Posts by Gerald Torres2

Sophia Moore38 said:As far as going out goes, that isn't really my struggle.
I work, I have a kid, and I try my best to just live a normal life...
But it’s a constant battle.
Honestly, I've had enough of the pills; besides the side effects, they caused me to put on 15 pounds.

If you don't mind me asking, what would you say is actually your biggest hurdle?

wiredskipper45 said:I cured my agoraphobia on my own, just using my own damn strength. I was twenty then and had zero clue what was actually happening to me; I didn't even realize I was dealing with a mental health issue. once you actually become aware of it, though, it gets harder to fight. at least that's how it felt for me, because I started identifying too much with those *damn diagnoses I carry. :/
energy healing helped me a little bit with anxiety this past summer, but I guess you'd have to go every single day for months to see anything lasting. and who actually has that kind of money? not me. 🙂

Honestly, I spent three years mistaking my agoraphobia for low blood pressure or a sugar crash, haha. It wasn't until some specialists put it in writing that I realized what was actually going on. And just like you, once I finally understood it, I ended up sinking even deeper into it.
I used to go to bioenergy sessions using the Zdenko Domančić method. Usually, it's free and you just show up whenever you feel the need, maybe two or three times a year. You just leave a donation of whatever amount you want... if people are broke, they just bring a thank-you note and a box of chocolates, and nobody gives you a second look or judges you for it.

Sophia Moore38 said:Man... I am right there with you, friend.....
🙂🙂
So, what’s the move here?
Has anyone actually found success with alternative treatments?

About a year and a half ago, bioenergy work completely wiped out my agoraphobia. It only took four sessions. It hasn't come back since, which is wild, because before that, I couldn't even dream of stepping foot outside without feeling like I was going to pass out. It also significantly dialed down my anxiety at the time, though obviously, that fluctuates whenever new stressors pop up....
But the agoraphobia—the thing that basically cut me off from the entire world—is gone, and hopefully, it stays that way forever. I am endlessly grateful to those bioenergy practitioners for making that happen. And just to be clear, this happened while I wasn't on any medication; it was right after I stopped taking my pills, when things were at their absolute worst. 😍

David Bishop4 said:Joe, I hear you, but at the end of the day, we're all fighters, and we'll find our way through this too. 😉

Unless things go sideways—then life just keeps moving on without us. 🙂

David Bishop4 said:You really went through the ringer... I have no doubt you'll eventually find the right medication that works for you, but I know how terrifying that period of waiting and trial-and-error can be when you're feeling this unwell. Just please, don't give up. I had a similar experience during my first panic attack; I completely shut myself inside the house and curled up in bed, unable to even step out into the yard by myself. After starting medication, I was fine for about five or six years—I didn't need any anti-anxiety pills and could manage my nervousness on my own. Clearly, therapy was also necessary, because here I am, right back at the beginning.

Yeah, that's exactly it. There was a stretch where I thought I was doing okay—like, manageable—but it doesn't last forever. Life always finds a way to knock you sideways again eventually.🙂

David Bishop4 said:Oh, it definitely sounds like it wasn't for you! 🙂 But I really have to commend you, though—given how rough things were, the fact that you were still functioning and getting out and about is impressive. Seriously, bravo. I tend to be a bit of a homebody myself, and when I'm feeling under the weather, I just want to hide from the world. That's why, as soon as my meds wear off (God willing, they work), I head straight to psychotherapy.

My husband basically had to physically drag me everywhere just to keep me from losing my mind completely. There were times when I could barely even speak; I'd be mid-sentence and realize I was drooling without even noticing. It was incredibly embarrassing...
And he wouldn't let me stay stuck in that cycle until I hit another wave of severe depression. I mean, there were days where I couldn't even get out of bed; I just sat there crying...
Eventually, my husband pushed me to stop spiraling, and I did, but the underlying illness didn't just vanish.

David Bishop4 said:

I believe we need to take a moment to step back and look at the broader implications of this discussion. It isn't just about the immediate surface-level arguments, but rather how these shifts impact our long-term stability here in the States. When I listen to what wiredskipper45 is suggesting, I can't help but feel there's a significant piece of the puzzle missing from that perspective. While I respect the intensity of the debate, I find myself leaning toward a more cautious approach, much like how one might navigate a complex regulatory change in Washington. We have to consider the ripple effects on everyday Americans before we jump to conclusions. kaže:
Ugh, I honestly can't deal with Zoloft anymore. It nearly wiped me out over the course of just two months while I was on it. It’s wild how much these medications can vary—it feels like they affect every single person in such a completely different way.🤷

What exactly happened there? Was it just some minor side effects, or did you feel like the medication wasn't actually working for you?

