Looking for advice; anyone experienced unresolved anxiety issues?

[msmouseee]

Hello All!

I'm seeking advice regarding my anxiety/sleep issues. I've been on various SSRI/SNRI's for over a year now (15 months) and I cannot find relief. I have generalized anxiety and frequent, random panic attacks. Celexa has done wonders for my anxiety/panic but I can't sleep and I feel beyond sleep deprived.

As far as sleep goes, Lunesta is the thing that has helped the most (which is barely at all). I sleep for about 2-3 solid hours, then I wake up every 15-20 minutes after that. However, I'm not "awake". I'm never conscious enough to sit up or anything like that. It's just tossing-and-turning-never-really-quite-sleep-but-not-awake-either type of thing. So I can "sleep" like that for 12 hours and then within 2 hours I'm so tired that I could go try to sleep again for 4 or 5 more hours at least. I feel like I can't stay still at night. Though, it doesn't disrupt my sleeping partner.

Also: I'm a young adult (18-25 range) with no prior sleep issues until I developed anxiety. I had a traumatic event about 2 years ago that triggered ongoing panic attacks. (they can happen daily if I'm not on medication).

Caffeine doesn't make a difference. I've tried detoxing from it as well.
In the past few months, I feel so much worse physically.
Since I've been diagnosed with anxiety, I was also diagnosed with IBS-D. Gluten is a sensitivity for my IBS, though I tested negative for a gluten allergy.
I'm hungry every 2-3 hours, regardless of how much I eat (or what I eat).
If I ignore the hunger pains, I get weak, lightheaded, and feel faint.
Exercise is not doable at this point, I'm too tired. I do some slight stretching and mild walking a few times a week but anything more than that is impossible.
Sugar is the only think that helps me focus, I've noticed.
I've tried not taking any medication, and I still can't sleep.
I'm so hungry when I wake up in the morning, I have to eat before I shower or anything otherwise I feel faint.

I don't have a thyroid issue.
My blood sugar tested normal at my last blood test.
I eat regular fruits and vegetables. No red meat.
I'm about 20-30 pounds overweight, which I have all gained from taking SSRI's.
I am very sedentary by nature, especially so since I am exhausted.
I drink 4-6 cups of water per day.

I've tried the below medications for anxiety: (over the past 15 months)

Buspar
Celexa
Prozac
Lexapro
Effexor ER
Ativan (0.5mg, for panic - doesn't help me sleep either)

Sleeping:
Ambien
Lunesta
Trazodone

I've been to a few GP's and have an appointment with a psychiatrist next week (finally). I am also in therapy.

Has anyone experienced this much distress with SSRI's? What did you do? Looking for any advice. I'm at my wits end and I feel so frustrated.

Thank you!!

[brebre2426]

my doctor has done the same thing, messing with chemicals in your brain is a roller coaster and have you tried zanix? i use it for my attacks when needed also found it helps clam my tummy so and i can eat normally it makes me tired but that is a uncertain side effect and were you diagnosis with PTSD? that might be the reason for the sleeping issues and anxiety or panic attacks. i found writing about whatever comes out and what i am thinking helps relieves my mind or drawing to help relax the mind. trazdone is an antidepressant that is use for sleep but you may not have the side effect that makes you sleepy, that is something to talk to your doctor about, and you have issues staying asleep and most sleep aids just help you fall asleep then decrease and make it had to stay asleep, ask about an extend-release, its hard to find the right medication, research sleep aid and find out all you can and write down ones to talk to your doctor about.. at least for me around the time the tramadiac event happen my anxiety and unable to sleep or stay asleep is 200x worse, sometimes things worsen because our body knows and reacts to the time of year without use even knowing or forget, or realize why its going on. see if your doctor and therapist can talk and figure out the best way.

[Paxiled]

It isn't quite clear, are you saying the sleep problem only happened after you started Celexa?  Or did it start with the anxiety problem?  Or did it start with other meds and has continued?  One thing I noticed, in 15 months you've been on a lot of meds.  That makes it likely you've stopped meds abruptly instead of tapering as slowly off of them as you need to so you avoid bad withdrawals.  These drugs can be very hard for some people to stop taking, and one of the foremost withdrawal effect is inability to sleep.  Taking another drug does not stop withdrawal from a different drug, as they work differently even when in the same class or else they couldn't get a patent.  Sleeping pills can also be a problem when taken regularly, as they both interfere with REM sleep and result often in rebound insomnia, worse than the original problem.  The reason for all this is that when you fool around with brain neurotransmitters, it's not always easy for the brain to go back to working normally.  You've been on quite a merry-go-round in a short amount of time.  Now, if none of the drugs except Celexa did anything and you stopped them all because of that in a short period of time, that's a sign you didn't metabolize them well and probably wouldn't have had any withdrawal problems, but then, there's that sleeplessness which, again, if it started only after you're tour through meds is a pretty good indicator of withdrawal.  As for your weakness, that's a problem for a doctor.  You say it's not thyroid or blood sugar, but doctors' tests are often not very well done for these things.  Some are much more thorough than others.  GPs don't know much about these meds or psychology, as they don't specialize in anything.  Psychiatrists theoretically do.  Another thing -- you might not be getting sufficient nutrients.  Some people do better without animal food, some do better with it.  We arrive where we are from different cultural backgrounds. Too much fruit is like eating sweets, and you sound like you might have some kind of blood sugar problem or sugar wouldn't have a positive effect on you.  Something is going on, so don't quit searching for it.  Finally, you say you know exactly when and why the anxiety popped up -- that should be something therapy can deal with.  Most of us with chronic anxiety have no idea why it's there or where it came from.  You do.  You have something to work on and learn from.  If your therapist isn't helping you do that after all this time, you need a different therapist.    

[Paxiled]

Oh, and being sedentary leads to low energy.  Starting an exercise program needs to be done slowly and gently, but if you don't move, lethargy sets in and stays there.