Question

yupitsme · Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 13

We are trying Effexor again, apparently I wasn't on it long before.. I just hope it doesn't have weight gain as a side affect Confused

Thanks for your reply.. hopefully this one will be 'the one'.. although, I'm not too hopeful..

Jennifer · Site Admin Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2356

hope it works for you too, but like i said, medication is only a way to stablize so you can get to the core of the problem. if you don't you will just be putting a bandaid on the problem not working on the symptoms or the cure.

yupitsme · Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 13

I need help to figure this out... if it's normal, or not?

So, I was in the tub earlier (I should mention that my mood is waaay low lately, pretty bad).. all of a sudden I was having a flashback. But it wasn't a normal flashback. I was there. Again. Reliving it. I couldn't stop it, I couldn't get back to reality. I was shaking and crying. So scared. I have never had this happen before. I was pretty shaken up. It took a long time to realize I was in my tub, and not in my flashback. It was so real. I was there, again. Why did this happen? It was so scary. I'm so afraid it is going to happen again, I don't know how to deal with it, or pull out of it. It's not like a memory, because it was happening again... it was REAL.. I've never had this happen before...

Jennifer · Site Admin Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2356

that is what a flashback feels like and i would be careful of how much you try to deal with until the meds start working for you. probably something about the tub set you off. If you are going to deal with your past and it really seems as if you need to, you need to make sure that you have a saftey plan with yourself that you need to develop with your therapist.

what i mean is that these emotions seem really hidden and far away and when they come out, they are really scary for you. if you bring them into the present, it needs to be done safely and slowly.

yupitsme · Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 13

I really don't *want* to deal with my past.. at all. It's been so much 'safer' having my past locked up and put away, never to be thought about again.
I don't ever want to deal with a flashback like that again. I already went through that hell once, I really don't want to relive it again!!
How do you even know you are ready? Or safe to deal with it? How do you know that dealing with it won't make you worse off than you already are?? How do you pull things to the surface to 'work' on .. if you can't remember anything, any ways? Can you stop flashbacks from coming? How do you pull yourself out of one, when it feels so real.. like you are there and not here... ? How can you make sure it doesn't happen again, until the drugs take affect? Will antidepressants stop the flashbacks? How about antipsychotics? Is this a sign that I'm really going 'crazy'? Is it even normal for this to happen to people??
Sorry for all the questions.. but as you can probably tell.. I'm freaked out by this.. and terrified it will happen again..

Jennifer · Site Admin Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2356

The flashbacks are part of ptsd so if you are having them, that means that you are reliving the past, whether you want to deal with it or not is completly up to you, but if you do what I meant about safe is that you need to find a therapist that you like and you can work with in order to get to where you need to be.

there is no medication for ptsd, but yes maybe when your mood improves, you will be able to avoid the flashbacks, but i would let the parties that are involved in your treatment know that you had one.

If your past didn't effect your present I would say that it would be resolved but the ed, and the depression seem to be direct results so not sure how you say that not dealing with it has been okay with you. I don't even really want to talk about it anymore because you need to be ready and in a safe place to even talk about it.

How is your mood? Do you feel as if the meds are helping?

yupitsme · Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 13

For the most part, my mood is pretty low. I just started the Effexor.. uhmmm.. last Tuesday, I believe. Too soon, I think to tell if it's going to help yet, or not. Plus, I started on 37.5mg for a week, then up to 75mg after the week is up. My psychiatrist said it won't improve anything, really, until I'm up to 250mg. The Seroquel I'm on, really only helps me to sleep..
I will let my psychiatrist know about the flashback.. although, I'm kind of afraid to.. not sure why.

Jennifer · Site Admin Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2356

okay so you have some time until you will feel better, you are afraid because it will make it real if you tell him and not sure you are ready for that yet.