Thank you for sharing your story. I've been dealing with panic disorder for 38 years. It sucks and taking medication everyday is no fun either. Celexa has helped me a great deal. The mind is so powerful and I hope all who deal with mental illness can find comfort.
Thank! Yeah I'm over 5 years into it now. I feel the worst for people who had this illness before modern medicine. I imagine a lot of people relied on alcohol.
Been on celexa for over 10 years for anxiety. No issues with side effects. If it’s working for you, keep taking it and don’t listen to crazy people in the comments.
Plan on being on them permanently! I’ve been taking Citalopram for 20 years. I tried to stop with tapering, but I decided that my quality of life is much more important than anything else! Good luck to you sir.
@@zocco15az I lowered my dose from 30 to 20 mg. It took 3 weeks to adapt and I have no desire to go any lower, but I just wanted to be able to feel things a bit more. Feel life’s issues and learn to better deal with life. I plan to take this for the rest of my life. I’m a much better person this way, I think.
I was in EXACTLY to the T same symptoms as you did. Panic attack out of the blue at work. Took forever to get diagnosed and treated. I empathize with you so very much. God bless you for sharing your experience because it helps for us to know we are not alone in these battles. Don't feel ashamed about taking medications and seeking help. I was like that for a long time but I got over it because I needed it. But what really helps me now is having found God again, after a long time of being the prodigal child. He keeps me see life more clearly, through His eyes. But medications definitely are sometimes necessary. I know, I'm a nurse 😊 God bless you! Praying for your continued healing!🙏
Thanks, yes it was an ordeal I'd never wish on anyone. And my relationship with God and desire to keep living helped me get through... along with the 20mg citalopram daily.
I take 20mg citalopram for about 8 years now. Forgot to take it for a few days a couple of years back, felt great so carried on with coming off. Then overnight I was hit with terrible anxiety & agitation again like when I first got ill but maybe worse (I think that was the fear knowing I had to go through the awfull process of getting back on it). 6 to 8 weeks of hell before it kicked in again. I guess I'm just one of those people who's body doesn't make enough brain chemicals. I won't come off it again voluntarily and consider myself no different from anyone who relys on long term medication. Anxiety & depression are crippling I never understood just how bad it felt until it struck me. Up until then I was a very confident happy go lucky person & I'm pleased to get that back. No shame in getting help!
Such an interesting story. You have a very calming voice. After years of struggling with severe depression, anxiety and stress and I admit I reached rock bottom. I was put on 20mg of citalopram which didn't bring much relief but side effects affected me. I went onto 40mg in June this year and I will honestly say it saved my life.
Thanks. I’m glad it’s helping you too. I agree the side effects were a bit tough, especially if you have health anxiety. That’s why I chose citalopram, as it seemed to have the lightest side effects.
@@Ricalloo over the years I have tried a few different ones but none have helped me like citalopram has, it has just brought balance to my life and let's me enjoy now rather than worrying about past or the future. My hardest moment was when stopped getting the bad anxiety and on days when had none started wondering whether this is how life should be like and for how long I had been suffering. I hope you keep getting better and have a good weekend.
@@alymac1997 i did take it for 8 months and havent helped like it did help me a previous time in about 6 months so now im on mirtazepine the worst thing for me to move on is the knowledge of wasted time in the past i cant move over it like the personal development and carer wise bc i was unemployed for long time i just feel so bad with it, that no matter what i do i will never be enought or have enought and so suicidal thoughts are with me everyday thx for letting me share, good luck to all!
@@cezariuszreginia5300 like you realising how much of my life I have lost to anxiety has got to me. I finally feel like I can live my life but it does hit how much I avoided things and let it control my life. Keep your head up.
Incredible story. Really hit home for me. You are inspiring. I'm on my third round of Citalopram in 4 years. I always come off it after a year or so and then end up in the same predicament as before. This time I've learnt my lesson and I'll probably stay on it for the rest of my life. The impact of anxiety, depression and panic is simply soul destroying. As you rightly say, a diabetic takes insulin, so why shoud we be ashamed of taking drugs such as this. After all, it is simply a restoring of the seratonin in our brains and restoring us to who we are truly meant to be- alongside other factors such as diet, therapy etc. Thanks for posting this video- I really needed to hear this today. Good luck the rest of your journey too. I'm a few weeks behind you but hopefully it will be as positive regarding the effects of Citalopram as yours is. All the best!
Thank you for this story. It makes me feel less alone in my situation I’m on 40 mg currently and and in thearapy it has helped me tremendously I’m glad you are getting better ! Be proud of yourself for your accomplishments
Thanks for sharing your experience, I've been on citalopram for around 5 years, definitely helps. Started on 10mg now just recently on 30mg. Really feel 30mg is sweet spot for me. Take it for intrusive thoughts and actually feeling like my old self again.
I started citalopram nearly 2 years ago kept starting and stopping I relapsed when I stopped them so back on them now and honestly it's the best to keep taking them they do help long term for panic attacks and anxiety
@@ant-lowe2346 Yeah that is a possibility. I'm going to try one more time, I think, in the future. But it's entirely possible it will be a permanent thing. We live lives very far outside our evolved biology. In societies very structured, with very stringent rules and expectations. Not very natural. It might just be like how Killer Whales in captivity have floppy dorsal fins.
Tk you for sharing....it was very helpful as I, too, recently had a breakdown after quitting citalapram. It was a terrifying experience and I'm still trying to recover. Your video has encouraged me to continue my own struggle.
Dear Ricallo, thank you for sharing this in a calm and honest manner. I had a panic disorder and intrusive thoughts. So I been on medication (Paroxat) for a long time. It feels very similar to what you describe. So thank you again! At the point in your video were you describe „covid“, „war“ … „worries“ - my thinking is: these „events“ are not the really cause of our anxiety. They can be a trigger. Slowly we have to learn to bear the bad feelings underneath them. Take care and all the best. Marc from Germany
I also had what you might call a nervous breakdown on a work trip. I was in a different country for a week with a bunch of my bosses. I was in a bad place mentally, had really bad social anxiety, could barely function. It would have been a stressful situation in the best of circumstances but I was a complete wreck. It was a couple of years ago and I am thankful I feel a bit more confident now. I think SSRIs are extremely helpful, they gave me thee confidence to make a few friends and expand my social life. I still have issues with anxiety but it isn't totally taking over my life anymore.
What you are describing is antidepressant dependency. Happened to me after taking Sertraline for 2-3 years originally for anxiety. 6 months after weaning off I was in your exact position and had to go back on but changed to Paroxetine,then Prozac,then Citalopram etc etc now Fluvoxamine. 30 years later of a cycle of on/off and I am again trying to stay off them. What I and many others and doctors once thought was relapse of the original condition,are now realising that this worsening around 3 to 6 months after discontinued use,is dependency/withdrawal which is different to addiction,but just as debilitating. The original condition returns but even more severe,causing you to run back to your doctor begging to go back on them. 30 years later you end up still in the same position as I am now. If you could take antidepressants for life then that would be OK. Trouble is the brain develops a tolerance for the drug after several years known as poop out,which means they just stop working overnight. Also,more and more research into long term use of antidepressants are finding negative outcomes ,like an increased risk of dementia on certain medications. This is because only now are people getting to a stage where they have actually taken them for many years from the SSRI drugs only being introduced some 30+ years ago. I would suggest anyone taking SSRI'S for anxiety,should try their hardest by other means like mindfulness,meditation and all non pharmaceutical treatment available,to stay off antidepressants for anxiety. I am in that process right now,and there are many thousands on internet forum withdrawal sites,all trying to stop and stay off antidepressants. Don't be me 30 years in the future.
Hmm, interesting. I hadn’t heard this one before. Honestly, there’s so much unknown about these medications this might be true. I actually did not want to go back on medication after “relapsing”. My doctor wanted me to. But I held out for two weeks hoping it would pass. But it only got worse. Hopefully someday I can get off. Maybe the results are different depending on what is causing the anxiety? Mine seems to come from panic disorder.
It doesn't matter what condition you are taking antidepressants for. The medications are artificially keeping Serotonin levels higher,plus whatever other functions they are altering in the brain that no-one in the medical profession knows,as a lack of serotonin or a chemical imbalance has been proved not to be the reason or cause of these conditions,but a symptom. Like a runny nose is a symptom of hayfever,or pain is a symptom of a broken leg. The longer you use a drug to artificially keep a symptom away,the more the brain relies and depends on that drug,and consequently will not like it when you take it away. We are using antidepressants like a crutch for a broken leg,but then never throwing the crutch away,and the longer you use it,the more it's going to hurt when you do try. That's the process I and millions around the world are in now. The increased pain from throwing away the crutch. It will take a very long time to get accustomed again to walking without a stick,and it hurts. Antidepressants were only meant to be used for a short time to get you through a rough patch,a year maximum or thereabouts. Due to the dependency built up and the worsening again of symptoms when stopping,this is turning into lifetime dependency.
i completely agree. I stopped zoloft 1.5 years ago. The first year was HELL. non stop intrusive thoughts and anxiety. the next 6 months were easier and a learning experience having to deal with lifes problems without a pill. At the end of the day youll never get to the root of the problem by being parked on medication. it may seem nice but i feel stronger and more alive off them.
Don't think I or many people have any choice. If I want to keep my job, if I want friends and family to stick around I have to keep taking em. I was never offered any other treatment. I spent 1000s on therapy that was next to useless. I guess it could be worse...
Thank you so much for sharing this, I think you're really brave. I'll be starting medication treatment for depression in the upcoming weeks and to hear people talk about their experience helps me calm down a bit.
Thank you, and good luck. Yeah when I restarted I watched a bunch of testimonials. Just hearing that other people are going through the same thing helps a lot.
Really good clip. I'm from Sweden. It sounds like the states are worse in stigma about medicine. We have all medicine for free. I have bipolar. There are many more if you want to test. I have tested many. All with some effect. But for me many SSRI is no good. I go to high.
Hi, thank you for sharing your story. There's no shame being on citalopram, as your mother wisely told you. You can stay on them for life if need be. I think tapering should be done slowly though over a period of years rather than months. I believe the current theme is a 10% reduction of your current dose and hold until symptoms have abated before your next 10% of your new current dose. I'm on 5.2mg and holding now for 18 months, I'm not ready to reduce further yet. It's long and hard but you are young and therefore this is achievable should you decide to come off in the future. I hope you stabilise and feel well again very soon. Best wishes, Cheryl, UK.
Im on 10mg citalopram and it has stopped my anxiety and panic attacks in their tracks. My mood has really lifted and im starting to enjoy life again. However i dont just rely on the medication, i exercise, take vitamins, eat healthy, and get plenty of sleep, all which i intend to keep doing!
Ive been on 10mg of citalopram for the past 8 days, i never had any anxiety before but had a massive panic attack 6 weeks ago out of the blue. The fear of thinking i was going 2 have a heart attack/stroke/seizure has messed with me. How long did it take for you feel the benefits of citalopram?
@@TheRBM1 it took me the full 6 weeks to start feeling normal, unfortunately. But my doctor gave me benzos to get get through the ramp up time. I did get better, but had a lot of bad days. It sounds like you have exactly what I did.
Sounds very similar, im mid 30s also, had blood tests/ecg/xray and all negative. I am perfectly aware of whats going on and thats its all in my mind, health wise i know im in good shape, but my mind is telling me otherwise.
