Anxiety is bothering me worse than my chronic depression.

BrokenNBeautiful · Jun 20, 2012, 01:18 AM

I think anxiety was actually what caused my depression. It literally paralyzed me sometimes so that I was immobile. Then I felt like a "loser" and powerless and that is depressing to me!

When I took tranquilizers, they seemed to help with my depression more than antidepressants did, when I was taking meds. Calming down and seeing things more clearly and being able to move gave me a lift. Anxiety management, whether with meds or emotion regulation techniques really does help me feel happier! Antidepressants just made me more anxious and drs wondered why they didn't help. lol

Billi

Keep On Keeping On · Jun 20, 2012, 01:42 AM

Hi Rose. I've just joined this forum and have come across your post.

I'm sorry you were/ are feeling that way and if you are on medications that are helping you I'm glad for you.

Yes, have a word with your doctor to tell him that you are feeling more troubled by anxiety now and see what he says.

Sometimes when we feel bad it is is a challenge to just make it through the day - or even though the next hour!

But each time you do that you get stronger and bit by bit you can get to see improvements in yourself.

I hope you are feeling better today. Good luck with everything

SeekingZen · Jun 20, 2012, 02:59 AM

Hi Rose,

I hope you are feeling better today. Your posts sound very familiar to me. I have had anxiety since I was a child, and depression and insomnia came on several years later. Currently I am in a depressed phase, trying desperately to get out of it. The anxiety is always there for me though, 24/7. When the depression is severe, the anxiety is still there but just less intense I guess.

My Pdoc has been wondering why the meds aren't working for me. Pdoc has been pushing me to go back to T, b.c Pdoc says that I need to work out the root of the anxiety. While I agree with Pdoc, it is difficult.

Have you tried T at all? If going to T is not an option right now, you may want to look into some CBT anxiety workbooks on amazon or half.com.

I agree with the swimming suggestion someone else offered. Walking or doing yoga can help take the edge off the anxiety as well. It never takes it away for me, but it helps on days when I get that heart attack panicky feeling if you know what I mean.

Best wishes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose76

Yes, I do know about Benzos. The conventional wisdom is that they worsen depression because they are CNS (central nervous system) depressing. Just about everyone believes that and so did I, theoretically.

Well, not saying I'm going to go hog-wild on Benzos . . . but they help alleviate depression for me. Perhaps, that is because they certainly do reduce anxiety. For some people, and I guess I am one, relieving anxiety also mitigates depression.

The main downside of Benzos, in my experience, is that they increase clumsiness. Or they did in the past when I took them. Like, I'm more prone to spill things.

Oh, and the other even, perhaps, bigger downside of Benzos is that, if you run out of them, or have to stop them suddenly, you can end up with what I call the "Hee-Bee-Jee-Bees" - a withdrawal symptom that is really awful. In the past, it would happen about 10 days after I stopped taking Librium. It would drive me to jump off a cliff, if I didn't know the feeling could be stopped by getting back on them. Tapering off gradually enough prevents this horrible experience.

SeekingZen · Jun 20, 2012, 03:02 AM

Hi MissCath,

I too suffer from severe anxiety (GAD) and depression. Hope we can all be a source of encouragement for each other!

Quote:

Originally Posted by misscath007

I also suffer from periods of severe anxiety and depression. Since I am under employed right now and facing some health issues along with the depression, it has been harder to keep on an even keel. I too find that when the depression is severe, the anxiety takes a back seat. Otherwise it would be completely exhausting.

SeekingZen · Jun 20, 2012, 03:07 AM

Hi Billi,

I feel the same way, my anxiety caused my depression also. Antidepressants have not been working, I feel more depressed now that I increased my dosage and I am exhausted all the time. I feel like a failure telling my Pdoc that yet another antidepressant has failed...

Can you elaborate on specifically what anxiety management has worked for you?

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by billi_leli

I think anxiety was actually what caused my depression. It literally paralyzed me sometimes so that I was immobile. Then I felt like a "loser" and powerless and that is depressing to me!

