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Health anxiety, hypochondria and obsession with symptoms


John

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What is the best way to beat health anxiety??

its taken over my life and I keep telling my therapist that it’s the physical symptoms that effect me the most.

i know that the physical impact the mental and it’s a vicious cycle but how does one deal with the mental when the physical can’t be explained by a doctor???

Fluoxetine 20mg January 2011-October 2017

The straight swap to citalapram 20mg October 2017

lorazepam 1mg October 2017

quatiapan 25mg June 2017 for sleep

straight swap from citalapram to venlafaxine December 5 at 37.5mg then upped to 75mg a week later

Stopped quetiapine may 28 2018 and changed to zopiclone 

Started venlafaxine December 5 at 37.5mg and upped dosage reaching 150mg

Reduced venlafaxine over a one month period and stopped around June 15 2018

also stoped the lorazepam June 15 2018

started 20mg fluoxetine 7th August 2018

witg 1mg lorazepam every morning and at around 1-2pm

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I am not sure if this qualifies as health anxiety, but I get intrusive thoughts about my symptoms usually when they are happening. Sometimes, its just the actual name of the symptom that floats through my head. For example, if I notice I am struggling to stand up my mind will automatically think "difficulty standing" or "what the heck why is this happening to me again" As if I wasn't already aware that I was having this difficulty, my mind has to remind me of this. I am trying not to react to these thoughts at all--it feels at this point in time, my only option is to just let these things run through my mind. This "nonreaction" has been made much easier by being emotionally numb right now. If I were able to feel emotionally connected to my thoughts at this point in time, I think I would not be able to get out of bed at all.

 

I do also struggle with health anxiety a bit--generally, I obsess over where I am right now and how good my life was a year ago, and how the heck I could get so sick over the course of a year. I also struggle to direct my focus away from my suffering into something more productive or distracting, especially when I am in a really bad mood and unable to access my sense of humor, intellect, etc. Today was tough, I was with my mother and cousin and just feeling so ill and unable to socialize, I did not know how to engage and kind of got irked about my inability to engage and inability to access my personality. 

2001-2017-worked my way up from 25mg of zoloft and 2mg of Concerta to 200mg of zoloft and 36mg of Concerta

February 2017-Stopped Concerta cold turkey

September 2017-Added 2mg of Abilify

November 2017-came off Abilify

December 2017-began taper of zoloft 50mg a week while tapering on to Viibryd

January 2018-back on zoloft 200mg

February 2018--tapered off zoloft over a month onto 40mg of prozac

April 2018-CT prozac due to suspected "serotonin syndrome"

 

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On 5/18/2017 at 12:06 PM, Kittygiggles said:

Hi everyone,

 

 

 

 

I was requested kindly by a moderator to reproduce my post on a thread here. I've edited it only slightly as I've had time to reread it. I also want to direct people prone to health anxiety to a useful book, which challenges sufferers to embrace the scary things that really worry them, like death, serious illness, and the uncertainty of health (Overcoming Health Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (Overcoming Books) Paperback – November 26, 2009):- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my largely unedited post: 

 

 

 

 

 

"I am not a clinical psychologist or licensed CBT practitioner. However, I am a sufferer (albeit recovering) of health anxiety. I suspect you have health anxiety and tackling it will make everything easier to deal with. Earlier in your thread you said 

 

 

 

 

 

"I know I think about things obsessively." Health anxiety overlaps with OCD a great deal, it is a form of obsession. Understandably but in common with OCD, you are seeking reassurance that your health is okay. Seeking reassurance feels great when you receive it but it is addictive and actually makes health anxiety worse. It is okay to check important symptoms with a doctor but health anxiety makes it almost impossible to discern what is worth troubling yourself and a doctor with and what isn't. 

 

 

 

 

 

You need to recognize anxiety as something that leads to panic, and whilst both of them feel like they are continuous, they do actually end after a predictable period. When you are anxious or panic, it lasts up to roughly an hour, often 15 to 45 minutes. These numbers aren't that important and are probably not particularly accurate (but they are not wildly inaccurate either), what is important is that once you come down from a panic or anxiety episode, your faulty obsessive thinking kickstarts another episode straight after it. Being in this state repeatedly is exhausting, as I am sure anyone reading this will agree with. Being anxious or panicking is so tiring physiologically but also psychologically, which makes breaking free of it difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

If you break the cycle just once, you will feel better immediately! Learning to recognize when you are anxious and quelling it with breathing and calming exercises, as well as rational cognition, will fix health anxiety permanently. Each time you break the cycle, you get better at it until it becomes second nature. The goal of this is to feel serenity in the face of uncertainty about your frightening symptoms. 

