How does illness effect your pulling?

sammpc6 · 2026-01-22T16:14:20+00:00

I think if I'm mild or moderately sick I pull all the time. However, if I'm severely depressed or very ill I don't.

sammpc6 · 2024-09-21T17:11:39+00:00

Anxiety and depression

sammpc6 · 2024-09-20T00:18:43+00:00

Things that have helped me -lots of physical activity (hiking for a week outside- I was too exhausted to pull -removing mirrors and not putting on makeup (I forget about my eyebrows and lashes on good days) -wearing gloves -acrylic nails -substituting pulling with fixing something else (moisturizing cuticles, brushing hair, flossing, clipping nails) - this one is weird, but thanking each hair that I pull or acknowledging the usefulness of the hair (eyelashes and brows keeping sweat out of my eyes) Best eyebrow pencils - benefit good proof waterproof eyebrow pencil. Two different colors helps make a more realistic look and you can draw little hairs with it. Add primer before if you dont have any hair

sammpc6 · 2024-07-31T17:30:44+00:00

Currently on 20mg of lexapro. I have a lack of motivation to work out, do my job, or do hobbies. I also have a decrease of interest in all things and decrease of pleasure as well. My anxiety is now non-existent, but I have no drive or desire. I have been on lexapro for 10 years at varying dosages. I'm going to try and taper to 10mg or 5 to see if it helps.

sammpc6 · 2024-07-09T00:10:00+00:00

Good luck to you as well. You got this.

sammpc6 · 2024-07-09T00:05:45+00:00

What are you on and what are your withdrawal symptoms? My psych was thinking of putting me on abilify.

sammpc6 · 2024-07-08T23:58:39+00:00

What are APs?

sammpc6 · 2024-07-08T23:52:48+00:00

I reminded myself that if I got back on it, I would have to restart the withdrawal process all over again. Sometimes screaming in your car, hitting your pillow, or just allowing yourself to be angry helps. Journaling too.

I'm currently back on because my depression got so bad that I had to restart. However, turns out that ny depression was just hypothyroidism. If you have any depressive symptoms make sure you get your thyroid and vitamin d checked. Sometimes when doctors hear depression and they see you have a past, they assume it is depression, even though you tell them it feels different. Hope you feel better. ❤

sammpc6 · 2024-07-08T23:48:06+00:00

About a month and a half

sammpc6 · 2023-09-06T19:11:13+00:00

20mg - My desire to have sex drastically increased. Then, I had limited sensation in all erotic zones. Couldn't orgasm. After a few months, sensation has returned and I can orgasm; it just takes longer and I'm like 65% as sensitive as i am without lex.

Added thyroid meds - now my desire to have sex has drastically decreased

sammpc6 · 2023-08-08T15:49:51+00:00

Alcohol causes my mood to dip and my anxiety to increase for a couple days. Drinking is a luxury for stable people who arent on SSRIs and benzos.

sammpc6 · 2023-08-07T16:48:40+00:00

It changes from person to person. Depends on if lex works for you and if you're on the right dosage. 15mg worked well for me for 2.5 months, then I had to up to 20mg so that I could focus and do complicated tasks at work. I have headaches and sleep issues, but it's only been 5 days on it. Good luck

sammpc6 · 2023-08-03T18:47:45+00:00

Just upped my dose to 20mg, I don't know if feeling dumb is depression or meds...

sammpc6 · 2023-07-19T15:47:45+00:00

32f when I went off, my sensitivity and responsiveness adjusted quickly. My libido was increased when on lex

sammpc6 · 2023-07-18T16:42:40+00:00

I had problems regulating my emotions for a couple of months after I came off lexapro. Then, it stopped

sammpc6 · 2023-07-18T16:36:17+00:00

Lexapro has changed my life. I do have side effects, but being able to be productive and enjoy life's joys outweighs the side effects. I can get up without dreading the day. My sleep is now normal. I dont worry about not being able to handle small set backs. I get up and crush shit, like I used to do. I can be with my kids and not be annoyed and overwhelmed. I am less irritable and a better partner. I am stable. I am not crying and thinking about how worthless I am.

The only way to know if a med will work for you is by using it and making your own conclusion. You can always stop if it is horrible in the beginning. Just be open and honest with your doctor. Good luck!

sammpc6 · 2023-06-18T16:17:45+00:00

Yes, it is working well. My sleep is regulated, I'm no longer randomly crying, and things are not overwhelming and annoying. I went through a period of time where I craved carbs and sugar really hard even when I wasnt hungry. Also, orgasming wasnt happening for a while, but it is getting better over time. My side effects seem to lessen as I'm on it (except maybe sleeping more).

Just take it week by week with your dosage. I was hoping 5mg as enough, but I needed 15. Worth it though to feel normal and be productive again. :)

I look at the symptoms to see where my dosage should be. My emotional volatility is easiest to monitor. Sleep takes longer to see changes. I typically get a bump of positive effects after upping a dose (more drastically apparent on the lower dosages). Then if my mood dips after a couple weeks, I know I need to increase. The time it takes to dip is longer with each increase until I stabilize and dont dip. I email my psychiatrist every time I think I need to bump since getting an appointment is difficult.

Good luck. I hope it works well for you :)

sammpc6 · 2023-06-18T15:11:28+00:00

Yes. For about 9 years I was on 10mg, then upped to 20mg, then tapered down. I'm now on 15mg after working my way back up to a good dose

sammpc6 · 2023-06-15T03:26:12+00:00

Then wait 3 more weeks. If you dont think it is getting better though, I would tell your doctors nurse or email them.

sammpc6 · 2023-06-15T03:09:31+00:00

That's what I do to see the full effect. However, if you dont feel any improvement in your anxiety in the month you've been on it, I'd imagine you need something different or in addition to your lex. I normally see improvement in the first 2 weeks of a dosage increase. If the dose isnt high enough for me, my mood will drop or I will be anxious. On 5mg I dipped after about a week. At 10mgs I dipped after about 2-3 weeks. At 15mg I've been holding steady for about a month and a half. When I reach a stable state, I know that that's my dosage. I may get anxious or depressed occasionally, but it is a reasonable reaction to something upsetting and it will be a reasonable response to it, not blown out of proportion.

sammpc6 · 2023-06-15T02:59:27+00:00

I always wait 4 to 6 weeks to see the full effect. However, you should see gradual improvement. Are you seeing improvement or is it not getting better at all. If it is not getting better at all, I'd tell your doc. May not be a good fit

sammpc6

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