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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by et on June 9, 2002, at 19:59:10
Can someone give me their description of "anxiety?" My doctor just added Effexor to my "diet" of Zoloft and Wellbutrin and took me off Wellbutrin. He claims that I am experiencing anxiety, so I'd like to know what your description is so that I may compare.
Posted by sid on June 9, 2002, at 23:08:31
In reply to anxiety, posted by et on June 9, 2002, at 19:59:10
Anxiety is stress that's too high for the actual situation you're in. It's worrying to the point that you can't function properly. It's over-reacting to stimuli and daily stresses. It's irrational apprehension of fearful situations.
Posted by rainbowlight on June 10, 2002, at 0:39:22
In reply to anxiety, posted by et on June 9, 2002, at 19:59:10
For me it is not really a worry about a particular thing, but a generalized fearful type of nervousness that just seems to hang over my head all the time. I feel keyed up and have tons of nervous energy. I just added Effexor to my meds 3 days ago. The doctor warned me it will cause the jitters and might make me anxious, so she gave me a prescription of Ativan to use while needed if it bothers me. So far it's not too bad. I hear it passes after a few weeks. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Posted by et on June 10, 2002, at 12:10:30
In reply to Re: anxiety, posted by rainbowlight on June 10, 2002, at 0:39:22
Thanks rainbow and sid. I have no nervous energy-in fact, I have no energy at all. I am always watching myself-for instance, if i am walking down the hall, I am thinking-"you are walking down the hall". I can't concentrate because my brains keeps interrupting. I can't seem to read one sentence and tell you what I read. When I'm talking to others, I feel as though they are not interested in what I'm saying. I guess that in other words, I am not just living in the moment-I'm standing back and watching myself. I don't get anything done because I feel frozen-therefore, things keep piling up. Does this make any sense and will Effexor help with any of these problems?
Posted by deli on June 12, 2002, at 10:47:12
In reply to Re: anxiety, posted by et on June 10, 2002, at 12:10:30
HI ET
Everything you have described are symptoms of depression/anxiety. Medications along with good nutrition will eventually lift the symptoms little by little. You may not even notice it at first. I have never used effexor but many people in this forum have with good results.
I think the worst thing of this disease is that it zaps us off any self confidence making optismism about one's recovery a distant possibility if not impossible. But it will happen. I was a wreck three weeks ago and thought this time I would never get out of this episode but I am feeling a little better. I can say that each day is a bit better than the previous one with, some set backs of course. Give meds some time unless you get unbearable side effects. Let yourself be sick, don't try to do to much. I have never been able to know which is worst the anxiety or depression. They are both beasts.
You will be ok. Whenever I get very anxious, I get in the bathtub fill it up with very hot water and cry and it eases the anxiety tremendously. Also, I am giving Omega 3 a try but is too soon to tell.You may want to look into some of the posts about it. I read the book the Omega connection and it seems pretty interesting. We will see only time will tell.Deli
Posted by katekite on June 14, 2002, at 8:51:51
In reply to Re: anxiety, posted by et on June 10, 2002, at 12:10:30
What you experience sounds a bit more like derealization than pure anxiety. Derealization/dissociation is sometimes described as feeling the world is 'farther' away than one knows it really is. That you and world are 'dissociated' from one another. Your feet don't quite touch the ground, in a figurative sense (because you are not deluded about reality, just separate from it). Does this sound more like what you experience?
People with regular anxiety often find their heart speeds up and they get slightly sweaty in anxiety provoking situations. For me social interaction with non-family tends to do it -- I have social anxiety: I can't wait to get it over with even though I really like people. I'm so there in the moment that I find it a bit painful, I wish I could detach myself and see things as further away but I can't.
People who dissociate can get anxious about it, can be concerned and worried about it, also concerned or worried about other things that bother them, but also can be completely calm about it if nothing is bothering them at the time.
