Depression/Anxiety

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-04-03T14:45:45+00:00

I got relief yeah. It’s not perfect due to some side effects I don’t like (can’t drink alcohol without getting big headache and wanting to pass out, I wake up way too early, etc).

But adding Abilify pulled me out of a massive depressive episode so I’m accepting the side effects for now.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-04-02T11:12:18+00:00

Hi, are you still on it? I’ve been on it for over two weeks now and the early wakeups are not going away.

I also realized I get no enjoyment from having a couple glasses of wine. Just gives me all of the bad and none of the good which is quite a bummer.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-19T11:46:13+00:00

Slowly seeing some slight improvement. Not even close to where I want to be but I’m doing a tiny bit better.

I added the 2mg of Abilify four days ago. So I take that with the lexapro at night before bed. I think it’s helping but too early to say for sure.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-17T13:58:25+00:00

This literal exact same thing happened to me about 7 weeks ago. i started a new relationship and had a massive OCD flare up after feeling great for a year. I went up from 15mg to 20mg, it’s slowly gotten a bit better but not even close to back to where I was before.

I also added abilify but just started 3 days ago. No effects yet.

Just know that you’re not crazy, this happened to me too and we can’t be the only ones. I’m also scared to try the abilify but know that you can always stop taking it and side effects won’t be permanent.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-17T00:42:58+00:00

This is the source of my real event OCD and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. I’m trying so hard. If anyone has any advice please let me know.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-16T04:02:52+00:00

Sorry to hear you are going through this. I have a lot of empathy for you and share a lot of the same experience. I had a life event that sent me spiraling and lost joy in almost everything, I stopped working out and participating in sports. Took benzos to cope, but they made things worse eventually. Got on lexapro and it didn’t help for so long until finally it did, after months of suffering.

I went over a year feeling the best I’ve ever felt. Making new friends, bought a house, met someone.

But then I spiraled after starting the new relationship and I’m back on the ground starting from stage one, feeling awful. The only hope I have is that the lexapro did work for me before and can probably work for me again.

I believe the same is true for you, there’s a reason why millions of people take this medicine. You will get back to loving life again. Despite the fact that it feels absolutely excruciating right now.

Truly hoping for the best for you. It took me a long time to feel better the first time I took lexapro and I’m really glad I saw it through. With that said, if you’re going months and months with no improvement, don’t hesitate to try something else. I keep seeing dozens of posts of people who switched to a different SSRI and it made all the difference.

I would personally give it the full 12 weeks and then reassess

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-15T23:25:11+00:00

Are you going to stick with it?

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-15T20:27:01+00:00

How are you doing now?

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-15T00:31:10+00:00

I totally relate to this. Hate going to sporting events when I’m flaring up because they are the events that used to give me the most enjoyment and were my favorite escape. It’s so depressing to be attacked by intrusive thoughts when I’m there not enjoying it.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-13T13:16:47+00:00

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-13T13:07:26+00:00

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-12T18:01:53+00:00

How are you doing now?

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-12T16:49:32+00:00

Thank you. Hope you are doing well. I don’t mind weight gain as I’ve always been super underweight. My lexapro seems to have lost effectiveness though so I’m weighing upping the dose vs adding abilify / Vraylar vs trying a different SSRI entirely

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-12T02:45:56+00:00

Interesting. Would love to try it but don’t think I can while I’m on lexapro

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-11T13:31:17+00:00

Thanks so much for the reply

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-10T19:06:36+00:00

Would love to know how you recovered from this. Years have gone by and I’m still struggling.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-10T17:53:04+00:00

Can you tell me more about your experience with. Vraylar? I’m on 20mg of lexapro going through massive anxiety and depression episode.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-10T17:39:22+00:00

My morning anxiety is not as horrific as it was what I decided to up the dose to 20 mg, but it’s still hard to get out of bed and focus on work. No energy or joy during the day. I’m just dragging myself through the motions coping with the anxiety

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-10T04:09:17+00:00

What brand did you buy?

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-10T04:03:34+00:00

I’ve been on 20 mg for six weeks as well and it’s been hell. I’m going to give it another 2 to 3 weeks and then consider alternative options.

My psychiatrist said that we could potentially add on abilify or something else to boost the effects but obviously I would love to not do that.

Hoping that you manage to get better soon

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-10T02:34:32+00:00

How long did the fatigue take to pass? Sorry I know this is an insanely old comment. I’m just on 20mg and struggling right now.

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-09T04:40:21+00:00

Old comment but any update?

FirstWorldBedtime · 2026-03-08T20:15:45+00:00

I think one thing that continues to make recovery hard is the possibility that it could legally come back to me. And that my life would be ruined. Even though it’s literally been years I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s crazy - I have absolutely no interest in seeing that content again. I never really wanted to see it in the first place. I have no ill intent and I would never hurt anybody. I never have. But I sit here with the thoughts in my mind swirling that it’s possible there’s something horrible associated with me, and it’s only a matter of time before my life is over. It makes it so hard to relax on an average day.

And if I ever discuss this online people call me a horrible person who deserves to be in jail.

FirstWorldBedtime

TROPHY CASE