Re: Day 16 of re-starting citalopram, anxiety is sky-high
Unfortunately, yes, this kind of anxiety is similar to what I have also experienced, off and on. I gather we can expect these sorts of dips almost any time over the first two months, though they tend to rectify in a few weeks. Seems to me they usually have some catalyst, e.g. a piece of bad news or such, but it's hard for me to sort exactly where they start.
This isn't much of a medical explanation, but I think of this as a battle going on: the body is really fighting against the new substance. In that sense, the very things that the med attempts to address will tend to be more acute in the short term, because the body is wired to preserve the status quo. You have to be faithful that you and the med will win in the longer term.
Let me ask, are you doing other things to help deal with the anxiety? Have you considered requesting beta blockers or some other aids from your doc? It might be a good idea to request a small number of pills for a panic attack, should it happen; simply having them might be enough to make you feel more confident. And have you considered meditation or some other kind of routine exercise? Breathing exercises... anything that focuses you on something positive.
I have been able to channel some of my anxiety towards exercise, which has been helpful. What I do is get on an elliptical machine for a half hour or so a few times per week, which seems to be a good way to dump some nervous energy.
Sorry to read that you're having this setback, but... it's not unusual. As long as it isn't doing real physical harm to you, you should see some improvement soon. Maybe try to think of it as progress toward eventual resolution.
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