Mental Health Check-in [4/20]

[macaronmama]

{sanibel21 smallpotato iwantbacon mg0202 britta @kitchen fem penguin129 jillian }
Hopefully I tagged everyone?


Diagnosis/personal issue or struggle:

Recent related difficulties/vent:

What you're working on/trying to do/would like to do to improve your recent difficulties/mental health:

GTKY: What's your ideal spring vacation?

[fem]

Diagnosis/personal issue or struggle: anxiety

Recent related difficulties/vent: More health anxiety. My lymph nodes in my armpit were swollen, and even though it was near where I had my stitches I had myself convinced I had cancer. It got better when they went back down and I had talked to my doctor but I had a rough few days.

What you're working on/trying to do/would like to do to improve your recent difficulties/mental health: Not search anymore health topics on my phone. Trying to exercise, do yoga and get some alone time. Also trying to use the strategies from my therapist.

GTKY: What's your ideal spring vacation? I would love to go on any vacation these days!

[britta]

Diagnosis/personal issue or struggle: PPD/PPA with h/o GAD, depression

Recent related difficulties/vent: Still trying to strike a good work-life balance, although I feel we're almost there. Next obstacle is to figure out how to fit in exercise. I've been spiraling on junk food the last week or so, just because it tastes good. Reign in in Britta.

What you're working on/trying to do/would like to do to improve your recent difficulties/mental health: Eating better, exercise. Lots of outside time. Getting good time with MH in the evenings. I've been really good at letting things go since starting the Celexa, which is so freeing.

GTKY: What's your ideal spring vacation? Hmmm...I love a beach vacation, but I love spring here so much. I'd love to go on a wine tasting tour of the up north wineries, provided I can assure beautiful 60-75* sunny days. 😁

[macaronmama]

fem, so sorry you had that scare. Glad your doc is being supportive (or I hope so). Hoping no more scares for awhile (or ever).
britta Junk food is the best - whyyyy. All I want to eat is donuts. With sprinkles. But I also need to fit in exercise somewhere. Yay to you being down to only have 4 more lbs! (Right, is that what I read on the main thread?) You go!


Diagnosis/personal issue or struggle: PPD/PPA, Generalized Anxiety

Recent related difficulties/vent: My sister had a four day meltdown over this past weekend. That on top of me being sick and the baby being sick, I was done with people by Sunday night.

Also, I've been off the Zoloft for two weeks. My choice. I'm trying to figure out how to cope without it because I often forget to take it and was hating the up's and down's of the days I forgot it.

What you're working on/trying to do/would like to do to improve your recent difficulties/mental health: I did go ahead and ask my therapist to make time for me next week so I can check in and be accountable. I'm not as happy as I was on the Zoloft, but I'm not spiraling without it. I need to figure out if I'm okay with this and I think therapy will help.

GTKY: What's your ideal spring vacation? B&B with a cozy fire, afternoon tea, and lots of gardens to walk through. Maybe older estates to wander. I'm an old person inside.

[fem]

macaronmama how was coming off the Zoloft? My husband forgot his on a trip and it took a few days to get it to the local pharmacy. His side effects were awful, almost like he had the flu. I can imagine missing doses caused dips and valleys. He uses an app called Mango Health where it reminds you too take it and keeps reminding you until you mark that you took it.

britta I feel you on the junk and the lack of exercise. I was doing so good with no sweets until my in-laws left a cheesecake here last weekend.

[iwantbacon]

I feel like a hot mess these days, even though I think I've done some things better recently. I'm working hard to keep my patience with the kids and not let all my own stress/anxiety make a small situation a big issue. Now I need to work on not beating myself up for not losing the weight, doing too much around the house, for not being in a more advanced position at work, etc.

I continue to debate whether or not medication and/or therapy. I just had such a bitch of a time getting off the previous medications that I'm weary.

GTKY: Anywhere with a warm/mild temperature, some relaxation, and bonus if there's wine.

[penguin129]

fem Hugs for the constant worrying of health issues. I hope the yoga, exercise, and therapist help you.
britta I hope you find your work/life/home balance soon. I'm glad the Celexa is helping.
macaronmama I think it is a good thing that even though you are off the Zoloft you aren't spiraling. I hope you continue to do well without the meds.
iwantbacon Hugs. Be kind to yourself. I hope you can find out what it is you need to feel better soon.

