Scotsman
Member
Hi guys
This is my first post. I finally decided to get help for my social anxiety. I am 25 and have been socially anxious since about 18 years old.
Ive been on 10mg of Lexapro for 4 days. I have ahd the usual side-effects, waking early (3am, 6am) and difficulty to fall asleep. Nausea and slight headaches. They have been bearable though. Its effect on my mood and ability to interacty with others has been variable.
On day 1 - really good time with my sister and her boyfriend, not uncomfortable or superficial
- No alcohol for lubrication (good)
- more relaxed/happy/normal in 6 years!
- Overall I also dont care about what other people are thinking about me e.g., when Im in the car or shopping centre, although a little paranoia is still there.
I have also had some bad experiences. E.g., I was quite paranoid at a wedding I just went to where there were lots of family who I had not seen for ages. I didn't drink which made it hard anyway and it was a LONG day in that company (9hrs). I started off OK but it wasnt long until I wanted to get out of there. The Lexapro also made me feel like I was having a massive come down (e.g., I was apathetic, could not feel emotion, felt miserable, dissociated). Im not sure if that was just the lexapro or the stress I was probably under -- which you might be interested to know I did not really feel at a physiological level, although it was definatley there in that I could not really put on a smile or regulate my mood at all. I was still REALLY self-conscious.
The next day wasn't great either. I felt like a zombie and I just didnt care about anything and I think that might have also been because I was feeling down because of my bad performance the night before. I am getting married in a few weeks and will have to be in front and smiling in font of the same people and Im not sure if I can cope with that which is what promted me to get help. Anyway after the wedding I could have just sat there and stared at the TV all day, which is not like me at all. Usually I would at least attempt to regulate my mood for my girlfriends sake but I just didnt care anymore. It didnt really feel like depression. I was just blank and didnt have any thoughts/emotions. My GF said I just "wasn't there anymore" and we ended up in a massive fight because I "wasnt trying" and I was not worse in her eyes. Anyway we pulled it together and ended up going to the beach as planned -- which would usually be anxiety provoking for me -- and I felt OK. I still felt like I was coming down but I was less self-conscious. My mood also picked up later in the day and I felt as good as ever around people I would usually feel anxious and inhibited around. So I would say the experience has so far been rocky with some high highs and some low lows. Because of the highs I am stayng on so far and it has only been 4 days. Incidentally, the sideeffects seem less today. No nausea etc, which is better then what I have hear elsewhere. I also dont have problems sexually
I thought I would add that I go up to 20mg in 2 days so I nwill let you know how that goes. I would also advise that being active i.e., not just sitting there wallowing or doing notinh e.hg., watching tv or playing computer is probably the best way to get over the side-effects like nausea and feeling like a zombie, which is what you should do when not on drugs anyway.
I start some talk-therapy on wednesday so hopefully that does me some good.
Sorry this is sooo long. I just havent seen a post on this yet and from what I have read it has got some really good reviews for treating social anxiety speicifcally, although results vary considerably when its "just anxiety/depression".
Well hope this is useful to somebody!
Good luckto everbody!
This is my first post. I finally decided to get help for my social anxiety. I am 25 and have been socially anxious since about 18 years old.
Ive been on 10mg of Lexapro for 4 days. I have ahd the usual side-effects, waking early (3am, 6am) and difficulty to fall asleep. Nausea and slight headaches. They have been bearable though. Its effect on my mood and ability to interacty with others has been variable.
On day 1 - really good time with my sister and her boyfriend, not uncomfortable or superficial
- No alcohol for lubrication (good)
- more relaxed/happy/normal in 6 years!
- Overall I also dont care about what other people are thinking about me e.g., when Im in the car or shopping centre, although a little paranoia is still there.
I have also had some bad experiences. E.g., I was quite paranoid at a wedding I just went to where there were lots of family who I had not seen for ages. I didn't drink which made it hard anyway and it was a LONG day in that company (9hrs). I started off OK but it wasnt long until I wanted to get out of there. The Lexapro also made me feel like I was having a massive come down (e.g., I was apathetic, could not feel emotion, felt miserable, dissociated). Im not sure if that was just the lexapro or the stress I was probably under -- which you might be interested to know I did not really feel at a physiological level, although it was definatley there in that I could not really put on a smile or regulate my mood at all. I was still REALLY self-conscious.
The next day wasn't great either. I felt like a zombie and I just didnt care about anything and I think that might have also been because I was feeling down because of my bad performance the night before. I am getting married in a few weeks and will have to be in front and smiling in font of the same people and Im not sure if I can cope with that which is what promted me to get help. Anyway after the wedding I could have just sat there and stared at the TV all day, which is not like me at all. Usually I would at least attempt to regulate my mood for my girlfriends sake but I just didnt care anymore. It didnt really feel like depression. I was just blank and didnt have any thoughts/emotions. My GF said I just "wasn't there anymore" and we ended up in a massive fight because I "wasnt trying" and I was not worse in her eyes. Anyway we pulled it together and ended up going to the beach as planned -- which would usually be anxiety provoking for me -- and I felt OK. I still felt like I was coming down but I was less self-conscious. My mood also picked up later in the day and I felt as good as ever around people I would usually feel anxious and inhibited around. So I would say the experience has so far been rocky with some high highs and some low lows. Because of the highs I am stayng on so far and it has only been 4 days. Incidentally, the sideeffects seem less today. No nausea etc, which is better then what I have hear elsewhere. I also dont have problems sexually
I thought I would add that I go up to 20mg in 2 days so I nwill let you know how that goes. I would also advise that being active i.e., not just sitting there wallowing or doing notinh e.hg., watching tv or playing computer is probably the best way to get over the side-effects like nausea and feeling like a zombie, which is what you should do when not on drugs anyway.
I start some talk-therapy on wednesday so hopefully that does me some good.
Sorry this is sooo long. I just havent seen a post on this yet and from what I have read it has got some really good reviews for treating social anxiety speicifcally, although results vary considerably when its "just anxiety/depression".
Well hope this is useful to somebody!
Good luckto everbody!
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