Citalopram Social Phobia Resource
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Best Answers
Has anyone taken Citalopram? Has anyone taken Citalopram for social anxiety disorder/social phobia? How did it work for you? What was it like the first few weeks you took it, how long for an improvement? Cheers

William B replied: "It took a little while to notice the effect, but one day I realized I was feeling better in general. It is a decent medicine for depression."

Ed P replied: "n ot much help just broke down a while ago attempted suicide a month a go Going back to the doctor How about you?"

just-dave replied: "I'm 18 months in and about half way back to being me again, at first i was much worse on Citalopram the first 6 months then it gets slowly better, now i'm reduced from 40mg to just 5mg a day as they can cause side effects like racing thought patterns, sleep problems, feeling fuzzed etc It's not just about the meds though, to recover you have to have a total life style change, remove stress triggers, diet, small exercise, relaxation, learn to be good to yourself and like yourself a little better etc it all helps one to heal. ps recovery time depends just how extreme the anxiety is and what else u have with it, but for social anxiety it should really make a huge difference and help you get there quite fast ... good luck."

Social phobia and Anxiety - help please!? My main obstacle right now is eye contact. Especially while walking towards people. At work, there are very long corridors, so you can see the person coming towards you for about 2 minutes before they are within speaking distance. The anxiety builds in those 2 mins as i walk towards the other person, thinking where should i look?, what are they thinking? etc. Eventually when i get near them, i have to force eye contact and squeeze out a very uncomfortable hello. It is actually a lot worse if it is someone i know coming towards me. This is because i think, " if i act weird around this guy (whom i consider a friend) he's gonna think i dont like him and get the wrong impression. Also, you are expected to stop and talk to people you know which is very hard if you are overcome with anxiety but are doing your best to hide it. So the anxiety builds to the point of pain and jitters in my stomach and i am compelled to look away from the person. In fact, if i could, i would hide somewhere until the person passes by. But i force myself to look at them uncomfortably and say hello. Another thing is - the main part of my job involves a cleanroom environment, which means everyone has to wear suits and masks (We make computer components). This means that the only part of the body exposed is the eyes, and if you have a problem with eye contact in general, imagine how difficult it is. Its not as if you can look at other parts of the face, you are basically forced to look into the persons eyes. I actually want to be friendly with everyone but find that i am sending the wrong signals with my body language and i can tell this by people's reactions to me. On a lighter note, at present, i am feeling 10x better than i was this time last year as i am taking citalopram and cant even begin to tell you how bad i was over the last 12 years or so b4 the medication. But the main problem for me now is eye contact because i am so consciously aware of it all the time. And the irony is that people see me as macho because i am well built and do martial arts (which i have taken up because of my social anxiety) but they dont really know how nervous i am inside and i dare not let them see it.

Osiris1551 replied: "I would not worry about it too much, but I can see it is an issue for you. I have the same problem sometimes, but I think it roots to a need to understand myself and others more. I have read numerous books and talked to a number of people about it. Before you try drugs take a deeper look at yourself. If you have never heard of it go and take the Myers Briggs Personality Temperament Test. There is actually a whole website dedicated to the different personality types where you can talk with others like yourself and not feel so alienated. Hope this helps."

Sam replied: "an easy trick to making eye contact and actually not doing it is to stare at the middle of the person's nose. try this it should make you more comfortable. try practicing it in the mirror in your bathroom. you make eye contact with out actually making eye contact. with that long hall situation always bring a piece of paper with you and act like you are reading it then as the person passes you in the hall look between their eyes and say hey. little things like this make a work environment more friendly to be in and make you more approachable to other people."

Cameron U replied: "Apparently the drugs you are taking are not 100% effective but there is a solution that is. Read the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and learn a drug-free way to achieving unprecedented results. You may think I'm just giving you another unhelpful solution but I know for a fact that this works because I have tried it myself and about 98% of people who try it get effective results. For your own sake read the book!"

