Personally I think it is just anxiety because the feeling of you not enjoying things you enjoy passes when the anxiety passes. Anxiety does make it difficult to concentrate and enjoy things but I find that it feels different that depression. To me depression is not wanting to do anything but lay in bed because you have no motivation and you feel this feeling in the the pit of your stomach, in your chest, in your head that just doesn't go away no matter what you are doing although it lessens when doing something you enjoy. This feeling I used to think was anxiety and I used the word "dread" to describe it to my psychiatrist but there was nothing I was dreading as in being nervous about. I now call this feeling "hopelessness" because I feel like it describes it better. Just feeling like everything is hopeless so why bother try. That being said anxiety and depression often go hand in hand and I do have both as do many others so you never know you could have both. This is just my personal experience. You should get a professional opinion.

I never have thought to separate the two. My knee jerk response is that it's like the diff between a cold and the flu. There are diffs between the two and tests, etc., to distinguish them, but they remain equally miserable and respond to pretty much the same treatment. I don't worry the diffs unless they complicate enough to call in the specialists.

Interesting question, Denise. Thank you. Kinda resonates as worth pondering further.

Are you taking the Celexa every day? I was thinking about your other post, and I forgot to add that taking your SSRI (Celexa) each day, as prescribed by your doctor, will make it so that you don't have as many mood swings. Those types of medication are not meant to take "as needed". They typically need to be taken every day, for maximum benefits. And, it can take 4 weeks, sometimes 6 weeks, of continued use, to feel the benefits. Celexa is also an anti-depressant, so hopefully that will help any depressed feelings you are experiencing.

Yours does not sound like depression to me, but make sure and ask your doctor and your therapist (when is your appointment? That is good news that you are going to a therapist).

So, I wouldn't put another label on it, you know? :) My therapist has helped me a lot with sorting out my thoughts and to distinguish what is a real threat and which are my perceived threats (anxious thoughts).

You are going to be okay!

Girl, I was taking celexa faithfully for almost 15 years, but my doctor thought maybe it had stopped being effective for me with my current symptoms, and so I started Effexor Monday. My therapy appointment is this afternoon. I am still feeling high anxiety, but there are some moments where it eases enough for me to check email, watch a tv show (somewhat), and last night I was even able to read for about 10 minutes. Of course, when the anxiety returns full-blast, I get scared again that it will never go away. It is difficult to fight that feeling, and sometimes I just break down in tears, but I can see maybe a tiny improvement overall. I know that the medicine will take much longer to get fully in my system. It also has made it difficult to sleep since I started. I go to sleep then wakeup within an hour and a half, then wake up every 30-45 minutes after that. I am hoping that side effect will ease.

How did your therapy appointment go? Yes, as you know from taking Celexa, the Effexor could take about 4 weeks to get the benefits of it, possibly 6 weeks max. Try to hang in there... I know how hard it is to switch medications, as I have tried that myself! If your side effects get too much, don't be afraid to call your doctor's office to let them know. But otherwise, you're going to have to be strong and gut it out for a few weeks.... ugh.... good luck with that, you can do it!!!

Try to keep your mind occupied. Maybe with something new. Such as a project around your home, maybe sort through a closet, rearrange your pantry, something that uses your mind, but is not too much to handle. Vacuuming, dusting, windex the mirrors, mop floors.... things like that help take my mind off of an anxiety attack. Maybe it will help you too, and at least you have a clean house to show for it! :)

Your post, the first I have read since joining, resonates with me. I have said I have severe anxiety and my doctor (GP) immediately talks about depression. I said I don't think I am depressed but I do have severe anxiety at times. He then prescribed some meds (I don't recall it was a couple years ago) for depression which didn't seem to help with my anxiety! :( I guess my main thought is does it matter if we call it depression or anxiety or ljagflkdjl - how do we fix the situation!? :) Good luck to you.

My therapy appointment was great! I think it, with the medicine combined, will help me greatly. I can tell the medicine is starting to work because my attacks are already shorter and the physical symptoms are lessened. I am having to fight my negative feelings that pop-up randomly and make me feel like this will never end and that I will always feel bad, but I have to fight that with my logical knowledge that it will get better. I think the therapy is going to help me with that a lot. I still have not returned to work, but after a the illnesses, the travel, and the physical exhaustion of the anxiety, my body just feels worn out. I am blessed to have a great, supportive co-worker and plenty of sick leave, so I am able to take my time to heal, rest, and adjust to the medication.

Hey Denised1440,

I read your posts, the replies, and your follow up. You are an admirably tough human being!
In addition to therapy and your medication regimen, have you considered changes in your diet to support positive and stable moods? Such as refraining from all caffeine, sugar, refined starches, processed foods, and or canned foods?

Oneseed,
Thank you! I have thought about the diet and I know that a better diet and exercise plan will greatly help me. I know losing weight will also help. Strangely, caffeine doesn't seem to affect me, but sugar and refined starches definitely do. I have a family history of diabetes, and personally I have not had high blood sugar, but I have a history of low blood sugar, which isn't good at all. I have lost 6 pounds over this episode because when my anxiety is high, I have no appetite. Now that the meds are kicking in, I am wanting more and more sugary foods, so I am going to have to fight that urge.