Diagnosed at age 33

Hi Rhoda!

So sorry they you've found yourself in this situation. I was diagnosed last November at 32 (I'm 33 now), I understand how you feel (I struggle with anxiety, too), and the waiting for information is really the worst part. You'll feel much better once you've got a plan in place.

I just finished active treatment a couple of weeks ago (chemo and radiation) - it's no fun, but it is doable and manageable, I promise.

Stick around, this place is great for support and information.

Hi Rhoda,

I have anxiety and depression, and the wait for the treatment plan was the hardest part. You can ask for a prescription for valium if you don’t already have one. Once I had a treatment plan, I was much tougher than I ever thought my fragile self would be! All those years of preparing for the worst with anxiety may have actually helped. Wishing for a low grade and stage for you.....

Best,

L.

The way I look at it is, an anxiety disorder is when you worry about things that aren’t actually threats, so when an actual threat comes along, you have the worrying and coping skills firmly in place.

I don’t know if valium is stronger than the meds you are on-mine are different, but it’s a fast-acting rescue med. I don’t find it to be too strong (or strong enough, really), but it helps most people who take it.

For anyone having a second anti-depressant added to their regimen, be watchful for dark thoughts, negative thoughts about things you usually find enjoyable and positive, thoughts about making changes to your life you’ve never thought of before that would be detrimental (like quitting a job you love), not wanting to go and do things you’d normally do, and/or thoughts of not being around/alive anymore and no one would miss you. Usually adding a second anti-depressant to the mix is a good thing, but sometimes it makes things worse and it can really sneak up on you. If you recognize these symptoms at any point, don’t assume your anxiety/depression are getting worse organically. Stop the new med and call your dr.

RDizon- I get it. I’ve been on antidepressant for years (Wellbutrin). The doc added a little Zoloft to the mix after my second surgery and in the very beginning everything was fine but about a couple-few weeks in things started to slowly change. I’m in healthcare and I knew that increased depression symptoms were a possible side effect but I always just figured it was really the disease progressing or the individual’s circumstances and not the meds. I was wrong, horribly wrong (don’t tell my husband that I made that statement, ok - LOL!). I stopped the Zoloft and slowly the thoughts and everything lifted. I am a firm believer in getting the help you need, that antidepressants/anti anxiety medicine meds work and should be prescribed earlier rather than waiting til later (later might be too late in many ways). I just wanted to give you and anyone else reading the heads up that adding new meds to the mix can sometimes increase instead of decrease the symptoms so you can be on the watch for it in case it happens and contact your dr. I swear the not knowing treatment up in the air stage is the worst part of all this. Sending warm thoughts your way!