 

 

 

 

 

You also said in your thread:

 

 

 

 

 

"This is more than health anxiety." Don't underestimate health anxiety! As you probably know by now, it can be terrifying, leading to panic and thoughts that you are about to go crazy, lose consciousness, or die. Usually, when you have severe health anxiety, the last thing on your mind is that you have it, instead you're preoccupied with the fear of your symptoms. These symptoms are real to the sufferer but non-sufferers often fail to appreciate that, preferring to dismiss health anxiety as trivial and often using the old moniker of hypochondriasis to describe it.

 

 

 

 

 

You should always see a doctor if you have symptoms that are inexplicable and could be serious. However, next time you go to the doctor with any symptom that worries you try to take notes (yes by writing them down) of how you felt before the appointment, during it, then afterwards. You should notice that your anxiety and/or panic levels fluctuate. This is your first clue that your problem could just be health anxiety and not a symptom that you need to worry about excessively.

 

 

 

 

 

The goal is not to stop you seeing a doctor or researching data from reputable sources about your symptoms, which you should whenever you think it is justified. The first step is to get you to make, wait for, and attend appointments calmly, having eliminated your anxiety: this will give you clarity during your appointments and in some cases, make you realize that an appointment may not be necessary. You can always cancel them if you find a symptom has diminished or isn't as serious as you thought. The same applies to researching symptoms: do so when you are calm and reacting not from anxiety but out of rational curiosity. Eventually, you'll be like most people: making occasional appointments calmly, without anxiety driving any aspect of your decision. You will be able to manage your symptoms and avoid the horrors of a relentless panic spiral. 

 

 

 

 

 

Recovering from health anxiety takes time and work, but the CBT that treats it starts working immediately. I am not 100% yet (I'd say about 90%) but I am so much better. I have avoided so much worry and agony, as well as needless appointments with specialists and doctors, and hundreds of hours of researching symptoms, thanks to health anxiety-focused CBT. Without it, withdrawal would have been impossible to get through.

 

 

 

 

 

SA has a lot of resources to help you identify symptoms that may be caused by withdrawal. Your medication will also tell you of dozens of symptoms you may encounter as you continue taking it. These are commonplace and mostly do not need medical intervention. 

 

 

 

 

 

To those overwhelmed by health anxiety and panic, even to the point of crisis, as I have been, I recommend the abovementioned book, a licensed and reputable CBT practicioner, and/or this crisis website: "No Panic" (https://www.nopanic....k/panic-attack/). Withdrawal sufferers have enough to deal with, we don't need health anxiety making our life harder! 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you all feel better soon and I hope I made some sense  :)"

 

 

 

This is a brilliant post!  This is everything that got me started on lexapro the first place that let me to such dark times with not sleeping.  I feel like I am WAYY better now then I was, because all of my symptoms went away with the medicine or I just didnt care as much and I felt great.  It showed me that all my symptoms were in fact health anxiety and not some funky disease.  Yeah I do have IBS but its way worse once I get anxious and nervous.  When I was on lexapro it went away completely.  I think it shows us that we need to deal with the problems better and accept that sometimes this is the way we are (like anxious or nervous sometimes).  

 

The key is not to google the symptoms and get down a path that we need to solve everything.  So I still feel strong the cure is acceptance.  However, some of that obsessive thoughts has cured many issues in my life, but it also made ALOT more problems.  I went to a doc for heartburn and he gave me omperazole.  The root cause is I didn't have enough acid and not too much, so sometimes it is good to figure out yourself but not obsessive over it.  And if you do have the problem just accepting it and dealing with it a day at a time.  My problem is I wanted everything fixed and I was impatient and I would obsessive over it finding the solution.   You cant just take a pill and a supplement and its all gone.  I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on supplements.  I am truely happy digestive supplements and probiotics and eat healthy.  

February 2017 started Ambien (Whatever the highest dose was) and Ativan 1.5mg

March 2017 started lexapro.  15mg  -Weaned off Ativan after about 2 months on it. 

Weaned off Ambien after 4 months on it every night.  Lexapro starting working and didn't need it.

April 2018 started reduced Lexapro.  15mg-12.5mg.

May 18' 10mg, June 18' 7.5mg, July 18' 5mg, August 18' 4.5mg, Sept 18' 4.0mg, Oct 18' 3.5mg, Nov 18' 3.0mg.

Jan 19' 2.5mg, February 19' 2.0mg, From here I went about .10mg drops at a time and sometimes more every 2 weeks depending on how I feel.  That was from February-August 20th 2019.

I got to .30mg and decided to jump off.  It was so small and decided I needed to face my fears.  I created nueral pathways in my brain that I was fearing withdrawal.

Lexapro 0.0mg 8/20/2019

 

 

 

 

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  • 3 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Some helpful resources:

 

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/SuperScanner.pdf

 

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/healthanxiety.htm

 

Resources:  Centre for Clinical Interventions (PDF modules that you can work through, eg:  Depression, Distress Intolerance, Health Anxiety, Low Self-Esteem, Panic Attacks, Perfectionism, Procrastination, Social Anxiety, Worrying)

 

 

Edited by ChessieCat

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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What can sometimes happen is anxiety about the symptoms can make things worse and add more to our worries - distraction can help with this I think.