Ive been taken citalopram for around 5 years too. I recently dropped to 10mg for a few weeks but felt so depressed and anxious again so I've went back to 20mg and feel good again. I totally can relate to this alot. Thank you for sharing! You're doing amazing my friend!
So I've taken celexa for about 10 years but after my 1st year, I wasn't knowledgeable about it and my doc didn't tell me about tapering so I stopped it cold turkey. A year later, it came back and I went back on it. I changed doctors for sure back then after cold turkey and stay on it since. Now I wanna taper off from my 40 mg dosage but am kind of scared to feel withdrawals. This video does help me see your experiences. I don't really want to take this permanently honestly either.
Yeah I am the same way. I don't want to take it forever if possible, but have to accept that I may need to. Right now I am back on 20mg and I hope to eventually taper to 10 and see how I do on that for a long time instead of going completely off.
thank you so much for sharing this video. i just started my journey with citalopram for two months. it has increased my mood but not to were i need to be so my doctor upd my dose to 40mg been feeling low ambition lately and mood hasnt been the best hoping this wave passes and i can have some peace and happyness!!
Thanks for sharing your story! I’m just starting my journey with citalopram after a while of trying others with no results. Yes, I love your mom and her advice she is 100% correct! We all been there and I am okay with being in meds for the rest of my life because only I live in this body and mind. Hope you are thriving now :) sending love and hugs!
Although this is a video about anxiety, you are so calming to listen to. I'm going to be taking 10mg for the first time. I dread the first few weeks, but if I can deal with my disorders then I should handle it. I have panic disorder too and it's something people would have to have to understand. Just pure misery, I haven't left my house in five years because of it. Just that irrational fear of having a panic attack every day is so debilitating. I can handle a few baby attacks like you mentioned, but only if theres a legit reason and not super random like they are now. Hopefully you're doing well and same goes to those who are trying this medicine too. I can't wait to try and see how my life turns out. Thanks for the video!
Oh my gosh, that's rough. I am pulling for you. Yes, the first few weeks are rough. I took the full 6 weeks to get to manageable. My doctor gave me some benzos to get through the first few weeks, which helped. But you can do it, and i hope when it's all said and done you can get outside every now and then!
Thanks for the video. I am experiencing some really bad anxiety and depression and this video of yours has given me motivation to try out this medication and therapy. Thankyou!
@@Ricalloo yes, I am pretty much at the lowest point in my life where nothing is going right and everything is going wrong. But I am determined to beat this
Thank you so much for this vid. I got prescribed almost the same medication but was afraid of taking it (especially the ssri). I got a theraoist which told me that medication would be bad for me, i myself was afraif of beeing numbend and not be able to feel like i used to. but listening to your video feel so calming and gives me a lot of trust in doctors back an i also have a diferent therapist now. so maybe i`m going to give these meds another try.
Great to hear. Just remember they do have a long ramp up time, 4~6 weeks. Getting through that could be hard. But if it ends up working for you, could be worth it.
Thanks for sharing. Our mental health struggles are some of the strangest things we try to comprehend and understand. My depression came back at the start of 2022, this time in the form of very low motivation and no drive. (Im 32 years old, and ive experienced many different forms of depression, anxiety, panic since i was 15. (whenever I think I've beat my struggles, a new manifestation of it forms ) So back on sertraline I went and I'm feeling great. There's some new research on the effects of micro dosing psychedelics and how it helps to "loosen up your brain" and how therapy can be very helpful while the brain is loosened up. I'm not big on substance use. For over 3 years now I've drank 0 alcohol, done 0 drugs except coffee and my ssri. But perhaps pyschedelics will be a viable option for some people in the future. Research is suggesting it.
Be careful with the psychedelics. The people pushing it is people who often are against medicine. Let's se how it works but I'm not sure. It's like staying up to long smoking weed. Will fuck with the brain.
I just want to say thank you. I'm starting with this soon, and I've been anxiety researching people's experience with this. I'm honestly so terrified because I'm such a deeply emotional person and I've seen people say it takes your emotions away but it would be so nice to just not have anxiety and want to unalive myself on a daily basis. And I'm terrified of weight gain. But I still want to try at least. I'm probably going to rewatch this later on when going through the symptoms, just so I don't stop taking them.
It certainly didn’t take my emotions away. I still feel happy, sad, angry, etc. I just don’t have crippling panic attacks or anxiety anymore, writhing on the floor begging for help. Truly a nightmare existence. But perhaps people react differently.
I’m having the same issue, mine came back after 32 years. I was fine sll this time. My intrusive thoughts are ocd-like and just junk and make no sense but they occupy my mind 24/7. Citalopram hasn’t helped, yet. Been on it for 5 weeks and feel no change. I still get panic attacks and sticky junk thoughts.
I’ve been taking antidepressants for over 27 years. I’ve been in Prozac, Wellbutrin and right now I’m on celexa for the las 12 years. Seven years ago I was taking only 10 milligrams of celexa and I was feeling fenomenal, so I decided to stop it. Well it was the worst mistake ever! I relapsed and my depression was horrible. I had to go back on, but now I have to take triple of the dosage. I really don’t recommend to stop the medication unless you really change your lifestyle, going to therapy, exercise, meditate and so on. It took me like six years to start feeling myself again! 😢
Dang, sorry to hear that. For the 3 months I was off, I felt pretty good. But, alas, it didn't last. I'll probably be less likely to get off in the future.
Back in 2019 I was out on Citalopram with for some extreme anxiety and panic attacks. It worked great for most the time I was on it, but in late 2023 I noticed it was losing its effectiveness until eventually it stopped working entirely, and even started producing unique symptoms. I then began a cross-taper from Citalopram onto sertraline, and it did not go well. I started experiencing symptoms of major depression for the first time in my life. It got so bad that I decided to quit both medications cold turkey halfway through the taper - BIG mistake. I do not know what happened to my brain during the process of coming off the drugs, but it was not the same after that. It’s been more than a year now, and I still feel symptoms of intense mental and physical discomfort that I never experienced before coming off the drugs. I feel like I’ve been brain damaged. Truly has been a life destroying event. If you ever do decide you need to come off, I would suggest you stretch your taper for as long as possible and make the incremental reductions in dosage as small as possible. Whatever period of time your doctor prescribes to taper on/off any psychiatric medication, I would insist you double it.
I did revolving door of various SSRIs. I always felt my relief should me more profound. I'd been in major depression and debilitating anxiety so long I lost perspective on what was "feeling better ". Then, I had occasion to be prescribed SNRI. Boom. Relief. Real lasting relief.
Thank you for sharing this, my experience of panic disorder is very similar to yours though i am 60 now and first had major panic attacks in my 20s when SSRIs didn’t exist, and i also had anxiety issues as a child. I got better after 6 months by changing my lifestyle but at times of stress the symptoms returned and got v bad about 10 years ago, so i was prescribed citalopram. They have given me myself back and i can enjoy life again, the feeling of dread, the intrusive thoughts, the physical tensions, the over-sensitivity have gone. I do worry about long term use and tried to come off them a couple of times, most recently over a 1 year period, but the old symptoms cane back so i am back on them again. I am looking into psilocybin treatments currently as this is getting good results and may be a better, more natural treatment as i think it cd be better for brain health long term. I do think, as someone commented, that we live in a highly stressful world currently - war, environmental collapse, political divisions everywhere - and those of us who are more sensitive suffer with anxiety and depression. I know my brain and nervous system are vulnerable because my mother died when i was a baby and i grew up without her, and with a grieving parent who never dealt properly with his grief. So, with the help of SSRIs i am able to do therapy and explore these issues - and doing therapy is v important. I would also say get out in nature, pay attention to nutrition and exercise and be creative within a community. Thank you again and good luck on your journey x
Thank you. You have giving me hope. I am one week on 10 mg Citalopram. Like you, my mornings are really hard. Also, each day around 6pm I start really feeling better. I wonder if I switch to taking the drug at bed if my days will be better.
I’ve been on it for 16 yrs. I’ve been tapering off over the last few months. It’s the last 1/4 that is Fn me up the most …. My god I’m dizzy and the anxiety depression is horrible
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you doing follow-up visits with your doctor? I spent about 6 weeks tapering off wand I was mostly fine, for about 3 months. But after 3 months my symptoms came back.
@@Ricalloo well they know far less than I do. It’s really the sleep problem that I think is the biggest problem. And the fact I work so much I can’t get much cardio in. That’s gold to me. Cardio is my best friend.
Thanks for sharing your story🙏 iv been on 5mg citalopram first week and 10mg on 2d week, so its been 2 weeks on the medication but i feel very up and down in my mood and kinda low and i have anxiety on and of, its really tough.. i hope it will pass 🙏
Benzodiazepine. They’re little pills that improve your mood for 3~4 hours. But they’re addictive and the withdrawals can be worse than how you felt before. So I only took them when I was in really bad shape. I only used them while I waited for the SSRI to take effect, then stopped.
Medicin is love. It saves lifes. I would be dead if it didnt exist. Thank you researcher at Yale etc. My back was broken. Fixed by titanium steel. My mind is broken and fixed with Lithium etc. People dont criticize my back. Only my brain. Many people confuse medicine about happiness. It's not that. It's just letting me function.
Thank you for sharing I appreciate it I think you are doing the right thing by getting back on your meds There's no shame in helping yourself GOD gave us doctors and medicine to help us GOD bless you and your family Hang in there and talk to the LORD JESUS CHRIST
My journey since July 19. I had an emergency eye surgery a morning before & everything was fine, then boom I experienced palpitations followed by insomnia for 3-4 days with only 5 hours of sleep. This went on for 2 months. I tried everything sleeping pills, prozac just to get my sleep but nothing worked. Eventually I tried homeopathy & I got my sleep back. Started getting my sleep, energy back. Then a month after that I went into depression, crying almost every day ( last time I cried was 24 years ago) . My vision did come back but my entire physiology had changed. Low energy, sad , tears , Low libido even before SSRI . I used to perform like a porn star, now I’m hardly waving. My life is a disaster. Started taking Valdoxan since November 1st. 2 weeks later , I got suicidal dreams waking me up, I’m scared shit now . ( Valdoxan being the best tolerated & least side effects) Btw my palpitations are back but not as Severe. In 2 days, I’ll be trying new meds
Sorry to hear that. That sounds like a miserable time. Do you think it's related to the eye problems? Health anxiety can cause panic attacks, I know it did for me.
Please pleas wait. Lithium easy Seroquel harder but that one has saaaaved my life. It takes often four to six months to get that effect.Side effects but so effective. There is Lamotrigin. Cymbalta if the depression doesn't get up. For me bipolar that was not good. Mirtazapin is very soft. Like a nice sofa. I went calmer. Maby 3 kilos if you eat shit.
Emergency eye surgery implies that they gave you strong antibiotics. If so, could that be the source of your problems? The reason i thought to ask this is that you mentioned suicidal dreams. Thats what happened to me on heavy antibiotics. The worst dread and fear ive ever felt. Usually peak at 4 or 5 am, and then pass after i had a bowel movement.
Some information if anyone does consider coming off them then please look up something called the inner compass initiative and once you are there click on where it says the withdrawal project. There is tons of advice and it was started by a woman who was told she would be on them for life and is now thriving.
I took my first 20mg tablet two days ago, and still feeling rough, I will never take it anymore. I was shaking and restless and bleeding from my gums and many more side effects for few hours, I called my gp and I had to stop straight away, after 48hrs still feeling bad. Probably one of my worst experience feeling sick.
