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Can anxiety cause this?
Hi, I'm 17, female. I have been with my boyfriend for over six months now and have been absolutely in love. He has been my best friend for two years and I couldn't ask for better. I recently went on and off Prozac for depression a couple of times, and this last time I started if, I was in New York on vacation. I started feeling really withdrawn from my boyfriend, whom I loved very much. I started feeling numb. I returned home and stopped the medicine because my crying spells got worse and I was feeling no emotions towards him almost. It upset me really bad and frustrated me as to why it was happening. I want to be in love with him. I want to believe this is all in my head or has something to do with the medicine. I have been off Prozac for almost a week now and I'm
Not feeling better yet. I just want some opinions. I go back and fourth on if I'm happy in my relationship and in love that by the end of the day I'm mentally exhausted. Please help, any advice is appreciated.
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Afraid anxiety and depression medication will tend to make you feel desensitised to strong emotions. Bit numb. Detached. Tearful episodes not uncommon either, particularly if you're that way inclined. Mood swings and mental exhaustion are also common. Have a word with your doctor. If you have been on the meds for a while, at a medium to highish dose it's NOT usually a great idea to just stop. And stopping and starting randomly is not a great idea either. It's usually best practice to reduce them slowly, especially if you're experiencing big mood swings. Big symptom of anxiety condition itself is intensified fears and worries that something bad is waiting to happen. It's because you're always on a sort of 'red alert' condition. In the moments when you manage to 'step down' from this 'threat response mode' you will feel tired, and it feels like a massive 'slump' or 'low'. That's because you've got used to being keyed-up all the time. Anti-anxiety meds control some of the symptoms like sweating, heart beating faster or 'heavier' than usual, shakes, chest feeling 'tight', breathless...generally the stuff we call a 'panic attack'. If you're experiencing stuff like this it's time for a chat with the doctor. It's also extremely likely that anxiety will target something very meaningful and important to you. That's the relationship with your boyfriend, eh? Does he know about the depression? And what certainly seems to be anxiety too? If not, tell him right now. And explain that it might lead to some turbulent behaviour while you're working through things. He won't want to be seeing his girlfriend tearful at times, sometimes withdrawn, maybe sometimes 'wired' and jumpy, and NOT KNOW WHY. At least I wouldn't. I'd like to be in the loop so I could understand, help where I could and just be there for her. It takes a lot of the pressure and conflict out of a relationship if we all know where we stand. Talk through how you're feeling with him. Often. Keep the dialogue going. You'll get there.
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Yeah, it sounds like anxiety, especially if you're double guessing what is real, and your thoughts vacilatting back and forth without coming to a firm conclusion where you are absolutely sure of what you have with him. You not being able to settle your mind then causes you mental or even physical exhaustion by end of day.
So what you really want is some solid confirmation and lines of thinking to confirm it all in your mind so you are no longer at unrest over it.
I gather you have no problem believing that he is in love with you, just your feelings for him.
I will start with the fact that the healthiest long lasting relationships for older adults are ones where they not only have the chemistry sexually but they are best friends. Since you started as best friends first, for some, especially those younger with little dating experience could find it easy to question whether there is enough chemistry for the romantic love part. That kind of question is valid. If this is what the issue with you is, don't worry so quickly if you don't feel the instant flash and burn passion that some feel instantly on meeting someone. You've already known him as a friend and sometimes it's hard to feel a dramatic change at first when moving into the romantic part of a relationship. yOU did mention feelings for him so I want you to know its also normal to have a love that starts as a ember that slowly grows stronger and stronger until it becomes a blazing fire.
Then again, there may be an issue with the medication you're on. I don't know how long you've been on it, but peoples chemical makeup can change, I think its every 7 yrs to the point that something we were once not allergic to we now are. Happened to me and after some time my body changed again and I was no longer allergic. So since you're still in a changing and growing phase body wise into your 20's, it could be you're changed enough that you need a nother medication. I wouldn't advise starting and stopping your medication at will without talking to your DR. first. You problems could simply be due to the fact that you haven't taken it consistently. I'd make an appointment to go in, even if its not a regulary scheduled one and be honest and let Dr. know whats going on. If you've having problem with anxiety, you'll be feeling it in other ares, not just love life if not already, then soon. You may need a change of therapy or meds. If you have simply questions more along the lines of how do i know he really loves me, am I interpreting him right, then write to my column that question and I'll send you info on that. If your issue is more a worry that you don't know how to determine for sure if he is the right person for you even though you have feelings for him, I have a practical list to help you with knowing who Mr. Right is so you can feel assured. Ask me for that if thats the case. Good luck.
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