I have another physical health condition and it is stressful, have learned to try and let things come and go a bit and observe, rather than worrying too much. As it can need surgery if it gets worse. I think stressing just makes the symptoms (and definitely pain) worse, so it can get into a kind of vicious cycle. To stop this I try and notice this and just do other things, swim, read for example. Practice, with time gets you used to doing this rather than just responding as you used to. It's not easy though sometimes. Have had lots of CBT and mindfulness support to deal with things.

Fluoxetine 20mg a day, (mornings) Amitryptilline 10-50mg (evenings) for last two years (usually lowest dose of the latter) Previously on and off Fluoxetine since 1999. Off completely for pregnancies in 200s with no problems but recently more difficult to withdraw.End 2018 Tapered to 10mg Fluoxetine (am) and 10mg Amitryptilline (evening)Co-codomol 30/500 prescribed (one to two tabs 6 hrly as required for pain)

 

Start Jan 2019 5mg Fluoxetine mornings. Stopped amitryptilline.

6th Feb 2019 Stopped Fluoxetine, 2 X 425mg St Johns Wort daily. 

9th Feb 2019 Reinstated 5mg Prozac, stopped SJW due to headaches and upset tummy.

10th Feb 2019 Started using liquid diluted Prozac and syringe, dividing doses (2 X 2.5ml) = 5mg daily

12th Feb 2019 Stopped prozac after even small doses seem to be causing a bad reaction.

17th Feb 2019 Started taking single dose 425mg SJW mornings 

 

Also taking supplements: Multivitamin, Longvida Curcumin 500mg a day, Magnesium Citrate 500mg/day, Magnesium L-threonate 50mg/day, Omega 3 (with Vit E) 1000mg/day, Vitamin D3 20000IU

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  • 2 months later...
On 3/18/2014 at 10:35 PM, mammaP said:

I think many of us can relate to this. The suffering is real but tests always come back fine.

It would be a  relief knowing there is something that can be fixed, or an explanation to give

people for why we are so ill. It's an awful thing to go through.

 

I found it much easier when I knew that my symptoms were caused by the drugs and withdrawal.

Just knowing that meant that I could be sick in peace on bad days and know that it will eventually

get better. It took a long time to sink in and believe it and I have Alto and this site to thank for 

teaching me.  Acceptance is the key here, once we accept that it is drugs/withdrawal  we can 

learn to ride the bad times knowing they will end.  It isn't easy, especially when there are people

to look after or a job to go to, it's a nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone. except the pharma bosses

and shrinks of course, It would be good if every one of them had a taste of withdrawal ! 

@mammaPThere are two psychiatrists in the U.K who were on ssri’s. One was Peter Gordon who tried to come off Paroxetine and developed psychosis. No history of mental health issues as he took it for headaches. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/truthman30.wordpress.com/2018/08/11/heroes-scottish-psychiatrist-peter-gordon/amp/

The other practises in East London. 

 

1999:  Paroxetine (20mg). Age 16. 2007-2008: Fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1.5 years (age 25) Citalopram 20mg 2002-2005, 2009: Escitalopram (20mg), 2 weeks, (age 26) (adverse  reaction)/*Valium 5mg/Temazepam 10mg 2010: Mirtazipine (Remeron)( do not remember dosage) 2010, 5 months.                     2010-2017: Citalopram (20mg) (age 27 to 34) 2016: i.1st Sept- 31st Oct Citalopram 10mg , ii.1st November 2017-30th November 2017, Citalopram 5mg iii.1st December 2017- 4th February 2018, Citalopram 0mg, iv.5th February 2018- March 2018 Citalopram 5mg (10mg every other day) 28th February- tried titration of 5mg ( some adverse effects)

2018: 1st March 2018- 1st June Citalopram 10 mg (tablet form) /started titration 8mg , then 7 mg.2018: June 15th- 10th July Citalopram 10 mg pill every other day 2018: 10th July - 13th Sept Citalopram- 0mg  (CBD oil first month of 0mg, passiflora on and off) 2018 13th Sept Citalopram  2mg ,  approx 16th Sept 4mg , approx 25th Sept 6mg held.  2019: 11 Feb 19: 7mg (instant bad rxn) 12 Feb 19 6mg held 1 May 19 5.4mg held 5 Oct 19 5.36mg 22 Oct 19 5.29mg 30 Oct 19 5.23mg 4/NOV/19 5.18mg 12 Nov 19 5.08mg 20 Nov 19 4.77mg 7 May 22 2.31mg 17/09/2023 0.8mg

(Herbal/Supplements since 1st September: Omega Fish Oil 1200mg, 663mg of EPA- 2 tablets a day, magnesium and magnesium bath salts)

I did not die, and yet I lost life’s breath
- Dante
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  • 4 weeks later...

it is hard not to obsess about something as intrusive and terrible as tinnitus, especially on a day its screaming.    this came on for me at a time when I was not on a med, however in between them and had other issues going on - dental work, antibiotics, stress, etc.   so I cant say meds did it, but they mess with it for sure.   that and my messed up CNS.  So my question would be, how do not obsess about something physical that is real ?  this crap is terrible. :( especially when you have good days and think that maybe just maybe its gone.  and then its back again next day.  does this mean there is healing going on?

