**The Mental Health Thread**

Just tried to go out for a walk and got hit with a full blown panic attack. Haven’t had one as severe as that since December last year. I’m wondering if it’s the going cold turkey off Mirtazapine and straight into the Peroxitine and my body/brain can’t handle it. I’ve felt off since Friday and the least said about my guts the better!! :rolleyes::eek:

Oddly i got stabbing pain in the neck as I was walking and I thought to myself “wonder if that will trigger palpitations” then BAM, heart was going 160, sweating, world spinning, couldn’t breathe, chest pain. I had to sit on the ground and get someone to come pick me up. Feel dreadful right now, completely exhausted and can’t get warm. :(
 
robfosters said:
I feel so low at the moment. My heart transplant is indefinitely delayed because of the coronavirus, I’m feeling worse physically, can barely eat, I’ve slipped back into drinking heavily and I feel such a burden on my family that it’s probably best I just go to sleep and not wake up.


I’ve never felt this bad before. It’s like a constant blackness and I can’t see anyway out of it
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Sorry to hear that :( I highly doubt you are being a burden to your family. Have you spoken to them about how you're feeling?


I know it's easy to say but try to just focus on positive things. Are there any hobbies you can do, to keep you busy? I've just recently started a paint by numbers canvas and it's actually a really good way to distract my mind. I just stick some music on in the background and before I know it, hours have passed by. Something was getting me down/bothering me the other day and it really helped me to forget a little.


McBain said:
My GP gave me a new Antidepressant to start today (Paroxetine). Refused to give me anything short term to help with what seems to be crippling anxiety, last night was the first time i've tried to sleep 'naturally' in 4 months (Mirtazapine was definitely having a sedatory effect) and it wasn't good, I was up so many times with sweating, palpitations, difficulty breathing etc. It wasn't good at all. I wonder what state people need to be in to get GPs to prescribe Benzos because to me it feels like you'd have to tackle it out of their dead hand.


It's no susprise that lots of people self medicate and buy Valium/Xanax/Whatever from Eastern European countries because they can't get the help they need legitimately in this country.
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That sucks McBain :/ Has the doctor suggested any natural remedies to help with your anxiety? i.e. Rescue Remedy? or could the anxiety be a side effect of the antidepressants perhaps?


Have you tried the app Headspace or something similar? I admit I haven't used it that much because whenever I try to at night time, I end up nodding off! :o I did struggle with sleep for a long time and getting into a better routine helped.


I have struggled with anxiety really badly in the past but luckily it's a lot better now and I've learned how to calm myself down (I basically tell myself I'm ok, stop being silly, everything is fine, count to 10, deep breath in and then out) It doesn't always work though (and I know it's not 'silly')


There was this method I saw online a while ago where you tap your forehead, chest and arms I think, in a certain pattern and it's meant to help calm you down.


With everything going on at the moment I was getting to the point where even going to the drive thru farm shop was making me nervous. I then did a click and collect from Sainsburys and my whole body was shaking. I realised then that I'm just going to get worse and could end up making myself agoraphobic.

I had to post some birthday cards off on Tuesday (luckily I have a post box just 5 mins walk from mine) and I then forced myself to carry on towards the park rather than heading back home. I was nervous because I've never been to the park before and didn't know what to expect. I almost chickened out but pushed myself and I'm so glad I did. I've now found a good route to wander around which gives me a decent half hour walk (longer if I learn to walk at a more casual pace lol.)


I haven't been going every day because of wanting to get chores etc done but the first trip out has definitely made me feel so much better :)

Keeping busy has certainly been a big help.
 
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secretspy said:
That sucks McBain :/ Has the doctor suggested any natural remedies to help with your anxiety? i.e. Rescue Remedy? or could the anxiety be a side effect of the antidepressants perhaps?


Have you tried the app Headspace or something similar? I admit I haven't used it that much because whenever I try to at night time, I end up nodding off! :o I did struggle with sleep for a long time and getting into a better routine helped.


I have struggled with anxiety really badly in the past but luckily it's a lot better now and I've learned how to calm myself down (I basically tell myself I'm ok, stop being silly, everything is fine, count to 10, deep breathe in and then out) It doesn't always work though (and I know it's not 'silly')


There was this method I saw online a while ago where you tap your forehead, chest and arms I think, in a certain pattern and it's meant to help calm you down.