I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I ended up having sex multiple times a day just to cope. The anxiety was absolutely unbearable—it was constant for two months straight. Basically, instead of the "adjustment period" people talk about when starting an AT&T medication, it felt like everything just went south immediately. I was taking 3mg of Xanax a day just to be able to walk without shaking uncontrollably. To make matters worse, I can't even remember most of what happened during those two months. Here’s a true story: I was driving through San Francisco with my boyfriend, and he suddenly goes, "Hey, look! The Colosseum!" I hadn't even noticed the building until he actually stopped the car and pointed his finger at the massive structure right in front of us. 😂
In short: Seroxat is definitely not for me. 🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:My doctor, who’s been practicing for over 30 years, tends to lean toward Paxil for anxiety, though, well, everyone's biology is different, isn't it? For me personally, a combo of Paxil and Prozac actually worked wonders. I’ve recently restarted that exact pairing, and I'm crossing my fingers because it completely cleared my anxiety the first time around. Now, mind you, mixing Paxil and Prozac isn't exactly standard practice—it's quite a heavy-duty approach. The thing is, both medications inhibit the same enzyme involved in their own metabolism, so when you take them together, the concentration of both drugs in your system ends up climbing higher than usual.

Ugh, I personally couldn't handle Paxil. It nearly wrecked me during the two months I was on it. Honestly, these pills are such a roll of the dice; everyone reacts so differently...🤷

Gerald Torres2 said:Hey everyone, does anyone here have experience with which AT&T medications actually work for anxiety? If you've tried something, please let me know... the more perspectives I get, the better. Thanks!

I’m just asking again because it feels like I’ve been completely ghosted here. Seriously, people, I need some help over here.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hey everyone, does anyone here have experience with which AT&T medications actually work for anxiety? If you've tried something, please let me know... the more perspectives I get, the better. Thanks!

David Bishop4 said:Thank you so much, dear. I was actually just reading through your story over in the lounge area, and I can see how much you're struggling right now. Please, just hang in there! Between the medication and the therapy, things have to get better eventually. To be honest, I'm going through a terrible stretch myself lately; I find it hard to even leave the house most days, so I end up staying home almost constantly. I deal with this recurring fear of swallowing food or drinks, and while it isn't happening all the time, I always feel so incredibly tense. I can't bring myself to go anywhere alone without feeling completely overwhelmed by anxiety... I suppose we all have our own battles to fight, but if you combine a little bit of willpower, the right medication, and at least one person to help nudge you forward, there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong and please keep posting. Sending a big hug.

Thank you. 🙂

David Bishop4 said:I experienced something very similar, though I can't quite tell if it was triggered by the Lexapro or the Paxil. Basically, I would snap awake in the middle of the night with my eyes wide open, feeling as if I had been jolted by something terrifying. It was such a haunting sensation, though it did eventually subside after a little while.

Anyway, today marks the first day I've taken a full dose of Paxil after six days of micro-dosing. I took it around 2:00 PM, and so far, I feel alright—no nausea yet. We'll see how things go, though; it's going to be a long night...

Fingers crossed you don't run into any side effects!!!! 😉

Donna Torres5 said:I'm right there with you—living in constant fear of when those obsessive thoughts will strike. It feels like a pendulum swinging between a few good days and a few bad ones, but finding that steady ground where everything is consistently okay feels impossible. Is anyone else struggling with intrusive thoughts? Or did they eventually fade away for you once you started medication?

Could you clarify what you mean by "obsessive thoughts" exactly? For me, it’s this recurring fear that I’m actually losing my mind—that I’ll end up being restrained in one of those white straitjackets with sleeves that go on forever and locked away in a padded cell.🙂

David Bishop4 said:Oh, tell me about it—I feel like I'm constantly on edge, just a nervous wreck, feeling like a panic attack could strike at any given moment. And when it actually hits, I end up taking Xanax just to get a little relief, but even then, it’s far from being enough. I'm holding onto the hope that Paxil will help; I took it about six years ago and it truly brought me back to life. As for the nausea, I guess I'll see; maybe I'll move up to the full dose tomorrow, or perhaps I'll stick to half doses for another day or two and just see how my body reacts. I'll definitely check back in, and I hope you'll do the same. Wishing everyone here nothing but much better days ahead very soon.

