Posted by Lucia Francisca on November 19, 2005, at 15:48:49
In reply to Re: Almost Functional » Lucia Francisca, posted by spierson1253 on November 19, 2005, at 13:44:19
Hi spierson 1253. Honestly, your symptoms sound similar to mine, although of course I'm not a pdoc and maybe I'm just projecting my own experience....I just had an "episode" or experience that sounds similar to what you're experiencing about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't sleep for 2-3 nights, and just feel incredibly anxious. That "boulder" on your chest--I just felt like I had a big knot in my stomach, felt like total worry and anxiety. I'm concerned because, like you, I was only taking an antidepressant (Lexapro), and then Trazodone for sleep. When that combination didn't work for sleep at all, my pdoc said he suspected I had bipolar II all along, and switched me to Seroquel, which is technically an "atypical antipsychotic," but used as a mood stabilizer for bipolar II. I took it an hour before going to sleep, and slept for a good night, 8 hours at least. And I've been feeling very good for the last 2 weeks.
My concern is this: My pdoc said SSRIs can cause rapid cycling in people who are bipolar, which means hypomanic or manic states can be brought on by the SSRI. He said my insomnia periods and anxiety and irritability and agitation were basically hypomanic periods. So, all said and done, I'm optimistic the Seroquel will help me feel better than the SSRI. It's really helping with the insomnia and irritability. Again, I'm no pdoc or therapist, but I wonder if a change of meds might help you? I'm concerned about your not sleeping, because when I'm like that, I know it's horrible, and the anxiety or whatever it is sounds bad too.
Ok, a longish post. But I really hope you feel better. Hopefully taking 2 tablets will help you sleep. I know I always feel better the next day when I've had a decent night's sleep; it helps with the anxiety.
And I'm so sorry about the verbal abuse. That sounds terrible.
Lucia
> To answer both of the previous posts on this thread:
>
> I have acute stress brought on by 18 months of severe verbal abuse by my boss. (I'm an over-achiever, afraid of failure, but always set myself up for it anyway.) I also have depression, which seems to be mildly bi-polar and cyclic.
>
> You know, you're right, since starting the Ambien CS, each night and subsequent day has been worse. I cried for two solid hours in the wee hours of this morning, and I haven't really cried since I started taking Effexor about 4 weeks ago. And the anger and impatience are returning. Hmmmmmmmm -- it may just be lack of sleep. Only got 2 hours the night before, and it took me 10 hours to get about 5 hours of broken sleep last night.
>
> I'm going to try two 5mg tablets tonight. The Rx is for 1-2 tablets, as needed.
>
> I've also been in an almost chronic state of hyperventilation for the past 3 or 4 days. Feels like a Mac loader is sitting on my chest.
>
> I just want to feel good. I want to be happy in a normal way, not so forced I become almost wired in behavior. And does anyone else have a problem drinking coffee since starting Effexor? I've found that one cup starts the chest-crushing feeling.
poster:Lucia Francisca
thread:580345
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051119/msgs/580443.html