Mind-body connection?

Oh, please, restlessmarlin6—even in a place like Queens, you’ve got fifteen-year-olds acting out! 😁
Don't let it get to you. If people are reacting to you like this, just take it as a compliment... it means you actually have depth and real emotions. Someone stuck in their own head with nothing but idle speculation could never trigger a reaction like this... 🙂

I honestly don't think you need to go around telling everyone about this. Your meds aren't even in the same league as stuff like Voltaren or Normabel... I mean, they're a bit stronger—like Helex, for instance—but still. And hey, regarding what Alex Foster6 said about tapering off, don't let it get to you too much, it’s really not that deep. Back when I was coming off Xanax, and I was on 2mg, I just dropped by 1mg every single day 👍 truth be told, I was a little out of my mind back then because I was totally hooked, but eventually, you just have to find some kind of work to do—anything, really—just so you aren't sitting around, because that's when the depression really starts pulling you under. 😢 For me, the worst of it lasted about a week, and then you're back to being totally normal, just the way society expects you to be 🙄 Not that you'll feel weird while you're actually taking it, though. You should probably just let yourself go for at least a month before trying again. It was rough, but you get through it. (The instructions on those little papers usually say to wait three days between doses, but it doesn't have to be strictly like that—honestly, right now I'm tapering by just 0.5mg increments because I'm lazy and I've convinced myself I can't handle more without feeling crappy). restlessmarlin6, please don't start thinking about how you could just take them all at once. I know it feels like a massive shift, but it messes with your head, and later on, when you're trying to quit, you'll keep reliving all those crazy sensations and thoughts, and you'll find yourself desperately waiting to take another dose—and that's the real trap, trust me. One time when I was tapering, I was in the bathtub trying to relax, and all I could think about was getting out so I could take my next pill immediately. Like, seriously, I was struggling so hard that I basically took it and was out of the tub five minutes later. But you're still at the beginning, so brace yourself for the struggle 👍 That amazing high eventually fades once your body adjusts, and after that, there's no increasing the dosage!

My likes don't actually change how I carry myself or my vibe...

It honestly surprises me that anyone would think those little things could have such an impact on you

And is being 21 even considered "normal" for this—because I’ve been dealing with all of this since I was 19 and didn't finally reach out for help until I turned 27

So yeah... there really aren't any rules...

I think it’s just this initial phase while I’m still getting used to the tablet! Maybe it’s because my job is such a non-stop grind—you know, one of those roles where you're constantly racing against the clock, juggling a hundred different things at once, and trying to stay ten steps ahead on everything simultaneously... It’s intense. When I have my coffee at work, that first thirty minutes to an hour is always a struggle because I feel so sluggish and just incredibly laid back (even though I actually feel great!), but once that initial haze lifts, I'm totally fine again..

It probably just wears off after a bit 🙂

restlessmarlin6 said:I think I’m just feeling it because I’ve only just started taking my pill... maybe it’s because my job is such a non-stop rush where everything happens at once and I have to stay ten steps ahead of a thousand different tasks... When I take it right before work, that first hour or so is a bit tough because I feel so slow and relaxed—even though I actually feel great—but once that initial wave passes, things settle back down to normal..

It’ll probably level out after a while 🙂

could be

you'll see in a week or so

the main thing is that you're starting to feel better

👍

Well, restlessmarlin6, I actually went to see that therapist of yours, and guess what I walked away with? 😉 Lexapro. Plus Ambien, because this insomnia caused by everything lately has been absolutely draining me.

I just took my first dose of the Lexapro and... I’m feeling a bit drowsy, so perhaps the Ambien won't even be necessary after all. As of right now, I’m not experiencing any strange side effects. 😁

You can't just walk into a pharmacy and pick up Helex without a prescription. I actually asked about it today. Who was it that claimed you could get it over the counter? Which pharmacy were you talking about? Honestly, what kind of face are you making? 😁

Daniel Lopez said:What kind of face are you talking about? 😁

This one should work fine... 😵
😁

I’ve become a total pill addict... mostly just trying to keep up with work...🙄
Be stronger and face it. Or face yourself.

restlessmarlin6, you're losing it. You need a radical change of scenery... maybe take some meds and just try to process what's happening during that time, if nothing else.