Oh that's too bad. I remember the first few days for me was nightmarish too. Very hard. But my doctor started me on 10mg to ease into it. It did take a few weeks for the side effects to wear off.
I agree. My doctor started me on 10mg following a nervous breakdown. Today is Day One and I’m feeling a lot less anxious than I was with a noticeable difference. No bad side effects so far.
I keep 25mg benadryl in foil packet on me rather than Benzo for acute anxiety/panic. I have had success at 5mg for 8 years but I know I metabolize some chemicals very slowly. I went off for around a year but eventually ended up using benadryl several times a month so just restarted meds. I tried 2.5mg but it was not quite enough. Emotional blunting, two types of sexual side effects and occasional disturbing thoughts when in close proximity to others are main side effects.
Also experience lower motivation. All these side effects at 5mg due to my sensitivity. I don't need any other meds for panic when on it but still keep benadryl for extra peace of mind but never need to take them. If you have panic disorder this is a miracle drug so don't want to overstate side effects but side effects are why I tried a one year break and ultimately decided I needed some amount of this medicine to function. I may try taking 2.5mg one day and 5mg the next day to see if that reduces some of the side effects.
Benadryl suppresses the central nervous system which then suppresses the fight or flight response. Yes it makes me tired for first hour and a half. I chew the tablet which is so bitter it knocks the panic down by up to half immediately. Takes about 15 to 30 minutes for benadryl to knock it down by another half. If my attacks didn't happen when driving I would consider just using Benadryl as needed for panic attacks.
When chew benadryl I let it sit in my mouth on my tongue and gums and avoid swallowing for at least five minutes as the bitterness effect lasts much longer and keeps panic away longer.
I’m glad the new therapist is helping you. Hopefully it will improve your life. I got put on sertraline 50mg and had similar side effects initially. Although your symptoms seem more hard core. The first day I took sertraline I was super nauseous 4 hours later but it was tolerable after. Nausea would come back after I took the meds but in 2 weeks it was less noticeable. Dry mouth also but seemed to improve over the 2 weeks. If you keep getting symptoms for a while longer than a few weeks it might be worth a shot to try a different SSRI? I’ve only been taking it for 18 days. Thank you for making the video.
Thanks. I think I got pretty lucky in that the first one I tried seemed to work pretty well. Others might be even better, but it'd be hard to come off these just to try another. My only real concern with this med is the heart-rate issues it can cause. But I'm on a pretty low dose.
i watched your video very carefully i felt it was me doing it because i am going through the same situation right now, i understand how you feel, specially feeling lonely eventhough you have people on your side, what can i do so i wont feel lonely on this journey?? i am sad most of the time and i cry often, maybe you can help me it would be much appreciatted bro
Indeed the loneliness was hard. Sometimes i like to talk a walk around the neighborhood. This helps me feel like i am part of the community. Just looking around, seeing other people go about their day, etc.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m also an anxiety sufferer with severe insomnia being a major component of it. I’m thinking of going on celexa as well bc it’s supposed to be milder than pretty much all the other ssris. How has it been with sleep on and off this med? Thank you
I also had pretty bad insomnia. Celexa helps me sleep much better, but I also take it at night before I go to bed. In this case the side effect is beneficial to me.
I had really bad insomnia too when I had anxiety. I've been on escitalopram for 3 weeks and I've seen significant improvement in my anxiety and my insomnia. I hope the insomnia will get even better though. It's so crippling to get through a day on 3 hours of sleep. :(
How’s it going after several more weeks back on citalopram? At the time of this video I think you’d been back on for 3 weeks, which is pretty early in antidepressant therapy. Were you able to stay with it and did it provide the same benefit as you saw on the 4.5 years previously? Hope you’re doing well❤
Thanks, yes i am doing okay now. Basically back to how I was before I got off. I'm hoping to try and reduce to 10mg for a long time to see if that works for me.
I’m pretty sensitive to meds so I actually started on 5mg of citalopram, for 2 weeks, then 10 mg for 2 weeks. I met my shrink today who upped it to 20mg so I’ll probably start that tomorrow. I’d tried escitalopram before but found it quite strong. thanks for sharing your experience
@@gts447 Thanks. My doc just gave me a list and I started with the one that seemed to have the fewest side effects. Luckily it worked and I never had to go through Rx roulette.
Thanks for sharing your story. I had a panic attack about 2 years ago. It was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. I took an SSRI for a short while as well as benzos. I was very resistant to meds but like you said, you reach a point where you will try anything. I went off the meds after a month and started lifting weights. I was good for about a year. I also found a book called DARE that really helped. About 3 months ago it started coming back so I am now on escitalopram again. It certainly helps and makes a huge difference. I also take ice baths or cold showers (Wim Hoff) as I feel that helps. Need to get back to working out. Again, thanks for sharing your story, it’s nice to know your not alone. Check out the book I mentioned, it might help.
You are such a nice person have so much calm energy. I’ve been on Escitalopram Lexapro for over two years, unfortunately my depression still got worse, my doc added agomelatin and I was fine for a year, then it returned again. Then I switched to Zoloft and Im still waiting for the results. Don’t give up, always seek alternatives, and hope you will be fine!
I was taking Citalopram and I was waking up in the night with my heart pounding, it scared the hell out of me I felt like I was having a heart attack or something. I now take sertraline and I don't get that problem anymore.
Yeah I remember having a really terrifying nightmare early on in my medication routine. Luckily for me it went away after a while. I'm glad you were able to find an alternative.
I am on 20mg, just started today, after going to the ER, 2 days ago, I have never been so scared in my entire life, I thought I was gonna die, thankfully my mom was with me during this or idk what I would have done. Really hoping this works, I don't want to feel this way anymore. ( never once have I ever wanted to hurt myself, I love life too much ) it's just so odd, I guess what I can't wrap my head around is that I felt so normal just 3 days ago then 2 days ago, boom it felt like everything stopped, but I can say this for a fact, if Celexa works, I wont stop taking it, I never want to feel this way again.
Very similar to my story. But I was 2 hours from home on a work retreat! Just out of nowhere total body shutdown. Went to urgent care, and they said they couldn't do anything for me. So I ended up in the ER. All tests negative. Apparently it was a sever panic attack. I guess repressing all my fears for years finally all just collapsed on me at once. Thank goodness for the meds. The hardest part is the ramp up time. It takes a good 4-6 weeks to take effect. But bare through it. Doc gave me some benzos to get through that ramp up time. Those helped. But careful as they are addicting. Luckily SSRIs are not.
@@Ricalloo I hope you're still doing well, I am making a lot of lifestyle changes slowly, trying to set some short and long term goals, and writing in a notebook, as well as talking with friends and family. So far everything is going well, and just today I was able to finally eat, I just wanted to say thank you, if I can remember, I will post another update in about 1-2 weeks.
@@nesmuri3771 Indeed, I also kept a journal, started exercising a little. Getting my appetite back was the toughest. Lost about 20 lbs! Eventually it came back. I kind of wish I could lose 20 lbs again, though. :P
After being on medication for years, I think six weeks is way too short a period of time to taper off medication. Unfortunately, urgent care is hardly useful, in my opinion, based on my own experiences. Did you ever think about whether your fear of dying was irrational? Also, did you ever think about your station in life, considering the fact that you are so lucky, being who you are and having a rewarding, well-paying career?
Also, I don't want to be intrusive, but I'm just intrigued. You mentioned in this video that you had feelings of loneliness, although you'd never felt alone before. Also, you said you live alone. Why no girlfriend or wife? Are you gay? Do you think this has something to do with the sudden on set of the symptoms you experienced? Maybe it could just all be manifesting itself now that you're a certain age? Also, do you think the shame that you felt from not being able to live off the medication is due to pride? Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
I really enjoyed your presentation. It’s not hard to figure out that what your dealing with is fear. Fear of the unknown. And fear of death. These things are normal. And there is nothing to be ashamed of. Depression and anxiety are crippling. I have also dealt with both of these. To the point where I felt I had not hope. But then I turned to God, though His Son Jesus Christ. And everything changed. Instead of no reason to live. Now I have a reason. I have had the panic attacks. I have dealt with depression. Anti-depression medication is not the answer (been there). You will have to be on it the rest of your life. And once you’re in it for a while, it will be hard to get off. You were fortunate that I taper works as well as it did. You were smart not to get on the benzo train, even tho one every once in a while is somewhat safe. I am not a doctor (but I have experience many of your SXS) but there is a doctor, and His name is Jesus Christ. On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners Mark 2:17.” If you would like to know, more contact me. Or you can pick up the Bible and open to the gospel of John and ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will. Hope this helps! Praying for you. Josh
I've started this medication (on my third day) and I'm very anxious about it. I think my anxiety is making the side effects a little worse. So I'm trying to find some positive/neutral accounts of people because there is a lot of doom and gloom out there about meds
Hey J! Thanks for commenting. The 4-6 week working time can be a bit distressing, and the side effects unnerving, but at the end I think it is worth it. The side effects should wear off, and once it starts working you’ll feel better. For me, it took the full 6 weeks my first time around, but only 3 for me second round. The hardest part of these meds is just keeping with them and not giving up. If you can do that, you should be on the right path to recovery. Each individual can react differently to the meds, and this is only my personal experience, but I believe others share the same.
Isn’t it difficult cutting those tiny 10mg pills in half? My old pill cutter just isn’t doing it very well, I’ll get like 70-30 cuts or it’ll even just crush part of it into powder. I just bought the equadose v2 pill cutter, which is pricey for a pill cutter, and it’s still not cutting them 50 50 but it is getting closer.😂😂😢
Currently in the same predicament, I was on citalopram after having a break down 6 years ago. I stupidly thought I no longer need them and decided to wean off them under drs supervision. The first 4 weeks was great but then I got Covid and it has wrecked my mental health. I am currently on week 4 20 mg and feel like I’m clinging on. Can I ask how your feeling now?
Can anyone suggest me I’m feeling sleepy after taking meds and I’m in high school and these are important crucial years for me I dropped taking meds and depression anxiety came back now I’m on meds can anyone suggest me anything that’ll keep me going for school
HAS ANY1 Suffered with what i am describing? PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW THAT YOUR LIFE IS BETTER NOW TAKNG THIS MEDICATION.. I have just started this medication today ,my mood journey has be deeep depression stay layin in my bed , no drive no ambition nothing like has taken a massive toll on me i have no interest in anything .. After a horrible break up also not letting me see my daughter has ruined me many ways with a broken soul. Im hoping this shall help me build mylife up again some how giving me motivation again as im so low inlife ... please do get back to me let me know if any1 had experienced what im going through.. Thank you God bless
I just finished 4 weeks on lexapro and I just feel very exhausted and low motivation does this go away can anyone chime in ? I almost feel worse in a way . Like idgaf about stuff maybe more depressed , I feel like I wasn’t depressed before and now I am
I can only speak to my condition, panic disorder, but it took me the full 6 weeks to start feeling normal again. I did make me tired, so I take it at night.
Hello! Thank You very much for sharing your experience. Ive been taking sertraline 100 mg for 4 and a half years. From hearing your experience I came out with the idea of start talking 87,5 mg for 3 months, then 75 mg for 3 months, then 62,5 for another 3 months, then 50, then 37,5, then 25, then 12,5, and then 5 mg for the last 3 months. It would take me 2 years to come off. It sounds crazy but I think I Will try. At the same time I would have to increase serotonine by other ways such as going to the gym, eating food with triptofan, taking some natural suplement that relax me, doing things that I like, and sharing time with people I like, also now I'm thinking of doing some caritative work I think that could also could increase serotonine. Well I'm really scared but I Will try it. If You want to I can tell You how I'm going. Or if anyone want to write to me to ask me if it is working You can ask me. I think the most important thing is to be happy in this Journey of life. Greetings from Argentina! Happy new year to everyone!! Blessings for this 2023!!
