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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
have been off effexor for few weeks as it didnt work for me, but everyday I feel more and more distanced from reality. Was told I had bad anxiety, but i feel totally weird and would like some opinions before I decide to go back to the emergency docs,(ie..I dont want to make a fool out of myself if it is just anxiety)
I cant stand to be around people, I hide in my room, and cant even speak to my mum. Not because they scare me, but because I scare myself with the things that I say and the sound of my own voice.I get scared to look in the mirror as it feel like the person Im looking at isnt actually me. I shake constantly, as if im cold when Im not. I feel like im in space somewhere its totally weird. My mind just wont stop thinking stupid thoughts like someone's after me, and bad things..... I just keep feeling like Im on a bad acid trip, Paranoid, Anxious, Seeing things and Spacey.(stuck in a nightmare) but It feels familiar, like Ive felt like it before(but I havnt) These symptoms get worse at nightfall, I get about an hour of relief when I wake up, before they start again..... Is there any meds that will stop this? I feel like Im fighting with myself so hard to stop me from doing something mad
Posted by mikal on January 13, 2003, at 14:42:37
In reply to anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
> have been off effexor for few weeks as it didnt work for me, but everyday I feel more and more distanced from reality. Was told I had bad anxiety, but i feel totally weird and would like some opinions before I decide to go back to the emergency docs,(ie..I dont want to make a fool out of myself if it is just anxiety)
>
> I cant stand to be around people, I hide in my room, and cant even speak to my mum. Not because they scare me, but because I scare myself with the things that I say and the sound of my own voice.I get scared to look in the mirror as it feel like the person Im looking at isnt actually me. I shake constantly, as if im cold when Im not. I feel like im in space somewhere its totally weird. My mind just wont stop thinking stupid thoughts like someone's after me, and bad things..... I just keep feeling like Im on a bad acid trip, Paranoid, Anxious, Seeing things and Spacey.(stuck in a nightmare) but It feels familiar, like Ive felt like it before(but I havnt) These symptoms get worse at nightfall, I get about an hour of relief when I wake up, before they start again..... Is there any meds that will stop this? I feel like Im fighting with myself so hard to stop me from doing something madHey Daizy,
I don't know what to prescribe as far as meds. I just went on Luxapro a couple a dayz ago. It's my first Panic/Anxiety drug. So it's wait and see.
But as far as my symptoms go, I really do feel your confusion. My real difficulties seem to start just before bedtime. I can be watching TV and it feels as if I'm being pulled inside of my self, as though I'm looking out through a pair of eyes that I'm not exactly sure are mine. I feel very detatched and unable to express much of anything, due probably to the fact I'm just trying to hold it together. I haven't had much in the way of seeing things, but I feel extremely light headed, very cloudy, and of course my heart is pounding in my ears and speeding like a train.
It's very un-nerving. I can only say that I'm trying to get help. Who knows if this drug will help. I just have to remember that I still have good moments. There not all filled with terror.
I'll let you know as well as everyone else how Luxapro helps me.
Thank you.
Posted by jay on January 13, 2003, at 15:35:29
In reply to anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
Hi:
As you can likely tell from the other stories on this message board...you aren't alone. I know it doesn't make it any easier, but there are ways to cope. I can relate completely to the feelings you have from not being on Effexor...and some *may* call it withdrawl.
You likely need to go back and slowly taper off Effexor, and then, try some other treatments. See if you can get a benzodiazepine from your doctor for this period, as they help greatly with the mood swings.
Please keep posting for support...because you will get a lot of it here. Anything else we can help you with..please let us know.
Best wishes...
Jay
Posted by BrittPark on January 13, 2003, at 18:53:48
In reply to anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
I've never taken effexor, so I don't have experience of it or of its discontuation. I think, however, it might be wise to go back on effexor, at the very least, to tell if the feelings you're having are a result of discontinuation.
If going back on Effexor doesn't help then you might consider the following. From your description it sounds like you may be having some pseudo-psychotic symptoms. I say pseudo because you are aware that you are having your paranoid etc. feelings. I'm taking a wild shot in the dark but perhaps you are schizoaffective, and might do well on an atypical AP like Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel, Geodon.
Finally talk to you psychiatrist about what's happening, he/she will have a much better chance of figuring out what's going on than me, an amature psychopharmacologist :).