With everything going on at the moment I was getting to the point where even going to the drive thru farm shop was making me nervous. I then did a click and collect from Sainsburys and my whole body was shaking. I realised then that I'm just going to get worse and could end up making myself agoraphobic.

I had to post some birthday cards off on Tuesday (luckily I have a post box just 5 mins walk from mine) and I then forced myself to carry on towards the park rather than heading back home. I was nervous because I've never been to the park before and didn't know what to expect. I almost chickened out but pushed myself and I'm so glad I did. I've now found a good route to wander around which gives me a decent half hour walk (longer if I learn to walk at a more casual pace lol.)


I haven't been going every day because of wanting to get chores etc done but the first trip out has definitely made me feel so much better :)

Keeping busy has certainly been a big help.
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The doctor didn't even acknowledge I may suffer any sort of withdrawal symptoms, just gave me a different AD and off your pop. I have tried CBD oil in the past which did nothing to ease any anxiety.

Haven't tried Headspace but I will, thanks.

I had to go A and E yesterday, the heart palpitations just wouldn't stop and I felt like I was close to passing out constantly. Getting up I would feel dizzy and the chest pain was through the roof. Called 111 and they were only ever going to say one thing with chest pain: A and E. ECG was a little abnormal but still within 'acceptable parameters', blood work all clear, they couldn't give me anything of any substance to go off as to why this is happening. Again, they didn't seem to want to acknowledge it could be the medication at play, or the withdrawal from Mirtazapine. Are Doctors in cahoots with the drug companies or something? :o
 
McBain said:
The doctor didn't even acknowledge I may suffer any sort of withdrawal symptoms, just gave me a different AD and off your pop. I have tried CBD oil in the past which did nothing to ease any anxiety.

Haven't tried Headspace but I will, thanks.

I had to go A and E yesterday, the heart palpitations just wouldn't stop and I felt like I was close to passing out constantly. Getting up I would feel dizzy and the chest pain was through the roof. Called 111 and they were only ever going to say one thing with chest pain: A and E. ECG was a little abnormal but still within 'acceptable parameters', blood work all clear, they couldn't give me anything of any substance to go off as to why this is happening. Again, they didn't seem to want to acknowledge it could be the medication at play, or the withdrawal from Mirtazapine. Are Doctors in cahoots with the drug companies or something? :o
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Sadly I do find with some doctors that they just want to push tablets on to you and send you on your way. When I went years ago I refused tablets as I didn't want to become dependent on them (plus the antibiotics I'd had in the past for stuff completely messed my body up so I wasn't keen on adding more stuff to the mix)

The doctor wasn't impressed but referred me for counselling and it did help. Obviously I didn't have any tablets for anxiety so it was a bit of a long battle to learn how to control it more.

I did actually go to the doctors back in Oct/Nov time as I was experiencing heart palpitations that were seemingly out of nowhere (I.e. i wasn't consciously thinking of something before they started) just getting things off my chest to the doctor helped but I had a blood test and ECG just to be on the safe side. Everything came back clear but the doctor signed me off for just over a week.

She did offer me tablets to control my heart rate but i refused, i dont like the idea of them so she went through other options with me. I got lucky as she's a really caring GP, unlike some of the others I've had in the past.

Are you able to change the doctor that you see at all? Failing that I've heard that there is an app where you can speak to a GP, it doesn't have to be the one you're registered to. You could maybe try asking on there RE side effects/withdrawal symptoms. Or do you still have the box that they came in? Usually there is a leaflet that details it all.

Is there anything in particular that's worrying you? Anything perhaps you can get help with?
 
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secretspy said:
Sadly I do find with some doctors that they just want to push tablets on to you and send you on your way. When I went years ago I refused tablets as I didn't want to become dependent on them (plus the antibiotics I'd had in the passed for stuff completely messed my body up so I wasn't keen on adding more stuff to the mix)

The doctor wasn't impressed but referred me for counselling and it did help. Obviously I didn't have any tablets for anxiety so it was a bit of a long battle to learn how to control it more.