@@Ricalloo thank You very much!! And thank You for sharing your experience! Today I started the 87,5 mg I Will take this dose for 3 months, lets see what happens ☺️ feel free to ask me how it goes 🙂 wish You the Best!!! 🤗
@@Ricalloo I didnt tell You this. When I started taking sertraline I had depresion, strong anxieaty, intrusive thougths, social fobia, and I started having a little paranoia that was when I decided to go to a psiquiatrist. My symtones went away in two or 3 months, excepto some anxieaty that I can cope with... Well thats My story ☺️
@@marielacores9580 good to hear. Everyone has their own experiences. I’m glad your getting better. It’s a lot easier to sympathize with someone if you’ve experienced their pain first hand.
Never feel shame I know that feeling but if they help take them I been on 30mg for yrs and am now seeing how I do without them coming off slowly with medical advice.👍
Thanks for recording and posting this! I find your story similar to my own. Had my breakdown a few months ago, and I was given this medication and have been doing therapy. Even though healing isn’t always linear, so far, so good. Wondering what the reasoning was behind your or your doctor’s decision to taper off and stop taking Citalopram. Do you feel it was related mostly to shame as you mentioned? You’re on your way and are doing the right things. There are so many of us right there with you!
Thanks for your reply. To answer your question, my doctor told me that users of SSRIs can have permanent effects if they use it long enough. I guess my doctor thought I was good to go after 4 years, and I was for about 3 months. Sadly it didn't last.
What happens when you get older tho do you really have to take for the rest of your life that's what scares me I just got prescribed it for my paranoia and anxiety
Xanax, Adderall, Lexapro and others can help in taking care of Depression, Anxiety, ADHD and PTSD, have benefited so much from Adderall for my anxiety and depression to get some see below info they also guide newbies on dosage??
hey - did you find that your side effects the second time round have been less or shorter in time? I am back on 20mg after being ok for 3 months too and jeez i forgot how bad the side effects were
My wife says a good thing and that is...What is the side effects if you dont take the medicine. For me life threatening. Cant function. Fysical and mental pain. Cant go on trips etc. I have Lithium. In period I have to shit in like 10 minutes. Better that running thru woods everywhere than not function and cant be a part of the trip.
i did take it for 8 months and havent helped like it did help me a previous time in about 6 months so now im on mirtazepine the worst thing for me to move on is the knowledge of wasted time in the past i cant move over it like the personal development and carer wise bc i was unemployed for long time i just feel so bad with it, that no matter what i do i will never be enought or have enought and so suicidal thoughts are with me everyday thx for letting me share, good luck to all!
I have heard that sometimes a specific SSRI doesn't work with some folks. You might ask your doctor about higher doses, or alternatives. And in the short term, maybe ask them about something like a benzodiazepine. This is only because SSRIs take so long to get going.
This might be helpful the next time you decide to come off your medication taper off very slowly over a period of six months to a year. The body takes time to adjust when you come off a powerful brain altering medication so come off slowly when your good and ready and the best of luck to you.
You must come off this really slowly, if you don't, the results are dreadful, to say the least and could quite easily lead you to a whole world of regret, well not for you but your family and friends.
I am doing a micro-taper off my 20MG dose of Citalopram. I have been on it over 10 years. I have quit twice before but always ended up back on, the last time so I could function at work. Today is different because I am retired and I have a lot more insight into my mental landscape. I have been doing things like energy work, breath work, lots of journaling, meditation, sleep. Also, I am off flour, sugar and grains for 11 mos now, so I feel as though I have more clarity. I hope I will be successful this time because I am tapering super-gradually. Forgive the bitterness here, but my experience has been that doctors don't know jack sh** about how to taper off Citalopram. I went to The Withdrawal Project for support this time around and they have been great. I have tapered my dose from 20MG to 18MG for 19 days so far. At the 30 day mark, I will taper down another 10% off the 18MG, so 16.20 for a month, unless I feel symptoms returning. When I first got on Citalopram it was a life saver and in 2016 when my dose was doubled to 20MG I was in a lot of pain, but I am ready to be off it now and since I have 2 failures under my belt, I am being super cautious (i.e., slow) at this point. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope mine will be of interest to you.
You came of the Citalopram way too fast. The recommended safe taper is 10% of the previous dose. You need to sack your doctor, he or she gave you bad tapering advice. 6 weeks taper is fine, if you only been taking anti-depresants for a few months. I have been on 20mg for 18 years and my taper will take longer then 3 yrs. The drug company trials for anti-depresants never lasted longer then 3 months. The drug companies lied when they stated anti-depresants were not addictive. The drug companies used an euphemism and called the addiction "discountinuation syndrome", its all bullshit. Do yourself a favour and read a book by Jamies Davies Phd called "Cracked".
Interesting. I'm guessing the drug stayed in my system after I tapered for a few months until I hit some critical low and all my symptoms came back in full force?
@@Ricalloo No. The half life of Citalpram is 35hrs. People have reported having withdrawal symptoms 2 years after coming off anti-depresants. Look up Prof Irving Kirsch, Dr Mark Horowitz, Dr Joanna Moncrieff, Prof Gotzsche, Dr James Davies and Prof John Read; all are on TH-cam. You need to educate yourself, the doctors are naive, and persuaded by a broken medical model. You'll find the patients are way ahead of the money-self-interested- psychiatrists when it comes to medication tapering. The people I mentioned above all agree 10% reduction on the previous dose is a safe way to taper. Dr Horowitz recommends parabolic tapering or micro reductions below therapeutic levels. Seek, and you'll find plenty of support groups full of advice about tapering anti-depresants. There is no evidence to support the chemical imbalance in the brain theory, see. Prof. Irving Kirsch's meta-data studies on anti-depresants vs placebos, placebos win. Also the DSM is a book of fiction, and not scientifically evidenced, see. Dr James Davies. Mental disorders in this book are based on 29 psychiatrists in agreement, not scientific evidence. Up until 1974 homosexuality was classed as a mental disorder in the DSM-111 but hey, now its normal. Autism was classed as a mental disorder, but now it is not. The sad part is your doctor most likely believes in this book of medicalizing human behaviour and stress....poor thing.
@@Ricallooits not so much the actual drug but the effect the drug had on your nervous system that stayed for a couple months then the effect stopped and your nervous system said what the hell is going on where is the effect because you altered your brain chemistry through the drug the brain became dependent. Think of how long it took for the drug to start working they say 4 to 6 weeks after you titrate up dose by dose but really start noticing after 3 months full effect thats about how long it could take to notice "withdrawals" when you ween off.
Thank you for sharing your story. I've been dealing with panic disorder for 38 years. It sucks and taking medication everyday is no fun either. Celexa has helped me a great deal. The mind is so powerful and I hope all who deal with mental illness can find comfort.
Thank! Yeah I'm over 5 years into it now. I feel the worst for people who had this illness before modern medicine. I imagine a lot of people relied on alcohol.
@@RicallooRip
Thanks for sharing man , I'm 64 and live in the UK but still relate so closely to your journey.
I’ve been on Prozac for 30 years. I would be dead without it. I will never stop taking it. Good luck to you. ❤️🇨🇦
Indeed it has saved many people. That's why I dislike it when some people try and shame those on them.
Me too i will stay on my antideprepressants forever.
Have you tried to stop it before? Over the course of 30 years, did you have to increase dosages due to ineffectiveness of current dosage?
@@chinaculturalstories it does not go well for me if I stop. I need it. I have increased dosage over the years but it is the best med for me.
@@loiscassels8966 I see. Thanks for sharing! Wishing you all the best!
Been on celexa for over 10 years for anxiety. No issues with side effects. If it’s working for you, keep taking it and don’t listen to crazy people in the comments.
Thanks, I intent to as long as I have to.
@@Ricalloorip
Plan on being on them permanently! I’ve been taking Citalopram for 20 years. I tried to stop with tapering, but I decided that my quality of life is much more important than anything else! Good luck to you sir.
That could very well be true for me as well.
I agree with you too ! I will stay on my antidepressant forever. It doesn’t bother me as I can function well and my quality of life is good.
lets hope they screw you permanently in the future
Here here stay on for life if you need them I will if my current tapering off don't work been on 30mg for yrs.👍
@@zocco15az I lowered my dose from 30 to 20 mg. It took 3 weeks to adapt and I have no desire to go any lower, but I just wanted to be able to feel things a bit more. Feel life’s issues and learn to better deal with life. I plan to take this for the rest of my life. I’m a much better person this way, I think.
I was in EXACTLY to the T same symptoms as you did. Panic attack out of the blue at work. Took forever to get diagnosed and treated. I empathize with you so very much. God bless you for sharing your experience because it helps for us to know we are not alone in these battles. Don't feel ashamed about taking medications and seeking help. I was like that for a long time but I got over it because I needed it. But what really helps me now is having found God again, after a long time of being the prodigal child. He keeps me see life more clearly, through His eyes. But medications definitely are sometimes necessary. I know, I'm a nurse 😊 God bless you! Praying for your continued healing!🙏
Thanks, yes it was an ordeal I'd never wish on anyone. And my relationship with God and desire to keep living helped me get through... along with the 20mg citalopram daily.
I take 20mg citalopram for about 8 years now. Forgot to take it for a few days a couple of years back, felt great so carried on with coming off. Then overnight I was hit with terrible anxiety & agitation again like when I first got ill but maybe worse (I think that was the fear knowing I had to go through the awfull process of getting back on it). 6 to 8 weeks of hell before it kicked in again. I guess I'm just one of those people who's body doesn't make enough brain chemicals. I won't come off it again voluntarily and consider myself no different from anyone who relys on long term medication. Anxiety & depression are crippling I never understood just how bad it felt until it struck me. Up until then I was a very confident happy go lucky person & I'm pleased to get that back. No shame in getting help!
Yup, same with me. Though I made it a good 3~4 months. But when it came back I felt so helpless. Took me about 4-6 weeks back on to feel normal again.
Interesting story.👍🤓
Such an interesting story. You have a very calming voice. After years of struggling with severe depression, anxiety and stress and I admit I reached rock bottom. I was put on 20mg of citalopram which didn't bring much relief but side effects affected me. I went onto 40mg in June this year and I will honestly say it saved my life.
Thanks. I’m glad it’s helping you too. I agree the side effects were a bit tough, especially if you have health anxiety. That’s why I chose citalopram, as it seemed to have the lightest side effects.
@@Ricalloo over the years I have tried a few different ones but none have helped me like citalopram has, it has just brought balance to my life and let's me enjoy now rather than worrying about past or the future. My hardest moment was when stopped getting the bad anxiety and on days when had none started wondering whether this is how life should be like and for how long I had been suffering. I hope you keep getting better and have a good weekend.
@@alymac1997 you as well!
@@alymac1997 i did take it for 8 months and havent helped like it did help me a previous time in about 6 months so now im on mirtazepine the worst thing for me to move on is the knowledge of wasted time in the past i cant move over it like the personal development and carer wise bc i was unemployed for long time i just feel so bad with it, that no matter what i do i will never be enought or have enought and so suicidal thoughts are with me everyday thx for letting me share, good luck to all!