J Whalen replied: "yeah, i can totally relate. i went through a time where i had the same problem. it has everything to do with you not accepting yourself, or at least that was the case with myself. it's true, eyes are tricky, because they really are the indicator of your true feelings. your problem is you're getting too specific with your issue- eye contact is just an indicator of the larger problem. learn to accept yourself, and have confidence in who you are, and the specifics will fall into place. just remember you are completely normal, and your fear of being judged will lessen. besides, it doesn't matter what others think of you(specifically people you have no personal connection with). once you realize this, you will feel free to be yourself, and in turn people will probably like you more. people like realness- be yourself, act like yourself, and the rest will fall into place."

eflea79 replied: "You just perfectly described the same problem I have. Do we work at the same company?? I work for an aerospace company in Los Angeles, CA. I don't have to go into a cleanroom very often, but I know what you mean. Although I actually feel more comfortable when I'm wearing a smock or "bunny suit" because I feel like I'm hidden. I have a lot of insecurities, so when I'm in that suit I feel like nobody can see the real me. My company has the same long hallways, and I feel exactly the same way when I pass someone in the hall. I always feel uncomfortable, and I wonder what they are thinking in the time they are walking towards me. It's always a tense few moments, but I know the truth is that they are probably not even paying attention to me, so I have all this anxiety for nothing. I wish I could make the feeling go away. I often want to just duck into a corridor until they pass. People always tell me that I look mad. But I'm not. I guess I just have a stearn look on my face when I'm walking through the building because I'm so nervous and uncomfortable. I think people think I'm a bitch. But I'm actually a really nice person, I just have all this anxiety built up inside, and it's hard to be around people. But working in a professional environment, you have to just do the best you can to fake being normal. It's so hard. Trust me, I know. Personally, I prefer sitting in my cubicle all day."

nendlin replied: "you're fearing the fear and fearing your reaction to it wether you crumble wether you dont.But deep down you know you won't you don't,you can look upon the mask wearing as and 'even worse' senario i can avoid the eyes now!OR you could say its the kind option 'the jumping in with both feet' and getting it done way.Youre right the lack of eye contact does give other signals like disinterest and bordom.Your a nice guy don't do that injustice to yourself and dont block these people from enjoying the real you.do all the looking around before you get to them my guess is you do more than your fare share of sneaky looks at them weighing up the potential threat(that can be misread as kinda creepy) and for your side of it it has the anxiety reaching boiling point.So look at the floor the walls what your carrying and then just a oh hello in a pleasantly surprised way when you look up,the reciepient will feel ever so charmed for the welcoming greeting and be keen to talk no awkward silences or time to notice and think about what your or their eyes are doing.Their eyes and minds can be tools in this anxiety of yours keep them both busy with nice chit chat and smiles so they dont have time to notice how feared you are within.Keep it up and soon there'll be nothing to fear,as its not them that you fear its you and your ability to not look a fool and you never will do while charming their pants off with your lovely self!"

How many mg of Citalopram is 10 mg of Lexapro equivalent to? Because I was prescribed Lexapro in the past, 10mg, and it was mildly helpful for social phobia, depression, and anxiety. Now I am on 10 mg of citalopram (only took lexapro a few months then had a 3 year hiatus where I didn't need the meds) and it doesn't seem to be effective, so what I need is something that is basically equivalent to 20 mg of Lexapro... how many mg of citalopram would that be? P.S. it has to be citalopram instead of lexapro because lexapro is 70 dollars per 10 mg and I can get citalopram for 4 dollars at walmart.

Dave replied: "You cant choose what dose you want to take, thats your doctors job, dont try taking more, and dont try to self medicate. Theres a reason why you need prescriptions for certain drugs, and theres a reason why bad things happen when people dont follow directions. You cannot take two different drugs, even if they have the same mechanism of action or produce the same results, and ask what dose of this drug, equals the dose of that drug. They are different drugs, they cannot be compared that way. Different drugs work in different people differently. Some work for some, and some dont, especially when it comes to antidepressants. Talk to your doctor and let him/her know if the drug you are taking is not working, he may decide to up the dose or change the drug, but dont try to play doctor and do anything on your own."

