Anonymous asked this question on 5/13/2000:
I have been diaganosed with having depression and anxity attacks, the anxity attacks are the worst, i am a mother of 4 kids, raising them on my own one has cancer, i am under alot of stress, the doctor had me on Zoloft 75mg. Did not help, so I was swithced to Effexor Ex doing better on it, then he recommended Celexa! I take 75mg of effexor onec a day, i like it, but is the Celexa better??
karunap gave this response on 5/13/2000:
My clients for the most part dont use medication so I can't advise you on that.
Make sure that you are doing therapy in addition to the medication so that you are not just using meds to cover what is going on. The only way to solve the problems that cause the depression and anxiety is to do your emotional work.
Find a therapist that utilizes a variety of therapy modalities..... ones that help you release trapped or unfelt feelings, work through old traumas, change behaviors and attitudes that don't serve you .
There is work you can start doing while you are looking for a therapist.
Depression is most often due to stuffing one's feelings….. particularly anger. The first step in moving out of the depression is to start doing feeling work. I suggest people do 15-60 minutes a day of feeling work.
There are many forms. Some examples:
Write lists of mads, sads and scares. Journal about past and present feelings, Feel them as you write. Write angry letters and then destroy them Twist a towel Pound a pillow. Push against a wall pretending you are pushing away people you are angry with. Scream into a pillow or pool. Stomp as you walk
When you are feeling the anxiety write down all of the mistaken beliefs that are present. (I'm not safe, I'm going to die, Nobody likes me, etc.) See if you can identify the source. Often those are flashbacks to a time in your childhood that you were terrified.
Talk to your friends….. find ways to increase your support system.
Improve your diet and exercise patterns
Read GOOD GRIEF RITUALS, LETTING GO OF SUFFERING and GROWING UP AGAIN.
You can do the work you need to do an return to emotional health.
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