Starting therapy and celexa.

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Eil4186
Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Ok, so I have had 2 sessions with a therapist in an effort to work through my anxiety, depression and cancer and death fears that I have had since my cancer diagnosis.

I don't know if she can help me because my fears are not something that can be talked away----cancer is real and death is real. But I will continue to see her for at least a while and give therapy a chance because I really want to be happy and carefree again.

After much thought, I've decided to start taking celexa today. I am starting w/ a half of a 10 mg pill. I hope it will help but I am still a bit concerned about possible side effects.
If anyone has or is taking celeza, will you please share your experience with it?

Thank you so much all for your continued support and love. Eil
«1

Comments

  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #2
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    Eli.. I don't have any
    Eli.. I don't have any experience with celexa, but I just wanted to say that I am glad that you have found someone to talk to about everything that is going on... I really believe that it can and does help, if nothing else than to give our feelings validation. I wish you the best and know, that soon you will be feeling much more carefree!

    ♥ & hugs,

    ~T
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #3
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    taleena said:

    Eli.. I don't have any
    Eli.. I don't have any experience with celexa, but I just wanted to say that I am glad that you have found someone to talk to about everything that is going on... I really believe that it can and does help, if nothing else than to give our feelings validation. I wish you the best and know, that soon you will be feeling much more carefree!

    ♥ & hugs,

    ~T

    Thank you so much Taleea!

    Thank you so much Taleea!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #4
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    Eil4186 said:

    Thank you so much Taleea!

    Thank you so much Taleea!

    Hope you feel better soon.
    Hope you feel better soon. I don't take any antidepressant, so, I can't give you any help on them.



    Hugs ♥Lex♥
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #5
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    Therapy and anti-depressants
    Eil, first I am glad that you are trying an anti-depressant and seeing a therapist. These choices made a world of difference for me. You are right that the cancer is real and death is real. That won't change, but a good therapist can help you shift your perspective from negative to positive. That's what has happened to me. My therapist encouraged meditation and yoga, and these both really help a lot. My therapist explained that she can't change me, but that she is a person who has many tools in her tool box and we would work together to discover which of those tools work for me. I was unable to see her for awhile and tried a different therapist, who did not help me at all. In fact, I think she was in just as much trouble as me. Then I got a scholarship and was able to return to my original therapist. After 11 months, I feel so much better able to cope.

    The first two anti-depressants I tried didn't work either. Because you are on Tamoxifen, I know you are limited to what you can take. But, if Celexa doesn't work for you, don't give up!

    In all, give yourself time...things will get better. xoxoxoxo Lynn
  • ohilly
    ohilly Member Posts: 441
    #6
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    Celexa
    Eileen, I am Lexapro, not Celexa (but Lexapro is a derivative of Celexa as I understand it). This drug has really been a miracle worker for me. At first I thought it wasn't working because I still had a few days when I cried, but now I realize that it just took awhile for my body to get used to the new dosage (I started on 5 mg because I am drug-sensitive, and am now on 10). I am back to my old self! I used to be so against taking anti-depressants, but now I realize that for some people they are necessary: I had a chemical depression caused, or at least exacerbated by, Femara, so I really had no choice. I hope taking Celexa works out for you like the Lexapro did for me.

    Regarding therapy, yes, it's true that your fears are real and a therapist cannot make it so that there is a guarantee you won't get a recurrence. But what a therapist can do is help you be more realistic about your prognosis and learn to deal with the uncertainty we all deal with in life.

    I wish you the best of luck. You helped me so much in the past when I was distraught about my hair.

    Hugs,

    Ohilly
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #7
    Options
    lynn1950 said:

    Therapy and anti-depressants
    Eil, first I am glad that you are trying an anti-depressant and seeing a therapist. These choices made a world of difference for me. You are right that the cancer is real and death is real. That won't change, but a good therapist can help you shift your perspective from negative to positive. That's what has happened to me. My therapist encouraged meditation and yoga, and these both really help a lot. My therapist explained that she can't change me, but that she is a person who has many tools in her tool box and we would work together to discover which of those tools work for me. I was unable to see her for awhile and tried a different therapist, who did not help me at all. In fact, I think she was in just as much trouble as me. Then I got a scholarship and was able to return to my original therapist. After 11 months, I feel so much better able to cope.

    The first two anti-depressants I tried didn't work either. Because you are on Tamoxifen, I know you are limited to what you can take. But, if Celexa doesn't work for you, don't give up!