 

maybe its not health anxiety but anxiety of a real health concern that you feel is debilitating? 

 9/2018- lexapro low dose few days.11/3/2018- zoloft 2 days

11/7/18  - 11/15/18 - Prozac 9 days, from 10 mg for week, to 20

11/16  inpatient put on Lexapro for a few days, Cymbalta, 2 days

11/24-12/8 - gabapentin 100 mg 3xs per day - a very fast taper

1/7 - tbuspar for  three days- blurry vision, jerky eye

1/17/19 - 2/15/19- mirtazapine 15 mg - started taper on 1/30 

2/20/19 gabapentin 600 mg. .  12/20-  taper finished

2/20/19 - seroquel 25 mg current - taken  10 pm

2/20/19- luvox (generic) 25 mg.  4/6/19  to 18.75 mg .held  . Started taper again  1/7/21- 15 mg, 2/7/21- 12.5 mg, 3/7/21 -10 mg, 4/1/21- 9 mg, 5/1/21- 8.1 mg, 5/27/21- updose to 10 mg,  6/21-  in patient updose to 50 mg,  6/25/21- reduce to 10 mg (current) .  9/5- split dose 5mg am/5 mg pm.  9/20- 4 mg am/5 mg pm . 

9/1/21-  took one dose of vistril 50 mg.   

9/1/21-accidental double dose of seroquel- 50 mg 

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  • 1 month later...

It’s a chicken or the egg problem. But most often it is due to symptoms but it occurs in a subtle and quick way.

 

the symptoms of mood or agitation and anxiety appear and the mind explains it with thoughts. The feelings preceded the cognition.

 

i have found it seldom I get anxious thoughts or anxiety that occurs before a initial physical symptom in the brain, CNS etc. the mind just puts context to it by either creating a frightening thought or trying to explain the symptom.

 

physiology preceeds psychology. But because we are often unaware of WD symptoms emerging we are only conscious of our thoughts that are triggered by it.

without symptoms there are no frightening thoughts. What is going on in our physiology becomes our mood and our thoughts.

Lexapro

10mg 11/2018 -  4 weeks

20mg 12/2018 - 4 weeks

20mg - 0mg - 01/2019 - 02/2019  - taper 6 weeks - WD symptoms

10mg - 03/2019 - 6 week reinstate

03-04/2019 taper 10,7.5,5,2.5,0mg as instructed by dr.

0mg - 04-06/2019 - WD symptoms again.

accute symptom cleared follow by protracted symptoms still ongoing

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  • 6 months later...

Hi

 

Sorry to put this here, but posts seem to be quickly overwhelmed in main intro section.  I just wanted to if my thinking equates to ruminating and making my situation worse?

 

You’ll know my CT symptoms and v obvious decline. I’ve been finding it convenient to different between physical and mental symptoms when seeing Doc and making notes etc etc. I also then split into sub sections (ie mental into depression and anhedonia, physical into pain, tremors and insomnia) 

 

I’m worried this approach is more likely to cause me to obsess?

 

Thanks 

 

 

Cymbalta 2007

Lyrica 2010

Venlafaxine 2010-2018

Amitriptyline October 2018-2019. (25, 50, 75, 100, 75, 50, 25)

CT 10 Sept 2019

Reinstate amitriptyline 5 mg 29 Oct 2019

Reinstate amitriptyline 2.5mg 19 Nov 2019

CT 24  Nov 2019

Vitamin D 16 Dec and Promethazine 25mg 16 Dec (one month only)

 

 

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What I mean is..is there any point in trying to understand and differentiate between anxiety and depressive symptoms, physical and mental etc?

 

Thanks

 

Cymbalta 2007

Lyrica 2010

Venlafaxine 2010-2018

Amitriptyline October 2018-2019. (25, 50, 75, 100, 75, 50, 25)

CT 10 Sept 2019

Reinstate amitriptyline 5 mg 29 Oct 2019

Reinstate amitriptyline 2.5mg 19 Nov 2019

CT 24  Nov 2019

Vitamin D 16 Dec and Promethazine 25mg 16 Dec (one month only)

 

 

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  • 3 months later...

so my anxiety and fear about  having this is a neuroemotion? thats interesting. I have been obsessing over it and fearful...it seems so real. I had health anxiety before but nothing like this. Its constant right now and sometimes I wonder if I am going to die from a symptom and need to be reassured that all of this will pass. I am in the beginning stages of the adverse reaction. Would mindfulness help this? distraction? My CBT therapist is having me limit time on here and start rewiring my thinking. so intresting...is it worse in the beginning? this feels so real. 

