extreme anxiety

[candygirl]

I am currently signed off work with stress and depression, i have been off 2 weeks and have started on zenlafaxine antidepressant.I am going back to the doctors tomorrow as i dont feel any different but i have only been taking the pills for 2 weeks.
What's really worrying me though is i am extremely anxious about the smallest things, eg my daughter has lost her passport and i have been crying about it.I am a worrier usually but this is a lot worse, i can't seem to get things in perspective anymore, and nobody understands me.They all think i'm overreacting to the smallest things.
There are other factors such as i am going through a tricky divorce, i hate my job, and i have been thrown into the menopause at 39 due to a hysterectomy.I don't feel like i can take much more !!:( :( :(

[andyrules]

am sending you a hug, candy, because I think that's what you need first. You are going through really major upheavals at the mo, no wonder everything seems so difficult. I hope you are getting all the best treatment from your GP, not only for the depression but also for the symptoms the hysterectomy will leave you with. Hang in there, one day at a time, be kind to yourself and only take heed of good advice and kindness; if other people can't understand what you are going through then that's their problem. When you are feeling strong enough, you can deal with things, but right now just keep going. I'm sure the mse-s will rush to offer comfort on here.
xx

[elsien]

the feelings/reactions you are describing are normal for someone suffering from stress and depression, even the anxiety. Other people just don't get it if they're not in the same place as you are, so try to ignore their reactions if you can. Easier said than done, I know.
I also found that I was depressed one minute and so anxious I could't think straight the next. Again, it's not an unusual reaction, although I thought I was going mad at the time. Stick with the medication - it can take a few weeks to start to kick in, and your doctor may well suggest an increase in the dosage.

Like the previous post said, take it one day at a time, don't beat yourself up about how you're feeling, it would be amazing if you weren't reacting how you are given everything else that's happening in your life at the moment.

Maybe ask your doctor if he can refer you for counselling? Some GP's surgeries do, and having someone completely non-judgemental to cry at for an hour can help you let off steam, and also gives a bit of breathing space, and the chance when you're ready for a bit more perspective.

Try and do one thing everyday that either makes you feel a bit better, or at least takes your mind off all the ****. Mine was walking the dog - i knew I was getting better when I could manage to get off the settee long enough to do this every day.

Good luck, and stick with it, you will get there in the end, honest.

[cattie]

It's usual for anti-depressants to take 6 weeks before you feel the full effect.

If you haven't started to feel a little benefit in this time then talk to your dr about increasing the dose or trying something else.

As mentioned by elsien, ask your doctor about counselling as it does help to be able to talk to someome in this way. There are however sometimes long waiting lists & a limit on how many sessions they can offer.

You're going through an incredibily stressful time at the moment & it's understandable that your anxiety levels are going to be high. Sadly, unless others have suffered with anxiety they seldom can understand how you feel & tend to think you are over reacting & need to pull your socks up & get a grip.

Don't forget the samaritans are there if you need an ear, you don't actually need to be on the verge of suicide to call them & someone is there day or night. Sometimes it helps just to have someone there at the other end while you cry down the phone.

[SparkyG]

Candy, I know how you feel, and just want to let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel even though it doesn't seem that way at the moment. Venlafaxine is a very good drug (I was on it for nearly a year), but it does sometimes take a while to kick in, and your Dr may want to increase the dose, but it WILL work. If for some reason, it doesn't suit you, there are loads of other similar anti-depressants that your Dr can try, so don't despair, it will happen.

I was just the same, with stomach churning nausea and crying spells over the smallest little upsets, which had my poor husband and teenage sons very puzzled, as before I had been a 'coper', and usually sorted out everyone else's problems. What you've got to remember is that there's some very good reasons for feeling the way you are, and that your body and mind is having a medically well recognised reaction to the stresses that are in your life at the moment. You are not going mad, and you WILL get better with your Dr's help, and hopefully good friends and relations as well. You must not beat yourself up over the way you feel. Be kind to yourself, be patient, and whatever you do don't feel guilty! I remember I did, and felt that all I had to do was 'pull myself together', (could almost hear my deceased mother saying that!!) and I would be alright.

One of the things that helped me when I was so low, was walking. It was very hard at first to get motivated when all you want to do is stop the world and stay in bed with the duvet over your head, but if you can, just go out for a little walk each day. It will help. Try and control your breathing so that you are breathing slowly and deeply, and concentrate on the comforting rhythm of your steps. Don't think that just because you are signed off from work that you can't go out. That was something that gave me an attack of guilt to start with, especially as I live very near my workplace and there was the risk of meeting colleagues. When I felt a bit braver I told them how it was 'therapy', and even ended up occasionally calling in for a cup of tea!

Hope that helps. Sending you lots of support and a big, big hug.

SparkyG

[beachbeth]

I know exactly how you feel as I went through the same thing. I found it so hard to cope and to not cry at the smallest thing. I just went to pieces when the slightest thing went wrong and other people didn't understand. They just want you to pull yourself together and you can't.

Antidepressants saved my life. Whatever you do, don't go back to work whilst you are still feeling like this. Your doctor should sign you off for longer if you need it. Talk to him about your antidepressants and about how long they take to have effect.

As said before, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you will feel better than you do now. Just bear with it, keep taking the tablets and go back to your doctor if things don't improve. Don't worry about bothering the doctor, its what they are there for!

Big hugs. :grouphug:

[mae]

First of all its important for you to know you are not going mad. Depression and anxiety are often linked and both can be overcome. You are on the medication so hopefully that will help but you can also help it from other angles too such as counselling and self help. Self help is very important. When you start to feel the anxious thoughts it is a good idea to try and recognise your thought patterns as they are key in keeping the cycle of anxiety and going and if you can learn to change them you can breakk the cycle. Also relaxing breathing can help too when you feel anxious concentrate on your breath and try and do the 7/11 technique which is basically breath in for the count of 7 and out for the count of 11. It is important that the out breath be longer than the in breath even if you change to a lower count of say 5/9. The breathing relaxes your body and sometimes gives your mind a focus instead of giving the original anxiety more fuel by continuing with the negative thoughts. I hope some of that makes sense its hard to quickly put it in a reply. I have tried to put a link to a very helpful site that can help with this I hope I've done the link right.


http://www.southcambs-pct.nhs.uk/documents/Local_Health_Services/Mental_Health/Mastering_Panic.pdf?preventCache=27%2F05%2F2005+11 %3A50

[candygirl]

Thank you all for your kind words of support.I went back to the doc today and she's signed me off for a further 2 weeks just to see if the antidepressants start to work.But she was really good assuring me that she will be with me every step of the way, and I wont have to go back to work until i am ready myself.I told her about the panicking and woryying over really small things like the passport and she said that's symptomatic of extreme stress and mental burn out.
I still feel guilty for being off work but they are totally unsympathetic to what i am going through and have given me no slack at all, so i have no choice but to stay off completely.
For anybody else on venlafaxine do they calm you down when they start working, cos i think the anxiety is the worst thing of all?:confused: :confused:

[Glad]

sorry but asking for any type of medical advice on MSE is against the rules