[naturalread]

Hey all,

I recently started having problems with anxiety issues. I'm in a long-term relationship with a girl and we've been dating for about 6 months now and are looking to get married in another 6 months. At one point in the relationship, I became so worried and distressed that something would happen that would end up in my girlfriend and I breaking up, that I started to have little panic attacks about it, and it was really debilitating. I couldn't handle it, and as a result, I started to push away from the relationship. I was scared of committing myself to a relationship that I wasn't guaranteed to be in. I eventually went to the doctor and was prescribed 20 mg of Citalopram each night before bed. I started to notice improvement, and for the past 3 weeks, things have been pretty good, with mild anxiety problems here and there. However, lately I've just been feeling an overall indifference to our relationship. I WANT so bad to love her like I did previously, but I'm afraid my anxiety keeps me from feeling that way about her. So I guess my question is: is it my anxiety that makes me feel this way? Or am I just losing interest in her. I consider myself to be extremely lucky and know that I would be so happy marrying her, but I just feel a "bleh" feeling lately, which is so strange because I really do want to love her like I used to. Can anybody explain this for me? I would surely appreciate any kind of help or advice.

it could be the effects of the med kind of causing the feeling of indifference. I would ask your doctor about the potential effects of the medication as many meds of the psychiatric kind can give a kind of blah feeling to the mind. It is also very possible that the anxiety could be causing it as well. But if the only thing that has changed in this scenario is medicated versus unmedicated, i would explore the possibility that the med may be having this affect on your mind.

[striking]

Since your issue with anxiety started before a diagnosis I would start there in your search for answers. Medication can have side effects but again your panic about your relationship needs examination.

[pegasus]

Hello naturalread, welcome to Psych Central.

I do not think that anxiety would stop you loving someone else but depression could. Since depression and anxiety like to hold hands, it would be worth talking to your doctor about this.

[mountain human]

Originally Posted by pegasus

Hello naturalread, welcome to Psych Central.

I do not think that anxiety would stop you loving someone else but depression could. Since depression and anxiety like to hold hands, it would be worth talking to your doctor about this.

Good response, anxiety and depression are indeed 2 sides of the same coin and not always opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Also, the intense feelings of "love' that we feel in the early stages of a relationship tend to level out after awhile, doesn't necessarily mean you're falling "out of love", just the natural progression of a romantic relationship.