Esther 0 Posted March 12, 2014 Heyyyy everyone. I'm new. I'm 24, married with two kids. My battle with anxiety and panic started after I came off my meds. (Citalopram20mg) cold turkey. I didn't know at the time that I was suffering from severe withdrawals. I didn't even know what panic attacks and anxiety was. Anyhoo i went back on my meds cause i thought I was a nutcase. But after being back on my meds for a year now I know its time to slowely taper off.. Let myself feel and accept the anxiety. And not fight it. Become unafraid of my symptoms and start to recover. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JungleJulia 235 Posted March 12, 2014 Hey Esther! Welcome to Anxiety Central You'll find plenty of support and friends going through similar issue here xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Esther 0 Posted March 12, 2014 Thank you so much hun. So looking forward to getting to know people and supporting others. I am so bad at things like this though lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
janeabeth 10 Posted March 12, 2014 I have recently come off Citalopram 20mg,was on them for 17yrs!! i did it gradually over about a 6 week period under doc's supervision,and yes i still had withdrawl issues! he started me on 20mg one day 10mg the next for a bout 10days,then 10mg a day,then 10mg every other day! It did take quite a long time but i had been on them for years! good luck!!x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gilly 1086 Posted March 12, 2014 Hi esther, welcome to AC I have never taken meds, it can be done. Wean yourself off the citalopram gradually to minimise any affects, it's the effects of coming off the med, body levelling out again, that can cause a surge of anxiety, and symptoms and then you fall into that vicious cycle. Doing it gradually lessens that. You can do it, and we are here to support and encourage you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bones0013 43 Posted March 12, 2014 Hi esther, good luck coming off your meds. Ive taken the same thing for 13 years. I didn't know the withdrawals were that bad. Something else for me to worry about Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ventaria 0 Posted March 13, 2014 Hello! Im new as well and im the same age as you are. Im actually wanting to come off of my meds being on them for 16 years (Zoloft and other meds) and im terrified. Im so afraid of losing my job and my panic and anxiety is still very hard to deal with. What did you go through when you stopped cold turkey? Are you under Drs supervision? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james1979 1 Posted March 13, 2014 Hello everyone ! I`m new too. Been experiencing anxiety for most of my life but need a bit of reassurance with new symptoms. I`ve been dealing with upper back pain for around 2 years due to a physical job which I have now left. Within the last few months I`ve been experiencing a burning sensation in my legs, they sting quite a bit aswell. Makes you feel like aaaaaaggggghhhhhh !! I`m thinking that maybe could of come about because of the stress the upper back caused me. Any thought more than welcome. James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JungleJulia 235 Posted March 13, 2014 Hey James, welcome to you also! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james1979 1 Posted March 13, 2014 Thank you!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Holz 64 Posted March 13, 2014 Heya Esther and hey James welcome! You have come to the right place!!!everyone ere is great!!!!! We all help each other through and we all a Lil crazy which helps x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james1979 1 Posted March 13, 2014 Thank you ! Always helps being a little crazy in my opinion ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gilly 1086 Posted March 13, 2014 Hello everyone ! I`m new too. Been experiencing anxiety for most of my life but need a bit of reassurance with new symptoms. I`ve been dealing with upper back pain for around 2 years due to a physical job which I have now left. Within the last few months I`ve been experiencing a burning sensation in my legs, they sting quite a bit aswell. Makes you feel like aaaaaaggggghhhhhh !! I`m thinking that maybe could of come about because of the stress the upper back caused me. Any thought more than welcome. James Hey james, welcome to AC I had burning in my legs for close to 2 years, and yeah they did sting in places too, it was awful. My doctor said it was stress and in the end I realised he was right. Took me too long to understand it but it was stress. Epsom salt baths became my saviour, couple of cups of epsom salts in a bath 2-3 times a week, helped to relieve the tension and the magnesium calmed the nerves. Tell me does the burning get worse at night and when you are trying to relax, and not feel as bad when you are walking about? I couldn't bear to wear jeans for a while, the rubbing of the fabric made my skin sting, especially on my thighs. All that has gone away now my anxiety has improved, sometimes flares up but it doesn't worry me anymore because i know it's stress, so it doesn't last more than a day or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james1979 1 Posted March 13, 2014 Hi Gilly. Many thanks for the welcome. Yes I totally get the jeans on the legs problem. That hasn't been too bad lately but it's more on my shins and feet. Also a bit on my arms occasionally too. I agree it's more of a problem when trying to relax, definitely. Don't seem to have it first thing in the morning though. Guess I'm still a bit undecided what it could be as a rheumatologist said he thought it sounded a bit like fibro but didn't actually fully diagnose me with it. I personally don't think it is as I don't really have the other symptoms like headaches and IBS etc. A neurologist is doing a few tests like scans etc but he said that it could be stress/anxiety related. He's the first doctor who has actually told me it could be that. Many thanks for the magnesium advice, very much appreciated. I'm off to buy a huge box of epsom salts ! I guess you can't really ignore these painful symptoms but do you have any other tips regarding that ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gilly 1086 Posted March 13, 2014 I thought about fibro too but like you didn't have any of the other symptoms, I don't know if I can give much more advice apart from try not to focus on it, distract as best you can, and don't worry (easier said than done, I know) I used to have so many baths or showers just so I didn't feel the burning. It did start on my lower legs and feet, it was every single night from the knee down for about 3 months. But it moved about after that, besides my legs I had it on my arms too and my back, and scalp I think the only place that escaped it was my stomach. I remember trying putting aloe vera gel on after a bath, I found that pretty soothing and relieved it for an hour or so. Make sure they have checked your B12 levels as that can cause it, I only know this because I have to have B12 shots every 3 months (had my colon removed a long time ago) For me the doctor checked that and my thyroid to rule those out, when they came back fine it was attributed to stress, which I had been under a large amount of. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james1979 1 Posted March 13, 2014 Thank you Gilly. Very much appreciate your help. The neuro is checking B12 so will tick that part off soon I hope. Deep down I'm pretty sure it's stress/anxiety. Just need to rule things out. Just a bit annoying as the pain naturally makes you feel more stressed ! Oh what fun ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
