120 replies to this topic

[pobes15]

I hear that IUN. Today was rough but got better around 3pm. The anxiety comes and goes but I seem to get it the most mid-morning when trying to handle the brain fog. Felt better for my workout today, more than I did pretty much any day last week which was nice.

 

FH - I came across a post from you a few years back and you recommended this for Omega 3: https://www.amazon.c...xtension mega.

 

Do I have that right and would you still recommend it?

[pobes15]

Ha I'm dumb by the way...just realized the fish oil I bought is 1000mg...it's 300mg of of omega-3 fatty acids. It says 500mg of epa/dha in 2 capsules (2000mg), but does not separate the 2. Looks like the link above is higher in epa

[fishinghat]

Yes, I still recommend that product. It is a good concentration of the right things. I hope it does well for you.

[invalidusername]

"Ha I'm dumb by the way..."

 

Absolutely not Pobes. Look where you have made it to. The right place to get better - and that's a clever move

 

Best of luck and let us know how you get on with them - even if I can't take them

[pobes15]

Had a mostly good day yesterday. Went to see a counselor to get some tips on how to deal with all of this. Didn't have much for withdrawal symptoms but was super helpful about dealing with anxiety in general and potentially anxiety that is stemming from withdrawal. 

 

Felt really good this morning but as the day has gone on my brain fog has crept in and gotten worse. Feel very out-of-it. Does anyone else feel that the brain fog come and goes in waves? Tough time concentrating today but trying to push through the best that I can until I get home and can relax.

[invalidusername]

Pobes. You can't do anything about withdrawal-fed anxiety. I don't like to break it to you, but it is your head re-wiring making you think like this. It is tough to tell the difference. Therapy will be great where used appropriately, but at the moment it is like telling you not to think of a pink elephant.... and following you around with a picture of one right in front of your face. You can turn away, but it is still there. I know it is tough, but it will pass and you will have more control over it.

 

Have you read any of Claire Weekes' books? I cannot recommend them highly enough. There has been a number of successful books written about anxiety, and they have all re-written (or stolen) her methods.

[pobes15]

I have not but I'll be sure to look into it.

 

I know counseling won't magically rid me of these horrible withdrawal symptoms and the anxiety I get from it - even though I wish anything would lol. But it did help to get some tips on how I manage to react to the way I'm feeling. And hopefully what I learn from this can benefit me when I am finally done with these symptoms.

[invalidusername]

Absolutely.

 

Just don't get disheartened if some of the tips don't work right away. Your head has to unlearn a lot of habits.

 

The Chimp Paradox is another good book for theory and practise. Even though it is aimed at getting your mindset right, be confident, successful etc, I was shocked at how much could be put to good use for anxiety sufferers.

[pobes15]

I'll definitely look into these books - thanks for the tips IUN.

 

Now another night of watching the Red Sox try to stress me out but overall bringing me some joy 

[invalidusername]

Good call Pobes - hope it did just that for you. 

[pobes15]

Feeling a little bit better the last 2 days, even with somewhat poor nights of sleep. Worked a long day yesterday and have a short one day, but overall anxiety is down and the brain fog seems to be better. Today marks 2 weeks on 12.5mg of Zoloft so that could be helping. Still feel a good bit out of it and some brain fog, but not sure if I am just managing how I react to it better or if it is starting to slowly dissipate. Also the new fish oil that FH recommended could certainly be helping - been taking 2000mg with breakfast and another 1000mg with dinner.

 

I was even able to handle a small cup of decaf coffee today. Hoping this improvement keeps up!

[fishinghat]

Well, if it the Zoloft then things should get even better. I am just glad you are doing better.

[invalidusername]

"Today marks 2 weeks on 12.5mg of Zoloft"

 

10-14 days is benchmark for settling period. Sounds about right to me. Keep going...