But that’s precisely the point of those pills, shadowgardener12... they aren't meant to be a permanent fix, just a way for her to navigate this difficult stretch and eventually find her footing again.

Exactly. 🙂

I don't know, I think the absolute worst part for me was just being terrified to admit to myself that I actually NEEDED help getting through certain things. Whether it was medication, talking it out, or just taking someone's advice on how to handle stuff on my own.

It’s all starting to click now... I've spent my entire life under this crushing pressure that I have to be able to do everything by myself, and that it's somehow shameful if I ever accept help from anyone else..

Update.. Honestly, after those first two days, I didn't even feel like I needed the pills anymore 🙂 By the evening, I’d be totally fine without them, just feeling completely normal. Then yesterday, I headed out downtown to catch some sun, and I was just riding this huge wave of positive adrenaline.

I’m going to check in with my doctor to see if maybe they can taper me off these things already.

Alex Foster6, I'm so glad you reached out.. My doctor asked me about insomnia too, but I haven't really had an issue with that. Yeah, those sleep aids definitely make you drowsy at first. What else did they tell you?

Well... we touched on my current situation, where I think these anxieties are stemming from, how to tackle them, and so on. It was actually quite helpful. The conversation gave me a boost, and I felt relatively stable for most of the day. 🙂

I took some Xanax and Ambien last night and slept soundly... I’m feeling a bit jittery this morning, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given everything going on; regardless, it isn't catastrophic. I'll manage.
He mentioned seeing me again in about a week and said I could shoot him a text 😁 or give him a call if necessary... I actually quite like my doctor; he seems to know exactly what he's doing. 👍

It's great to hear you're doing well! 😁 Just keep at it and try to focus on the positives. 😘

I completely forgot to ask whether I need to take the Xanax daily or just on an as-needed basis... 😕

One night right before bed, he told me, "I’d probably just take a little bit earlier... and then the rest whenever you need it, if you're feeling really worked up."

I don't know, personally I haven't really needed more than that single dose. 🙂

He also suggested I have a drink this evening...

Actually, I think I might just go ahead and have one—or perhaps half a glass—right now. 😢

Look, if you want my two cents, just try to get through one single night by sticking to that one drink, and then spend the rest of your day just constantly telling yourself how great everything is and how fast you’re going to bounce back... I mean, maybe if you indulge in a little bit of retail therapy and some heavy self-suggestion, you won't even feel the need for that tiny daily fix 🙂 You just have to keep your head wrapped around the idea that you'll be right back to your old self in no time and see.. 🙂

Honestly, I've been dealing with these annoying little tremors since I woke up this morning, but I'm just ignoring them—everything else is absolutely stellar! I am not letting this get to me.

I am going to attempt a brief walk to see if I can settle my nerves... Given how stressful things have become, I might actually need to rely on my medication, though I would prefer to manage this on my own first. I have successfully avoided taking anything all morning, but now my heart has started racing, and I’m feeling these uncomfortable spasms in my stomach and chest... 😢

😘

No waaaaay...

Maybe the real trick is to not even let the word 'stress' cross your mind, you know? Like, don't even frame it as something you "have to overcome."

It might be better to just live, I guess. Just focus on the good stuff—your friends, your boyfriend, that trip you have coming up, summer, anything that actually makes you happy. Just forget about all that damn stress. 😘

You can do it! 👍

I mean, the first few days might feel exactly how you're feeling right now (it definitely was for me), but after that, things just start looking up.

🙂

My thanks to you...

😘

Please, do continue radiating such boundless optimism!👍 As for me, I shall endeavor to follow in your footsteps 😁

I ended up taking the pill anyway, and honestly, I felt fine—it definitely took the edge off... though I was pretty much a zombie for the rest of the day... 😕
It’s funny how the exact same medication can hit everyone so differently.