People who experience dissociation find medication is a very individual thing -- some find anti-anxiety meds help, others find they make it worse, etc. Effexor may well help. Some find that anything that makes them feel 'off', even a cold, can make it much worse, so that any side effects of medications make life a lot harder. If that's the case you keep looking until you find a medication without noticeable side effects.
Non-medication ways to deal with it are plentiful -- chewing on something like a carrot or celery and really focussing on how it feels (crunchy -- crunch really hard) can often help some, vigorous physical exercise which demands all your attention can help you 'live in the moment' more. Lots of concentration on how the environment 'feels', without 'thinking' too much will help. Baths, swimming, things that are immersive experiences often help. Often we are stuck in our heads and can't get out to really experience life first hand. And therapy to figure out if there are better ways to cope (some people start this as an intuitive defense to life events being too stressful to bear, then continue the defense mechanism even after life has gotten better).
Do you find if you drink alcohol to the point of getting drunk that this helps that feeling or makes it less? Or how do benzodiazepines affect it? This might help predict whether anxiety meds or more stimulating meds would be better for you.
kate
Posted by et on June 14, 2002, at 20:56:08
In reply to derealization - et, posted by katekite on June 14, 2002, at 8:51:51
> What you experience sounds a bit more like derealization than pure anxiety. Derealization/dissociation is sometimes described as feeling the world is 'farther' away than one knows it really is. That you and world are 'dissociated' from one another. Your feet don't quite touch the ground, in a figurative sense (because you are not deluded about reality, just separate from it). Does this sound more like what you experience?
>
> People with regular anxiety often find their heart speeds up and they get slightly sweaty in anxiety provoking situations. For me social interaction with non-family tends to do it -- I have social anxiety: I can't wait to get it over with even though I really like people. I'm so there in the moment that I find it a bit painful, I wish I could detach myself and see things as further away but I can't.
>
> People who dissociate can get anxious about it, can be concerned and worried about it, also concerned or worried about other things that bother them, but also can be completely calm about it if nothing is bothering them at the time.
>
> People who experience dissociation find medication is a very individual thing -- some find anti-anxiety meds help, others find they make it worse, etc. Effexor may well help. Some find that anything that makes them feel 'off', even a cold, can make it much worse, so that any side effects of medications make life a lot harder. If that's the case you keep looking until you find a medication without noticeable side effects.
>
> Non-medication ways to deal with it are plentiful -- chewing on something like a carrot or celery and really focussing on how it feels (crunchy -- crunch really hard) can often help some, vigorous physical exercise which demands all your attention can help you 'live in the moment' more. Lots of concentration on how the environment 'feels', without 'thinking' too much will help. Baths, swimming, things that are immersive experiences often help. Often we are stuck in our heads and can't get out to really experience life first hand. And therapy to figure out if there are better ways to cope (some people start this as an intuitive defense to life events being too stressful to bear, then continue the defense mechanism even after life has gotten better).
>
> Do you find if you drink alcohol to the point of getting drunk that this helps that feeling or makes it less? Or how do benzodiazepines affect it? This might help predict whether anxiety meds or more stimulating meds would be better for you.
>
> kate
Thanks for your reply, Kate. I know that I am much better now than I have been in a long, long time. However, I know that I have a long way yet to go. I have a hard time expressing myself because, well, it's sort of like having an extremely dirty house - you just don't know where to start. All that I am going to say for now is that I can't seem to make a decision, can't concentrate at ALL, feel that I am being watched by everyone around me, can't start any project, whether it's painting a room, reading a book, cooking a meal, because I can't finish it. I don't want to do anything but sit at the computer or in front of the t.v. when I'm not working-I can't wait to get home and do nothing. I don't get anything accomplished. I am just tired and have no mental or physical energy. However, I'm not so depressed to the point that I want to die anymore.
As for alcohol, I stopped drinking 1 1/2 years ago because when I started, I wouldn't stop. It was a great escape from real life in addition to providing a way to feel some emotions. I don't know what a benzodiazepine is. I wish that I could express myself more eloquently but believe me, it's about the best that I can wring out of this traffic jam in my head. Thanks again. evelyn
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