I did actually go to the doctors back in Oct/Nov time as I was experiencing heart palpitations that were seemingly out of nowhere (I.e. i wasn't consciously thinking of something before they started) just getting things off my chest to the doctor helped but I had a blood test and ECG just to be on the safe side. Everything came back clear but the doctor signed me off for just over a week.

She did offer me tablets to control my heart rate but i refused, i dont like the idea of them so she went through other options with me. I got lucky as she's a really caring GP, unlike some of the others I've had in the past.

Are you able to change the doctor that you see at all? Failing that I've heard that there is an app where you can speak to a GP, it doesn't have to be the one you're registered to. You could maybe try asking on there RE side effects/withdrawal symptoms. Or do you still have the box that they came in? Usually there is a leaflet that details it all.

Is there anything in particular that's worrying you? Anything perhaps you can get help with?
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I've already changed GP practice because the last one gave me Propranolol for these palpitations back in November. What the doctor failed to realise is I have Bradycardia (45 resting heart rate and he knew this as I had an ECG in his practice the week earlier) and by taking a Beta blocker it slowed the rate down so much I literally couldn't breathe even when trying to force it (IE not an anxiety feeling, this was genuinely couldn't breathe). That was a night in hospital hooked up to a vitals machine :(

I spoke to my doctor this morning as per A and E guidance and he wants me to go back on the Mirtazapine :/ So that's two anti depressants at once, not sure what I think about that. He obviously realised I'm in a bad way right now as he actually gave me some Diazepam. Hallelujah.

I'm definitely in a super edgy state right now, anxiety is running rampant with worries around my health for sure and it's uncontrollable, at least through methods I've been taught in CBT thus far. One of the main ones is around breathing and I'm yet to master it, trying to breathe deeply brings on anxious feelings for some reason and tends to cause a panic attack. My brain is mush.
 
Got diagnosed with bordeline personality recently. Dr says DBT is used to treat it however NHS don't offer this where I live
 
Best to go private then my friend. That's what I had to do hut for a different condition. It sucks but its going to be much better for your health.
 
Most GP's are totally ignorant of withdrawal symptoms of Anti-depressants even with the adjustment to NICE guidelines. I have one GP telling me there is no withdrawal and the next saying they won't prescribe it anymore due to the problems withdrawing. I suffered for many years and still do with legacy problems of the anti depressant I took. I spent 7 years getting off the damn thing I took for 2 years to help. Everyone is different and they have their place but withdrawal does seem to affect some very badly. It only happened to me after a couple of times quickly withdrawing (Doctors instructions..) and developed kindling.

I can easily manage my original problems of stress and worrying with techniques but the withdrawal was a totally different beast. Didn't take it for depression or extreme anxiety it gifted to me when getting off it. I wish I had been suggested therapy instead of pills back then.

Never again.
 
Withdrawl is 100% real, stopping Mirtazapine cold turkey gave me horrendous stomach and anxiety problems.

Saw a Psych this week who says im suffering from "severe anxiety and panic disorder", his recommendation is that I be given some Pregabalin, im waiting for my GP to get his recommendation so I can get hold of some. Anyone else been on it?
 
McBain said:
Withdrawl is 100% real, stopping Mirtazapine cold turkey gave me horrendous stomach and anxiety problems.

Saw a Psych this week who says im suffering from "severe anxiety and panic disorder", his recommendation is that I be given some Pregabalin, im waiting for my GP to get his recommendation so I can get hold of some. Anyone else been on it?
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When I couldn't get off Paroxetine and went nuts with withdrawal they convinced me to take Pregablin and wanted me to cold turkey the antidepressant.

I took 2x150mg a day, it did help a bit and I stabilized the anxiety after a while. I tapered it over 12 months last year to be safe with no problems.

Problems I had on it was damage to my teeth either from dry mouth or the rumours of nerve problems from it. I got worse fatigue and brain fog which is much better off it. Others problem I got while on it but could have been the antidepressant was tinnitus and bladder issues.

Overall it was easier to get on and off than the antidepressant for me. I'm off everything now after tapering and the conditions they tried to diagnose me with have gone. I think protracted withdrawal is mistaken as a mental disorder coming back or arising.
 
TheMeekon said:
When I couldn't get off Paroxetine and went nuts with withdrawal they convinced me to take Pregablin and wanted me to cold turkey the antidepressant.

