/4 weeks. I feel really reluctant to go back on an AD but I think I might have to. I've been feeling more and more anxious recently, and here I am at 4am posting on this forum because I can't sleep because of my anxiety and I just feel terrible.
Off to read forums about Escitalopram. Nice to meet you all and hope I'll be able to offer others support / advice.