Mental health is a bitch

Cymbalta nausea is no joke. I will be beginning week three of Cymbalta, week 2 of 60 mg of Cymbalta and the nausea does not seem to be letting up. At times it’s definitely worse than the first week. I’m waiting for the energy to kick in that some people say they get as a result of taking Cymbalta.

I do feel that I am more calm anxiety wise but my focus is still absolutely awful. My energy is still in the tank but I’m going to give it my best try to see if I can get some benefit out of it. Yes, improved anxiety is good BUT if I have no energy to do a damned thing, what good is good anxiety levels? Schoolwork does not do itself.

I’ve reached a point with my anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and depression that I’d be willing to try ECT. I know that may sound like an instant gratification solution but I’ve been fighting this crap for nearly 30 years. Pills don’t work. I’m starting to question whether The Serotonin Theory for depression an anxiety is not what’s going on with me.

I know that I’ve dealt with anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD from childhood trauma but for decades doctors have tried to use treatments that are based in the Serotonin Theory and it’s never worked. What’s the answer? I don’t know. I haven’t spent a ton of time researching treatment that has come about since most of psychiatry began relying primarily on The Serotonin Theory.

I just really wish that something else was available to try. I’m desperate. Once I finish my degree I want to work. I want to be financially secure. I want to contribute financially to my family. I want a normal existence. I want to be a good example for my daughters of how to overcome obstacles and get up everyday and accomplish things and I’m afraid that my laundry list of psychiatric drama will be a wall in front of my ability to be successful of the things I want.

There is no normal but I want normalcy!

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February 4, 2018

Whats frustrating is that it seems there are more herbal remedies available in Europe. It’s like why cant there be something to take the edge off that doesnt desensitize me to everything else 😛

February 4, 2018

Coming off cymbalta is kind of a bitch, too. :/ I’ve been thru all of the meds- trintellix and ability were my most recent successful combo- but I’m considering ECT as well. (Although it’s not necessarily instant gratification. But admittedly quicker than years of meds)

And you often still need meds after, just not as many in most cases, from my research.

Good luck, I hope you feel better.

February 4, 2018

❤️

February 5, 2018

Hello, fellow mental health sufferer here.

I was on Cymbalta for five years. It worked quite well for me (energy/motivation as well as less anxiety) but took several weeks until I really noticed a difference. As time went on it just made me feel numb, though, so I weaned off it, which was hell, and took several months to recover from.

What has been working wonders for me since coming off antidepressants, is a) good quality vitamin supplements of B6 complex, zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin D and fish oil, and b) avoiding or cutting down sugar, gluten and dairy from my diet, or generally anything processed which is normally high in these things (generally an asian type of diet makes me feel the best, which perhaps makes sense because there is a much much lower incidence of depression in asian countries). If I eat too much processed food or gluten it’s like a switch flicks and I get a bout of depression, every time – brain fog, needing to sleep for 12 hours, zero motivation and lots of anxiety/dark thoughts. An integrative GP I see who specialises in how nutrition and hormones affect mental health says that in her experience, a good vitamin supplement and diet regime has helped so many people with depression long term when medication only worked temporarily (if at all). She did a blood test to look at all my levels and found I was quite low in zinc, iron and vitamin D as well.

Regular exercise (intense exercise, like HIIT, get your heart rate pumping HARD in a short amount of time), and occasionally caffeine supplements (one cup of coffee’s worth in the morning) helps me a lot as well, but mostly eating right.

Sorry if you have already tried these things but if not, I would definitely consult an integrative GP that specialises in this area, do a lot of research into how you diet might be affecting your mental health and try it out.

February 5, 2018

ALSO – alcohol is such a horrid depressant, it always helps if I stay away from it (but I often fail because I get a lot of anxiety in large crowds so turn to booze in these situations) xD