I took 2x150mg a day, it did help a bit and I stabilized the anxiety after a while. I tapered it over 12 months last year to be safe with no problems.

Problems I had on it was damage to my teeth either from dry mouth or the rumours of nerve problems from it. I got worse fatigue and brain fog which is much better off it. Others problem I got while on it but could have been the antidepressant was tinnitus and bladder issues.

Overall it was easier to get on and off than the antidepressant for me. I'm off everything now after tapering and the conditions they tried to diagnose me with have gone. I think protracted withdrawal is mistaken as a mental disorder coming back or arising.
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Christ that doesn't sound good, im also on Paroxetine :(

Psych even told me that the current meds im on are on the harsher side of the scale as far as experiencing withdrawl are concerned. I know I need to stabilise right now but im already dreading the protracted withdrawal it's going to take to be completely free of medication.
 
McBain said:
Christ that doesn't sound good, im also on Paroxetine :(

Psych even told me that the current meds im on are on the harsher side of the scale as far as experiencing withdrawl are concerned. I know I need to stabilise right now but im already dreading the protracted withdrawal it's going to take to be completely free of medication.
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Don't worry, everyone is different and with a very slow taper you can get off nicely. Paroxetine is notorious for withdrawal with fast tapers.

When you come to the time to do that Google for support forums and they can guide you off with a taper programme.
 
Not posted on these forums for a long, long time, but stumbled across this thread and thought I would get something off my chest. Not really looking for advice, as I feel there isn't any to give. Anyway I'm going to start with a brief version of events. My father died last July from cancer at the age of 59, and this really hit me hard. He was physically strong, lead a healthy lifestyle, and he was my hero. Watching him basically turn into skin and bones gradually for 2 years was deeply upsetting to say the least. I've never lost anybody close to me, let alone someone as important as my father. Anyway in the weeks proceeding the funeral, I became somewhat dissatisfied with life, and the life I lead. I had a solid career, a fiancé (who I was supposed to marry the weekend after my father died, but that's a whole other story) and 2 beautiful children, 4&1. Now during this deep depression I was in, I decided it would be a great idea to leave my fiancé, leave my job, and go and live with my mum. Now you're all thinking wtf? So am I, looking back.

Anyway as the months went on, I found myself a decent job, and I sold my car to rent and furnish a 1 bed flat to start over with a new life. As time went on, I was missing my fiancé, and spending every day with my children. After a few weeks of fighting and grovelling, I managed to get back into the house with my girlfriend and the kids, and life was slowly getting back to normal, thinking my stupid mistake last year had been forgiven and all was well.

Well a few weeks ago, she told me she didn't love me anymore and she didn't want me to come back from my flat (stayed at my flat a few nights a week to take things slowly). She is now planning on dating a guy she 'met' last week on POF, whilst I'm stuck here, alone, feeling the most depressed I have ever felt. I'm furloughed from work, so I'm drinking every single night, because it's the only thing that makes me feel better, and helps me to go to sleep. I guess I'm looking back and deeply regretting the decision I made last year to leave, and why the hell I made that decision in the first place. If I didn't leave, things would still be great, and probably be married by now.

I've tried going on POF myself, but I cannot seem to hold a conversation with anybody, thus my chances of being able to move on are slim (and not being photogenic in the slightest doesn't help)

Sorry if this is a bit slap-dash but I needed to vent somewhere, and for a stranger to tell me it's all going to be ok.

tl;dr - Father died, deep state of depression, made some horrible choices, got back what I lost, felt happy, lost it all again, back into deep depression.
 
@[TW]Sponge

I'm so sorry for your loss :(

I lost my dad Dec 2011 so can relate. I wasn't in a relationship but I also put my life on hold to be there for my mum (I was already living with her but had previous plans to move out)

One thing I learned is that there is no time frame on how long you need to grieve the loss of a loved one. It took me a few years before I realised that I'd lost myself somewhat. I was carrying on as if everything was normal but putting everyone else before me. You need to focus on yourself too.

With regards to your ex, without trying to be rude, you can't say for definite that things would have worked out fine if you hadn't left. No one can predict the future. It also seems pretty out of order that whilst you were begging for forgiveness and trying to rekindle things she went on POF and 'met' someone :/

If she didn't feel the same anymore she should have told you before going on POF. It kind of seems like she was finding a back up guy first.