Keep posting and tell us how it's going.
Feel Better,
Britt
Posted by daizy on January 14, 2003, at 6:50:52
In reply to Re: anxiety does this? » daizy, posted by BrittPark on January 13, 2003, at 18:53:48
I think some of these mixed up feelings are because of the withdrawal. Its weird that in the day I think, im starting to feel normal again, then at night my mind starts racing and I get flashbacks to different times in my life, and memories and stuff. I cant work out therefore if im struggling to get better or just getting worse. I think that is why i have become distanced! I got told by the doc that im just suffering anxiety so its likely that no med will work for me, and to do yoga or something, But that will be hard seeing as I cant even go out of the house! Thanx for the responses!
Posted by BrittPark on January 14, 2003, at 10:13:46
In reply to Re: anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 14, 2003, at 6:50:52
Anxiety can be treated and I'm surprised that your doctor hasn't done so by prescribing a benzo for you. Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a GP? If the latter I strongly suggest that you find a psychiatrist.
Feel better,
Britt
Posted by djmmm on January 14, 2003, at 10:46:19
In reply to anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
It sounds like you may be suffering from Depersonalization...a common discontinuation effect. This should pass.
Posted by coral on January 15, 2003, at 16:12:37
In reply to anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
Dear Daizy,
What was your original diagnosis? Was it the anxiety? The reason I ask is that my first symptom that something was wrong was a massive panic attack and I began suffering panic/anxiety attacks VERY similar to what you described. The meds my original doc prescribed, Xanax and Elavil, were terrible. In any event, four months into the panic/anxiety, I nosedived into a severe depression. Like you, my anxiety worsened in the evening, even to the point of waking me once I was asleep. However, all attempts at conquering the panic/anxiety were futile because, for me, they were warnings of the oncoming depression. After three and a half years of hell (depression w/anxiety/panic), I did recover and have only had one minor relapse in seven years. There's hope....
Coral
Posted by mikal on January 15, 2003, at 16:21:45
In reply to Re: anxiety does this?, posted by coral on January 15, 2003, at 16:12:37
> Dear Daizy,
>
> What was your original diagnosis? Was it the anxiety? The reason I ask is that my first symptom that something was wrong was a massive panic attack and I began suffering panic/anxiety attacks VERY similar to what you described. The meds my original doc prescribed, Xanax and Elavil, were terrible. In any event, four months into the panic/anxiety, I nosedived into a severe depression. Like you, my anxiety worsened in the evening, even to the point of waking me once I was asleep. However, all attempts at conquering the panic/anxiety were futile because, for me, they were warnings of the oncoming depression. After three and a half years of hell (depression w/anxiety/panic), I did recover and have only had one minor relapse in seven years. There's hope....
>
> CoralThat's the scariest part for me... knowing that the panic and anxiety push me further into depression. I'll fight tooth and nail to stay out of that. I used to be a real dumb as* when it came to using drugs for psych disorders; that people who did we're weak minded (though I had no problem for many years doing "illeagal" drugs - idiot.) And now my attitude is "what ever it takes." I didn't realize what it was like to live w/o depression. Depression is awful and panic/anxiety is awful, and there is no shame in fighting it with all available means.
Posted by bookgurl99 on January 16, 2003, at 10:34:37
In reply to anxiety does this?, posted by daizy on January 13, 2003, at 12:54:29
Daizy,
I had really similar experiences going off of a different antidepressant. Feeling weird, feeling like stuff looks weird, all of that. I would say it took about a month for it to pass. I needed a lot of support from friends and my therapist and PB at the time.
You are not going mad. Your brain needs to re-set itself to normal without the meds.
There are 2 ways to see it:
1. You are not used to the normal of anxiety you would normally have as the drug masked it.
2. You are feeling more anxiety than you usually would because your brain chemistry is not where it would normally be.
But none of this means that you are going mad.
I hope you can find the best treatment right now. Your doctor may be wrong. It may be best for you to go on another med rather than ride this out right now.
Posted by daizy on January 16, 2003, at 11:21:32
In reply to Re: anxiety does this? » coral, posted by mikal on January 15, 2003, at 16:21:45
Thanx for the support! Im hoping that the weird symptoms will go away ASAP now that ive started to take amitrptyline. will keep posting
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