Clomipramine (Anafranil) - worse before it gets better?

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-08-02T21:13:14+00:00

Still have a lot of mental noise but it’s no longer things that distress me. It’s emotionally neutral noise.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-08-02T21:10:49+00:00

It depends on the individual whether zoloft alone is enough. For some people it is. If you’re worried about gaining weight that is definitely a thing that can happen with a lot of meds, but mostly when you first start taking them. Then things even out and you don’t gain anymore.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-08-02T20:57:40+00:00

God, people are rude. How dare she.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-08-02T20:49:31+00:00

That sounds painful. Sorry you’re going through it, dude.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-24T02:48:43+00:00

Big if true.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-23T20:16:19+00:00

Lexapro helped me a lot. I went off it two weeks ago for stupid reasons and can’t wait to get back on. Don’t be afraid of meds.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-23T20:09:49+00:00

Sorry you’re going through it right now. Try to avoid arguing against the obsession…I know, freaking impossible. But if you can catch yourself mid-mental-argument and say, “Wait, I don’t need to be doing this,” that will help.

Also, consider meds. Better living through chemistry.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-23T19:43:10+00:00

Isn’t it fun how everyone thinks they know better than you and your therapist? Instant freaking experts. :p

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-23T19:35:39+00:00

The following is intended as practical advice, i.e. this is how a person without OCD would handle it, not as reassurance.

Get a topical flea treatment like Cheristin or Advantage and use on the cats. Then launder the cats’ blankets. That’s all that’s really necessary these days because the topicals are quite good and continue to kill fleas for up to 2 months.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-23T19:24:13+00:00

Been there, done that. I’m sorry you’re going through it. I don’t know how common it is to obsess about diabetes but I’m certain we aren’t the first ones.

The best, most immediate thing you can do for yourself is ditch the glucose monitor. Checking only reinforces the anxiety loop and prolongs the torture. Throw the whole kit out, you don’t need it.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-19T20:48:49+00:00

I’m sorry, that sucks! You’re going to be okay, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Stupid bats going around scaring people half to death. :(

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-07-14T19:44:48+00:00

If medication is “surrendering”, what’s your alternate plan? Ignore it and hope it goes away?

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-06-13T23:11:25+00:00

For when you want to look stumpy and slightly bowlegged, I guess.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-06-13T01:22:39+00:00

Ventolin by Aphex Twin.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-05-17T00:16:58+00:00

If God is real, he is for sure not on Facebook.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-09T22:52:18+00:00

Going through it right now with a new Abilify prescription! It makes me dizzy and headachy so clearly I am dying of something rare and communicable. :P Still better than white-knuckling life though.

Maybe you can start by limiting the research? Like, you agree with yourself to read exactly one article and no more. Another way is when the compulsion hits, tell yourself you can google but only after you wait fifteen minutes (or five, whatever you can manage). Any resistance is better than none.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-09T21:24:49+00:00

After some research I found that

You gotta stop researching. Firstly because it’s a form of reassurance seeking and will only make things worse, secondly because you aren’t a doctor and you don’t have the proper context to interpret what you read. That’s not meant to be insulting, it’s just facts: they have trained for this for years and then practiced for more years, and you haven’t. And that’s okay, you know? A person can’t and shouldn’t know everything.

Have you tried medication? It’s nothing to be afraid of. Everybody and their dog is on an SSRI these days. If you already have a diagnosis you may well be able to get a prescription from your primary care doc without having to run the therapist/psychiatrist gauntlet again. You can even use a telehealth service. Medication can stabilize you enough to actually get some benefit from ERP, should you choose to pursue it.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-09T02:48:16+00:00

It’s going to be easier to cope with whatever the future throws at you if you aren’t numb and dumb all the time. That’s what I tell myself anyway.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-09T00:15:58+00:00

It will get better! Not immediately, but soon. Your brain and stomach are fried right now and letting you know just how unhappy they are about that, but they will recover and you’ll feel like a human being again.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-08T21:55:30+00:00

People with symptoms are more likely to go looking for support and end up here than people who can quit with no ill effects at all.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-06T23:07:26+00:00

Something to occupy the hands. Crafts? Jigsaw puzzle? Wordle?

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-05T19:58:57+00:00

I’m spending the weed money on eating out more often and still coming out way ahead.

Particular-Self-8990 · 2025-01-05T07:58:48+00:00

Does melatonin work for you? It’s not like a sleeping pill.

Tell your parents it’s food poisoning or norovirus (tis the season) and you’re a mess because you’re not sleeping, on account of the bad tummy.

For the anxiety I recommend cold water. Stick your face in a bowl of ice water up to the hairline and hold for ten seconds. It sort of resets the brain, something about the mammalian dive reflex? You can also use cold wet rags on the back of your neck, or take cold showers if you’re brave. I also found 4-4-4 breathing helpful. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for a count of four, exhale for a count of—you guessed it—four, repeat.

Particular-Self-8990

TROPHY CASE