I've recovered from anxiety, but now I'm starting to have trouble again...

[aroz867]

Last year I went through a period of severe anxiety and depression, which I managed to recover from with counselling and medication. However, things in my life are starting to get quite busy, and I am finding it quite difficult to cope. Last week, I was really dizzy and very weak... almost like I had fatigue or something. Symptoms have improved this week, but now for the past few days I've been shaking quite a lot. I tend to shake more than the average person does in certain situations anyway (speaking to a group of people, interviews, etc), but now it's ridiculous because it happens when I'm walking down the street, when I go to the bathroom, even when I talk to my parents.
I'm not as dizzy and tired as I was last week, but I am still am getting pretty spaced out. It's so scary. I can't afford to go back to that 'place' again, I just can't... twice in 1 year is way too much.
What's getting to me the most is that I have to start a full-time training course in a couple of weeks, and have to drive 40 minutes to get there. Driving makes me very nervous.

What do you think? I've been on 20mg fluoxetine since about May 2010 or so, but I have a feeling it's probably not working for me anymore. Perhaps I need to up my dosage... but if I do this, should I expect any side-effects? I don't know. I only finished councelling a month ago because I was doing better... now I think I should go back.

[lynn57]

I have to say I'm feeling nearly 100%.  My (new) Dr. doesn't make me feel guilty about taking a benzo.  In fact she believes Klonopin is the best treatment for my anxiety.  Glad it's working, for me.  You may have some increased anxiety with the upped dose until your system gets used to it.  SSRI's do have unpleasant side effects when started or increased.

[aroz867]

Hi Lynn,
I've spoken to my doctor since and he's upped my dose to 40mg. Still having problems though (worse than before). About to post it.

[lynn57]

I'm in the same boat.  How does this happen.  I was going along fine on my Celexa and then you exact same symptoms started. Question is: Do we up the dose of our current med.  Do we switch to a different SSRI or do we add a med to our present med. The decisions are hard when you are in the middle of an anxiety episode and you just want it to stop.  I added Klonopin to my Celexa and it's helping, but I want a long term solution .  Good luck.  Keep us posted.

[aroz867]

Also, I have headaches every morning. They last until I take a paracetamol and then the pain tends to go away.