LZie, Zoloft 25 mg, 3/31/20-4/6/20

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  • Mentor

Hi @Lzieb I would say personally for me, that has been in much anxiety and fear many times in my life, that yes you have to start learning new coping skills and rewiring you’re thoughts. For me personally I have found practicing mindfulness and acceptance very helpful. 
As soon as I go with the “bad” thought, that can sure lead me into anxiety. So learning how NOT to follow that thought, takes practice. We are all capable of it, that’s the great part in all this. And no you will not die from symptoms, but distractions from them sure has helped me. 
Just be open and optimistic about this process, and time and patience will get you were you want to be.

My best wishes to you🙏

 


1999-2020  20 mg Paxil

Bridged with Fluoxetine to help me get off Paxil.

2022 Fluoxetine 15 mg 12/12 14mg 27/12  13mg jan 12mg feb 11mg mars 10mg, 9 mg 8,5 mg 7.6mg 7.0 mg 6,3 mg 5,6 mg 5,0 mg 4,5 mg 4,0 mg 3.6mg 3,2 mg 2,9 mg 2,6 mg 2,3 mg 2,0 mg

 


I am not a medical professional nor is this a medical advice. I only talk from my own experience.

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Health anxiety, hypochondria and obsession with symptoms
  • 3 months later...

I just wanted to thank you all for what you've written here. I am strugeling A LOT with health anxiety. I think I am going to die sooner than later. I trully believe it inside me.

 

Anyway, I am trying to change my mind set with CBT, but some days(like today) WD is so strong that is difficult. I will take a look to the book mentioned above.

 

Thanks everyone.

March 2019: 10mg Citalopram

April 2019: 20mg Citalopram

October/November 2019(sorry, I don't remember the exact date): 10mg of Citalopram without tapering, as suggested by my pharmacist. 

March 2020: Started "tapering", taking the 10mg of Citalopram every other day, again, following the recommendations of my pharmacist. 

April 2020: Stopped taking Citalopram.

I haven't reinstall since then. I've tried taking Magnesium a couple of times, but I found out it makes me nervous. I only take Paracetemol when the headache becomes unbearable (2gr every couple of weeks or so). 

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  • 1 month later...

I have health anxiety too for a long time. Maybe I'm not the best person to give advice on this matter because I'm searching answers too. But if a symptom occurs during withdrawall, I wouldn't rush to get tests.

But if something persists from before WD, it might be best to have a check up and then CONSIDER starting taper, dependant on results. 

I discovered certain health disorders that I believed were anxiety symptoms or medication side effects. 

Various AD since 2011, various benzos since 2013
2018-  Escitalopram 20 mg, Alprazolam 0,75-1,5mg
09/20- 01/21  Cymbalta 60 mg, Alprazolam 1,5 mg ,Rapid unsuccesful 3 week taper from 12/20-01/21 (due to physical health issues on doctor's advice)
02/21    Seroxat 20 mg and Bromazepam 3 mg -discontinued Seroxat after two weeks (bad side efffects)
03/21    Reintroduced Escitalopram 10 mg, Bromazepam 3,75 mg. Tapering bromazepam (10%), direct dry taper started 04/21
03.04.21   3,375 mg, 08/21 Bromazepam OFF

25.06.22 Started Escitalopram 10mg taper, 9.5mg (5 % monthly reduction)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

@indario55

 

Sometimes during a taper a person will get sick with something which they did not have before tapering/starting the drug/s.

 

If a person develops a symptom which could be a sickness/disease and it continues for some time, then it is a good idea to go and see a doctor.  If nothing is found then it means that you do not have to worry/stress about it.  But sometimes something will be found and it is better to find out about it and get it treated if needed.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 5 weeks later...
On 3/17/2021 at 1:32 AM, ChessieCat said:

@indario55

 

Sometimes during a taper a person will get sick with something which they did not have before tapering/starting the drug/s.

 

If a person develops a symptom which could be a sickness/disease and it continues for some time, then it is a good idea to go and see a doctor.  If nothing is found then it means that you do not have to worry/stress about it.  But sometimes something will be found and it is better to find out about it and get it treated if needed.

 

Yes, but on the other hand, doctors can drive a person crazy with throwing all kinds of diagnosis in your face. Five doctors, five opinions. And if a person goes through withdrawal and also has somatoform disorder issues you can easily stress yourself, waste a lot of time, money and get misdiagnosed. I am all for doing a check up...But I suggest finding a really really good doctor.

