Not Sure What it Is..Anxiety, Depression or BOTH!

I am 38, dad died at 39 with massive heart attack and mom has severe diabetes, kidney and some heart problems. As I get Older, these family "issues" weigh heavily on my mind DAILY!  I've not been well lately, some stomach problems right now mostly.  I was diagnosed years ago with MVP, and the PVC's from that is enough to make anyone bonkers!  I have read where many of you have over 1000 a day!  I'd probably be in the funny farm!  My 4 or 5 a day drive me insane!  I have been offered all the depression meds, and should be on one of them.  But I am afraid they will make the PVC's worse.  Can anyone relate to this and tell me if I should give it a try if you have ever been in my shoes?  Thanks guys..I was so relieved to find this site!

Thank you so much for the welcome!  I'm sorry....MVP is Mitral Valve Prolapse.  :)

Hi there and Welcome to HealingWell,

I think this is more of an anxiety issue than a depression issue to be honest. I cant advise you much around specific meds and their effects since im not a doctor but I would talk to your physician or pharmacist if you have any concerns... they are mines of useful information.

It deosnt always follow that, just because your parents had something then you get it as well. As long as you have a good diet, regular exercise and a generally healthy lifestyle there isnt much more you can do, but stressing about problems that are not here yet will cause you to have more problems rather than less so it might be with looking for a psychologist who can help you learn some coping mechanisms.

All the best

Darren

Anxiety and depression are very closely linked as they both fall in the spectrum of mood disorders. Depressive symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, losing interest in things you once enjoyed, feeling lethargic, crying easily, etc... Anxiety symptoms include constant worry, muscle tension, intrusive and obsessive thoughts, agitation and irritability, etc... If both of these things sound like you, or one over the other, it doesn't really matter, as the treatment is essentially the same through medications and some form of talk therapy.

I have MVP and PVCs, and have never had a problem with them with my medications. In fact, the klonopin I take makes them pretty much disappear. Exercise is also a great way to make them lessen or disappear. You should also try to avoid caffeine, OTC drugs with things like pseudephedrine, and any other stimulants (i.e. cigarettes).

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how the meds can calm your mind and body down. I say give it a try!

Hello All.  I believe from reading I fall more into the Anxiety category then.  I still feel tired and all but I do still enjoy things and don't have a problem with crying (YET). lol!  I used to take Toporal (sp?) for the PVC's and it made me so tired. Its been suggested that I take Zoloft, but I don't want the weight gain with that one!  Also someone was telling me that some of the meds do have epinephrin (sp? again!) in them that could also give you the funky stuff as the OTC drugs do and allll the stuff we need to help clear the sinus gunk up, too!  Yea, I can't take any of that stuff!  My heart beats outtttt of my chest! 

I had the heart workup done about two months ago and everything was good.  The stress test, the echo, bloodwork.  I went in b/c of stomach pain, actually it's left sided under my rib cage more on left side...but the doc knows our history and he did the EGD also as well as all the above stuff.   Found h-pylori during the EGD. 

I just can't get the worrying --- "if it's going to happen to me" out of my mind....and EVERY little thing I feel, my mind flys out of control!   Thing is those who know me in our small town, would NEVER for a million years ever guess that I am feeling like this on the inside!  Weird, huh?