@@cezariuszreginia5300 like you realising how much of my life I have lost to anxiety has got to me. I finally feel like I can live my life but it does hit how much I avoided things and let it control my life. Keep your head up.
Incredible story. Really hit home for me. You are inspiring. I'm on my third round of Citalopram in 4 years. I always come off it after a year or so and then end up in the same predicament as before. This time I've learnt my lesson and I'll probably stay on it for the rest of my life. The impact of anxiety, depression and panic is simply soul destroying. As you rightly say, a diabetic takes insulin, so why shoud we be ashamed of taking drugs such as this. After all, it is simply a restoring of the seratonin in our brains and restoring us to who we are truly meant to be- alongside other factors such as diet, therapy etc. Thanks for posting this video- I really needed to hear this today. Good luck the rest of your journey too. I'm a few weeks behind you but hopefully it will be as positive regarding the effects of Citalopram as yours is. All the best!
Thanks. It helped me to watch other people talk about their struggles. So I thought I’d do the same.
Yes- it’s the shared human experience which helps us all.
Thank you for this story. It makes me feel less alone in my situation I’m on 40 mg currently and and in thearapy it has helped me tremendously I’m glad you are getting better ! Be proud of yourself for your accomplishments
Thanks, you too. Yes, I mostly made this because I felt alone too and felt comfort watching other people's testimonials.
Thanks for sharing your experience, I've been on citalopram for around 5 years, definitely helps. Started on 10mg now just recently on 30mg. Really feel 30mg is sweet spot for me. Take it for intrusive thoughts and actually feeling like my old self again.
Glad to hear it!
I started citalopram nearly 2 years ago kept starting and stopping I relapsed when I stopped them so back on them now and honestly it's the best to keep taking them they do help long term for panic attacks and anxiety
@@ant-lowe2346 Yeah that is a possibility. I'm going to try one more time, I think, in the future. But it's entirely possible it will be a permanent thing. We live lives very far outside our evolved biology. In societies very structured, with very stringent rules and expectations. Not very natural. It might just be like how Killer Whales in captivity have floppy dorsal fins.
You seem like a gentle soul I wish you well ,
Thank you! I'm doing much better.
Tk you for sharing....it was very helpful as I, too, recently had a breakdown after quitting citalapram. It was a terrifying experience and I'm still trying to recover. Your video has encouraged me to continue my own struggle.
How are you now?
Thanks for sharing bro. Had a similiar experience in my mid 30's out of nowhere. Celexa has helped me tremendously.
Thanks. Yeah was literally out of nowhere for me too. Wild.
Dear Ricallo, thank you for sharing this in a calm and honest manner. I had a panic disorder and intrusive thoughts. So I been on medication (Paroxat) for a long time. It feels very similar to what you describe. So thank you again! At the point in your video were you describe „covid“, „war“ … „worries“ - my thinking is: these „events“ are not the really cause of our anxiety. They can be a trigger. Slowly we have to learn to bear the bad feelings underneath them. Take care and all the best. Marc from Germany
Thanks. I appreciate it!
I also had what you might call a nervous breakdown on a work trip. I was in a different country for a week with a bunch of my bosses. I was in a bad place mentally, had really bad social anxiety, could barely function. It would have been a stressful situation in the best of circumstances but I was a complete wreck. It was a couple of years ago and I am thankful I feel a bit more confident now. I think SSRIs are extremely helpful, they gave me thee confidence to make a few friends and expand my social life. I still have issues with anxiety but it isn't totally taking over my life anymore.
That's good to hear! Aside from the panic attacks, it really has helped me with confidence.
What you are describing is antidepressant dependency. Happened to me after taking Sertraline for 2-3 years originally for anxiety. 6 months after weaning off I was in your exact position and had to go back on but changed to Paroxetine,then Prozac,then Citalopram etc etc now Fluvoxamine. 30 years later of a cycle of on/off and I am again trying to stay off them. What I and many others and doctors once thought was relapse of the original condition,are now realising that this worsening around 3 to 6 months after discontinued use,is dependency/withdrawal which is different to addiction,but just as debilitating. The original condition returns but even more severe,causing you to run back to your doctor begging to go back on them. 30 years later you end up still in the same position as I am now. If you could take antidepressants for life then that would be OK. Trouble is the brain develops a tolerance for the drug after several years known as poop out,which means they just stop working overnight. Also,more and more research into long term use of antidepressants are finding negative outcomes ,like an increased risk of dementia on certain medications. This is because only now are people getting to a stage where they have actually taken them for many years from the SSRI drugs only being introduced some 30+ years ago. I would suggest anyone taking SSRI'S for anxiety,should try their hardest by other means like mindfulness,meditation and all non pharmaceutical treatment available,to stay off antidepressants for anxiety. I am in that process right now,and there are many thousands on internet forum withdrawal sites,all trying to stop and stay off antidepressants. Don't be me 30 years in the future.
Hmm, interesting. I hadn’t heard this one before. Honestly, there’s so much unknown about these medications this might be true. I actually did not want to go back on medication after “relapsing”. My doctor wanted me to. But I held out for two weeks hoping it would pass. But it only got worse. Hopefully someday I can get off. Maybe the results are different depending on what is causing the anxiety? Mine seems to come from panic disorder.
It doesn't matter what condition you are taking antidepressants for. The medications are artificially keeping Serotonin levels higher,plus whatever other functions they are altering in the brain that no-one in the medical profession knows,as a lack of serotonin or a chemical imbalance has been proved not to be the reason or cause of these conditions,but a symptom. Like a runny nose is a symptom of hayfever,or pain is a symptom of a broken leg. The longer you use a drug to artificially keep a symptom away,the more the brain relies and depends on that drug,and consequently will not like it when you take it away. We are using antidepressants like a crutch for a broken leg,but then never throwing the crutch away,and the longer you use it,the more it's going to hurt when you do try. That's the process I and millions around the world are in now. The increased pain from throwing away the crutch. It will take a very long time to get accustomed again to walking without a stick,and it hurts. Antidepressants were only meant to be used for a short time to get you through a rough patch,a year maximum or thereabouts. Due to the dependency built up and the worsening again of symptoms when stopping,this is turning into lifetime dependency.
i completely agree. I stopped zoloft 1.5 years ago. The first year was HELL. non stop intrusive thoughts and anxiety. the next 6 months were easier and a learning experience having to deal with lifes problems without a pill. At the end of the day youll never get to the root of the problem by being parked on medication. it may seem nice but i feel stronger and more alive off them.
@@scottbagan7610 for how long you had been taking them before putting off
? thanks!!!!!
Don't think I or many people have any choice. If I want to keep my job, if I want friends and family to stick around I have to keep taking em.
I was never offered any other treatment.
I spent 1000s on therapy that was next to useless.
I guess it could be worse...
Thank you so much for sharing this, I think you're really brave. I'll be starting medication treatment for depression in the upcoming weeks and to hear people talk about their experience helps me calm down a bit.
Thank you, and good luck. Yeah when I restarted I watched a bunch of testimonials. Just hearing that other people are going through the same thing helps a lot.
Really good clip. I'm from Sweden. It sounds like the states are worse in stigma about medicine. We have all medicine for free. I have bipolar. There are many more if you want to test. I have tested many. All with some effect. But for me many SSRI is no good. I go to high.
@@TheWarmcoldsurfer That cool. With insurance the medication is negligibly priced, under a dollar for a 3 month supply.
Thank you for your video! Been a little over one week on this medication so far.. hope things get better
The waiting is the hardest part.
Thanks for your openness to share and I’m so glad that your treatment is working for you!
Hi, thank you for sharing your story. There's no shame being on citalopram, as your mother wisely told you. You can stay on them for life if need be. I think tapering should be done slowly though over a period of years rather than months. I believe the current theme is a 10% reduction of your current dose and hold until symptoms have abated before your next 10% of your new current dose. I'm on 5.2mg and holding now for 18 months, I'm not ready to reduce further yet. It's long and hard but you are young and therefore this is achievable should you decide to come off in the future. I hope you stabilise and feel well again very soon. Best wishes, Cheryl, UK.
Thank you, and great advice on the tapering.
Your on low dose didn't think prescribed such low dose shows your not that bad.🤓
Im on 10mg citalopram and it has stopped my anxiety and panic attacks in their tracks.
My mood has really lifted and im starting to enjoy life again.
However i dont just rely on the medication, i exercise, take vitamins, eat healthy, and get plenty of sleep, all which i intend to keep doing!
Awesome! Yes, I even add taking walks when it is sunny out. Helps a lot.
Ive been on 10mg of citalopram for the past 8 days, i never had any anxiety before but had a massive panic attack 6 weeks ago out of the blue. The fear of thinking i was going 2 have a heart attack/stroke/seizure has messed with me. How long did it take for you feel the benefits of citalopram?
@@TheRBM1 it took me the full 6 weeks to start feeling normal, unfortunately. But my doctor gave me benzos to get get through the ramp up time. I did get better, but had a lot of bad days. It sounds like you have exactly what I did.
@@TheRBM1 It took me the full 6 weeks to feel okay again. But my doc gave me benzos to fill in the gap. Just have to be careful as they are addictive.
Sounds very similar, im mid 30s also, had blood tests/ecg/xray and all negative. I am perfectly aware of whats going on and thats its all in my mind, health wise i know im in good shape, but my mind is telling me otherwise.
Ive been taken citalopram for around 5 years too. I recently dropped to 10mg for a few weeks but felt so depressed and anxious again so I've went back to 20mg and feel good again. I totally can relate to this alot. Thank you for sharing! You're doing amazing my friend!
So I've taken celexa for about 10 years but after my 1st year, I wasn't knowledgeable about it and my doc didn't tell me about tapering so I stopped it cold turkey. A year later, it came back and I went back on it. I changed doctors for sure back then after cold turkey and stay on it since. Now I wanna taper off from my 40 mg dosage but am kind of scared to feel withdrawals. This video does help me see your experiences. I don't really want to take this permanently honestly either.
Yeah I am the same way. I don't want to take it forever if possible, but have to accept that I may need to. Right now I am back on 20mg and I hope to eventually taper to 10 and see how I do on that for a long time instead of going completely off.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Stay strong, always forward.
I appreciate that you shared. It helped me as I’ve been white knuckling anxiety and depression and am going get help.
Great to hear! That was my problem for a long time, trying to take it all on alone. No shame in asking for help.
thank you so much for sharing this video. i just started my journey with citalopram for two months. it has increased my mood but not to were i need to be so my doctor upd my dose to 40mg been feeling low ambition lately and mood hasnt been the best hoping this wave passes and i can have some peace and happyness!!
Thanks, and yes it can take a while to go into full effect. Good luck to you!
Thanks for sharing your story! I’m just starting my journey with citalopram after a while of trying others with no results. Yes, I love your mom and her advice she is 100% correct! We all been there and I am okay with being in meds for the rest of my life because only I live in this body and mind. Hope you are thriving now :) sending love and hugs!
I hope this is the one for you. These are tough to figure out because they take so long to start working.
Although this is a video about anxiety, you are so calming to listen to. I'm going to be taking 10mg for the first time. I dread the first few weeks, but if I can deal with my disorders then I should handle it. I have panic disorder too and it's something people would have to have to understand. Just pure misery, I haven't left my house in five years because of it. Just that irrational fear of having a panic attack every day is so debilitating. I can handle a few baby attacks like you mentioned, but only if theres a legit reason and not super random like they are now. Hopefully you're doing well and same goes to those who are trying this medicine too. I can't wait to try and see how my life turns out. Thanks for the video!
