Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Anxiety turning into Depression

I have been fighting with anxiety for a while. Dr. prescribed Celexa for depression which while at a low dose seems to be handling the depression so far. But it is the anxiety which is kicking me hard. A mountain of 'fears' which really mean nothing but to me they are frightening. I am supposed to be starting a college course in September. I have managed to convince myself I can't do it despite everyone telling me I can and passing entrance exams with A marks.

I dream all night about walking through the college and the horrible back pain which disables me and I feel 'in my mind' everyone staring at the person who always clutches their back and stops a lot waiting for the pain to stop.

This week I asked my dr if he would be willing to prescribe anxiety medication. He said no because I am already taking Celexa and Dostinex (for my tumor). They both twist a person's way of thinking he said and that he is really worried I wouldn't be able to handle yet another drug and that the anxiety medication was 'addictive'. I was like I don't care. I just want this anxiety to stop! Having very negative thoughts this week. The beginning steps of severe depression again.

I just went onto our local website and begged the administrator to remove my picture as I wish to have no identification of me. Am I anxious? Yes. Am I depressed? Definitely.

*sigh* Please delete my post as I know it sounds down. I am sorry for that, Moderators.

Hey,

For 1 let me tell you you are NOT crazy at all. Anxiety is an illness just as depression is and I suffer from both.

I do not know your Dr. but I do know that you need to be listened too and if you are having anxiety or anxiety attacks then they need to be addressed.

Feel free to PM me and I will be glad to go over ANYTHING..questions, meds, my experiences ect..with you ANYTIME!

Hugs,

Lisa

What kind of doctor prescribed for you? At first I had my ob/gyn prescribe Prozac, but now I see a psychiatrist. You might see about changing to an SSRI that also treats anxiety like Prozac, or Lexapro.

Anxiety and depression are part of chronic, painful illnesses.

"He said no because I am already taking Celexa and Dostinex (for my tumor). They both twist a person's way of thinking he said and that he is really worried I wouldn't be able to handle yet another drug and that the anxiety medication was 'addictive'."

Okay, so one would expect an anti-depressant to twist a person's way of thinking FOR THE BETTER. If that is not happening, then something needs to change. Reminds me of when my MIL became debilitated by Parkinson's and my BIL expressed concern to the doctor about her being depressed. The doctor shrugged and said, "She has every right to be depressed." but didn't offer to help with it.

Don't be intimidated by your doctor. You deserve help to reduce your anxiety and head off a depression.

My doctor is the same as yours, an ob/gyn. He sent me to see a psychiatrist who said I just need to talk to someone and am welcome to phone the suicide prevention line when I need to. I was not impressed. I am seeing a mental health counsellor. The Celexa is working in that I no longer cry as much. It is the anxieties which I have always had which are increasing. But then there are a lot of stressors happening in my life.

So sorry you are feeling afraid. Sometimes in my life I have been afraid for no "good" reason, but I felt afraid nonetheless. Depression and anxiety are flip sides of the same coin I think. I just weaned off of lexapro, doxepin, and clonezapam (sp?) in order to try cymbalta for pain, because two if my sisters have had a lot of relief from pain, depression, and anxiety with it. Please google NAMI - my family has gotten so much help fom them over the years. Remember: SUCCESS went to the tortoise, not the hare

so sorry to hear how you are feeling. as others have said, find a psychiatrist / psychologist who will help you.

my mother suffers from depression. she tried to deal with it herself for almost 50 years, once she was finally forced to get help, she has been better these last 10 years or so then she's been in a long time before that.

the right doctor and the right medication can make all the difference.

my mother who has depression and an old college friend who has manic depression have had to try various drugs at various dosages to get the right effect, and it has even changed over time. but a good mental health doctor should be able to handle this.

please do seek out the help that you need.

Hello Magician
Anxiety and depression affect your life in so many ways - I really feel for you so much
I am no expert in this area, but when I am feeling very overwhelmed and a bout of anxiety comes over me, I find that trying to get your brain off the bigger picture and bringing things right down to the next little thing you are going to do helps... eg just thinking about something very small and achieveable - to concentrate your mind on - like making a cup of tea - to stop your mind going into overdrive.
Just taking things very slowly... breathing in deeply through your nose and out slowly through your mouth... thinking about nice, happy, safe thoughts... just slowing right down to stop that horrible racing feeling.
Don't even try to take one day at a time... just one thing at a time, make things into little bite size pieces that you can cope with.
I so hope you find the help and support you need to get you back on your feet again.
I wish there was something more I could do to help

Hi Magic,

I'm sorry to hear you are going through such a rough patch. Depression is pretty common in chronic disease and your post is important. I'm not well educated on depression aspects but I have had a couple of spells of weird anxiety that seem to come on with bad sternum pain, where the sense of panic seems out of proportion to any stressors (outside of my health). Fortunately for me they usually go away before I've had to seek help, but I absolutely would if I needed to, or if I sensed it wasn't going away. One thing that helps me in the moment, is remembering that I got through it the last time so I know I will this time. I know I will be ok. You will be ok, too.

Anxiety is a hard one, just know that there is another side to this daunting hill and finding a sherpa guide may help on the trek.
warm hugs,
mig

I have been taking Ativan supposedly the safest of the bensodiazapines for 30 years now .i started after open heart surgery for an electrical short circuit called wolfe parkinson white syndrome ,my pulse would suddenly and for no reason jump to faster than if I sprinted like 200 beats a minute . After the surgery i was rushing to E.R. every time my heart jumped for about ten years but I take ativan instead now. It is just anxiety.i seem to have no problems taking it and as a side it works great to make me sleep when in pain and is the absolute best for the rare alcohol hangover. Kev

Mom,

You HIT it right on the head, I see a psychiatrist and he ALWAYS tells me that as long as you have chronic pain you will have depression and anxiety NOW I don't beleive that 100% of people will although I don't see how but I think he is stating in MY case or what he has seen in his practice.

I agree I would MAKE him listen to you, if you tell him the anxiety is crippling you in your everyday life I can't imagine him saying nah..I sure hope not.(this part was for Magician)

Hugs