Intrusive Thoughts AGAIN

[JDawggS316]

So I've been on Effexor 150mg for 2 weeks and do feel some improvements thankfully, but there are still some unwanted and intrusive thoughts that invade my mind before I even realize it.

For the last 6 weeks I've been struggling with thoughts about harm to my family (which I know I would never do as some of you have already read in my previous post). But this morning a new one came into my mind that sounded like "what if I did something to myself?"

Let's just say the anxiety meter topped out and I almost went into a panic attack for even thinking such a thing.

Before all this started, I was a normal, happy-go-lucky husband and father working Monday through Friday.

I know what triggered all of this was attempting to go off Effexor in the first place (which only was for two weeks. And within these two weeks is when all this anxiety erupted.)

Am I OK?

[kconnors]

Hello,

I can't give you much insight into your meds, but I do know that coming off and going on meds has an impact on brain chemistry so that you intrusive thoughts might be a result. I suspect that what you are experiencing is not unusual, but since it is of such a concern to you, I would also suggest that you touch base with your prescribing doctor if, for no other reason, reassurance from a medical professional who is familiar with you. From my own experience, the most debilitating thing to do is to play or allow anxiety brain to play the "what if" game. Focus on who you are and what you are doing now and how what you are doing now will help guide you to become the husband and Dad that you were and are meant to be. Please keep in touch with us if to know that we do care about your progress and are here to support you . . . take care, KC

[Nucky20]

Hey man welcome,

Glad Effexor is working out for you. I don't know much on whether Effexor causes intrusive thoughts but a lot of people dealing with anxiety have had intrusive thoughts of harming including me.  When in fact I care more about them then I do myself. The way I look at it is these thoughts obviously make you uncomfortable which is a good thing because its a sign that you are a person with reason and you love your family very much. I wouldn't try to avoid these thoughts but rather acknowledge them as a symptom of your anxiety not so much that you are a bad person. Either way let your doc know about this.

[vanilla1969]

I'm having this same thought as well and it is scaring me. I was inpatient in a mental ward for 4 1/2 days due to breaking down at my therapist office cause I was so at my wits end with the panic and anxiety attacks, wasn't getting much sleep and really on the brink of losing it, she suggested going in to "get myself together" and boy I should have never done that I came out feeling numb and like I was in a blank state of consciousness. They started me on risperdal and welbutrin, and the last time I had intrusive thoughts I had just stated Zoloft. So I dont know if the antidepressant has anything to do with it but my psch doc told me to stop the risperdal cause it was causing my muscles to get rigid when I slept and muscle spasms. When I left here going to the mental hospital I cried like a baby and was hugging all my kids when I got home to my family I felt nothing no joy,  no "im so happy to be home" just numb. I wouldn't do anything either but the thoughts are scaring the hell outta of me along with me feeling numb is making me really feel crappy. I wish I would have never went in there now.

[Manutd591]

Hello, my advice is much more different than most of the advice you have because its not based on meds. I hope it helps well Ive nerver taken a pill and believe me Ive been through hell, but have learned a lot about anxiety and how to live with it accepting it. Ive learned its the only way.

I think the best way to manage intrusive thoughts is to accept them. Accepting means that we know for a fact that thoughts dont depend on us and that they are not always true. Most thoughts that generate anxiety are guided by fear and insecurity thus, they are not true. Its important to indetify that because they are generated by your mind, doesnt mean that they are true or really happening. Its a little complicated but completly true, we have to choose our thoughts and understand that they are not generated by us, they respond to emotions which reasures my point: they are not real. An example: someone scared of flying: on the plane, they are nervous (emotion) so basically they think the plane is going to crash (thought), obviously, the thought is NOT REAL. Trying to stop a thought only will power-up the thought, you have to learn to accept them knowing that anxious thoughts are not really, and in most of the times, not happening.