[penguin129]

Diagnosis/personal issue or struggle: Generalized Anxiety w/ some Social Phobia (new diagnosis as of Tuesday)

Recent related difficulties/vent: Anytime things don't go as planned timing wise. Trying to figure out a balance between blogging and writing for the paper.

What you're working on/trying to do/would like to do to improve your recent difficulties/mental health: Anxiety journal, affirmations, meditation, walking, yoga. I'm working on not letting being of schedule bother me so much. I increased my Celexa and started taking it in the morning. I think I have more energy when I wake up now.

GTKY: What's your ideal spring vacation? A trip to the beach or mountains.

[macaronmama]

fem , I'm not sure as I had the actual flu three weeks ago and have been sick pretty much off/on since then. Thanks for the app advice, but reminders still don't remind me well enough - I hit "done" even if I didn't.
iwantbacon Letting little things go is a victory, so count that as one! That's one of the hardest things to train yourself to do when you're battling anxiety, or it was for me. So sorry you had a rough time with meds before, but maybe some therapy would help you get a chance to vent and learn some more coping mechanisms?
penguin129, glad to hear Celexa is helping and you feel like you're getting your energy back. Awesome news about the 3 blog posts! Remember that if it starts to feel like a chore, you can back off. Your blog should be for you.

[penguin129]

I shared about my anxiety and ptsd after our nicu stay on my blog. I decided I want to help take the stigma away from mental health. I'm nervous about other people seeing it, even though I want to be open about it.

[fem]

Apr 21, 2017 9:07:19 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I shared about my anxiety and ptsd after our nicu stay on my blog. I decided I want to help take the stigma away from mental health. I'm nervous about other people seeing it, even though I want to be open about it.

Good for you. I talk pretty openly about my struggles with friends and co-workers for the same reason.

[macaronmama]

Apr 21, 2017 9:28:46 GMT -5 fem said:

Apr 21, 2017 9:07:19 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I shared about my anxiety and ptsd after our nicu stay on my blog. I decided I want to help take the stigma away from mental health. I'm nervous about other people seeing it, even though I want to be open about it.

Good for you. I talk pretty openly about my struggles with friends and co-workers for the same reason.

+1 to sharing. I think it surprised some of my family and friends, none of whom have had PPD if they're moms, but I found most of them were grateful for an insight into how easy it is to not realize you have it. 

[smallpotato]

Diagnosis/personal issue or struggle: Anxiety with depression

Recent related difficulties/vent: Most of my issues over the last week or so have been related to the removal of my wisdom teeth. I get very defensive and quiet when I'm anxious, which MH picked up on Thursday morning. The procedure went fine, and everyone at the office was wonderful. Now that I am starting to eat regular food again, I'm feeling better. Saturday, I was a mess because of the hunger.

What you're working on/trying to do/would like to do to improve your recent difficulties/mental health: We're spending more time outside now that the weather is finally getting better. Once my teeth stop hurting and I can eat regular food the way I normally do, I'll be okay.

GTKY: What's your ideal spring vacation? The beach! Or anywhere warmer than here.

[smallpotato]

Hugs all around, ladies.

fem, so sorry about the scare. I'm so glad your doctors are supportive.
britta, I really need to reign in my eating habits too. Food that is bad for us just tastes so good. I'm glad you're getting into a good work/life balance.
macaronmama, I hope you continue to do well without the Zoloft. I'm glad to hear the weaning process hasn't been too bad for you.
iwantbacon, it's so hard not to beat yourself up when things go wrong. I do it all the time, and haven't figured out how to stop it. I hope you can find either meds or therapy that will work for you.
penguin129, I'm glad the increased dose of Celexa is working for you. Good for you for sharing your experience with anxiety. I only have a couple of my close friends who know how badly I had PPA and PPD after N was born. I'm trying to be more open about it now, but it's hard.

[fem]

Just wanted to bump and update this conversation about being open about our struggles. A co-worker came to me today because she heard me saying I was going on anxiety meds, and had a bunch of questions. Her purse got stolen and she's having a lot of anxiety since it happened. I'm glad I was open about it so she could come talk to me.

[penguin129]

fem I'm glad you were able to help her.

