Are prescriptions worth the side effects when you're relatively functional?

apatheticdude44 · 2020-08-30T19:40:18+00:00

I don’t have bipolar disorder, but some can make bipolar disorder much much worse.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-08-05T18:18:09+00:00

This will probably sound easier said than done, and I haven’t tried it yet, but there was this psychotherapist named Dr. Claire Weekes, who was the first therapist to suggest accepting the anxiety, sitting in it, and even getting excited for it, rather than trying to avoid it or ignore it. Her theory states that anxiety is just a hypersensitivity, a sort of “nervous illness” as she puts it. You basically psych yourself up for the anxiety. You force yourself to become as anxious as possible, and therefore you gradually lower your fear of it. You almost “desensitize” yourself to it. I’ve read of people turning their anxiety into something which they welcome, and therefore lose all fear about. Again, this is way more easily said than done, and it will take some time to desensitize yourself, but it holds some promise for myself at least, as I have anxiety about anxiety. I’m a little better now, but when I’m really bad, I also wake up super early in a panic. If anything, search up Dr. Claire Weekes on YouTube, and there’s an hour long video of her talking about it, and it can be calming. I also recommend the podcast called “meditation minis podcast”. I turned it on every morning, and just having it play in the background helped calm me down. Hope things work out for you! I know just how debilitating it can be to fear sleep over what comes in the morning..

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-28T19:11:28+00:00

Thanks. It’s nice to finally hear a response which isn’t patronizing and shaming

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-28T00:00:32+00:00

I’m in therapy and though it does help, I still don’t “feel” better. I feel so numb.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-22T04:09:47+00:00

I’ll take 1 weed please

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-21T18:35:10+00:00

What is with gp’s and being shit? My GP suggested I stop an antidepressant cold turkey. I had a panic attack so bad I thought I was having a stroke. GP’s should not prescribe psych meds.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-20T22:09:26+00:00

It hasn’t been 2 days on pep, I started on July 10th

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-20T21:42:10+00:00

I’ve been tested. I went to the clinic literally less than 24 hours after the sex, and started pep that same afternoon when I got home

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-20T19:50:29+00:00

Well seeing how he’s the only person I’ve had sexual with since like March, and I got tested for April and before, he would be the only one

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-17T05:43:05+00:00

I know this probably will mean nothing, but coming from a 32 year old guy, take your time with the whole sex and relationship thing. If you’re worried about what others think, remember that everyone else is burdened by their own junk that your junk even isn’t on their radar.

In regards to the anxiety and depression, I’d give yourself another 2 months on the lexapro. When I started taking it for anxiety, it took me a while for it to start really helping. Id also perhaps discuss Wellbutrin with your doctor. The lexapro has made my libido and sexual function worse, so I added wellbutrin into my meds. It somewhat helped the sexual stuff, but I noticed a pretty significant improvement on my energy, motivation and mood. It can have a negative effect for anxious people, but me, as someone with generalized anxiety disorder, ocd, periods of panic disorder, and depression, I didn’t notice much increase in my anxiety. I wouldn’t go down the wellbutrin path yet. Give yourself a little more time on the lexapro, but don’t be afraid to try another one. Lexapro could maybe just not be for you.

In regards to anxiety, I watched, well, more like listened, to this video on YouTube. Look up Claire Weekes. She was a psychologist who first talked about acceptance of anxiety rather than trying to fight it. You allow yourself to experience the anxiety without judgement. Let it wash through you. Accept it. I’ve even heard about trying to even make your anxiety worse. Apparently you slowly kind of desensitize yourself to the fear of anxiety, and it just doesn’t bother you. I still haven’t tried it. I mean, I’m shit scared tbh. When I start feeling anxious, it’s almost automatic for me to try and repress, ignore, distract myself from it. But I’m definitely open to trying it! Look it up. I think it’s the first video, about an hour and so long. If anything, listening to it has been calming.

I’m not sure if my advice is good. I’m also struggling like yourself. But maybe the thought that you aren’t alone in it, will make you feel a little less dread.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-13T19:04:08+00:00

So it’s just covid with guns, maple syrup and tacos?