When I took tranquilizers, they seemed to help with my depression more than antidepressants did, when I was taking meds. Calming down and seeing things more clearly and being able to move gave me a lift. Anxiety management, whether with meds or emotion regulation techniques really does help me feel happier! Antidepressants just made me more anxious and drs wondered why they didn't help. lol

Billi

amity · Jun 20, 2012, 03:34 AM

Rose i have been reading your posts & feel sorry that you are suffering so bad....meds give you support & carry you through the roughest patches...but until your life situation stabilizes according to your satisfaction how can you find peace?Perhaps you need to be more selfish & decide which relationship to keep-don't give till you are empty inside,you also need succor.nurture those relationships which make you calm....yes i know people do not appear welcoming sometimes,but we have to find ways around that situation.
I hope you do not think i am uncaring or heartless,i say what i think will help you...pardon me if i am wrong.Meanwhile have a look at this link http://jeeteraho.blogspot.in/2012/02...ble-twins.html

Rose76 · Jun 20, 2012, 04:36 PM

billi_leli - I found your reply about the relationship you found between depression and anxiety in your life very interesting and very well explained. I think peers understand some things better than doctors do. The "science" has a long way to go. Thanks.

Rose76 · Jun 20, 2012, 04:38 PM

amity - I like your reply and I think you are spot on target.

Rose76 · Jun 20, 2012, 04:40 PM

Zen I think we have similar syndromes, at least in some ways. Thanks for feedback.

Rose76 · Jun 30, 2012, 01:46 AM

I am having a lot of anxiety over pain issues that seem to be getting worse. My walking is limited by serious arthritis in my right foot. Doing housework is limited by that and by chronic tendinitis in my right elbow. Also, I am having bad discomfort/pain related to degenerative change in my upper spine. There is not a whole lot that can be done for any of these problems.

All my life I have lived in dread of having aging lead to issues of pain and weakness. I am not yet 60, but - in my opinion - too many things are going wrong. I feel like I am losing the ability to cope with the changes. I feel just awful tonight.

youractualtherapist · Jul 01, 2012, 06:03 AM

Anxiety is definitely more exhausting than depression. However, anxiety is quite normal (although excessive anxiety can be problematic). I believe anxiety is directly related to our negative thoughts and, although, these thoughts are often catastrophic, they may not be 100% true. It is possible to question the severity of your thoughts and look for alternatives. For example, a thought 'my life is ruined' may not be correct, perhaps 'my life is not ideal, however, I have a few supportive friends' may be more realistic. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques can be beneficial to challenge thoughts.

Glowiebird · Jul 03, 2012, 01:17 AM

Anxiety & depression walk hand in hand . They create a circle & fuel each other. A lot of medicines for anxiety are also anti depressants . I can understand why you would feel caught up in both. I know what it's like to wake up in fear ; I dread sleeping because of it. Hang in there ! I hope you feel better soon.

Rose76 · Jul 03, 2012, 02:42 AM

I have had an easing up of anxiety. I am able to feel okay about going to bed. I am not waking up to feeling dread.

Glowiebird - Thanks for your post and for understanding how tough dealing with this double threat can be. I hope you can have a let up in the morning fear that has you afraid of going to sleep.

amity · Jul 04, 2012, 11:19 AM

Get well soon my dear,it is possible.See you are feeling better than you did on 6/30.

ickydog2006 · Jul 04, 2012, 05:46 PM

I use to think anxiety is what caused my depression, but at first all my doctor and therapist cared about was treating the depression because I was suicidal. After the depression was under control we started working on the anxiety. After years of therapy and meds, my anxiety is relatively under control, and now I realize that the anxiety has had very little affect on the depression.

Rose76 · Jul 05, 2012, 02:51 PM

ickydog2006 - I understand about wanting "to kill the pain inside." I wish people I go to for help could understand it. They don't and they probably can't.

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Anxiety is bothering me worse than my chronic depression.

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