It’s common knowledge that the first two or three weeks on antidepressants are brutal while you adjust, but hang in there—things will look up tomorrow. 😛

David Bishop4 said:

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately reflecting on the subtle shifts in my mental landscape, trying to find some sense of equilibrium amidst all the noise. It’s a process that feels both incredibly slow and unexpectedly intense at times. I was reading through some of the recent discussions here, and I found myself nodding along to what Mark Nelson mentioned regarding the difficulty of finding a consistent routine when you're feeling particularly low. There is such a profound exhaustion that comes with simply trying to maintain a baseline of normalcy, isn't there? I also wanted to touch upon what Justin Rogers5 was saying earlier about the way certain medications seem to settle in after a few weeks. It’s rarely a sudden epiphany; rather, it's more like a gradual clearing of the fog, though even then, one must remain cautious and observant of how their body responds. I’m currently navigating those middle stages where things aren't necessarily "bad," but they certainly don't feel entirely "right" yet either. It requires a certain level of patience—an earnest, almost stubborn persistence—to keep moving forward when the progress feels so incremental. I truly believe that being mindful of these small, quiet changes is just as important as tracking the major fluctuations. kaže:
Did she happen to mention whether you should be taking it in the morning or at night? I'm curious if that was part of your conversation. Personally, I didn't experience any of that nausea because I made sure to take mine in the evening; on the flip side, when I took it in the morning, I’d wake up feeling incredibly rested, yet almost hyperactive. 😕

The nausea was a bit more manageable today, thankfully. However, if things take a turn for the worse again—especially once I transition to the full dosage—I think I’ll start taking my medication right before bed. From what I've gathered, Seroxat doesn't really interfere with my sleep patterns regardless of when I take it, so I can drift off quite easily. Taking it at night seems like it would be a much smoother way to handle the side effects.

Well, it's definitely a win if the nausea is letting up, though I do worry it might come back in full force once you transition to the full dosage. Doubling the dose is no small jump. Just take it slow and everything will turn out fine; the main thing is don't try to play doctor and do anything on your own. Make sure you clear everything with your psychiatrist first so you're both on the same page. Those first two weeks are usually the absolute worst. My anxiety was totally unbearable at first, so I had to rely on anti-anxiety meds until the antidepressant actually kicked in, and then they gradually tapered me off those. I just really hope you've found the right medication, because some people spend years searching for the one that actually works for them. Hang in there and keep us posted on how you're doing!🙂

David Bishop4 said:So, I just got off the phone with my therapist, and she suggested that I stick to taking half my Paxil doses for as long as the nausea persists. We decided to phase out the Prozac at night since sleep hasn't been an issue for me lately. Honestly, I am just counting down the days until this adjustment period is over; right now, it feels like my anxiety is actually peaking rather than settling down. It’s almost as if things have gotten worse, though she reassured me that feeling this way during the initial transition is perfectly normal. I'm only on day six, so I suppose I just have to hang in there.

Did she mention whether you should take it in the morning or at night? Did you guys go over that timing? I didn't deal with any nausea at all because I took mine in the evening, and it actually left me feeling super rested and hyperactive when I woke up in the morning.😕

David Bishop4 said:I'm honestly not sure if I should, given that I'm still taking half a pill of Lexapro in the evening. I think I'll give my doctor a call tomorrow to ask for their professional opinion first. In any case, thank you so much for sharing such helpful advice. 😍

Don't sweat it! 🙂
Yeah, it’s a different story once you factor in other medications. Good luck with the adjustment period!!

David Bishop4 said:Yes, all of that actually makes sense. I honestly have no idea what to expect, so I think I'll stick to taking half doses for a few more days and just see how things progress from there.

Maybe try doing half doses for ten days and switch to taking it in the evening... one time, it actually spiked my therapy sessions, so I ended up taking the full dose at night and then another half in the morning. That was 30mg total, but honestly, that specific antidepressant just didn't sit right with me, even though everyone swears it's one of the best on the market.

Gerald Torres2 said:My therapist actually suggested I take it right before bed, specifically so I could just sleep through that potential nausea. The idea was that after two or three weeks once my body adjusts, I could transition to taking it in the morning... though you can always just stick to nighttime if that works better for you.

I forgot to mention—maybe they told you it has to be in the morning to avoid messing with your sleep schedule. For me, Paxil was actually quite stimulating, so I preferred taking it right before bed. Once I swallowed the pill, I’d just roll over and go straight to sleep.

David Bishop4 said:That's interesting to hear. In my case, the instructions were quite specific about taking it in the morning, but I usually end up taking it around 2:00 PM, and by about 5:00 PM, I start feeling pretty nauseous.

My therapist actually suggested I take it right before bed, specifically so I could just sleep through that potential nausea. The idea was that after two or three weeks once my body adjusts, I could transition to taking it in the morning... though you can always just stick to nighttime if that works better for you.