[juli]

Yay! You are on your way.  The Zoloft is doing its job and you feel back to yourself soon

[pobes15]

Feeling some bad depression today. Brain fog still seems to be down a bit which is nice.

 

Going through some struggles with figuring out if the job I have is what I want to do with my career. I think that is adding to whatever depression I am still getting from withdrawal. Hoping things get better the rest of the day.

[fishinghat]

Typically as brain fog, brain zaps and stomach issues (the early symptoms) start to fade then the emotional swings begin. Aldo starting a new job while going through this sure can make things rougher. Hang in there.

[invalidusername]

I get this just the same. Start to feel physically fine, and then whamo... thoughts take their place.

 

I'd also worry that whilst starting a new job can be exciting, don't forget that excitement is very close (emotionally-speaking) to anxiety. With an imbalance going on in your noggin, you may be risking it a bit. Mull it over to give yourself a bit of direction, but don't concrete anything.

 

The other thing to consider, not that I want to say it, but... getting turned down for a job could have some serious knock-on effects.  

[pobes15]

For sure, IUN. Just trying to decide what I want to do with my career because I don't think I'm too happy in the job I'm currently at - idk though. A lot to think about!

 

FH - That is comforting to hear, at least so I know what is coming. Your expertise in all of this is so helpful.

[invalidusername]

I went through some really nasty jobs back in the day - but I do not regret it because it forced me to become self-employed. 20 years and still going! 

 

As I said, mull over some ideas, just don't go overboard. Thinking begets more thinking. At this time your brain needs the neurological equivalency of a nice hot bubbly bath, trashy TV and a glass of wine

[pobes15]

At this time your brain needs the neurological equivalency of a nice hot bubbly bath, trashy TV and a glass of wine

 

I've been settling for a blanket and a dog, Ginger Ale, and Red Sox baseball  . I gotta say, they are doing their part to help me out in this process lol

[pobes15]

Tuesday was by far the best day I had in awhile. Yesterday was OK, and today I feel very out of it and some brain fog. Wondering if this is just general anxiety or still some withdrawal symptoms. Hoping Tuesday was a step in the right direction and not just an outlier.

[fishinghat]

How much Cymbalta do you still have to wean off of or are you done. Sorry to ask but I don't remember.

[pobes15]

No worries - I am completely off already. Took my last dosage 19 days ago.

[fishinghat]

Thanks

[pobes15]

Could be another mood swing? Felt out-of-it, hard concentrating, some depression stemming from that. Very frustrating when I felt so good 2 days ago. Ugh

[invalidusername]

19 days isn't so far down the line to be writing off these effects. My days usually happen like that. Day 1 is good, day 2 is quite shaky and then day 3 and it hits me. I try my best not to tell myself that the cycle has started again as this just brings me down even quicker/harder.

. 

But being "out of it" and having trouble concentrating is textbook - and exactly what I am feeling as I type. And frustrating... yes. Sometimes feels like just 1 bad day outweighs a week of good days. 

 

I think this is because we know people who don't suffer mental health don't have such a frequency of bad days, and so we are reminded that we are still struggling. 

 

And ugh from me to!!

[pobes15]

I hear ya IUN. Hang in there. It's frustrating but will pay off in the long run.

 

I felt a little better today after taking time to meditate in the middle of my day. I recommend the Headspace App to anyone. Helps calm me and slow things down. Certainly makes those little things that seem like the end of the world more managable.

[pobes15]

Such a terrible day today - feeling incredible anxiety and it is making me depressed. Vomited twice at work this morning already. When will this end?

 

FishingHat - Could this nausea be from upping my Zoloft from 12.5mg to 25mg this week?

[fishinghat]

It is possible. The stomach issues usually hit about 48 to 72 hours after a change in dose and lasts about 5 or 6 days. Of course that can vary from person to person.

[pobes15]

Hoping that's what it is. I'm so tired of feeling so anxious, depressed, and out of it. Made another appointment with my doctor's office tomorrow to try to figure this out.