Please....Need Help

[Tan The Man]

Hi Everyone. :D

My name is Tan and I have been a lurker at this site for a very long time,
Without doubt the information and support here is excellent.

Here’s my story. I used to be a very outgoing, confident and athletic guy. I used to represent my borough in athletics (400m) and I was into bodybuilding. But about 10 years ago all that changed. I remember it was around the same time as me sitting the final exams at University, and there being a family crisis. I noticed that I was getting uncontrollable muscle twitches, and this would get a lot worse on the days that I used the gym. A couple of months later the symptoms got worse, now every time I had a workout it was impossible to sleep at night (I would get constant adrenalin rushes and an intense feeling of fear). At this point I had seen my GP many times and was now referred to see a specialist at the Hospital. For Four years neither My GP or the hospital could diagnose what was wrong with me. I had lots of blood test done as well as ECG’s and a brain scan. Still they could find nothing, and all the time the constant worry was making my symptoms worse. After those four years, I started to research my symptoms for myself, that is when I came across ‘Panic Disorder’. Finally there was a name for my illness. I took my research info to my GP and Hospital and they agreed that my symptoms where consistant with those of ‘Panic Disorder’ (Wow! what a bunch of doctors – after four years I had to diagnose myself) :( Anyway I was now put on Propronolol, but these made my palpitations worse. I was than put on flouxetine, and this also made my palpitations worse. So I decided ‘No more conventional medication’. So over the following six years I tried Herbal/Homeopathic remedies, cranial osteopathy and EFT (after I read about it on this forum). But so far nothing has worked. :(

Now things have got a lot worse, I am getting panic/anxiety attacks as soon as I go out. This is making everyday life unbearable. So finally I have conceded to go back to conventional medication. I have been prescribed Cipralex by the hospital.

Due to my past experiences with medication I am really concerned about starting on Cipralex.

Could those of you who have or are taking Cipralex please give me some advice as to what I can expect. Also what is the best time to take them etc.

I am now at the end of my tether, [V] I don’t know what to do any more. I feel constantly anxious and exhausted. And get terrible panic and anxiety attacks when I go out.

Sorry for the long read.

And Thank you to Meg and all the others that take the time to keep this forum running.

[rozza]

Hey Tan,

Welcome to the site, I haven't been a member long and already it's helped me feel a bit better about my symptoms. I have had cipralex in the past, I always took it in the morning because I figured if it was supposed to make you better why take it just before you go to bed and perhaps not feel the benefits?! The scientific idea for taking it in the morning is also that may make you more prone to insomnia if taken at night. If that makes sense?! Also you may get side effects for the first couple of weeks but stick with them and they will improve, it's tempting to just come off them when they start by making you feel worse, but persevere!

Have you considered any forms of talking therapy? You could be referred to CBT or a primary care CPN through your GP who will be able to help.

Take care
Roz x

'All I want is to be normally insane' Marlon Brando

[tracyp584]

Hey Tan,

Welcome to the site!

Take care,



tracy x x



Every time you avoid your fears they become stronger,every time you face your fears they become weaker.

[trac67]

Hi Tan,
Welcome to the forum, you will get a lot of good advice here. The feeling of being exhausted all the time is a classic anxiety symptom. Dont let it stop you, work through it, once the anxiety knows that it cant stop you from doing all your normal day to day activities, then it will subside.
Take care
Trac xx

its "just a thought"

[Meg]

Tan

Welcome to the site. Glad its helped you in the past but sorry things have got worse recently.

*Now things have got a lot worse, I am getting panic/anxiety attacks as soon as I go out.* Has this been a slow agoraphobia setting on or has something happened to exacerbate it?

Also what is your lifestyle like these days?
What bits are the worst of the attacks for you ?
Have you tried CBT either self taught or through a therapist ?

