Hi. Diagnosed anxiety and depression. Suspected OCD

[matthew1977]

Hi all. I was recommended this site on a crisis line.

I have suffered with anxiety and depression since at least 17 if not earlier. I'm now 48. I strongly suspect I have OCD, mostly of the 'Pure' variety, but perhaps also compulsions of an addictive quality.

I was originally (in my 20s) put on Citalopram and then was moved to Escitalopram about 10 years ago. At one point, this was supplemented with Risperidone (for 'over-valued ideas') but it didn't really work in helping and the side effects were awful.

I've been having relationship difficulties for many years. In an otherwise stable relationship, we've had excessively low amounts of intimacy for a very long time. We have two children but I am without my parents and have no siblings so loneliness is a very strong emotion for me.

For just over a year, I was in the process of reducing Escitalopram from 20mg to 15mg to 10mg owing to advice from a prostate doctor, but I think over this time my anxiety, compulsions and addictions have been getting worse. I crashed several weeks ago with the trigger being some relationship issues. Panic, low mood, terrible self-esteem, doom for my marriage, 'wanting not to be trapped', intense loneliness and despair. I'm now on 15mg again but my symptoms are now good at all.

Does anyone have experience of Escitalopram? And can anyone compare with Citalopram? And does anyone with OCD find either helpful, and – if not – what do you find helps?

Other than that, some solidarity and friendship would be nice to find her.

[venusbluejeans]

Hiya matthew1977 and welcome to NMP

Why not take a look at our articles on our home page, they contain a wealth of information and
are a great starting place for your time on the forum.

I hope you find the as site helpful and informative as I have and that you get the help and
support you need here and hope that you meet a few friends along the way

[YoullNeverWalkAlone]

Hi Mathew and welcome...
Sorry no experience of those tablets but have a look in the form there's a whole list of different medications....xx

[matthew1977]

Hi Mathew and welcome...
Sorry no experience of those tablets but have a look in the form there's a whole list of different medications....xx

Thank you, yes I'm just getting the hang of the forum. It reassuring also to see others having similar experiences.

[Sparkle1984]

Hi Matthew, welcome to the forums. I have only taken citalopram, not escitalopram, but I have in the past found it helpful for intrusive thoughts.

I also have intrusive thoughts, although mine are a bit different as I get intrusive thoughts about ageing and death in general (for both myself and loved ones).

I have been on and off citalopram since 2012. I tried coming off last year, but suffered a relapse when I reduced to 5mg in November 2024. So in December I went back up to 10mg and then back to 20mg at the end of December. Although I feel better now than I did in December (which was awful!) I still have this constant feeling that something isn't right, and my sleep isn't completely back to normal. I'm really hoping that as it's only been 6 weeks since I increased to 20mg, that it still has time to kick in fully. It worked so well the previous times.

[matthew1977]

That's very helpful. I just wonder whether Escitalopram is not quite so good for me as Citalopram at 'dulling' my whirring head. Sorry to hear about your December! Did you get onto Citalopram via the GP or a psychiatrist, out of interest?

[Sparkle1984]

I got onto citalopram via a GP. I've never been referred to a psychiatrist for my anxiety.