Oh my gosh, that's rough. I am pulling for you. Yes, the first few weeks are rough. I took the full 6 weeks to get to manageable. My doctor gave me some benzos to get through the first few weeks, which helped. But you can do it, and i hope when it's all said and done you can get outside every now and then!
Thanks for the video. I am experiencing some really bad anxiety and depression and this video of yours has given me motivation to try out this medication and therapy. Thankyou!
Glad to hear it, that's why I made it. I hope you get better. I know the pain all to well.
@@Ricalloo yes, I am pretty much at the lowest point in my life where nothing is going right and everything is going wrong. But I am determined to beat this
@@tanthaman That's the right attitude to have. You have to want to get better before you can get better. Keep it up!
@@Ricalloo thanks so much. I'm subscribing to your channel because this was the video I needed to see today.
Just an update. I have now started therapy and have been prescribed citalopram. I plan to purchase it tomorrow and start my journey
Thank you so much for this vid. I got prescribed almost the same medication but was afraid of taking it (especially the ssri). I got a theraoist which told me that medication would be bad for me, i myself was afraif of beeing numbend and not be able to feel like i used to. but listening to your video feel so calming and gives me a lot of trust in doctors back an i also have a diferent therapist now. so maybe i`m going to give these meds another try.
Great to hear. Just remember they do have a long ramp up time, 4~6 weeks. Getting through that could be hard. But if it ends up working for you, could be worth it.
thanks for sharing with candour and vulneraility. Very much appreciated
Thanks for sharing. Our mental health struggles are some of the strangest things we try to comprehend and understand. My depression came back at the start of 2022, this time in the form of very low motivation and no drive. (Im 32 years old, and ive experienced many different forms of depression, anxiety, panic since i was 15. (whenever I think I've beat my struggles, a new manifestation of it forms ) So back on sertraline I went and I'm feeling great. There's some new research on the effects of micro dosing psychedelics and how it helps to "loosen up your brain" and how therapy can be very helpful while the brain is loosened up. I'm not big on substance use. For over 3 years now I've drank 0 alcohol, done 0 drugs except coffee and my ssri. But perhaps pyschedelics will be a viable option for some people in the future. Research is suggesting it.
Indeed, I am hoping much more research is done with micro-dosing to help people.
Be careful with the psychedelics. The people pushing it is people who often are against medicine. Let's se how it works but I'm not sure. It's like staying up to long smoking weed. Will fuck with the brain.
I just started Citalopram a couple weeks ago (10mg). It's been a life changer for me.
Awesome to hear!
What did it do for you?
I just want to say thank you. I'm starting with this soon, and I've been anxiety researching people's experience with this. I'm honestly so terrified because I'm such a deeply emotional person and I've seen people say it takes your emotions away but it would be so nice to just not have anxiety and want to unalive myself on a daily basis. And I'm terrified of weight gain. But I still want to try at least.
I'm probably going to rewatch this later on when going through the symptoms, just so I don't stop taking them.
It certainly didn’t take my emotions away. I still feel happy, sad, angry, etc. I just don’t have crippling panic attacks or anxiety anymore, writhing on the floor begging for help. Truly a nightmare existence.
But perhaps people react differently.
I’m having the same issue, mine came back after 32 years. I was fine sll this time. My intrusive thoughts are ocd-like and just junk and make no sense but they occupy my mind 24/7. Citalopram hasn’t helped, yet. Been on it for 5 weeks and feel no change. I still get panic attacks and sticky junk thoughts.
Sorry to hear that. I think at 5 weeks I was still struggling too. This med does take a while to work.
I’ve been taking antidepressants for over 27 years. I’ve been in Prozac, Wellbutrin and right now I’m on celexa for the las 12 years. Seven years ago
I was taking only 10 milligrams of celexa and I was feeling fenomenal, so I decided to stop it. Well it was the worst mistake ever! I relapsed and my depression was horrible. I had to go back on, but now I have to take triple of the dosage. I really don’t recommend to stop the medication unless you really change your lifestyle, going to therapy, exercise, meditate and so on. It took me like six years to start feeling myself again! 😢
Dang, sorry to hear that. For the 3 months I was off, I felt pretty good. But, alas, it didn't last. I'll probably be less likely to get off in the future.
Of course you couldn't come off them. SSRIs have extreme withdrawals especially after you've been on them longer than a year
We with you my friend ❤
Back in 2019 I was out on Citalopram with for some extreme anxiety and panic attacks. It worked great for most the time I was on it, but in late 2023 I noticed it was losing its effectiveness until eventually it stopped working entirely, and even started producing unique symptoms. I then began a cross-taper from Citalopram onto sertraline, and it did not go well. I started experiencing symptoms of major depression for the first time in my life. It got so bad that I decided to quit both medications cold turkey halfway through the taper - BIG mistake.
I do not know what happened to my brain during the process of coming off the drugs, but it was not the same after that. It’s been more than a year now, and I still feel symptoms of intense mental and physical discomfort that I never experienced before coming off the drugs. I feel like I’ve been brain damaged. Truly has been a life destroying event.
If you ever do decide you need to come off, I would suggest you stretch your taper for as long as possible and make the incremental reductions in dosage as small as possible. Whatever period of time your doctor prescribes to taper on/off any psychiatric medication, I would insist you double it.
@@50centpb7 thanks for the advise. Sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds horrific. I’m hoping you found some way to overcome it.
I did revolving door of various SSRIs. I always felt my relief should me more profound. I'd been in major depression and debilitating anxiety so long I lost perspective on what was "feeling better ". Then, I had occasion to be prescribed SNRI. Boom. Relief. Real lasting relief.
Awesome to hear!
Well done
Heck yah was it better for energy levels ? I feel so so so slow on my SSRI
@@iamthefiremanjj a little bit of fasting helps, too
Thank you for sharing this, my experience of panic disorder is very similar to yours though i am 60 now and first had major panic attacks in my 20s when SSRIs didn’t exist, and i also had anxiety issues as a child. I got better after 6 months by changing my lifestyle but at times of stress the symptoms returned and got v bad about 10 years ago, so i was prescribed citalopram. They have given me myself back and i can enjoy life again, the feeling of dread, the intrusive thoughts, the physical tensions, the over-sensitivity have gone. I do worry about long term use and tried to come off them a couple of times, most recently over a 1 year period, but the old symptoms cane back so i am back on them again. I am looking into psilocybin treatments currently as this is getting good results and may be a better, more natural treatment as i think it cd be better for brain health long term. I do think, as someone commented, that we live in a highly stressful world currently - war, environmental collapse, political divisions everywhere - and those of us who are more sensitive suffer with anxiety and depression. I know my brain and nervous system are vulnerable because my mother died when i was a baby and i grew up without her, and with a grieving parent who never dealt properly with his grief. So, with the help of SSRIs i am able to do therapy and explore these issues - and doing therapy is v important. I would also say get out in nature, pay attention to nutrition and exercise and be creative within a community. Thank you again and good luck on your journey x
Thanks, I often wondered how people dealt with this issue before modern medication.
Thx 4 your inspiring story means alot
Good luck and thanks for sharing.
Thanks. I’ve been back on about 5 weeks now. Feeling better.
Thank you. You have giving me hope. I am one week on 10 mg Citalopram. Like you, my mornings are really hard. Also, each day around 6pm I start really feeling better. I wonder if I switch to taking the drug at bed if my days will be better.
Yeah it can be miserable. But if you stick with it, it should get better.
I’ve been on it for 16 yrs. I’ve been tapering off over the last few months. It’s the last 1/4 that is Fn me up the most …. My god I’m dizzy and the anxiety depression is horrible
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you doing follow-up visits with your doctor? I spent about 6 weeks tapering off wand I was mostly fine, for about 3 months. But after 3 months my symptoms came back.
@@Ricalloo well they know far less than I do. It’s really the sleep problem that I think is the biggest problem. And the fact I work so much I can’t get much cardio in. That’s gold to me. Cardio is my best friend.
I just started Citalopram 20mg today and wow I am exhausted!!! The tiredness is crazy. I hope these work for my depression and anxiety
Yeah it makes me tired too. I use it a night because of that.
I like tiredness helps me sleep.👍
Thanks for sharing your story🙏 iv been on 5mg citalopram first week and 10mg on 2d week, so its been 2 weeks on the medication but i feel very up and down in my mood and kinda low and i have anxiety on and of, its really tough.. i hope it will pass 🙏
The early parts were the roughest for me, but I stuck with it and started feeling better.
Great story to hear thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
at 5:15 you said you took another drug that helped you can you tell me what ssri you were mentioning ? i want to do some research on it thankyou
Benzodiazepine. They’re little pills that improve your mood for 3~4 hours. But they’re addictive and the withdrawals can be worse than how you felt before. So I only took them when I was in really bad shape. I only used them while I waited for the SSRI to take effect, then stopped.
@@Ricalloo okay thankyou very much for responding
Getting anxiety from "body stuff" I can definitely relate. It's like some people are more aware of these things than others.
Medicin is love. It saves lifes. I would be dead if it didnt exist. Thank you researcher at Yale etc. My back was broken. Fixed by titanium steel. My mind is broken and fixed with Lithium etc. People dont criticize my back. Only my brain. Many people confuse medicine about happiness. It's not that. It's just letting me function.
Thank you for sharing
I appreciate it
I think you are doing the right thing by getting back on your meds
There's no shame in helping yourself
GOD gave us doctors and medicine to help us
GOD bless you and your family
Hang in there and talk to the LORD JESUS CHRIST
My journey since July 19.
I had an emergency eye surgery a morning before & everything was fine, then boom I experienced palpitations followed by insomnia for 3-4 days with only 5 hours of sleep. This went on for 2 months. I tried everything sleeping pills, prozac just to get my sleep but nothing worked. Eventually I tried homeopathy & I got my sleep back. Started getting my sleep, energy back. Then a month after that I went into depression, crying almost every day ( last time I cried was 24 years ago) . My vision did come back but my entire physiology had changed. Low energy, sad , tears , Low libido even before SSRI . I used to perform like a porn star, now I’m hardly waving.
My life is a disaster. Started taking Valdoxan since November 1st. 2 weeks later , I got suicidal dreams waking me up, I’m scared shit now . ( Valdoxan being the best tolerated & least side effects)
Btw my palpitations are back but not as Severe.
In 2 days, I’ll be trying new meds
Sorry to hear that. That sounds like a miserable time. Do you think it's related to the eye problems? Health anxiety can cause panic attacks, I know it did for me.
Please pleas wait. Lithium easy Seroquel harder but that one has saaaaved my life. It takes often four to six months to get that effect.Side effects but so effective. There is Lamotrigin. Cymbalta if the depression doesn't get up. For me bipolar that was not good. Mirtazapin is very soft. Like a nice sofa. I went calmer. Maby 3 kilos if you eat shit.
Emergency eye surgery implies that they gave you strong antibiotics. If so, could that be the source of your problems?
The reason i thought to ask this is that you mentioned suicidal dreams. Thats what happened to me on heavy antibiotics. The worst dread and fear ive ever felt. Usually peak at 4 or 5 am, and then pass after i had a bowel movement.
@@ronfox5519 - I’m on meds after trying everything else. First one gave me suicidal dreams(Valdoxan), present one is giving me lethargy ( Brintellix)
@@rajindarsingh1417
Sounds rough. Hope you find a solution soon.