I won't post you links just yet as you may have seen most of them already ..lol





Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[kirgray]

Hi Tan

Nice to read your story I understand the worry of conventional medicine I myself havent tried it, I have Beta Blockers in my cupboard-but cant quite bring myself to take them. Hope to see you around

XKX

[seh1980]

Welcome aboard!! :D

"If life were simple, word would have got around"

[MissChampers]

Hi everyone, I came across this site from another message board so I thought i'd check it out and here I am! :D

My names's Michelle i'm 34 yrs old with 2 children and a Partner of 12 yrs. I had my first panic attack when I was 19 and I wondered what the hell was happening to me. I was in a nightclub with a friend and I just had this terrible feeling of dread come over me, my heart was thumping, I was trembling and felt sick and I really thought I was going to die. That was the start of my anxiety but i've got no idea where it came from! I've not had a full blown panic attack for a few years now but I get terribly anxious in certain situations and I avoid open crowded places. I hate being in a room full of people because for some strange reason i'm scared of making a fool of myself and everyone looking at me and I feel like I have to escape. I blush really easily when speaking to certain people and I find myself avoiding going into town incase I bump into someone I know which will start me off blushing. I don't come across as being shy and people think i'm an outgoing happy go lucky person but deep down i'm a nervous wreck. I've got a job, 2 kids a partner and my family near by and i've got a few friends and hobbies so god knows what's up with me. I'm also terrified of dying and this is always on my mind and has been for years. Everytime I get ill or unusual symptoms i'm convinced i'm on my way out. I've never been to the doctors about my anxiety, i'm much too embarrassed and ashamed and i'd probably blush like hell so I avoid it. With me I think it's mind over matter and I keep telling myself to get a grip but it's always there. Nobody knows how I feel, I haven't told my partner or my family because I feel silly and they'll probably think i'm nuts! Anyway that's my story, sorry it's a long post but I feel better already now i've got that off my chest. Thanks for reading.

Michelle

"It doesn't matter who you are, it's what you do that takes you far"

[Tan The Man]

Thank you all for your replies.

Rozza I have had CBT and have seen two Psychotherapists as well as having group therapy. I thought that I was getting a little better after my sessions with the first therapist. But that was short lived...It seems to have just been part of the cycle where I get a little better for a couple of weeks than slip back down.


<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Tan

Welcome to the site. Glad its helped you in the past but sorry things have got worse recently.

*Now things have got a lot worse, I am getting panic/anxiety attacks as soon as I go out.* Has this been a slow agoraphobia setting on or has something happened to exacerbate it?

<div align="right">Originally posted by Meg - 26 September 2005 : 16:10:52</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

The agoraphobia just hit me suddenly out of nowhere. I had taken my brother to the Bank, and because there was no parking available, I sat in the car, parked on a yellow line. I have done this a countless amount of times before. But this time 'BANG' out of nowhere I had the most intense anxiety attack..I couldn't breath, my throath was closing, my chest was getting tighter, I was sweating and my legs had turned to jelly. It was a further 30 minutes before my brother came back. By the time we got home I could barley walk from the car to my front door. Once I got in I just collased onto the sofa and lay there for about an hour before I felt like I had recovered. Than a few days later the same thing happened when I was out shopping.


<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Tan

Also what is your lifestyle like these days?

<div align="right">Originally posted by Meg - 26 September 2005 : 16:10:52</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

My lifestyle?....Absolutley pathetic...I was an athlete, into body building..9 years of martial arts training and a sunday league football player....now all that is gone :(.... a few months back I used to feel so exhausted that I couldnt even climb the stairs in one go to get up to my bedroom...I would have to go half way, sit down to get my breath, than climb the remainder of the steps. Thank god I am past that now. But I am still unable to walk much further a few hundred yards.


<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Tan

What bits are the worst of the attacks for you ?

<div align="right">Originally posted by Meg - 26 September 2005 : 16:10:52</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

The worst parts of the attacks are the tightening of the throat and chest, difficulty breathing, feeling dizzy and about to faint. Also the fact that my muscle, specially my legs turn to jelly, and this makes it hard for me to walk.

I have tried to get back some control and enjoyment in my life, but now I feel absolutely hopless...So now I have no choice but to try this medication.

I'm sorry for sounding so pathetic :D but that is really how I feel.

[Elaine1]

Hi Tan

A big welcome to the site, glad you have now signed up!

I have been prescribed Cipralex 20mg daily by my pyschiatrist. My gp prescribed other medication including fluoxetine, but the pyschiatrist changed it immediately to Cipralex as it treats anxiety and panic attacks.

I have been taking it for 2 weeks now and as yet no horrible side effects. When I was first prescribed the meds, I posted something under medication about when was the best time to take it - replies were very mixed. It might help if you look under medication and find the post.

I decided to take mine in the evening, because my main problem was panic attacks at night and also in case the medication made me sleepy, I would sleep through the worst!

Again, how soon the medication kicks in - posts say different things, my psychiatrist, said it kicks in quicker than most.

I am already feeling a little calmer, but I must add that I have also started CBT!

Hope this helps,

Elaine

[Tan The Man]

Elaine 1

Thank you for your reply..it really helps.

I am sitting here and find it very difficult to actually put the pill into my mouth...feeling anxious.

But reading that you had no side effects is a great comfort to me...

thank you

[Tan The Man]

I have just taken my first pill and immediatly felt anxious.. :D (I know its all in my mind). I can feel my heart pounding.

[Elaine1]

Hi Tan

Just checking a couple of things before I log off and I start tea for the family.

I can remember taking my first tablet - I trembled afterwards and felt anxious!!

Breathe deeply, then go and make a drink to distract yourself!!

Well done - do give them a chance - Good Luck

Take care

Elaine

[Tan The Man]

Thank you Elaine

[Meg]

Tan

We can take all those symptoms one by one and disravel them and help you past them but maybe let the Cipramil do its thing over the next few weeks and you settle on it before starting the hard work.

Maybe start a thoughts and event journal now..





Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[Tan The Man]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Tan

We can take all those symptoms one by one and disravel them and help you past them.....
Meg

<div align="right">Originally posted by Meg - 26 September 2005 : 18:20:59</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

Thank you for your support and encouragement....It means a lot to me.

[dream]

hi tan the man welcome to the site take care denisexx

denise

[Karen]

Hi Tan

Welcome to the forum.

Karen



It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.

[rozza]

Well done with taking your first pill, don't worry (!) about the anxiety around that, it's natural and also expect more to come before you start to feel the meds kicking in. If you do start feelig bad get yourself on here and talk to other people that have felt the same. Don't suffer alone.

What do you think it was about the CBT and other therapy that didn't help? Would you consider trying any of it again?

Take care,
Roz

'All I want is to be normally insane' Marlon Brando

[pinkscrumpy]

Hi Tan

A warm welcome to you

[^]

MANDIE XX

Will I ever escape this?
Will I ever be free?
Wake me up from this nightmare.
Please just give me the key!

[meatybuddy]

hi tan

welcome to the forums

darren

There is light at the end of the tunnel its just fiding it thats the hard part

[Tan The Man]

Hi Denise,Karen, Mandie and Darren.

Rozza I am considering re-trying the EFT, but this time I would like to see a practitioner rather than doing the self-help version.

Let me tell you about last night! I took my first pill (only 5mg) at around 5.30 yesterday evening. I felt a little anxious but after a while I calmed down. Everything was fine after that and I thought to myself 'Hey no side-effects...maybe I'm onto a winner here :D '. Than at around 11.00 I started to feel really sleepy and my head felt wooly, My sinuses felt like they were full of fluid. So I decided I would go to bed early (I usualy go to bed at arouind 2.30 in the morning), so, anyway I went to the bathroom got dressed and got into bed. As soon as I lay down on my back I could feel what I can only describe as some sort of thick fluid (like honey) move through my head from the front to the back, and when I turned over I could feel it moving through my head again. This freaked me out and I got out of bed. As soon as I sat up I felt dizzy...now the panic kicked in. I regained some composure and went downstairs, I sat there with my Parents (who are very supportive). After about one and a half hour the funny feeling in my head died down and I went to bed. I had a very restless night. I woke up this morning, and my head feels heavy, I have that heavy feeling even now (1.30).

I also feel sluggish.

I am now very anxious about taking my second pill today.

Did anyone here also get these kind of sensations? If yes, what did you do about them?

Thanks for listening to my rant. :D

[rozza]

Do you think maybe it was the anxiety around taking the pill rather than the pill itself that made you feel like that? My side effects only started a couple of days later. Don't give up, they should help.

Will you tell me some more about EFT? I've had a look on the internet and it goes on about tapping stuff?! Is that right? I've never heard of it!!

Ta
Roz :)

'All I want is to be normally insane' Marlon Brando

[Tan The Man]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Do you think maybe it was the anxiety around taking the pill rather than the pill itself that made you feel like that? My side effects only started a couple of days later. Don't give up, they should help.