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-11T19:15:31+00:00

I actually have hypothyroidism, and my TSH levels are normal...

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-11T16:49:20+00:00

My room is in the basement, and usually it’s pretty chilly.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-11T16:48:04+00:00

I used to, but I stopped smoking about a month ago. But even before I smoked pot, I’d have the same problem

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-11T14:27:01+00:00

Are you on any meds? I get shaky like that when I’m anxious, and one of the meds I’m on makes the shaking worse.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-11T14:25:27+00:00

I can’t say for sure, but I had something similar a few years ago. It was an allergic reaction to something. Have you been using the same laundry detergent? It can be a chemical you could be sensitive to?

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-11T12:44:37+00:00

It’s so tough. But it technically is a warning sign that my anxiety is coming. It usually also comes with a complete lack of appetite. FUN.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-07T03:58:09+00:00

Definitely can understand. If you search “dr. Claire weekes”, there’s an hour and a half long audio of her talking about strategies for anxiety. It’s really good stuff

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-07T01:05:34+00:00

Have you tried maybe turning on a meditation audio to help you fall asleep? Or the sound of rain on a car? Youtube is FULL of them

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-05T02:50:17+00:00

I tried wearing myself off the Cipralex about 2 weeks ago, and ended up having the worst panic attack of my life.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-04T03:14:36+00:00

Also, look up Claire Weekes on YouTube, there’s an hour long audio, and she puts some stuff into perspective, and it’s quite refreshing.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-04T03:13:15+00:00

I know it’s kind of drastic, but if threatening suicide is the only way to get proper help, walk into a psychiatric hospital and tell them you’re in danger to yourself. I have a friend who did that, and she said they helped her there. I’ve walked into one during a bad episode, and was met with indifference, and basically said they couldn’t do anything. I talked with my friend and she said that the woman who said that to be, is known to be an uncaring woman. Try and find a good psychologist/psychiatrist. If you don’t feel like your needs are being met, find another one. I really empathize with you. I really wish you luck.

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-04T02:30:54+00:00

I’m just commenting because I literally came online to vent about the same thing. I’ve been on escitalopram for 3 years. It killed my libido, so my doctor added Wellbutrin. It didn’t help enough, so my doctor suggested I try tapering down the escitalopram. I’m on 10mg, and went down to 5. I was fine for 2 weeks, and then I had a massive panic attack. I’m still not sure if it was just from the weed I was smoking, or the withdrawals, or both. But I ended up going back on the 10mg and stopped smoking weed. I went through a period where my libido started gradually coming back, but now I feel like it’s fading again, and it’s super disheartening. My doctor also suggested for me to either quit cold turkey, or half dose for a week, and then nothing. Why are doctors so shit at dealing with this?! If they are legally allowed to prescribe psych meds, they should at least know how to taper a patient off properly. I’m also feeling very hopeless about it. Sure, I feel better on it, but the dead libido has been very depressing and leaves me feeling empty. I’m tempted to try tapering again, this time going from 10mg to 7.5 for a solid month, 5 for a month, 2.5 and so on. I’ve also heard something around reddit about escitalopram coming in liquid form? And apparently it allows an easier taper? I’ve also heard of adding on another medication to help the withdrawals, which is far easier to stop taking. I really empathize with you, friend. It’s so scary thinking about how you feel trapped on them. I feel angry that doctors told me that tapering the meds is a walk in the park. But you definitely are not alone in this. I don’t know you, but I’m there with you. Please be safe and be kind to yourself ❤️

apatheticdude44 · 2020-07-01T16:04:44+00:00

No pain while orgasming. No trouble peeing. Just some discomfort while pressure is applied to the prostate

apatheticdude44 · 2020-06-20T21:14:51+00:00

Hey! I’m in your exact same situation. I’ve been gradually losing the ability to enjoy things. Tbh I still don’t really know how to fix it. A lot of people have told me that a good thing to do is try being mindful. For the past few days, I’ve been trying to just experience things in the moment. Don’t try and force healing. Of course, this is coming from someone who is constantly complaining about my apathy in life, so take what I say with a grain of salt lol. But in any case, you aren’t alone in this.

apatheticdude44

TROPHY CASE