Some information if anyone does consider coming off them then please look up something called the inner compass initiative and once you are there click on where it says the withdrawal project. There is tons of advice and it was started by a woman who was told she would be on them for life and is now thriving.
I took my first 20mg tablet two days ago, and still feeling rough, I will never take it anymore. I was shaking and restless and bleeding from my gums and many more side effects for few hours, I called my gp and I had to stop straight away, after 48hrs still feeling bad. Probably one of my worst experience feeling sick.
Oh that's too bad. I remember the first few days for me was nightmarish too. Very hard. But my doctor started me on 10mg to ease into it. It did take a few weeks for the side effects to wear off.
I agree. My doctor started me on 10mg following a nervous breakdown. Today is Day One and I’m feeling a lot less anxious than I was with a noticeable difference. No bad side effects so far.
I keep 25mg benadryl in foil packet on me rather than Benzo for acute anxiety/panic. I have had success at 5mg for 8 years but I know I metabolize some chemicals very slowly. I went off for around a year but eventually ended up using benadryl several times a month so just restarted meds. I tried 2.5mg but it was not quite enough. Emotional blunting, two types of sexual side effects and occasional disturbing thoughts when in close proximity to others are main side effects.
Also experience lower motivation. All these side effects at 5mg due to my sensitivity. I don't need any other meds for panic when on it but still keep benadryl for extra peace of mind but never need to take them. If you have panic disorder this is a miracle drug so don't want to overstate side effects but side effects are why I tried a one year break and ultimately decided I needed some amount of this medicine to function. I may try taking 2.5mg one day and 5mg the next day to see if that reduces some of the side effects.
That's fascinating, Benadryl huh? Does it make you tired?
Benadryl suppresses the central nervous system which then suppresses the fight or flight response. Yes it makes me tired for first hour and a half. I chew the tablet which is so bitter it knocks the panic down by up to half immediately. Takes about 15 to 30 minutes for benadryl to knock it down by another half. If my attacks didn't happen when driving I would consider just using Benadryl as needed for panic attacks.
When chew benadryl I let it sit in my mouth on my tongue and gums and avoid swallowing for at least five minutes as the bitterness effect lasts much longer and keeps panic away longer.
I’m glad the new therapist is helping you. Hopefully it will improve your life. I got put on sertraline 50mg and had similar side effects initially. Although your symptoms seem more hard core. The first day I took sertraline I was super nauseous 4 hours later but it was tolerable after. Nausea would come back after I took the meds but in 2 weeks it was less noticeable. Dry mouth also but seemed to improve over the 2 weeks. If you keep getting symptoms for a while longer than a few weeks it might be worth a shot to try a different SSRI? I’ve only been taking it for 18 days.
Thank you for making the video.
Thanks. I think I got pretty lucky in that the first one I tried seemed to work pretty well. Others might be even better, but it'd be hard to come off these just to try another. My only real concern with this med is the heart-rate issues it can cause. But I'm on a pretty low dose.
Wow, I really feel for you. What could have been a yoga, calisthenics, and diet regimen became all of this...
i watched your video very carefully i felt it was me doing it because i am going through the same situation right now, i understand how you feel, specially feeling lonely eventhough you have people on your side, what can i do so i wont feel lonely on this journey?? i am sad most of the time and i cry often, maybe you can help me it would be much appreciatted bro
Indeed the loneliness was hard. Sometimes i like to talk a walk around the neighborhood. This helps me feel like i am part of the community. Just looking around, seeing other people go about their day, etc.
Thank you
Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m also an anxiety sufferer with severe insomnia being a major component of it. I’m thinking of going on celexa as well bc it’s supposed to be milder than pretty much all the other ssris. How has it been with sleep on and off this med? Thank you
I also had pretty bad insomnia. Celexa helps me sleep much better, but I also take it at night before I go to bed. In this case the side effect is beneficial to me.
I had really bad insomnia too when I had anxiety. I've been on escitalopram for 3 weeks and I've seen significant improvement in my anxiety and my insomnia. I hope the insomnia will get even better though. It's so crippling to get through a day on 3 hours of sleep. :(
How’s it going after several more weeks back on citalopram? At the time of this video I think you’d been back on for 3 weeks, which is pretty early in antidepressant therapy. Were you able to stay with it and did it provide the same benefit as you saw on the 4.5 years previously? Hope you’re doing well❤
Thanks, yes i am doing okay now. Basically back to how I was before I got off. I'm hoping to try and reduce to 10mg for a long time to see if that works for me.
@@Ricalloo do you get side effects with the 20mg or do you just want to see if the lower dose will work just as well?
I’m pretty sensitive to meds so I actually started on 5mg of citalopram, for 2 weeks, then 10 mg for 2 weeks. I met my shrink today who upped it to 20mg so I’ll probably start that tomorrow. I’d tried escitalopram before but found it quite strong. thanks for sharing your experience
@@gts447 Thanks. My doc just gave me a list and I started with the one that seemed to have the fewest side effects. Luckily it worked and I never had to go through Rx roulette.
Thanks for sharing your story. I had a panic attack about 2 years ago. It was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. I took an SSRI for a short while as well as benzos. I was very resistant to meds but like you said, you reach a point where you will try anything. I went off the meds after a month and started lifting weights. I was good for about a year. I also found a book called DARE that really helped. About 3 months ago it started coming back so I am now on escitalopram again. It certainly helps and makes a huge difference. I also take ice baths or cold showers (Wim Hoff) as I feel that helps. Need to get back to working out.
Again, thanks for sharing your story, it’s nice to know your not alone. Check out the book I mentioned, it might help.
Indeed, I think the Internet has helped a lot of people feel less alone when it comes to these issues.
You are such a nice person have so much calm energy. I’ve been on Escitalopram Lexapro for over two years, unfortunately my depression still got worse, my doc added agomelatin and I was fine for a year, then it returned again. Then I switched to Zoloft and Im still waiting for the results. Don’t give up, always seek alternatives, and hope you will be fine!
Thanks!
I was taking Citalopram and I was waking up in the night with my heart pounding, it scared the hell out of me I felt like I was having a heart attack or something. I now take sertraline and I don't get that problem anymore.
Yeah I remember having a really terrifying nightmare early on in my medication routine. Luckily for me it went away after a while. I'm glad you were able to find an alternative.
@@Ricalloo thanks.
I am on 20mg, just started today, after going to the ER, 2 days ago, I have never been so scared in my entire life, I thought I was gonna die, thankfully my mom was with me during this or idk what I would have done. Really hoping this works, I don't want to feel this way anymore. ( never once have I ever wanted to hurt myself, I love life too much ) it's just so odd, I guess what I can't wrap my head around is that I felt so normal just 3 days ago then 2 days ago, boom it felt like everything stopped, but I can say this for a fact, if Celexa works, I wont stop taking it, I never want to feel this way again.
Very similar to my story. But I was 2 hours from home on a work retreat! Just out of nowhere total body shutdown. Went to urgent care, and they said they couldn't do anything for me. So I ended up in the ER. All tests negative. Apparently it was a sever panic attack. I guess repressing all my fears for years finally all just collapsed on me at once. Thank goodness for the meds. The hardest part is the ramp up time. It takes a good 4-6 weeks to take effect. But bare through it. Doc gave me some benzos to get through that ramp up time. Those helped. But careful as they are addicting. Luckily SSRIs are not.
@@Ricalloo I hope you're still doing well, I am making a lot of lifestyle changes slowly, trying to set some short and long term goals, and writing in a notebook, as well as talking with friends and family. So far everything is going well, and just today I was able to finally eat, I just wanted to say thank you, if I can remember, I will post another update in about 1-2 weeks.
@@nesmuri3771 Indeed, I also kept a journal, started exercising a little. Getting my appetite back was the toughest. Lost about 20 lbs! Eventually it came back. I kind of wish I could lose 20 lbs again, though. :P
After being on medication for years, I think six weeks is way too short a period of time to taper off medication. Unfortunately, urgent care is hardly useful, in my opinion, based on my own experiences. Did you ever think about whether your fear of dying was irrational? Also, did you ever think about your station in life, considering the fact that you are so lucky, being who you are and having a rewarding, well-paying career?
Also, I don't want to be intrusive, but I'm just intrigued. You mentioned in this video that you had feelings of loneliness, although you'd never felt alone before. Also, you said you live alone. Why no girlfriend or wife? Are you gay? Do you think this has something to do with the sudden on set of the symptoms you experienced? Maybe it could just all be manifesting itself now that you're a certain age?
Also, do you think the shame that you felt from not being able to live off the medication is due to pride?
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
I really enjoyed your presentation. It’s not hard to figure out that what your dealing with is fear. Fear of the unknown. And fear of death. These things are normal. And there is nothing to be ashamed of. Depression and anxiety are crippling. I have also dealt with both of these. To the point where I felt I had not hope. But then I turned to God, though His Son Jesus Christ. And everything changed. Instead of no reason to live. Now I have a reason. I have had the panic attacks. I have dealt with depression. Anti-depression medication is not the answer (been there). You will have to be on it the rest of your life. And once you’re in it for a while, it will be hard to get off. You were fortunate that I taper works as well as it did. You were smart not to get on the benzo train, even tho one every once in a while is somewhat safe. I am not a doctor (but I have experience many of your SXS) but there is a doctor, and His name is Jesus Christ. On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners Mark 2:17.” If you would like to know, more contact me. Or you can pick up the Bible and open to the gospel of John and ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will. Hope this helps! Praying for you. Josh
bro shut up
Thanks, sorry for the long reply. I try and reply to all comments. This one got missed somehow!
@@Ricalloo no problem. Happy to hear from you. How are you doing now? Josh
@@Josh_James76 Mostly back to normal, thankfully.
@@Ricalloo good to hear.
amigo, super done! 🔥
I've started this medication (on my third day) and I'm very anxious about it. I think my anxiety is making the side effects a little worse. So I'm trying to find some positive/neutral accounts of people because there is a lot of doom and gloom out there about meds
Hey J! Thanks for commenting. The 4-6 week working time can be a bit distressing, and the side effects unnerving, but at the end I think it is worth it. The side effects should wear off, and once it starts working you’ll feel better.
For me, it took the full 6 weeks my first time around, but only 3 for me second round. The hardest part of these meds is just keeping with them and not giving up. If you can do that, you should be on the right path to recovery.
Each individual can react differently to the meds, and this is only my personal experience, but I believe others share the same.
How are you now?
I struggle with my mental health and considering starting citalpram could it help with sleep too? Thanks
It did for me. I used to have really bad insomnia, now I fall asleep within 15 minutes.
@@Ricalloo thanks
Isn’t it difficult cutting those tiny 10mg pills in half? My old pill cutter just isn’t doing it very well, I’ll get like 70-30 cuts or it’ll even just crush part of it into powder. I just bought the equadose v2 pill cutter, which is pricey for a pill cutter, and it’s still not cutting them 50 50 but it is getting closer.😂😂😢
Yes, the 10s were very hard to cut. The 20s have a cutting line so much easier.
Currently in the same predicament, I was on citalopram after having a break down 6 years ago. I stupidly thought I no longer need them and decided to wean off them under drs supervision. The first 4 weeks was great but then I got Covid and it has wrecked my mental health. I am currently on week 4 20 mg and feel like I’m clinging on. Can I ask how your feeling now?