I would personally say, don't try to get back on the dating scene just yet. Give yourself time and then down the line when you feel ready maybe try a local group on Meet Up. I've heard quite a few people have found their current partners just by going to something they have similar interests in. (Obviously post lockdown)

I would also say stop the booze for a while. I know you feel it's helping right now but long term it won't be. If you dont already, maybe start exercising (I know we are on lockdown but there are a few things you can do at home) and make sure you're getting out in the sunshine to get your vitamin D.

Have you also thought of counselling? I had it whilst my dad was sick and shortly after. I had always said that I didn't think counselling was for me but it actually really helped.

For help with sleep perhaps try the app Headspace. I've heard good things about it.

Hang in there. It will be ok :)
 
Can't say in my 30 years I've ever had anxiety until now.

Constant anxious pit in my stomach and convinced myself I could hear voices from next door all day and night which my partner couldn't hear, provoking noises / shouts. When I said to her did you hear that she never did. Don't hear any voices in my head or outside the house. Spoke to the doctor as worried I was going schizo. Said it's being home all the time during the lockdown and paranoia caused by anxiety so making up noises in my head that are not there.

Dont want to go further into it really but has anyone else had this with there anxiety where they hear things / voices someone else can't hear? Been prescribed sertraline and in 6 weeks will get a call about CBT sessions.
 
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Well, I'm on about day 4 of being sad, unmotivated and fed up of being that way. This is my third spell in about 3 weeks, basically punctuated by weekends.

It's not that work is bad, I'm just finding it hard to feel motivated or be useful, which leads to guilt, and it's really circular. I had a word with my primary colleague who feeds me work, he was very understanding but I don't feel much different for sharing.

Meh. Gigantic meh.
 
Aww that sucks @UnLuckyBenski :( have you been getting out in the sunshine when you can?

Weirdly I've felt fine during lockdown but a part of me does think "is it suddenly going to hit me and I have a panic attack?"

I definitely got in a state just before lockdown where I was reading too much about covid 19 and freaking out. Now I've stepped away from that obsessing I'm much better. I've got organised more with meals, I'm cooking from scratch and trying new recipes (I've been adamant about avoiding a supermarket as much as possible so I've pretty much relied on a farm shop and butcher's only, bar the odd click and collect)

When I got furloughed a few weeks back I decided this was my chance to catch up on my own stuff and put me first. I wrote out a long list and granted I still have quite a few things to tick off but I definitely feel better for sorting the things I did.

This is my last day, back working from home on Monday and my colleague will go on furlough so will be interesting to see how my mood changes then lol.
 
UnLuckyBenski said:
Well, I'm on about day 4 of being sad, unmotivated and fed up of being that way. This is my third spell in about 3 weeks, basically punctuated by weekends.

It's not that work is bad, I'm just finding it hard to feel motivated or be useful, which leads to guilt, and it's really circular. I had a word with my primary colleague who feeds me work, he was very understanding but I don't feel much different for sharing.

Meh. Gigantic meh.
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If it's any consolation, most of my team feel that way at the moment. Work is a constant barrage of painful stuff at the moment and we are acutely aware of a backlog building up.

Just have to break it up with plenty of long walks and doing other things. I am planning on taking a week off just to disconnect from it all. Chill out, play some piano, play some games, get outside etc etc :)

secretspy said:
(I've been adamant about avoiding a supermarket as much as possible so I've pretty much relied on a farm shop and butcher's only, bar the odd click and collect)
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Yeah I still refuse to go to the supermarket simply because so many selfish people still don't follow the guidelines. I luckily found a local greengrocer that delivers, so that with that and being lucky getting slots online, I'm really enjoying cooking again - I find it therapeutic :D
 
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@Narj that's awesome

I've been batch cooking and my gas bill has dropped from £40 to £20 this month! I'm confused as to why so much because previously I was using the oven more which is electric, so not like i was using the hob every day. The only real change is the heating is now off. Though maybe it's also that bulb have dropped the rates slightly too

I don't necessarily find it therapeutic but it's certainly been nice to finally try recipes that turn out well :D and my body has been appreciating it too lol
 
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