Advice Please!!!

[MrsBeasley86]

I've been on 120mg of cymbalta for almost 4 years. It worked really well for me. But a few months ago, my anxiety came back. So my dr wanted to switch me to zoloft. So first she just added a low dose to my cymbalta. And my anxiety started getting better. I wasnt great but I was better. That was about 3 weeks ago. So this week, she decreased my cymbalta to 90mg and increased the zoloft to 100mg. So the past 2 days, my derealization has been higher than normal. But also, I've been sick this week with a sinus infection. And my dr said being sick can make anxiety and derealization worse. So my question is...could I feel off from the sinus infection? Or could it be the changing of meds? For the past few weeks, I felt like I was getting better. I was feeling positive. But now I'm worried :( Also, I'm not having any withdrawal symptoms or side effects. Just the anxiety and derealization are higher than the past few weeks.

 

[Marie-Lou]

Any change may trigger anxiety and thus active a protective mechanism against anxiety, such as derealization. Even a change in medication is a change; actually, a major one as it has the potential of creating a major upset.

You may be concerned that your anxiety may come back in full force. You were used to cymbalta, so changing it brings a risk.

Change of medication may thus trigger feelings of vulnerability due to the uncertainty, especially that the effectiveness of cymbalta seemed to have diminished few months ago.
Physical sickness may also trigger anxiety because it makes us vulnerable.

So, hang in there, keeping your mind in check as much as possible to further not exacerbate your anxiety (catastrophic imaginings about anxiety induces more anxiety).

It seems to me that only with time (another week or so) you will know how effective zoloft is for you.

In the meantime, what sooth you? Cooking a good meal, or taking a long walk or bath, etc.? Identify this strategy and indulge in it from time to time. It may help with your anxiety.

Much love to you, MrsBeasley86!

 

[WillyKat]

I agree w/ @Marie-Lou, allow your body/mind time to adjust. Are you undergoing talking therapy too? The general consensus is that meds work best when combined with talking therapy. Which means that the meds ease some physical symptoms and allow for the changes in perception to do the rest of the work.

 

[MrsBeasley86]

Thanks for the replies! It seems that my anxiety started acting up when I started getting sick. Yes I am also in therapy which has really been helping me. I'm just ready to be normal again :(

 

[WillyKat]

My advice, free and worth every penny, is to plan for a long haul. A lot of us approach healing looking for one mighty blow that will heal us. Think baby steps.