    In all, give yourself time...things will get better. xoxoxoxo Lynn

    Thank you Lynn for the
    Thank you Lynn for the encouragement and for sharing your experience. That really helps! Eil
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #8
    Options
    ohilly said:

    Celexa
    Eileen, I am Lexapro, not Celexa (but Lexapro is a derivative of Celexa as I understand it). This drug has really been a miracle worker for me. At first I thought it wasn't working because I still had a few days when I cried, but now I realize that it just took awhile for my body to get used to the new dosage (I started on 5 mg because I am drug-sensitive, and am now on 10). I am back to my old self! I used to be so against taking anti-depressants, but now I realize that for some people they are necessary: I had a chemical depression caused, or at least exacerbated by, Femara, so I really had no choice. I hope taking Celexa works out for you like the Lexapro did for me.

    Regarding therapy, yes, it's true that your fears are real and a therapist cannot make it so that there is a guarantee you won't get a recurrence. But what a therapist can do is help you be more realistic about your prognosis and learn to deal with the uncertainty we all deal with in life.

    I wish you the best of luck. You helped me so much in the past when I was distraught about my hair.

    Hugs,

    Ohilly

    Ohilly, thank you so much
    Ohilly, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging response. I am so happy that the lexapro has helpd you. Thats wonderful. I too am hesitant to take drugs and worry about side effects. One of my old doctors agreed that there is no such thing as a truly clean drug and that they all take their toll in one way or another.

    But I agree with you in that, for some people, it is a necessary thing. I think my cancer was the thing that pushed me into this phase of fearing cancer and death and my therapist says it has become an obsession in a way. I hope the celexa helps. Thanks again for your support Ohilly. Eil
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #9
    Options
    ohilly said:

    Celexa
    Eileen, I am Lexapro, not Celexa (but Lexapro is a derivative of Celexa as I understand it). This drug has really been a miracle worker for me. At first I thought it wasn't working because I still had a few days when I cried, but now I realize that it just took awhile for my body to get used to the new dosage (I started on 5 mg because I am drug-sensitive, and am now on 10). I am back to my old self! I used to be so against taking anti-depressants, but now I realize that for some people they are necessary: I had a chemical depression caused, or at least exacerbated by, Femara, so I really had no choice. I hope taking Celexa works out for you like the Lexapro did for me.

    Regarding therapy, yes, it's true that your fears are real and a therapist cannot make it so that there is a guarantee you won't get a recurrence. But what a therapist can do is help you be more realistic about your prognosis and learn to deal with the uncertainty we all deal with in life.

    I wish you the best of luck. You helped me so much in the past when I was distraught about my hair.

    Hugs,

    Ohilly

    Ohilly, thank you so much
    Ohilly, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging response. I am so happy that the lexapro has helpd you. Thats wonderful. I too am hesitant to take drugs and worry about side effects. One of my old doctors agreed that there is no such thing as a truly clean drug and that they all take their toll in one way or another.

    But I agree with you in that, for some people, it is a necessary thing. I think my cancer was the thing that pushed me into this phase of fearing cancer and death and my therapist says it has become an obsession in a way. I hope the celexa helps. Thanks again for your support Ohilly. Eil
  • ohilly
    ohilly Member Posts: 441
    #10
    Options
    Eil4186 said:

    Ohilly, thank you so much
    Ohilly, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging response. I am so happy that the lexapro has helpd you. Thats wonderful. I too am hesitant to take drugs and worry about side effects. One of my old doctors agreed that there is no such thing as a truly clean drug and that they all take their toll in one way or another.

    But I agree with you in that, for some people, it is a necessary thing. I think my cancer was the thing that pushed me into this phase of fearing cancer and death and my therapist says it has become an obsession in a way. I hope the celexa helps. Thanks again for your support Ohilly. Eil

    side effects
    As I told you, Lexapro is basically another version of Celexa. I also wanted to tell you I had no side effects from Lexapro: the first week, once or twice I felt a very slight nausea or headache for maybe one day, but it went away and that was it.

    Good luck!

    Ohilly
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #11
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    Alexis F said:

    Hope you feel better soon.
    Hope you feel better soon. I don't take any antidepressant, so, I can't give you any help on them.



    Hugs ♥Lex♥

    Hope you feel better!
    Hope you feel better!

    Maybe you won't have to be on the antidepressant for a long time.

    Just for a little while until you start feeling better.