[penguin129]

I've been meaning to ask if anyone else taking Celexa has increased their dose and if so, how long did you take to notice a difference. I am still being tiggered about the same amount of times a day. I've been on the new dose of 20 mg for a week.

[britta]

Apr 26, 2017 16:52:03 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I've been meaning to ask if anyone else taking Celexa has increased their dose and if so, how long did you take to notice a difference. I am still being tiggered about the same amount of times a day. I've been on the new dose of 20 mg for a week.

I upped from 10 to 20 after 2 weeks on it and noticed a difference within days. I read somewhere that Lexapro (very similar to Celexa) is better for anxiety. Maybe you need something different?

[penguin129]

Apr 26, 2017 20:51:10 GMT -5 britta said:

Apr 26, 2017 16:52:03 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I've been meaning to ask if anyone else taking Celexa has increased their dose and if so, how long did you take to notice a difference. I am still being tiggered about the same amount of times a day. I've been on the new dose of 20 mg for a week.

I upped from 10 to 20 after 2 weeks on it and noticed a difference within days. I read somewhere that Lexapro (very similar to Celexa) is better for anxiety. Maybe you need something different?

I might. I have an appointment sometime in May with the doctor so I'll see what happens until then I guess.

[macaronmama]

fem So glad you're being open helped someone else.
penguin129 I hope your appt is sooner rather than later and an upp'd dose works for you! Or something different perhaps.

Spiraling hard this morning.

Had my therapy appt yesterday and we agreed I need to go back on the Zoloft after this week I've had. I wish I had restarted at the beginning of the week but I wanted to wait and get her opinion. DH is in an awful mood cause of work and he even left this morning without saving he loved me cause he was so upset. That's like the first time since we've been married. I'm so upset /weepy I emailed work and told them I'm coming in late. I know it's stupid to wonder if it's my fault in any way when it's mostly his work but I wonder what the hell can I do to get him out of this rut he constantly falls back into of hating his job/loving his job. I'm worried that DS is gonna start noticing his daddy is PO'd and unhappy.

[penguin129]

macaronmama Hugs for the way your day started today. I hope restarting the Zoloft helps you get in a better place. I also hope you H can find some kind of peace with his job.

[fem]

macaronmama is it just his job that he gets upset with? Is there any way he could look for a new job, or is that out of the question? To me personally it's not worth it to have a job affect your whole life like that. But is there a chance he's just struggling in general (didn't his Dad pass?) and is kind of blaming it on his job? Depression type issues can manifest as anger and irritability sometimes.

[fem]

Also I'm sorry you're struggling. I went up to 100 on Zoloft this week and noticed a huge difference. If you didn't like Zoloft could they try anything else?

[iwantbacon]

Is anyone seeing a dr or therapist telephonically or online? I feel like I struggle to find in-network providers whose schedule and location work for me, then put off getting help. I think I may test it out over the next week through my insurance and see how it goes.

[becole]

Apr 28, 2017 15:18:01 GMT -5 iwantbacon said:

Is anyone seeing a dr or therapist telephonically or online? I feel like I struggle to find in-network providers whose schedule and location work for me, then put off getting help. I think I may test it out over the next week through my insurance and see how it goes.

I don't "go" here but I can imagine that working very well since you could take your therapist with you if you ever moved or had trouble with childcare. Especially with a bit older kids, I could sneak into another room for an hour where I might not be able to leave the house for an hour + drive time.

[penguin129]

I read a bunch of reviews on Zoloft and think I'll change over to it. I might call to see if I can get into the doctor before the middle of the month. For those on Zoloft how long did it take yo start working and did you have any side effects?

[iwantbacon]

I learned that my insurance does not cover telemedicine for mental health, but the costs might still be worth it for a therapist.

[macaronmama]

iwantbacon I see mine in person but she did a phone session with me once. Sorry your insurance doesn't cover it, but I'd definitely consider doing an app if I was constantly on the move or unavailable to go in person. Health > money

penguin129 I noticed the Zoloft working within 2-3 days. My doctor warned that the first two weeks or so you might have insomnia, but that didn't happen to me. Or maybe I didn't notice cause the baby was still waking up a lot. I was a little nauseated for 2 weeks, though, but it went away. Not sure if it was related.