Will you tell me some more about EFT? I've had a look on the internet and it goes on about tapping stuff?! Is that right? I've never heard of it!!

Ta
Roz :)

'All I want is to be normally insane' Marlon Brando

<div align="right">Originally posted by rozza - 27 September 2005 : 13:54:03</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

It is definitly the pill that is maling me feel this way...I have never felt like this with panic or anxiety....right now I feel spaced out.

A manual regarding EFT. is is available free Here

http://www.emofree.com/downloadEFTmanual.htm

[Tan The Man]

Ok..My head has just cleared up (still have a slight headache)...but the thing is that I am now due for my second pill in about an hour. I must say that I am now very nervous about taking it. I don't want to go through another day feeling wierd in the head.

what should I do?
is it normal to feel the side effects straight away?
or is it just me?

PS.. Can I take Paracetomol for my headaches while I am on Cipralex?

Thanx

[Elaine1]

Hi Tan

So sorry you had a bad experience last night - If it's not too late, could you ring your gp to have a chat about your experience last night.

I have taken paracetomol and neurofen with citalopram when I have had a headache.

Hope tonight is better for you.

Take care


Elaine

[Meg]

Tan ,

It is a mood altering medication and there is a large chance that you will experience some sideeffects or settling in symptoms .

These do pass as you settle in onto it . If you have a read down a few pages on the medication page you will find others who have been going through something similar.

Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[Tan The Man]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Hi Tan

So sorry you had a bad experience last night - If it's not too late, could you ring your gp to have a chat about your experience last night.

<div align="right">Originally posted by Elaine1 - 27 September 2005 : 17:59:16</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

I did phone my GP twice and was told by the receptionist that he will call me back when the surgery closes...well, I waited until 6.15 than called back, guess what? The surgery was closed and my GP had gone home without calling me. I was still feeling bad so decided to skip on my second pill until I had spoken to my GP.

This morning my GP phoned and appologised for having not called me yesterday. I described my symptoms to him and he had a go at me for taking the pill so late in the evening on an empty stomach. He said that different people get different side effects and that they would go after a few days. He told me to take the pills in the morning with my breakfast.....

So tomorow morning I will try again, I really hope I don't get the wierd spaced out and funny head feeling. Well, lets see what happens....

[Elaine1]

Hope this finds you feeling a little stronger and that you managed some sleep last night.

Glad you managed to speak to your gp - do try and stick with the medication and as Meg suggested, visit the medication forum and read about citalopram - you will see what others have experienced!

Let us know how it's going.

Take care

Elaine

[Tan The Man]

Hi everyone

I have taken my pill this morning, and about three hours later I can feel the weird head feeling building up...I hope it isn't going to be as bad as the last time.

I did visit the medication forum, but could not find someone wit similar side effects as mine. Most people report that the anxiety gets worse for the first couple of weeks. As for me, my head feesl weird and I feel spaced out.

I also find that half of my face feels a bit wierd..like the muscles are tight...anyone have this before?

[sal]

Hi Mate

Welcome to the site. I was like you and i suffered side affects straight away. I still dont know if it was actual side affects or me just reading too much into what could happen. But once i had swallowed a tablet, i even at times think before it had passed through my throat i went into panic, but at the time it was the tablet and i had no doubts about that at all. Still to this day dont know if it was or not but starting on another tablet i had before and by a much smaller dose i didnt suffer how i had.

Hope it gets a lot better for you soon.

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".

[april tones]

hiya, how do you feel now? have you tried taking a multi vit? or b complex? i have and felt better lately. love april x

apriltones

[Tan The Man]

Hi Sal, Apriltones

I now seem to be adjusting to the medication...I get a slightly tingling feeling on my head and a litle headache, and yes! that well known SSRI side-effect (Ahem) :D is present. But apart from that I seem to be doing ok.

Thank you all for your support.

Tan

[Meg]

Well done Tan ..

stick in there


Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[Elaine1]

Hi Tan

Good to hear - do try and stick with it - Remember everyone is different!

Hope you have a good weekend.