 

Various AD since 2011, various benzos since 2013
2018-  Escitalopram 20 mg, Alprazolam 0,75-1,5mg
09/20- 01/21  Cymbalta 60 mg, Alprazolam 1,5 mg ,Rapid unsuccesful 3 week taper from 12/20-01/21 (due to physical health issues on doctor's advice)
02/21    Seroxat 20 mg and Bromazepam 3 mg -discontinued Seroxat after two weeks (bad side efffects)
03/21    Reintroduced Escitalopram 10 mg, Bromazepam 3,75 mg. Tapering bromazepam (10%), direct dry taper started 04/21
03.04.21   3,375 mg, 08/21 Bromazepam OFF

25.06.22 Started Escitalopram 10mg taper, 9.5mg (5 % monthly reduction)

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  • 5 months later...

Hey guys :(

 

So I struggle with health anxiety (and GAD) and have for many years. It's part of the reason I was started on Effexor in the first place. It comes in phases for me, sometimes I have absolutely no fears for weeks or months on end, then it gets a bit worse again, then better. Its something I always have to fight but I am usually able to keep it under control. 

 

It's been quite bad for me, this past year. I have a lot of weird and sometimes painful body sensations that make me hyperfocus and worry. I have chronic gastritis so I am constantly have stomach troubles and always have to adjust/drop things out of my diet to deal with flair ups etc. In the spring I was diagnosed with vit d and folate deficiency - had bad pins and needles at the time and was having panic attacks almost every day. 

 

Took vit supplements and the pins and needles subsided. My panic attacks improved as well thanks to CBT. But I mean I still struggled a lot with fear and health stuff. The pins and needles feeling returned and I started getting numbness in my face on both sides which always sent me into a full blown panic attack about my health. Also my brain fog was worsening. I went to see my doctor about it and my blood results were normal (vit levels optimal again) so she sent me to a neurologist to rule out a few things.

 

The neuro sent me for an MRI which I had on Thursday and also wants me to get an EEG and a sep test which is next week. Basically, I am beside myself with worry about the results of the brain MRI. I am so so afraid that they will find a tumor or MS or something else really serious. It's all I can think about :( I had to schedule another apt before my MRI to discuss the results of all the tests - that's in 3 weeks. I am terrified of getting bad news. I am also really scared of getting a phone call next week - because I fear that getting earlier news def means its something serious. Everytime my phone went off yesterday I jumped and worried it was radiology or neurology. I have never went through this before so I don't know how standard it is to have 3 weeks pass before test results or what it all means.

 

I have had two family members pass away from terminal cancer in the past 5 years and it was so scary and heartbreaking to witness. Especially because initially their diagnoses were thought to be something totally treatable and unrelated to cancer. I'm only 32 and I just want to get better mentally and emotionally so that I can try to enjoy my life again and not spend every waking moment in fear. 

 

On top of that I keep getting the weirdest symptoms and I have no idea if its related to my anxiety, withdrawal from these terrible, terrible meds or some sinister health problem. Like for instance tonight, I spent the past few hours feeling really shaky, with teeth chattering. I keep breaking out into intense random sweats since I started tapering some months ago. Joint pain, cognitive issues. You name it.

 

     

Effexor: 2012, 75mg (started tapering down Sept 2020, reached 37.5 mg Jan 2020, 12.5 mg July 2020, 0mg end of Aug 2020)

Levothyroxine: 2014 - present

Hormonal birth control 2013 - present

Pantoprazole - on and off for chronic gastritis since 2017

 

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Hello @Saudades,

 

I cant help but answer you, because I relate so much.

 

I havent taken your same AD and I CT, but the health anxiety, GAD before AD's, symptons... 

 

IN July I had an MRI. A little anecdote: before discussing the results with the doctor, I had a call from the clínical center I went to have the MRI. I started crying right away because I thought they had some bad news. At the end, they only had a question about the insurance. Everything came back fine. 

 

 Try to think positive(easier said than done). When (and if) they tell you something is wrong, you can start worrying and seeing your options in that moment. It makes no sence to worry for something we don't know It is true. 

 

unfortunally, we suffer from so many symptons with WD, that is normal to think something is wrong. At the end of the day, our brain(and entire system, I would say) is trying to heal and coming back to normal, and that takes times and a proccess of trial and error.

 

I wish you luck with the MRI results. 

 

 

March 2019: 10mg Citalopram

April 2019: 20mg Citalopram

October/November 2019(sorry, I don't remember the exact date): 10mg of Citalopram without tapering, as suggested by my pharmacist. 

March 2020: Started "tapering", taking the 10mg of Citalopram every other day, again, following the recommendations of my pharmacist. 

April 2020: Stopped taking Citalopram.

I haven't reinstall since then. I've tried taking Magnesium a couple of times, but I found out it makes me nervous. I only take Paracetemol when the headache becomes unbearable (2gr every couple of weeks or so). 

