Posted by karenR on March 6, 2001, at 17:05:31
In reply to Re: Anxiety and Coping Mechanisms, posted by Greg A. on March 6, 2001, at 15:57:05
Hi Greg,
I remember your response to my last post very well. It really meant a lot ot me to hear from
someone that could *really* understand what I was going through. I'm just sorry you
have to feel as badly as me! I was surprised by the results of the Remeron. In fact, the
day my doc prescribed it, I had just told him BuSpar wasn't working for me, and I
told him I felt like I would *never* feel normal. He assured me the right drug was out
there somewhere. I was so surprised to find out I'd feel better the next day. I still have
trouble with side-effects, weight gain/irritability, but I'm trying to work on those problems
because it's amazing that a measly 7.5 mgs of drug can make me feel so normal.As far as anxiety/depression, which came first is something I never thought about. In fact
i still have a hard time accepting that I have depression. I *am* high strung and totally
accept the anxiety. I did have bouts with depression after certain hard situations in my life,
but I have since gotten through those periods. I did take zoloft for the last two years for
depression. I was feeling so good and so ready to come off the drugs, plus we wanted to try to
have a child, so it made sense to go off. Just a few months later, I had my first experience
with a new form of physical anxiety - my arms were numb! For a whole week, they were numb.
I had a lot of stress at work and I'm sure that was the cause, I ended up taking some Xanax,
which helped with the numbness. A few more months went by, and I couldn't breathe.
That wouldn't go away, went back on the Zoloft, no help, tried it for 2-3 months and ended up
going off, and here I am on Remeron. Anyway, it was my doc that suggested that I get
depressed after the anxiety has worn me down so much that I just give in and shut down.
The weirdest thing about this whole recent anxiety problem (it's been about 6 months)
is that I have nothing that I really have stressing me out. I feel very lucid and not
obsessed with anything (except my breathing!). I really don't understand it. My doc says
that because i have slowed down my life and taken more time for myself, I have "excess energy"
that manifests itself in the form of anxiety. He, too, says if I were diabetic, wouldn't
I take insulin. I still have a really hard time accepting that. Ironically, I work
in the pharmaceutical industry, you'd think I'd be all for drugs, but I'm not.
I thought taking the Zoloft every day was ok, until I went off of it and I was *so* happy
to be drug free. I didn't realize how the side-effects were really affecting me! AUGH!
Anyway, I was hoping to find some stories of people being able to take meds for a while (years
even) and learn how to reprogram their brains that they would eventually go off of the
meds.Thanks so much for your response. Everyone has been so helpful and kind.
Karen
poster:karenR
thread:55703
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55757.html