Panic Attacks and Social Phobia? About 3 years ago.... i was doing my lifesaving swimming course. I was in the classroom when I experienced a huge panic attack! Right away i thought i was going to go crazy... like fall off my chair or run away. Actuallly i did run out of the room. Ever since that time.... there have been periods where i couldnt enter the mall, be in restaurants, grocery stores. Basically any place where there is alot of people. I am on citalopram.... it helps a little. But it doesnt help 100%. So sometimes i do experience them again... but not to that extent. I feel as if my friends think i am psycho, but i think they understand. In malls...especially food courts I will not go...because I feel that everyone i starring or judging me. It is the worst feeling in the world. What do i do? And how can i help myself?

LOR replied: "Go to a therapist. Look up social phobia online."

MissUnderstood replied: "Sorry to be so harsh, but dear get over it! NOBODY is judging you, and nobody is watching you! when you get those urges and you're scared to go out GO! That's the best time to go, you'll get over it so much quicker!"

Mitchell J replied: "When I was a massage therapist I worked with some people who had panic attacks. One thing I found was that they tended to breathe up in their chest, instead of "belly breathing" here is an example on youtube: you need to remind yourself of the things that are valuable in you. The things that you are grateful for and the things that you like and do well. keep reminding yourself of these things and don't worry about what other people think they do not matter at all! most of it is just stupid gossip anyways. you are the only one who knows you."

Tash replied: "Are you seeing a psychologist? It could be helpful- if you go to your local GP and talk about this, they can sometimes set-up what is called a Mental Health Plan, which will give you a certain number of appointments for a significantly cheaper price. The only thing you can really do is start confronting your fears. This doesn't mean you have to jump in the deep-end immediately. Start by going places where people will be, but not a lot of people. Go out for coffee with someone you feel safe with to a small coffee house. Why do you feel that people will specifically be staring at YOU?? Do you judge other people in the same situations? If it's hard for you to confront these big situations, then there's no pressure to do so immediately, you can step-up gradually. Instead of having a big meal out, just grap a hot chocolate or a coffee. A psychologist will really help to get to the issues behind all of this."

lena replied: "Okay. So, I'm no doctor, but I also have anxiety as well as OCD. I absolutely understand what you're saying. I hate to shop, and my mouth gets so dry I swear I swallowed my tongue. I don't know how to "fix" this, either. I have had to change my life, and the friends I have, because people also don't understand me when I jump up and HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW! Just don't let it get to you. Don't tell yourself that you're weird or being judged. You'de be amazed at how many people you pass in a day that feel exactly like you do. Good luck sweetie."

lilygirl2727 replied: "My website is anxietycompass.com. It is full of information that you will find helpful and it is free. I am not selling anything...just want to help people."

does anyone else have really bad depression anxiety social phobia and eating disorder? Hi a little bit about myself im 33 im taking 60mg citalopram and 1200mg of epilem also known as sodium valproate for bipolar i have suffered for 8 years now but this year has been the worst lost 3 good jobs in the last 7 years. When i get bad i find it hard to eat just looking or thinking what to eat makes my stomach churn and that makes me more anxious because im not eating. I have just been put on epilim as a trile i think i have the doctor is not so sure but i will try anything to get better but all these pills are so daunting especially the epilim because you have to eat with them god listen to me im a complete train wreck anyone else with similar simtims?

Crazy Me replied: "i am 28, i have a 4 yr old son. i have a wonderful fiance. and i have two awesome horses at my disposal. then why do i feel like i can't even get out of bed? not sure. i have never been diagnosed with anything, i was celxa for a few months, but stopped it. i have terrible aniety about death and the world blowing up and stuff like that, and i have a question here also about the same thing really. i got some great answers, like, excersice. find another hobby. play with my son more. find different things to do to keep your mind busy. hope this helps."

Fred W replied: "This is a great course/product which helped me basically CURE myself of anxiety/panic attacks and stop them for good, check it out below: I highly recommend it, good luck."

gavin554645 replied: "Your question sounds very serious. I suggest that you should consult to expert for health advice. I know the chinese medicine is very effective to treat your problem, i recommende a service platform to you, it may help to solve your problems. You can have a look at it at. i hope you will be well soon, good luck to you~!"

phillip b replied: "be really aware that the conventional treatment for this can be hrrendous and you can go on for years with no improvement Do read this very carefully and try and understand the principles behind what is being said . Evaluate all of this info well –this info will save you years of suffering ---years if you apply it .. This will help you vastly and educate you on our health care system and its dire limitations All treatment recommended by the doctors should be tested and approved and quite rightly so. That makes sense right Obviously it costs vast sums of money to test and approve treatments because of the possible damage to people.. Drug companies Fund most research and will only and I mean only look at treatments, which show the promise of good deal of a profit, --they will actively dismiss any therapy which does not have profit potential— thus your doctor will only recommend therapies with profit in them. Despite The fact that some of these other therapies mentioned below do have overwhelming benefits some, which have saved needless amputations, needless pain and trauma, needless kidney failures and much loss of life. Drugs are not the answer for depression with mind altering chemicals or any other mental illness. This is a fundamental principle and unless you grasp this fully –you could /will have years of suffering ahead of you . This does not help you though when you are ill and suffering—not hearing about therapies which can help from a person you look up to and trust Have you heard your local doctor recommend, Massage Spiritual healing, Herbs, Light therapy,Colour therapy,the violet ray therapy, Osteopathy, Electrical Frequency devices. These therapies will work for many complaints of a so called mental nature we have thousands of testimonials and results showing years of successful applications .Please make no assumptions or cast aspersions unless you have studied the material at hand . Do this and I will guarantee improvements to you inside a day its that simple, of course getting these things in place can be much harder. But we have personnel experience of the effectiveness of them and they do work. Every one of them can have a very beneficial influence on you. Print this all off save it and enact it and share it --- of course someone to help you get these therapies in your life is invaluable but do not be swayed by them trying for short cuts …. 1,get someone to massage your back and legs at least 3 times a week use peanut oil or a mix of 50-50 olive and peanut oil. 2 use the violet ray machine an edgar cayce device google search this --- 3 times a week on the other days especially on the spine….we use it every day with very positive results 3.get a tent sleep out side 3times a week utilising earth energy - nature can help big time especially with how you feel how much energy you have 4 study and apply good nutrition adequate minerals all of them particularly calcium and magnesium iron essential fatty acids as well omega 3 6 9 protein etc 5 ensure your thyroid is working well 7 ensure you do at least I hr per day some kind of voluntary work when you are able..the reasons you are ill , or poor or have allsorts of bad things happen to you is because of karma -----usually from past lives but some from this one –voluntary work will offset your mistakes--- how much it offsets well that is down to god and how much you do. Healing us is in direct proportion to the help we give others ie your healing comes with helping others achieve theirs so if people are doing very little in helping others ---they suffer more and longer...and if they are doing a lot they get well faster....so now you know what to do ,,and like a lot of us are already doing being of service. 8 be amongst people who are giving, friendly who have time for you who love you , choose your friends well 9 be or get to a place which personally love or like 10 get and do some work which you like or love 11 ensure you do no acts which hurt or inflict on anyone –don’t want to add to your karma do we !!! 12 spiritual healing yes and reiki -. 13think good positive thoughts, laughter, look at comedy, play good uplifting music, 14avoid at all costs exposure to violence, murders, suffering ,death ,tragedies, this is what is pumped at us and they call it the news ..feed upon good things , uplifting things, things that feel like a breath of fresh air.. 15 Positive affirmation- that’s right programme your self in the mirror , thoughts are things words are things actions are things , all have influence, few people realise these things can have an effect on themselves . 16 a detox ------ toxins can influence how you feel big time 17 hugs get plenty of them in your daily life you would be amazed at how people feel after a few decent hugs…. 18 loads of exercise running walking climbing but something which you enjoy 19 rid yourselves of all aspartame laden foods"

weissnicht replied: "you sound in a bad way kiddo. popping all that stuff isn't helping either by the sounds of it. change your doctor till you feel satisfied that you are pushing forward. if the next doc doesn't't help then change again. they might say you are hypochondriadria but it is yu that is suffering not them. some medication can make u feel worse instead of better. do you have a reason for being so depressed? but writing here and talking to people does help even if we are only virtual. i wish you all the best and keep us all in touch how u are doing."

Suffering from long term social anxiety and depression? I have been suffering from panic attacks, social anxiety and agoraphobia now for over a year, and for the past 6 months I have been trying to overcome them but finding it impossible. I first went to my doctor who recommended cognitive therapy which I agreed could work so I booked myself in and at the end of all the therapy sessions I was over my agoraphobia but not my panic attacks and social phobia, so I went back to my doctor who prescribed me citalopram as it was supposed to be good, I am now taking this once a day and although it has helped me somewhat it isn't dealing with the problem head on. I now work 4 hours per evening but finding it really hard to socialize and remain calm at work, I get paranoid and anxious all the time, I cannot tell the difference between playful banter and general bullying but all I know is I get confused and I don't know how to behave, so I instead I tend to be quiet and try to fade into the background and I think people notice this so they target me more as they see me as weak, but if I stand up for myself they might see me as being weird as they could only be playing when I think they are being rude. Aside from all that I stopped seeing all my old friends as they all took drugs so I have no friends, and I have never had a girlfriend and probably never will due to my social ineptness. So here I am on the earth, a healthy 19 year old male, with no friends, not much of a life, no future wife and no hope, and not much of a life either. Sorry to go on but life sucks and I cannot wait much longer for things to get better as it feels like I am soon going to run out of things that are going to help me. I think my social anxiety could be being caused by something more serious such as asperges or some form of schizophrenia, but then I could just be overreacting, or suffering from hypochondria. Any Help and Advice would be much Appreciated, Many thanks

tang021 replied: "OH mate your in exactly the same position as me except i have a wife but that only makes it harder as there is more pressure here is my email address take it and contact me we will talk and hop fully we may be able to help each other who noes?..."

yagatbe replied: "Don't say there's no hope. I had (or perhaps have) your exact problem: I get panic attacks, hate crowds, have a hard time telling the difference between banter and bullying etc etc. Then last year, almost on a whim, I decided to teach English for a year (I know, it was crazy). Oddly enough, after the first few days of heart pounding fear I suddenly realized there was no problem, I could interact. Since then I have decided that the difference is a pre-defined social script. There's nothing to figure out between students and teachers. They know how to behave, you know how to behave, everything is under control. It has given me the opportunity to improve my social skills and interact with other people in a somewhat more acceptable fashion. So, working from the assumption that part of your brain is overtaxed from trying to figure out what is going on in a social situation, I would advise you to try practicing in easier, more scripted social situations. Re-train your brain so that you are more confident, less easily confused, and (if all else fails) have a better mask to hide behind while you work on issues. The most important thing in un-learning a fear re-wiring neural connections. If you feel fear in social situations the two events become physically linked in your mind, so that when you are exposed to people direct wiring makes you experience fear (the phrase is "neurons that fire together wire together"). Work on weakening that wiring by concentrating on something else (anything you enjoy, as long as you don't leave the group). Your fear has a physical structure, but your brain is capable of changing that structure. Basically, your genes shape you, but you have the power to shape your genes. Don't give up, it's never hopeless."

Trying to overcome Social Anxiety and Agoraphobia? I have been suffering from panic attacks, social anxiety and agoraphobia now for over a year, and for the past 6 months I have been trying to overcome them but finding it impossible. I first went to my doctor who recommended cognitive therapy which I agreed could work so I booked myself in and at the end of all the therapy sessions I was over my agoraphobia but not my panic attacks and social phobia, so I went back to my doctor who prescribed me citalopram as it was supposed to be good, I am now taking this once a day and although it has helped me somewhat it isn't dealing with the problem head on. I now work 4 hours per evening but finding it really hard to socialize and remain calm at work, I get paranoid and anxious all the time, I cannot tell the difference between playful banter and general bullying but all I know is I get confused and I don't know how to behave, so I instead I tend to be quiet and try to fade into the background and I think people notice this so they target me more as they see me as weak, but if I stand up for myself they might see me as being weird as they could only be playing when I think they are being rude. Aside from all that I stopped seeing all my old friends as they all took drugs so I have no friends, and I have never had a girlfriend and probably never will due to my social ineptness. So here I am on the earth, a 19 year old male, with no friends, not much of a life, no future wife and no hope, and not much of a life. Sorry to go on but life sucks and I cannot wait much longer for things to get better

cookiecloobie replied: "you need to keep on the doctor it takes time and they need pushing your showing positive signs by asking for help and wanting help also by talking about it well done i hope you get the help you need soon"

Mathieu replied: "I know exactly what you are going through. I have panic disorder with Agoraphobia. Since you already take an SSRI and it helps you probably need a drug like Clonazepam. It is one of a few approved for panic. It works well and with the Citalopram it should vastly improve your anxiety. And what it comes down to is if your life is suffering substantially (as it sounds like it is) you need to take action. Clonazepam also works within hours. Alprazolam is also officially approved for panic. It works faster than Clonazepam."

anna replied: "I suffered from agoraphobia and panic attacks with depression for several years until it was discovered I have thyroid disease. When I got treatment for that, and a diet to help me balance my metabolism and lose the weight I gained with the thyroid disease, I found the depression lifted and the panic attacks disappeared. I am still dealing with the agoraphobia but it's much easier to handle than it was. I strongly suggest you get a full physical with bloodwork etc. to make sure there isn't an underlying organic element that's being ignored."

Misaki replied: "Simon, First, please do not say "no wife". There is someone for you, believe me. Believe in yourself too! I can relate to how you feel. I had anxiety attacks too. I was thinking too much. For me, that was when I had to speak in public. Or when there would be more than a few people around me in the same room. It was something that started when I was a teenager and that lasted over years and subsequently affected my career until not so long ago. At some point, I was prescribed medicine but I wanted to avoid that because of side effects. That's when I discovered a program that literally pulled me out of that "hole". It is a 100% natural method. The KEY is that you should no longer fear the thought of anxiety. You have to get out of that loop. Not only did that cure me - you become your true self again - but I was also extremely surprised to even discover newly built self-confidence. There is always a solution! Get out of the anxiety loop! And believe in a bright future that you too deserve. All the best, Misaki"

citalopram 20mg side effects? Hi I have been on citalopram 10mg for a week and had minor side effects however as my condition was getting worse I was told to increase to 20mg yesterday to allow my body to get used to 10mg. Anyhow yesterday nght took 2 10mg tablets as advised by my gp and was fine slept ok, however I woke at about 8.45 this morning to find myself unwllngly banging my head with my hand I then couldnt get back to sleep was very anxious and started finding myself not being able to breathe properly however I suspect this was a panic attack as the more I worred the worse it became I got up briefly and was very confused and anxious as well as my eyes looking like they were about to pop out of my head when I looked in the mirror anyhow I eventually managed to calm myself down and never got back to sleep but rested untill nearly 11 , I am now incrediably anxious and am worried about going outside I also suffer from anexty and social phobia , these thoughts slightly subsided but now have come back are all of these side effects of the increased dose and has anyone else had similar expereiences? I was also perscribed 14 2mg diazapam for emergency use II have not taken any of these as yet. sorry I forgot to add that whilst having the panic attack it was like two voices in my head one saying conflicting things like one would say yes and the other no, whether this has any relevance I dont know.