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On 9/18/2021 at 9:45 PM, almuPA said:

Hello @Saudades,

 

I cant help but answer you, because I relate so much.

 

I havent taken your same AD and I CT, but the health anxiety, GAD before AD's, symptons... 

 

IN July I had an MRI. A little anecdote: before discussing the results with the doctor, I had a call from the clínical center I went to have the MRI. I started crying right away because I thought they had some bad news. At the end, they only had a question about the insurance. Everything came back fine. 

 

 Try to think positive(easier said than done). When (and if) they tell you something is wrong, you can start worrying and seeing your options in that moment. It makes no sence to worry for something we don't know It is true. 

 

unfortunally, we suffer from so many symptons with WD, that is normal to think something is wrong. At the end of the day, our brain(and entire system, I would say) is trying to heal and coming back to normal, and that takes times and a proccess of trial and error.

 

I wish you luck with the MRI results. 

 

 

Thank you so much for your kind reply. I am still waiting on results and have still been feeling really stressed about it, but trying to fight that feeling by keeping myself busy

Effexor: 2012, 75mg (started tapering down Sept 2020, reached 37.5 mg Jan 2020, 12.5 mg July 2020, 0mg end of Aug 2020)

Levothyroxine: 2014 - present

Hormonal birth control 2013 - present

Pantoprazole - on and off for chronic gastritis since 2017

 

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  • 7 months later...

i struggle so much with obsessing about pssd. i want so badly to not be this way, to be able to accept that i just don’t know when or if i will recover… but then i get anxious about it and spend a whole day reading all over the internet. i need help. my therapist just tells me to stop, not how to stop. 

-lexapro 10mg daily from 2012 to 2021 (halfed dose in 4/2021, went all the way off 6/21)

-various benzos 2014-2019... valium 2019-10/2021~20mg, inconsistent but daily dosing
10/9-17.5mg 10/23-15m 11/29 - 12.5 12/24 - 12 12/31 - 11.5 
2/27/22 - 11 3/31 - 10.5 4/14 - 10 5/3 - 9.5 5/15 - 9 6/6 - 8.5

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  • 2 months later...

WD anxiety, a.k.a. neuro-anxiety, is different from normal anxiety. 

 

We mustn't let ourselves be discouraged if our usual non-drug coping techniques and run-of-the-mill CBT-style tactics don't make a dent. 

Sometimes the best strategies for WD anxiety are distract, acknowledge-accept-float (AAF), distract some more. 

 

It's very important not to beat ourselves up for "failing" to get a handle on WD anxiety, because it may not be manageable in the same way that garden-variety anxiety is. This is not to say we shouldn't practice coping skills, just that they may not be effective in the ways we're used to. We mustn't spiral into self-blame and other neuro-self-recrimination as a result. 

 

Let us be gentle with ourselves <3

 

SunnyRainyDays has written a brilliant description of the experience of WD anxiety, sharing their post here: 

 

19 hours ago, SunnyRainyDays said:

@Ariel

Normally reassuring and challenging the thoughts with solid proof and facts makes my anxiety go away, but not this one - withdrawal anxiety won’t go away no matter what I do - I just have to sit with it.

 

The neuro-anxiety puts me 24/7 in a flight-or-fight mode. My anxious brain now interprets every single thought and action as “danger”.

I daydream for one minute:

You must have maladaptive daydreaming.

My mind wanders for a few seconds while doing a hour long task:

You must have ADHD

I want to play a video game that has a few drops of blood:

Don’t play it, it will make you violent

I scratch my skin because it itches:

You might go ill and scratch your skin bloody to excess

And so on and on. There aren’t even the “what if you have …” questions that anxiety normally does, but it’s straight out “You (must) have …”

Today I was afraid to leave my house for no reason. The fears come and go as they wish, one day I’ll have them and on another I don’t.

The combination with other neuro emotions that appear from time to time like random hostility out of nowhere make it worse.

 

Weird though that it is afraid of every mental problem but anxiety disorders - if it would be then it would practically eliminate itself by avoiding worrying. But it’d rather be scared of daydreaming, logically. Why is it scared most of daydreaming??? Probably because it’s so common and human that it’s unavoidable, and anxiety hates unavoidable things…

 

I tried reassuring, showing proof that the thought is impossible and stupid, but no matter what I do it won’t even decrease a bit. (I researched the topics my mind is afraid of and it didn’t help - it’s like talking to a moron. It holds to its belief no matter what. I compared the “mental disorders” to myself and even though I fit none my anxiety still insists I probably have it. I even took the official test for Maladaptive daydreaming which you need a score of 40+ points to even be considered a MDer, my score was 17,5, not even the half of it, but my anxious mind doesn’t care and won’t shut up. Each time my mind wanders off my anxiety flares up. Same with every topic. Can’t concentrate once in a while? Danger, very, very bad.) Everything that I do is accompanied by extreme judgement from my anxious mind.