Take Care

Elaine

[mazz]

hi iam marion and suffer the same as you do .god its horrid .iam just starting to develope agrophobia too ,out of the blue . [Sigh...]ive been precribed anti depressants but iam not depressed only depressed by the fact i hate leaving the house now .my panic disorder ive had for yeas on and off but nothing like this ,it all started in june . my boyfriend booked a surprise hol to jamaica.....wow you may say but for me it was {oh god how will i cope going away from home that far}but i could,nt tell him as he,d paid so much for the hol. so off i went to the doc and got given diamezpan ,which helped and i had a great hol even though a little drugged up . anyway on returning i found myself deading even going to the local shops and now i avoid going out all together.. sorry to waffle but ive just foud this site and its great to tell someone else feeling the same

[Tan The Man]

Hi Everyone

I seem to be getting less of the weird head feeling....but today I have terribly tight jaws and neck...it hurts to smile or laugh.

I was wondering, Is this to be expected?

Take care
Tan

[Meg]

Tan, this is probably tension , so use them more , open and stretch your mouth , swing your bottom jaw from side to side.

Try to watch something funny and do some neck exercises

Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[Tan The Man]

Hi Meg

I did as you said, except for watch something funny (Saturday TV is sooo boring :D ), anyway the jaw exercises helped a lot.

Thank you
Tan

[Elaine1]

Hi Tan

Just wanted to say - Keep thinking positive - you are doing really well.


Elaine

[Phill2]

G'day Tan
I started Cipralex 3 weeks ago amidst much apprehension.
After the 1st one I immediately felt spacey but as you've discovered thats only worry.
I've had a couple of bad days but I've certainly got my motivation back.
Stick with it as ut takes 2-6 weeks to kick in
Phill

Don't believe everything you think

[Tan The Man]

Hi everyone.

I had a really good day yesterday. No side-effects at all. But this morning I have had a horrible time. My sister in law asked me if I could drop her off to college. I said I could, as it is very local and I don't have a problem driving locally. But this time it was different, everytime I came to a traffic light or the car had to stop I immediately went into a panic. I couldn't breath and my abdomen and legs felt like they where burning. I struggled to get her to college and come back home. It knocked the stuffing out of me. I am now very apprehensive about driving even locally. I really hope the meds kick in and I can get my life back on track. I feel so useless.

All of this started because of something that happened this morning.

[nomorepanic]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">I have just taken my first pill and immediatly felt anxious.. :D (I know its all in my mind). I can feel my heart pounding.

<div align="right">Originally posted by Tan The Man - 26 September 2005 : 17:33:03</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

Hi Tan

Welcome aboard the forum!

I can relate to what you said here as I just took the first of some anti-biotics I am on and started feeling funny! So I can really sympathise with you.


<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">I am now very apprehensive about driving even locally </td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

This is how our fears develop I am afraid. We panic in one situation and then start to avoid it. So, if you can please try the same drive again asap to prove that you can do it and not let those negative thoughts take over. Good luck.

Lovely to see you on here anyway.

Nicola

"Nearly all happiness comes into our lives through doors we don't even remember leaving open"

[Tan The Man]

Hi Nicola

I took your advice and went out driving. I had my brother with me and went further than yesterday....and I didn't have a single panic attack :D

Take care
Tan

[Meg]

Brilliant Tan. Well done.

On bad day doesn't mean another will follow.

Keep doing driving daily if you can.

Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[bones]

Hi
I have just registered after exploring the site. I too suffer from Anxiety, mainly social phoebios. I have had it since pubity and it runs in my family. My brother is so bad he hardly ever goes out the house and has been unemployed for many years. I am making the effort to carry on but it is difficult.
I have been prescribed Anafranil for the last 4 years but decided to come off them and was put on Cipralex, a new drug GPs seem to be pushing. I have been on this now for over 3 weeks i have not noticed much difference my anxiety is still there so i am off to the Docs tonite for hopefully an increase in dozage. Of course Doctors make me very anxious the worst is in the waiting room where i constantly feel sick and sometimes have to rush to the loo. But i want to get better so i will persavere. Has any one else found Cipralex any good

andy

[Tan The Man]

Hi Bones

Welcome to the forum, you will find a lot of good advice and friendly people here.

Yeah I know axactly what you mean by feeling sick in the waitimg room.

There are many people on this forum that say that Cipralex is one of the best meds they have had. Three weeks is not long enough to notice a difference...some people say that it usually kicks in after about 6 weeks, and some notice effects after 3 months. so you may have to give it more time.

Take Care
Tan