Didymus replied: "Citalopram is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in the therapeutic dose range of 10 to 60 mg/day. A doctor must always monitor a patient taking an SSRI such as citalopram. Distinct from some other agents in its class, citalopram exhibits linear pharmacokinetics and minimal drug interaction potential, making it a better choice for the elderly or comorbid patients. Citalopram should be taken with caution when using St John's wort, as resulting drug interactions could be adverse. This may be caused by compounds in the plant extract reducing the efficacy of the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes that process citalopram. It has also been suggested that such compounds, including hypericin, hyperforin and flavonoids, could have SSRI-mimetic effects on the nervous system, although this is still subject to debate. One study found that Hypericum extracts had similar effects in treating moderate depression as citalopram, with fewer side effects. Citalopram can have a number of adverse effects. In clinical trials, over 10% of patients reported one or more of the following side effects: fatigue, drowsiness, dry mouth, increased sweating (hyperhidrosis), trembling, headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmia, hallucinations, blood pressure changes, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, heightened anorgasmia in females, impotence and ejaculatory problems in males. In rare cases (around over 1% of cases), some allergic reactions, convulsions, mood swings, anxiety and confusion have been reported. Also sedation may be present during treatment of citalopram. If this occurs it is advisable to take the dose at bedtime instead of in the morning.[citation needed] One rare side effect of antidepressant medications is bruxism (teeth grinding). However there is no evidence directly implicating citalopram with teeth grinding. When taken with Prilosec, the clearance of citalopram may be reduced, leading to higher blood levels of citalopram. Prilosec inhibits the CYP450 2C19 enzyme, one of the two primary enzymes responsible for the metabolism of citalopram. Dosage adjustments may be needed due to this effect. Citalopram and other SSRIs have been shown to cause a preoccupation with sexual content in some patients, both males and females. Citalopram is contraindicated in individuals taking MAOIs. The drug is considered relatively safe in overdose, although fatal cases of dosages 840 mg to 1960 mg have been reported. SSRI discontinuation syndrome has been reported when treatment is stopped. Tapering off citalopram therapy, as opposed to abrupt discontinuation, is recommended in order to diminish the occurrence and severity of discontinuation symptoms."

Can somebody please help: I suffer from social anxiety that is ruining my life? I have been suffering from panic attacks, social anxiety and agoraphobia now for over a year, and for the past 6 months I have been trying to overcome them but finding it impossible. I first went to my doctor who recommended cognitive therapy which I agreed could work so I booked myself in and at the end of all the therapy sessions I was over my agoraphobia but not my panic attacks and social phobia, so I went back to my doctor who prescribed me citalopram as it was supposed to be good, I am now taking this once a day and although it has helped me somewhat it isn't dealing with the problem head on. I now work 4 hours per evening but finding it really hard to socialize and remain calm at work, I get paranoid and anxious all the time, I cannot tell the difference between playful banter and general bullying but all I know is I get confused and I don't know how to behave, so I instead I tend to be quiet and try to fade into the background and I think people notice this so they target me more as they see me as weak, but if I stand up for myself they might see me as being weird as they could only be playing when I think they are being rude. Aside from all that I stopped seeing all my old friends as they all took drugs so I have no friends, and I have never had a girlfriend and probably never will due to my social ineptness. So here I am on the earth, a healthy 19 year old male, with no friends, not much of a life, no future wife and no hope, and not much of a life either. Sorry to go on but life sucks and I cannot wait much longer for things to get better as it feels like I am soon going to run out of things that are going to help me. I think my social anxiety could be being caused by something more serious such as asperges or some form of schizophrenia, but then I could just be overreacting, or suffering from hypochondria. Any Help and Advice would be much Appreciated, Many thanks

oco_toc replied: "I am so sorry to hear how much pain you are in, I know what social anxiety is like because I used to suffer from it myself. (note I say used to so things can get better) You need to go back to your doctor or find a doctor with whom you can connect - that is very important. Now I am not a big fan of pills, I was prescribed antidepressants which really did nothing except in some cases made my anxiety worse. My doctor did end up prescribing me beta-blockers, which are not a psychiatric drug nor are they in the category of benzos ie valium. They are a non addictive medication which basically stop that physical panicky feeling. Ask your doctor does he think they could help you. Find the right help for you, and it is out there, and you will solve this problem. Take care and dont give up."

