Posted by niss on May 20, 2001, at 14:22:53
In reply to Re: Anxiety/Depression/Arousal/Satiation, posted by geekUK on May 20, 2001, at 8:49:16
Wow! This sounds like my life story. I can't even begin to tell you.
And, after living like this for so long, after getting a dui, after losing friends,etc..
I was diagnosed with ADD (secondly "comorbidy" with anxiety".
I cannot even begin to explain to you how this diagnosis has changed my life. And, as a side note, when you have too much on your plate, you are paralyzed...I used to leave work ( I was running a company..wrong thing to do -to run a company) and be so overwhelmed that I would go the arts and crafts store and stay there for hours - basically acomplishing nothing...and making my anxiety worse.Now, when I was diagnosed with ADD I was 29. I'm now 31. During the past 1 1/2 years things have been better. I was given Dexedrine and noticed a significant different immediately. However, my doctor did not diagnose me with the anxiety portion. Which has been the most recent discovery. Next week I will start taking Buspar. I also take paxil and have for about 6 years which helps quite a bit too. It is just a fine science to get everything right.
All I can say is be brutally honest with your doctor. Even if you feel ashamed or whatever. This will help out so much. Even though the dexedrine helped me, I still was so very anxious. Probably because of the previous couple of years...it just stayed with me...guilt, etc...
And I continued to drink and it increased. Finally, I read a book called Healing ADD. I phoned a doctor listed in the back of the book...shared everything with him...all the drinking all of my evils and he is going to help me and did not judge me...what a relief.Good luck to you!!
Anissa
> > Could anyone share if they have any experience in what I'm trying to explain?
> >
> > First, I've been on Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Serzone, and most recently have been prescribed Serax for anxiety. I've always been more of a risk taker, leader, and general go-getter, but 5 years ago I started feeling overwhelmed to the point where I couldn't decide what to have for breakfast in the morning. I slept at least half the time, and had trouble stringing two "good" days together.
> >
> > I am realizing a pattern, finally, that I think has been ignored, and possibly mis-diagnosed as a depression only problem. Going back through my journals, and looking more closely at my feelings now, there is always this sense of fear, anxiety, and a general almost pyhsical sense of being uptight. I don't actually think these feelings to myself, it os more of a feeling. I seem to handle the anxiety with excessive food and alchohol (I've had periods of using either one or both to binge.) The excess seems to numb me, which I guess is why I do it.
> >
> > I seem to cycle through periods of being depressed (giving up) and back up to taking charge and feeling good about things, but then I get overwhelmed and I once again kind of "give up." The past few years these moods have been as often as every other day, to, lately, just alternating between the "overwhelmed and giving up" state. Whenever I get a good, motivated streak going (I don't feel manic - just positive and energetic) it can just end suddenly, and, despite how "normal" I felt the day before. However, increasingly I can't get the good motivated feeling - it is more of a anxious whirlwind of thoughts in my mind of things (fun, and tasks) that I could do, which quickly overwhelm me and I just give up. To explain more, when I give up, I stay in bed, and just can not get motivated to do a single thing. Often I wake up, and as soon I as become concious I'm aware that my heart is beating hard, and my mind is whirling with things to do before I get out of bed. Lately I can't get up, I fell so overwhelmed. This week I have started screening my calls even from friends and families - and not returing them - from experience I know this isn't a good sign.
> >
> > I suppose the questions are:
> >
> > 1) can anyone share similar experiences?
> >
> > 2) I still don't know how I can be so anxious and keyed up and so depressed and wanting to be sedated all in a matter of 42 or 36 hours. anyone know?
> >
> > 3) I'm on 500 mgs of Serzone now, have been on 600 and felt a lot more well-being, but was sleeping too much. Was recently given Serax for my first actual panic attack, and have found that it greatly helped me (at first) with the binge eating/drinking. Anyone know of any drug combos with Serzone that could help with the anxiety, without sedation?
> >
> > Finally, I am reading a book called Natural Prozac by Dr. Joel Robertson. I am a big believer in trying everything you can in living with this, and not looking for just one answer - I think it's a combo. Anyhow, Robertson talks about Arousal based depression, and Satiation based depression, and diet and exercise programs for each type. (I can't figure out what type I am)
> >
> > Has anyone read this book?
> >
> > Thanks for reading my long post - any and all comments/experiences I'd love to hear.
>
> yeah,
> sounds a bit like me. feeling a sense of panic and wanting to *cry* everytime the phone rings. Definitly with the high low yoyo. Feeling everything will be ok and great and then feeling as if breathing is the only activity I will ever do well at- and feeling pissed of at that!!
> Well my therapist thinks its a kind of an avoidant strategy - Setting up a perfect life/plan to cover for the appaling place I am then being extra pissed off when it all falls down. Not sure if I beleive her, but hey its a thought. As for meds the lousy NHS has only thrown me SRI's to no success. depression is my real bugbear-less than the anxiety.
> Hope I havent just discribed the water and this is some use.
> M
poster:niss
thread:63580
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63712.html