The last couple of weeks have been interesting. As my depression has gone my anxiety has increased and become quite bad, making life quite different from before.
When my depression got worse I found myself blogging more but with the anxiety getting worse I found completely the opposite. This was mainly due to my "bouncing around" where I could not keep focused on one thing for more than 5-10 minutes. This made meditation virtually impossible and sleeping was a nightmare (excuse the pun). Getting to sleep would take hours and even when I managed to get to sleep I kept waking up. During the day I just didn't know what to do with myself and this was causing me even more anxiety.
The doctor had prescribed me 2 Lorazapam twice a day and 1 Fluoxetine at night. The Lorazapam had previously made a difference but this time didn't seem to be helping much other than helping me get at least some sleep. The Fluoxetine certainly helps with my depression but the Psychiatrist says that taking it at night may be preventing me from sleeping well. I have lost half a stone in weight in the last couple of weeks!
So, the Psychiatrist has changed my medication so that I am gradually coming off the Lorazapam by taking one less each week. I am now on 2 x Fluoxetine and also 1 x Trazodone. The idea being that the increased Fluoxetine should help with the anxiety and the Trazodone help me to sleep. I can happily report that since the change in medicaton I am no longer bouncing around like before and my sleep has improved but I am lightheaded and sometimes dizzy and unfortunately the lost weight has gone straight back on within a week!
As for my CBT sessions they were going to stop them and review them in 3 months to see if they would still be beneficial. After a talk involving the Psychiatrist and the CBT chap I have been offered a further 6 sessions to try to overcome some of my new anxiety related issues. Personally, I feel that the CBT is being withdrawn as my condition would take up too much resources. The CBT chap has already said that my issues are related to my core beliefs and that these take the longest to deal with as they have been built up over quite a few years.
I'll try and blog more now that my anxiety is coming down...
Photo Credit: naraosga