Yeah, sorry to hear that. I totally know the feeling. Now that I've been back on for ~6 months I feel back to "normal". Normal being... medicated. :P
Can anyone suggest me I’m feeling sleepy after taking meds and I’m in high school and these are important crucial years for me I dropped taking meds and depression anxiety came back now I’m on meds can anyone suggest me anything that’ll keep me going for school
HAS ANY1 Suffered with what i am describing? PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW THAT YOUR LIFE IS BETTER NOW TAKNG THIS MEDICATION..
I have just started this medication today ,my mood journey has be deeep depression stay layin in my bed , no drive no ambition nothing like has taken a massive toll on me i have no interest in anything .. After a horrible break up also not letting me see my daughter has ruined me many ways with a broken soul.
Im hoping this shall help me build mylife up again some how giving me motivation again as im so low inlife ... please do get back to me let me know if any1 had experienced what im going through.. Thank you God bless
I just finished 4 weeks on lexapro and I just feel very exhausted and low motivation does this go away can anyone chime in ? I almost feel worse in a way . Like idgaf about stuff maybe more depressed , I feel like I wasn’t depressed before and now I am
I can only speak to my condition, panic disorder, but it took me the full 6 weeks to start feeling normal again. I did make me tired, so I take it at night.
@@Ricalloo yah I’m just finishing 5 weeks and I feel a bit better it’s like a 10% benefits
Hello! Thank You very much for sharing your experience. Ive been taking sertraline 100 mg for 4 and a half years. From hearing your experience I came out with the idea of start talking 87,5 mg for 3 months, then 75 mg for 3 months, then 62,5 for another 3 months, then 50, then 37,5, then 25, then 12,5, and then 5 mg for the last 3 months. It would take me 2 years to come off. It sounds crazy but I think I Will try. At the same time I would have to increase serotonine by other ways such as going to the gym, eating food with triptofan, taking some natural suplement that relax me, doing things that I like, and sharing time with people I like, also now I'm thinking of doing some caritative work I think that could also could increase serotonine. Well I'm really scared but I Will try it. If You want to I can tell You how I'm going. Or if anyone want to write to me to ask me if it is working You can ask me. I think the most important thing is to be happy in this Journey of life. Greetings from Argentina! Happy new year to everyone!! Blessings for this 2023!!
Having a plan is a great idea. I probably went too fast, so I think your year idea is a great one!
@@Ricalloo thank You very much!! And thank You for sharing your experience! Today I started the 87,5 mg I Will take this dose for 3 months, lets see what happens ☺️ feel free to ask me how it goes 🙂 wish You the Best!!! 🤗
@@Ricalloo I didnt tell You this. When I started taking sertraline I had depresion, strong anxieaty, intrusive thougths, social fobia, and I started having a little paranoia that was when I decided to go to a psiquiatrist. My symtones went away in two or 3 months, excepto some anxieaty that I can cope with... Well thats My story ☺️
@@marielacores9580 good to hear. Everyone has their own experiences. I’m glad your getting better. It’s a lot easier to sympathize with someone if you’ve experienced their pain first hand.
Never feel shame I know that feeling but if they help take them I been on 30mg for yrs and am now seeing how I do without them coming off slowly with medical advice.👍
Thanks. Best of luck to you!
Thanks for recording and posting this! I find your story similar to my own. Had my breakdown a few months ago, and I was given this medication and have been doing therapy. Even though healing isn’t always linear, so far, so good. Wondering what the reasoning was behind your or your doctor’s decision to taper off and stop taking Citalopram. Do you feel it was related mostly to shame as you mentioned? You’re on your way and are doing the right things. There are so many of us right there with you!
Thanks for your reply. To answer your question, my doctor told me that users of SSRIs can have permanent effects if they use it long enough. I guess my doctor thought I was good to go after 4 years, and I was for about 3 months. Sadly it didn't last.
You tapered too fast read about hyperbolic tapering you need to taper way slower drop dose 10 percent per month .
@@Amnigaggh Hmm, interesting. And I though 6 weeks was sort of long.
@@Amnigaggh ive heard of 1/3 or 4th at a time but 10 % i think thats impossible bc first of all they dont produce it in so many different quantaties
@@cezariuszreginia5300 they want u to count beads and fill your own capsules that way
Thanks for this. hope you're off the benzos
Thanks. I only used them a few weeks as I awaited Celexa to kick in.
What happens when you get older tho do you really have to take for the rest of your life that's what scares me I just got prescribed it for my paranoia and anxiety
Don't know why it scares you been on them yrs and if need be will take till I pop my clogs.👍🤓
Iam ues antidepressant falxotein tablet is good
Xanax, Adderall, Lexapro and others can help in taking care of Depression, Anxiety, ADHD and PTSD, have benefited so much from Adderall for my anxiety and depression to get some see below info they also guide newbies on dosage??
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hey - did you find that your side effects the second time round have been less or shorter in time? I am back on 20mg after being ok for 3 months too and jeez i forgot how bad the side effects were
No too bad, honestly. Though I never had really bad side effects to begin with.
My wife says a good thing and that is...What is the side effects if you dont take the medicine. For me life threatening. Cant function. Fysical and mental pain. Cant go on trips etc. I have Lithium. In period I have to shit in like 10 minutes. Better that running thru woods everywhere than not function and cant be a part of the trip.
Your wife very wise.👍
Those side effects could be withdrawal symptoms from not taking the drug, not your underlying condition.
Surprised it worked congrats. I’m on pristiq 50mg and 1mg clonazepam three times a day just to make it through the day
I'm sorry to hear that. Mental health is a tough thing to deal with. I'm hoping you get better soon.
@@Ricalloo thanks bro
i did take it for 8 months and havent helped like it did help me a previous time in about 6 months so now im on mirtazepine the worst thing for me to move on is the knowledge of wasted time in the past i cant move over it like the personal development and carer wise bc i was unemployed for long time i just feel so bad with it, that no matter what i do i will never be enought or have enought and so suicidal thoughts are with me everyday thx for letting me share, good luck to all!
I have heard that sometimes a specific SSRI doesn't work with some folks. You might ask your doctor about higher doses, or alternatives. And in the short term, maybe ask them about something like a benzodiazepine. This is only because SSRIs take so long to get going.
Just stay away from benzos. I'm fighting for my life every day for the last 3 years.
@@louisebam1466 You have to be careful for sure. I was on a low does, 0.25mg for a month until the SSRI took effect, but they are highly addictive.
@@Ricalloo Rip
This might be helpful the next time you decide to come off your medication taper off very slowly over a period of six months to a year. The body takes time to adjust when you come off a powerful brain altering medication so come off slowly when your good and ready and the best of luck to you.
Thanks, i will definitely come off more slowly if I try again.
Good advice 👍
When do you take it?
At night, right before I go to bed.
How are you now buddy?
Much better. Back to being normal. Thankfully. I hope to drop from 20mg to 10mg in the near future and see if that helps.
@@Ricalloo I think that if you want to get off in the future, you will have to taper for 1-2 years.
1 year later. How is life? @@Ricalloo
@@jrman413 Been pretty good. I'd like to try getting off again, but probably wait for summer. Only real change is my hair is longer!
If u live in Canada let me know
Is your name actually “Ricardo”?
No.
Sound ie very low
Yeah sorry, just recorded it with my phone. I'm not an pro.
I was on 10mg for 6 months and have been off it for one month. Have hard days.
I hope you get better!
Don't worry you can always go back on them.👍
I started this today for SAD.
Seasonal affectiveness disorder?
@@Ricalloo Yeah, hope it works.
Try 5000IU's of vitamin D instead.
Everyone's a happy when they get D
@@Sandi_shores_lands_fish Haha wellspoken, Sir! Vitamin D changed my life!
Destroyed me
You must come off this really slowly, if you don't, the results are dreadful, to say the least and could quite easily lead you to a whole world of regret, well not for you but your family and friends.
That's why my doc is bringing me off slowly didn't know your advice thanks👍
6:45
I am doing a micro-taper off my 20MG dose of Citalopram. I have been on it over 10 years. I have quit twice before but always ended up back on, the last time so I could function at work. Today is different because I am retired and I have a lot more insight into my mental landscape. I have been doing things like energy work, breath work, lots of journaling, meditation, sleep. Also, I am off flour, sugar and grains for 11 mos now, so I feel as though I have more clarity. I hope I will be successful this time because I am tapering super-gradually. Forgive the bitterness here, but my experience has been that doctors don't know jack sh** about how to taper off Citalopram. I went to The Withdrawal Project for support this time around and they have been great.
I have tapered my dose from 20MG to 18MG for 19 days so far. At the 30 day mark, I will taper down another 10% off the 18MG, so 16.20 for a month, unless I feel symptoms returning. When I first got on Citalopram it was a life saver and in 2016 when my dose was doubled to 20MG I was in a lot of pain, but I am ready to be off it now and since I have 2 failures under my belt, I am being super cautious (i.e., slow) at this point. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope mine will be of interest to you.
Great advice, you are right, doctors only know what the drug companies tell them through pharmaceutical paid speakers, such as other Drs.
You came of the Citalopram way too fast. The recommended safe taper is 10% of the previous dose. You need to sack your doctor, he or she gave you bad tapering advice. 6 weeks taper is fine, if you only been taking anti-depresants for a few months. I have been on 20mg for 18 years and my taper will take longer then 3 yrs. The drug company trials for anti-depresants never lasted longer then 3 months. The drug companies lied when they stated anti-depresants were not addictive. The drug companies used an euphemism and called the addiction "discountinuation syndrome", its all bullshit. Do yourself a favour and read a book by Jamies Davies Phd called "Cracked".
Interesting. I'm guessing the drug stayed in my system after I tapered for a few months until I hit some critical low and all my symptoms came back in full force?
@@Ricalloo No. The half life of Citalpram is 35hrs. People have reported having withdrawal symptoms 2 years after coming off anti-depresants. Look up Prof Irving Kirsch, Dr Mark Horowitz, Dr Joanna Moncrieff, Prof Gotzsche, Dr James Davies and Prof John Read; all are on TH-cam. You need to educate yourself, the doctors are naive, and persuaded by a broken medical model. You'll find the patients are way ahead of the money-self-interested- psychiatrists when it comes to medication tapering. The people I mentioned above all agree 10% reduction on the previous dose is a safe way to taper. Dr Horowitz recommends parabolic tapering or micro reductions below therapeutic levels. Seek, and you'll find plenty of support groups full of advice about tapering anti-depresants. There is no evidence to support the chemical imbalance in the brain theory, see. Prof. Irving Kirsch's meta-data studies on anti-depresants vs placebos, placebos win. Also the DSM is a book of fiction, and not scientifically evidenced, see. Dr James Davies. Mental disorders in this book are based on 29 psychiatrists in agreement, not scientific evidence. Up until 1974 homosexuality was classed as a mental disorder in the DSM-111 but hey, now its normal. Autism was classed as a mental disorder, but now it is not. The sad part is your doctor most likely believes in this book of medicalizing human behaviour and stress....poor thing.
@@Ricallooits not so much the actual drug but the effect the drug had on your nervous system that stayed for a couple months then the effect stopped and your nervous system said what the hell is going on where is the effect because you altered your brain chemistry through the drug the brain became dependent. Think of how long it took for the drug to start working they say 4 to 6 weeks after you titrate up dose by dose but really start noticing after 3 months full effect thats about how long it could take to notice "withdrawals" when you ween off.
@@1MNUTZthanks. I suppose a 6 month tapper would be better. I hope to try again soon. Been back on for a year and a half now.
@@Ricalloo a 10% per month liquid taper is the safest option look up Dr. Josef on youtube on how to taper medication.