Anxiety sensations returning
 

I slammed my head in April. After 3 months of living a nightmare it all finally subsided mid September after 80 days of Citalopram (10 and then 15mg). I felt like my old self. No horrific anxiety sensations, head weirdness returned to normal, no sobbing and the amped up nervousness inside my body went away..... Except for hyper salivation and the "lump in the throat " anxious feeling that lingered every now and again. Otherwise all was well in my world. I stopped the citalopram mid September without any issues.

My plan was to start bio hormonal therapy to sort those out as I had been having issues with that prior. I'm in menopause . I do have that new cream but haven't started it yet..... Here is why.......

I've noticed this past week I'm once again feeling (I would say) "mildly nervous and uneasy inside". I'm having lots of hyper salivation and doing my "anxious swallows" as I call them. Normal daily thoughts can give me an overwhelming anxious feeling which isn't congruent to that thought. (Hard to explain I'm sorry)
I'm incredibly tearful again so I'm thinking low serotonin. I guess I'm just surprised these sensations are returning and I wonder if my head slam caused some permanent change that will require me to be on Citalopram forever. I'm ok with that . i still have the prescription. I felt well on it with no side effects.

I did have surgery and have been out of work 14 weeks for my foot but was able to relax and enjoy that ... I don't think that is a source of this anxiety.
I also have anticipatory anxiety now as soon as I wake up I'm super aware of how I feel. My hyper salivation and unease started pretty much as soon as I woke up today. I do recognize this and realize I am contributing to it.
I am NOT new to anxiety. I consider myself quite well versed in it.
I am NEW to head slams and all the horrors it brought me.

I guess I just wanted to check in with updates .
I was doing well for 2 months so wanted to report that .
God bless y'all

If you think you are serotonin deficient, you could try taking some 5-HTP. It is the body's precursor to serotonin and melatonin. I take it as a replacement for an SSRI. I take 100 mgs every morning. I also take 200 mgs of L-Theanine and a 1000 mcg B-12 lozenge.

The 5-HTP resolves the looping mind issues I have otherwise. My mind would get stuck on meaningless and mundane thoughts. It could last for hours and even days. 5-HTP resolved that.

Gosh I was really hoping to never come back to this site.

im back on my citalopram and need to bump up from 10 to 20mg as im having full days of generalized unease, lots of hypersalivation and anxious "swallows" I call them. Im having daily headaches in the back which is probably from stress. I am not sobbing anymore but sometimes let myself cry when I feel saddened by this whole ordeal.
I struggle with just "living for the day" and not worrying that I will be like this forever.
The thought of having this unease forever is just mortifying. I never truly got 100% symptom free even when I bumped to 20 the last time and I do realize Citalopram isn't the only med out there. Its been almost 10 months since I hit my head.
I can take a baby Xanax and even break it in two if I wanted but have chose not to. I don't know why I endure the suffering...probably because the fear of addiction to Xanax is more. its just the baby 1/4mg dose. ive only take 7 pills of it since april. bless my heart. Mark I know you had the horrible anxiety.... so I know you can relate...has yours gone away or do you take meds for it? thanks again and god bless
(Im still taking B12 and D3)

The 5-HTP supplement has done wonders for me. I don't even need a large dose. 100 mgs does fine. Many need 200 to even 500 mgs a day. I am not completely free of issues but I can manage very well. I have been off citalopram for 3 1/2 years with just the 5-HTP. My wife did not like how I was on Celexa/citalopram or the Paxil from previous years.

I take a rescue Klonopin maybe once or twice a year.

When I get up, I take 100 mgs of 5-HTP, 200 mgs of L-Theanine, and 1000 mcgs of B-12. My GP DO doctor think that is a good morning regimen.

thanks Mark. you did share all this with me one time before on another post of mine and im sorry to make you type it all out again. .
being the anxious person I am, i have to fight the urge to let this get the best of me and have fearful thoughts....the what ifs.....when i feel the unease, the anxiety certainly plays on my entire well being...things feel different mentally....the slight disconnect from things. i cant explain it.
you are always such a help. did the 5-htp make you feel odd at all when you started it?

Your body makes 5-HTP from L-Tryptophan it gets from food so it is not a foreign substance. It does not have the side effects of an SSRI. Citalopram and other SSRIs try to mimic 5-HTP. It supports serotonin and melatonin production. It is easy to take but you should taper off Citalopram when you start 5-HTP since they both boost serotonin. Plus, it is very affordable, especially compared to an SSRI.

If you try it, I suggest you start with 50 mgs for a week then maybe 100 mgs a week later. Some take it 2 or 3 times a day.

You might find it helps you with all of your anxiousness except when severely overwhelmed.

If you doctor understands using it, you could ask for dosage recommendations.