HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Hi...I am a New Member

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/2/2008 11:58 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Everyone:

My name is "tigerluv." 

I am 50 years ago and was diagnosed with anxiety/depressive disorder in 1993. 

I have been on several different anti-depressant drugs throughout the past 15 years, including Paxil, Effexor, and Lexipro (briefly).  I am in the process now of weaning off Effexor and starting on Citalopram because I really haven't felt well on Effexor for quite some time.  Another plus about the Citalopram is that it costs $ 4.00 for a month's supply...so as long as it works, it is quite cost effective!

I am still on the Wellbutrin 300 mgs.  The doctor does not want to wean me off two AD's at once.  Time will tell if I can wean off the Wellbutrin...I'm in no hurry since I have been through a couple of withdrawals already...not fun to say the least!

For my anxiety-panic spells, I take Ativan 1 mg as needed.  Usually 1 mg of Ativan and a couple of Melatonin tablets give me a good night's rest.

I was in psychotherapy (using quite a bit of cognitive therapy) from 1993 - 1999.  We moved out of state and it wasn't until 2006 that I began it again.  It is has been a wonderful cornerstone for me!

To complicate matters, I am in the throws of peri-menopause, which in and of itself produces many of my depression-anxiety-panic spells. 

I have good days, not so good days, and some really bad days.  I have "great" days maybe once or twice a month.

Lately, I have been missing my family and friends more than usual.  They all live about 1,000 miles from us. But yet, I am torn between the life I have here (nice) and moving back.  Frequent visits back are tough as well since we have a household of warm, loving animals (cockerspaniel, two kitties, three birds, and a 90 gl salt water living reef tank...my hobby).

So, that's about all for now.  Looking forward to meeting new friends and confidants here.

TL

Posted 7/3/2008 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to healing well!  I'm glad that you found this wonderful site, there are so many supportive people here and it does help to be able to post to others who are or have gone through the same thing.  I'm also dealing with panic/anxiety and peri-menopause, so I really feel for you...as if the anxiety alone isn't bad enough!  I also understand missing your family, the sister I'm closest too is about 800 miles from where I am, and it can be so hard sometimes.  I do hope that you will stick around and keep posting so we can all get to know you better.
Posted 7/3/2008 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hello tigerluv

Welcoeme to HealingWell and the A & P forum.  I am Kitt.  I know you are going to be glad you joined HW as you are going to be meeting some wonderful and caring members who know where your coming from and what your going through.

You will feel like family here in no time.  We all have anxiety in our lives and it sounds to me like you have worked very hard at dealing with your disorder, kudos to you.

It is a delight to have a new member so keep posting and you will find some positive threads in our forum so be sure to visit those.

Again a warm welcome.

Kitt

Posted 7/3/2008 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the warm welcome, Kitt...I look forward to the experience!
Posted 7/3/2008 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Junebug, for the warm welcome...do you have any "words of wisdom" for dealing with those "tough" days during peri-menopause? It's difficult because logically I have learned many coping skills to deal with the anxious feelings, yet emotionally, it is so hard to apply it when the hormones are raging throughout my body. Sigh...
Posted 7/3/2008 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
tigerluv

Hello and a very warm welcome to HW. You will make new friends here, (and confidants) and I look forward to getting to know you better :-) Thanks for that info about your medication, it's always really helpful to know where people are at with meds.  It sounds like the citolopram is far more cost effective for you and I wish you all the best with that one.  Is that a generic name?

I only get raging hormones once a month (but I know how anxiety producing that can be!). It sounds like you have a lovely "cuddly", "feathery" and "swimmy" family. It really is all bout the here and now. My family all live many 1000's of k's away and I miss them terribly, but I have to finish my studies before I can go back "home"...It's where you make it, (or try to).

Again, welcome to HW, I hope you find some great advice and support here. As Kitt mentioned, do check out some of our fun sites. We have many a good laugh here.

Posted 7/3/2008 2:51 PM (GMT 0)

Hi tiger, welcome to HW.

I have been a member for around three months.  I am bipolar, diagnosed in 1994 but no serious depression until I 2000 and then anxiety began in 2007, culminating with my hospitalization in Mar 08 for severe anxiety. I am 52 years old.

I take Lamictal as a mood stabilizer; Celexa as an antidepressant, and Zyprexa to deal with the anxiety.  I recently stopped Depakote.  I gained weight on the Zyprexa and Depakote and I think the D. caused me to lose quite a bit of hair.

You will find alot of validation and caring here.

Georgie Girl

Posted 7/3/2008 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Tigerluv :P

Posted 7/3/2008 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Tigerluv,
I drop in when times are tough and I have to say everyone here are super when you need to vent, ask questions or need a shoulder to cry on or a good laugh. I hope you stay around and join in chat. Depression and anxiety are just a few things I have been give to deal with. In 1985 I was put on a number of different medications. I hope to meet you soon and a big welcome to HW. Take care.....Kipper
Posted 7/4/2008 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome, Tigerluv!

I'm a little envious of your pet family, but not enough to trade my own (2 kitties). Distance from family is both a blessing and a bane in its own way.

I suffered a lot from depression in my younger days, but anxiety has been a real problem in the past 2-3 years. It's mostly health anxiety for me, and thankfully that's been gone since March - for now.

A really good friend of mine had problems with Effexor too. She didn't like how it made her feel. Sounds like you're having a similar experience. I hope the new meds will work well for you.

Welcome, and keep posting!

percycat
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply