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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 9:17:26
Last Monday I was obsessing pretty bad and it continued through Wednesday. I was referred to an article by Dr. Steven Phillipson about relationship substantiation obsessions and realized that that's my particular form of OCD. After reading this article, my obsessions started to subside and by Friday I was feeling almost like my old self, with no obsessions or anxiety. Saturday I got up and ran errands all day and then went to a charity event with my husband and some of his coworkers. I had a great time and had about 6 glasses of wine to drink. I wasn't drunk by any means, but had I continued drinking, I would have been. I didn't take my meds that night – for some reason if I've had more than a glass or two to drink, I don't take my meds. Sunday I woke up and had big plans to start decorating my house for Xmas and do some baking. My husband went to a football game so I could do whatever I wanted. Instead of doing anything I had planned to do, I did nothing. I just sat and watched TV all day. I was feeling some anxiety and started to worry that I would wake up Monday morning depressed and obsessing again. For the past couple weeks, my cycle has been to get up on Monday and be very sad, obsessing and depressed. By the end of the week, I'm feeling much better. Then Saturday and Sunday come and by Sunday evening I'm getting anxious and worried and possibly obsessing.
I've never been this up and down with my obsessing and anxiety before. Why is this happening?
Posted by mattsit on December 7, 2004, at 9:27:34
In reply to Up and down anxiety - please read, posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 9:17:26
Do you, by any chance, drink alcohol on the weekends like you did at the event? I know with myself after drinking alcohol I tend to be very anxious the next two days or so.
Posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 9:57:56
In reply to Re: Up and down anxiety - please read, posted by mattsit on December 7, 2004, at 9:27:34
No, not usually. I've never had this problem in the past when I've drank, but I've also never been this up and down. Its almost like I'm relaxing because the end of the week is coming, and then on Sunday's I know I have to go to work on Monday and I get anxious. I don't hate my job, but it's not a dream job either (not many are). I just don't want to keep going up and down like this.
Posted by mattsit on December 7, 2004, at 12:38:26
In reply to Re: Up and down anxiety - please read, posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 9:57:56
Oh believe me, I do the very same thing. By even thursday Im relaxing and ready to be myself for the weekend. Mid-day sunday i start panicking with the work-week coming. I think its because Im always afriad im screwing things up at work, and then I'll lose my job, and then i'll be homeless...how can I support my family, and the worry and anxiety builds and builds and builds. Having been on Lexapro 3 months now, I feel great, and dont let my anxiety run away out of control. I do however, feel myself more anxious when I drink...last week I drank 3 nights in a row, and felt very edgy the next two days.
Posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 12:53:46
In reply to Re: Up and down anxiety - please read, posted by mattsit on December 7, 2004, at 12:38:26
My anxiety hasn't done this before in the past, that's why I'm so confused by it. Normally I'll start obsessing, it'll run its course and then its over. The anxiety will hang around for a while, but I feel like its been here longer than it should. Stress aggravates depression and anxiety and I've got a lot going on at work, not to mention the holidays. I haven't been exercising like I used to either.
Did you take anything prior to Lexapro and what dose are you taking now? Do you have any side effects from it?
I know exactly what you mean about worrying about losing your job, becoming homeless, losing my mind, not having anywhere to go, having no money, etc. Thats one of my ruminating thoughts. It starts out small, like "Oh no, I'm running late", then turns into i could get fired, i won't have any money, my husband and I will break up and I won't be able to take care of myself, I'll become homeless....it just goes on and on until I'm scared out of my mind. Anxiety is great, huh??
Posted by mattsit on December 9, 2004, at 9:01:52
In reply to Re: Up and down anxiety - please read, posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 12:53:46
Oh yeah...I completely have the same thoughts. I can be doing perfectly fine...like I was yesterday and this morning, then I hear my boss talking about bringing back a former employee...and I start worrying...will I be replaced, I wont be able to ever find another job...I dont qualify for anything....I wont be able to learn a new industry, my wife and I will starve to death...it goes on and on.
I am currently on Lexapro 10 mg. I tried paxil two years ago but that made me too dull...no feelings, no emotion ever. Right now the only side effects I seem to have is morning groggines that doesnt wear off until about lunch time, and sexual side effects - little interest, and no completion.
Posted by barbaracat on December 11, 2004, at 1:41:37
In reply to Up and down anxiety - please read, posted by tampagirl70 on December 7, 2004, at 9:17:26
I have to second the alcohol thing. I love wine. I can drink many many glasses of chardonnay because I love the taste and because it is the quickest way to calm anxiety. Plus, it's fun at a party. But I always pay for the next two days. Six glasses is alot, whether or not you got drunk.
I've finally realized that if I want to truly get better I have to stop drinking. In trying to understand the mechanism, I've been researching and turning up all kinds of very interesting things about alcohol's neurochemical properties, how it alters dopamine and norepinephrine receptors primarily and less so opiod and serotonin. It takes about 90 days to reset the dopamine functioning, so if you've been drinking on the weekends, you're still a drinker if you're within that 90 day period.
Too bad because I have such fun with the stuff and will most likely imbibe over the holidays. But after reading some of this material, I'm quitting after the new year. I understand alot better now why the next day and the day after has me feeling like crap. Plus, if the neurochemical brew wasn't enough, think about what all that sugar is doing to your poor system. Reactive hypoglycemia from all that sugar is a definite cause of anxiety.
This is the end of the thread.
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