Maybe someone has answers...

[BamaGirl1980]

Ok, here are my issues...After having my daughter in June 2004, about 6 months after she was born, I stared feeling depressed and pretty much stopped eating for about a year. I drank water all the time, and ate something about once or twice a week. I lost approximately 85 lbs in one year and 2 months due to this! I associated the depression with being "in the closet" and being married with a child; also my grandmother (who I am very close to, having a heart attack December 2005-she recovered and is still alive today). After I "came out" in 2006, I seemed to snap out of the depressive state and started eating again. Even though my family and friends were very supportive, I still felt guilt and anxiety around my husband and his family (which were also supportive). Ok, now that you have heard that side, I will get to today...Some days I feel great, and others aren't so good. I feel like my body is finally feeling like it is getting the nutrition it needs and deserves, BUT I am having paranoia about my health. I feel like I can't "read" my body anymore. The slightest pain, gas, or cough will send me running to the doctor or have me laying in the bed all day. I started taking Lexapro (10mg) and I discovered blood in my urine (which flipped me out and sent me running back to the doctor). He told me to wing off the meds, and 2 weeks later, I was done with that medication. I am terrified of taking medication (even though I have never had a reaction to anything), but being on Lexapro, I was feeling great! A little tired in the mornings, but nothing more than I could handle. I was totally willing to trade tiredness for sanity! Now, being off the meds, I am back to being paranoid (example: fear of eating things because they may be contaminated--like make me sick or have ecoli in there or something). All of my anxiety/paranoia are associated with health issues and eating issues. I have had many blood tests, MRI, went to the ENT for dizzy symptoms, CT Scan, etc. in the past 2 years; which have all came back normal. My mother has mental issues (schizophrenia) which I am terrified to get, as you could imagine! I am in a very stressful time in my life...Just got laid off work (I am the sole provider in my family), I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter who is going through issues about having to go back and forth to households, bills are stacking up because we are unable to pay them due to my lay off, and jobs in my career field are slim to none recently. Could someone please help me with this? In your opinion, could it just be anxiety and stress, or should I seek professional help with this situation? Could it be early signs of paranoid schizophrenia?

[BamaGirl1980]

Thanks hollster. I really appreciate the info. I was on Lexapro; which I was told was a lot like Celexa, but I had blood in the urine, so my doc pulled me off of it. He did say that there was a slight difference in the two medications, so I guess I will call him Monday morning and find out more about this Celexa and get on it ASAP! I hate taking meds and I get anxieties about taking meds, but I have heard good things about Celexa...I hope it is right for me!!! Also, I don't mind at all gaining weight. After all this mess that I have went through these past few years, I lost 85 lbs and I am borderline "too skinny" by physician standards. I am 6 foot tall and weigh only 140 lbs. which is actually good because I was down to almost 130 lbs. before I sort of snapped out of it. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to comment and help me out! I will for sure look into Celexa!

[hollster]

I for many years was convinced I had many things. I was extremely dizzy, nauseated, tremors, numbness and tingling. In fact I had gone through the same battery of tests you had. I was convinced something was wrong with me. I really felt all of my symptoms and saw them ( bloody stool,vision problems etc). I finally went to a walk in psych clinic, because I was not in control of my anxiety, crazy thoughts and physical symptoms. I was put on celaxa , I took something to help me, after two weeks and getting through the side effects( which for people like us is not easy), it was the best choice I made. I can think clearly and rationally. It is amazing what you can't control from a chemical imbalance. Stress like the recent changes in your life can cause these chemicals to deplete. It sounds like you have ruled everything else out. Celexa had one down fall for me I gained weight .  Sounds like an increase in eating will help. Life can be great you owe it to yourself and your kids to be the healthiest happiest person you can be..... I didn't realize what I was missing.