PUBLICLY CORRUPT replied: "I HEAR YOU BRO. LIFE IS TOUGH. BUT YOULL GET THROUGH IT. THIS TIME OF YEAR IS TOUGH FOR EVERYONE. JUST LOOK FOR A GOOD HOBBY. I THINK A GOOD HOBBY FOR YOU WOULD BE POKER. CLUBWPT IS A MEMBERSHIP SITE WHICH IS $20 A MONTH. IT HAS OVER 100K IN PRIZES EVERY MONTH. YOU DONT HAVE TO TAKE A RISK OF LOSING YOUR WHOLE BANKROLL TO GAMBLING LIKE ON THE MONEY SITES. GAMBLING IS NOT GOOD WHILE DEPRESSED. ITS A SOCIAL GAME, AND YOU WILL MEET PEOPLE MORE LIKE YOURSELF. POKER IS JUST LIKE LIFE. YOU GET BADBEATS, HERE AND THERE. THEY GET TO YOU. BUT IF YOU IMPROVE YOUR GAME AND DONT LET THE BAD BEATS GET TO YOU IT WILL PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN. LOOK AT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE, AND TRY TO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE. BY THE TIME I WAS 19 I WENT THROUGH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE 90 YEAR OLD. FATHER PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS 15. MY BROTHER ALMOST DIED IN CAR ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS 19. THEY TOOK MY HOME OF EIGHTEEN YEARS WHEN I WAS 19. I HAD TO DROP OUT OF HIGHSCHOOL. AND NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE. POKER SEEMS TO BE A GREAT ESCAPE FOR ME. ONCE SPRING/ SUMMER ARRIVES ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. KEEP ACTIVE. KEEP YOUR MIND OFF OF THE DEPRESSION. DONT GIVE UP."

Can an appropiate diet alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms? Hi guys I was about to take antidepressants to alleviate my depression and social anxiety ( Citalopram ), but I am so scared of the side effects that even after ten years of torture with my depression and anxiety I am still not wanting to take them! I was prescribed with citalopram 20 mg once a day lately and after I went to buy them I left them in my room for month. Do you people think that a nutritionist would be a good idea for my problems or it would be to mild to treat depression? I have to say that I have serious anxiety problems and depression ( DEEP SOCIAL PHOBIA ) I work and everything, I am a postman but my life is hell, as I am constantly exposed to people and consequently so anxious, I feel I am going completely mad and I need to find a solution as soon as possible! So.... I was thinking that a nutritionist could be another alternative to medicines which my self think they are really poisoning staff, even if reached a level of anxiety that make me consider as well the poisoning as a option ( Citalopram ). Could you please give your opinion about this as I am really desperate about it! Thanks in advance to all of you

Dana replied: "It will help a titch with your symptoms, but it will not cure them, sorry."

Lou replied: "A good diet is very important and studies have shown that food can change your mood that is why chocolate is so popular though this will not compensate or replace the medication you have been prescribed. Take the medication not taking it hasn't helped so maybe taking it will."

Kat replied: "Why are you asking people on here to to tell you to do the opposite of what your own Dr. is telling you & has seen you for in the past 10 yrs? THAT IS JUST SO UNCOOL.You should do as the Dr. said & take your medicine.He knows you personally & your problems so listen to him & take the pill.You'll be glad after you start back on them. Good-Luck"

angelluv replied: "About the deep social phobia - me too. And yes a good diet can fight off depression. Your health and senses can entirely affect your natural mood. I've heard eating fish, rice, cocoa, and cabbage all give a lighter mood. As does taking an outdoor walk every morning or simply using citrus scented products (their smell works instantly..) By making small permanent changes, you wont need medication. Just look up 'fight off depression naturally". Youll find tons."

Jane replied: "I was going through clinical depression and horrible anxiety myself. The first thing I did was to see a psychiatrist who prescribed medication. I have been taking it religiously and I am now living without both depression and anxiety. (I have to admit, I was also a big worrier about side effects). If in fact you do have mild side effects, remember, the positive results of the medication outweighs the side effects. IMPORTANT. If you should have hardcore side effects, tell your doctor immediately; it is their job to deal with this. They may change the dosage or medication to make it easer for you to deal with. In your case, with all of your suffering, I would definitely recommend a doctor's opionion over a nutritionist. I believe you will get much better results seeing a doctor and taking medication. You deserve to feel normal again!!"

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