Pity my anxious brain doesn’t notice that most of the problems come from the anxiety itself.

 

All I can do for now is to ignore or distract myself and let it pass along with the withdrawal. Mostly it makes me avoid and not do the things that flare it up, this time facing fears is useless as it leaves me in even more distress.

Yup, withdrawal anxiety is something completely else than normal anxiety and now I know that.

 

1996-2018 - misc. polypharmacy, incl. SSRIs, SNRIs, neuroleptics, lithium, benzos, stimulants, antihistamines, etc. (approx. 30+ drugs)

2012-2018 - 10mg lexapro/escitalopram (20mg?)    Jan. 2018 - 10mg -> 5mg, then from 5mg -> 2.5mg, then 0mg  -->  July 2018 - 0mg

2017(?)-2020 - vyvanse/lisdexamfetamine 60-70mg    2020-2021 - 70mg down to 0mg  -->  July 2021 - 0mg

March-April 2021 - vortioxetine 5-10mg (approx. 7 weeks total; CT)  -->  April 28th, 2021 - 0mg

supplements: magnesium powder (dissolved in water) as needed throughout the day; 1 tsp fish oil w/ morning meal; 2mg melatonin 

August 1, 2022 - 1 mg melatonin

 

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.  - Karle Wilson Baker

love and justice are not two. without inner change, there can be no outer change; without collective change, no change matters.  - Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Holding multiple truths. Knowing that everyone has their own accurate view of the way things are.  - text on homemade banner at Afiya house

 

I am not a medical professional; this is not medical advice. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/20/2020 at 9:20 PM, mstimc said:

Hi All

A lot of members post about dreadful physical symptoms and many are convinced these symptoms are permanent and/or unrelated to withdrawal. First, let me state there are few things worse than physical pain on top of anxiety and other WD symptoms.  They are real.  But maybe my recent experience will help put things in perspective.

 

One of the ways my OCD manifests itself is health anxiety.  Its something I deal with and try to manage daily.  A few months ago, I started getting pains on my right side.  No other symptoms (no digestive or urinary issues, normal blood tests, not fatigue or weight loss).   My doctor diagnosed an old abdominal muscle pull exacerbated by poor posture and sitting around during the lockdown.   I also have normal spinal issues associated with age that contributed to the posture issues.  I did some physical therapy but it didn't help much.  I also saw a Chinese Medicine doctor who did some massage and acupuncture.  I felt a bit better but the pain persisted.  My old OCD thinking patterns kicked in and I started looking for diseases to fit my symptoms.  I thought I had everything from kidney or liver cancer to chronic abdominal wall pain syndrome.    At times, I couldn't lie in bed on my right side. 

 

Today, I finally got an ultrasound exam and it turns out I re-injured a rib I cracked about 10 years ago in karate class.  I and the radiologist think the aggressive Chinese massage is the culprit.  When I expressed relief at finally knowing the source of the pain, the doctor said that's half the battle, and the pain should subside just from that.  Other than that, there's not much to do but let it heal over time.

 

Within a few hours of the ultrasound, my pain has decreased tremendously.   I know I'll heal sooner or later (and no more Chinese massage)!  My point is that pain isn't "all in our heads"--it can be and is very real.  But obsessing about it makes it much worse.  It can also freeze you in a pattern of expecting the worst and being afraid to find out what it really is. Most important,  anxiety and WD will try to convince you that you'll never get better or you're on death's door.  Its just not true.  You can recover if you do some reality checking and take common sense steps to take care of yourself.  Work on healing instead of proving to yourself you'll never get better.

 

1996-2018 - misc. polypharmacy, incl. SSRIs, SNRIs, neuroleptics, lithium, benzos, stimulants, antihistamines, etc. (approx. 30+ drugs)

2012-2018 - 10mg lexapro/escitalopram (20mg?)    Jan. 2018 - 10mg -> 5mg, then from 5mg -> 2.5mg, then 0mg  -->  July 2018 - 0mg

2017(?)-2020 - vyvanse/lisdexamfetamine 60-70mg    2020-2021 - 70mg down to 0mg  -->  July 2021 - 0mg

March-April 2021 - vortioxetine 5-10mg (approx. 7 weeks total; CT)  -->  April 28th, 2021 - 0mg

supplements: magnesium powder (dissolved in water) as needed throughout the day; 1 tsp fish oil w/ morning meal; 2mg melatonin 

August 1, 2022 - 1 mg melatonin

 

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.  - Karle Wilson Baker

love and justice are not two. without inner change, there can be no outer change; without collective change, no change matters.  - Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Holding multiple truths. Knowing that everyone has their own accurate view of the way things are.  - text on homemade banner at Afiya house

 

I am not a medical professional; this is not medical advice. 

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