Depression leads into anxiety?

[anterrabae]

I became severely depressed at around the age of 14. Numerous drugs, hospital stays and suicidal attempts later, I finally got off all my meds and actually for the first time felt fine without any.

About a year and a half later, I began to have crippling panic attacks and general anxiety. So, after nearly two years of not seeing a psychiatrist, I sought one out and he prescribed me xanax which works wonders for my anxiety and episodes. A year later I was put on an SNRI because of certain events and am now on a total of 4 different medications.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does depression in early life manifest itself as an anxiety disorder later? I would just like to know if this is a common thing to happen. And also, does the crippling anxiety eventually morph into yet another mental illness? I'd greatly appreciate some responses and especially first hand encounters with this sort of situation. Thanks in advance dark siders!

 

[ocean]

I am sure there is a connection with depression and anxiety but don't think they will always go hand in hand, ya know?
You may want to check out our ANXIETY MEGA THREAD and our DEPRESSION MEGA THREAD- There is a bunch of good info, stories and links there,

I think that if you have an anxiety disorder that you don't address it eventually could worsen into another anxiety disorder........
I think the way it works is....
Mental illnesses are either a personality disorder or a chemical imbalance-
Anxiety may be a part of another mental illness or disorder, but I don't think anxiety could give you, say......bipolar disorder. (B/c it is not a personality disorder or an issue developed due to trauma, life experience etc.)
Ya know what I mean?

For myself: My therapist said when she and I discussed my anxiety and panic disorder and how it fades in and out of issues with phobias and germs- she mentioned that she believes I have let my issues build and my OCD tendencies come into play.....I can see how that would be the case- but at the same time could see how it could work the other way around as well- It is like the circle of crazy for me

 

[anterrabae]

ocean, thank you for the links, I shall delve into them later. I definitely think I have some sort of chemical imbalance. I was told by my first psychiatrist that I have bipolar because of the psychotic episode I had...yet he also told me that a psychotic episode could occur when weaning off of Effexor. Funny he didn't seem to mention that part before[/I he brgan to taper my off of the drug, which I had been on for a good 4 years at least.

He put me on Lamictal, 'cause of course I was bipolar. I eventually stopped taking that drug without any ill effects and actually felt very collected and under control. Said psychiatrist died after some sort of car accident, which was months after I just stopped seeing him.

I began seeing my current doctor for anxiety alone, which wasn't a daily problem, so for another year I was without mood meds. But when my boyfriend broke up with me, I felt suicidal and requsted to be placed on an antidepressant. First we tried Lexapro, then Cymbalta, then Cymbalta with Abilify, which I think is working great for me, apart from not being able to stay asleep at night. So now I'm on Benztropine too to try and nullify the speedy effects of the Abilify. And of course, my lovely Xanax. I do hope to be benzo-free someday, but I am definitely not ready yet.

Thank you for your response and concern.

 

[Legerity]

I had mild depression in my teen years, which then turned into a more generalized anxiety after I started using drugs more heavily and going to rehab. I was never diagnosed with a disorder, but the periods of anxiety come and go depending on what is going on in my life, it can often be overwhelming.

Just some quick things that have helped me: Meditation, exercise, adrenal gland support supplements, getting enough sleep, minimizing/eliminating caffeine.

Good luck

 

[deez_nuggs]

OP, I dont really have any answers, but personally ive found the thoughts and feelings associated with depression/anxiety are extremely similar and interrelated. It does get better though, and like mentioned, get exercise daily..thats a must.whether its pushups, running, a gym membership, whatever, the natural endorphins are a good mood elevator and if you get in a habit of it, its sooner than later going to become part of your daily routine

 

[BlueberryfishY]

Hell yes it does.

 

[monchi]

hey there anterrabae... monchi here...

first of all, it would help to know specifically what drugs you are being prescribed, and in what order you started taking them.

for me, i have a history of both depression and anxiety in my family, and it was stigmatized such that it took a long time to admit how i was feeling. furthermore, i was confused about my symptoms... was i depressed or anxious??

i turned it all out to my doc, along with my family history, my reservations, and also my desperation. she started me on effexor, an SNRI, and at first it took the edge off. going forward, i told her that i felt that the low dose of effexor was helping, but that i felt the need for something for those acute times. we worked it out, and now i still take a low dose of effexor, and also have a low dose of clonazepam available to me to meet those extra needs. at this point i take from .25 to 100mgs per day. (mariposa would say to keep it even, everyday... and so would my doc...)

there are many people here who know their stuff. ocean is def one... continues to reach out even though i suck at keeping in touch!!

in short, the symptoms of anxiety and depression overlap to say the least. if i were you, (and i am, im on the same journey), i would start some talk therapy to get to the root of why you are feeling these emotions in the first place.

anyhoo, /end lecture!!

all the best

 

[homeydontplaythat]

other way around for me - anxiety leads to depression.

 

[homeydontplaythat]

i honestly think that any mental malady is ALL THE SAME ENERGY but just directed differently. anxiety(fear), anger, depression, they are all the same horrible feeling of angst but just felt and dealt with differently. being raped may make you angry and want to fucking choke your boss out but to the next person it means locking yourself in your room and not eating, and to the other person it means panick attacks in public...ya know? thats why i dont really have any faith in the DSM IV or psychiatry. any medication that works for pain in general or makes you feel good is going to help the symptoms. to classify it is like trying to make a construct of races based on skin color - totally useless.

 

[Draigan]

^- yah I agree.