    Good luck Eileen!!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #12
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    ohilly said:

    side effects
    As I told you, Lexapro is basically another version of Celexa. I also wanted to tell you I had no side effects from Lexapro: the first week, once or twice I felt a very slight nausea or headache for maybe one day, but it went away and that was it.

    Good luck!

    Ohilly

    Good luck to you on the
    Good luck to you on the antidepressant. Hope it can help you.

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #13
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    susie09 said:

    Good luck to you on the
    Good luck to you on the antidepressant. Hope it can help you.

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

    Thank you Susie!

    Thank you Susie!
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #14
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    susie09 said:

    Good luck to you on the
    Good luck to you on the antidepressant. Hope it can help you.

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

    Thank you Susie!

    Thank you Susie!
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #15
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    Eil4186 said:

    Thank you Susie!

    Thank you Susie!

    Eil
    I have been taking celexa for about a year and have no side-effects at all. I think it helps quite a bit, It doesn't take away my fears, and I still have a melt-down now and then. So I know it is not a cure-all, but I do feel better than before I took it.

    I can't really afford therapy at this time, but have went to a couple in the past, after my 1st husbands death, and one didn't help at all and the other was wonderful and was a great help.

    I hope everything works out for you. I think it is very normal to be depressed given our situation.
    hugs, jackie
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #16
    Options
    rjjj said:

    Eil
    I have been taking celexa for about a year and have no side-effects at all. I think it helps quite a bit, It doesn't take away my fears, and I still have a melt-down now and then. So I know it is not a cure-all, but I do feel better than before I took it.

    I can't really afford therapy at this time, but have went to a couple in the past, after my 1st husbands death, and one didn't help at all and the other was wonderful and was a great help.

    I hope everything works out for you. I think it is very normal to be depressed given our situation.
    hugs, jackie

    Thank you so much Jackie! I
    Thank you so much Jackie! I am very glad that it is helping you! Eil
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #17
    Options
    Good luck Eil
    Please keep us posted as I will be starting Tamoxifen next month and I am keeping my eyes open on what is working if I should need an antidepressant. It's been 15 years since I was on one and I went through 8 of them before Paxil finally worked (and quickly too!). But now Paxil is a no-no. Hope this works for you. ♥ Pammy
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    #18
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    Akiss4me said:

    Good luck Eil
    Please keep us posted as I will be starting Tamoxifen next month and I am keeping my eyes open on what is working if I should need an antidepressant. It's been 15 years since I was on one and I went through 8 of them before Paxil finally worked (and quickly too!). But now Paxil is a no-no. Hope this works for you. ♥ Pammy

    Eil
    I hope the anti depressants works for you..I have had the same fears as you but I also have a abnormal fear of drugs...So I end up having panic attacks... I tried a therapist before my surgery and ended up couseling her!!! She was having surgery the same day as me on her heart and that was all we talked about!!!

    I am thinking of you and I hope and pray the anti depressants work soon... I pray you find something today that makes you smile and laugh!!! laughing is a very good healer of your inner self...

    BIG HUGZ.... Calleen
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #19
    Options
    ohilly said:

    Celexa
    Eileen, I am Lexapro, not Celexa (but Lexapro is a derivative of Celexa as I understand it). This drug has really been a miracle worker for me. At first I thought it wasn't working because I still had a few days when I cried, but now I realize that it just took awhile for my body to get used to the new dosage (I started on 5 mg because I am drug-sensitive, and am now on 10). I am back to my old self! I used to be so against taking anti-depressants, but now I realize that for some people they are necessary: I had a chemical depression caused, or at least exacerbated by, Femara, so I really had no choice. I hope taking Celexa works out for you like the Lexapro did for me.

    Regarding therapy, yes, it's true that your fears are real and a therapist cannot make it so that there is a guarantee you won't get a recurrence. But what a therapist can do is help you be more realistic about your prognosis and learn to deal with the uncertainty we all deal with in life.

    I wish you the best of luck. You helped me so much in the past when I was distraught about my hair.

    Hugs,

    Ohilly

    Good to hear about how you are doing
    Hi, Ohilly - I am so happy to read your post! : ) xoxoxo Lynn
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #20
    Options
    rjjj said:

    Eil
    I have been taking celexa for about a year and have no side-effects at all. I think it helps quite a bit, It doesn't take away my fears, and I still have a melt-down now and then. So I know it is not a cure-all, but I do feel better than before I took it.

    I can't really afford therapy at this time, but have went to a couple in the past, after my 1st husbands death, and one didn't help at all and the other was wonderful and was a great help.

    I hope everything works out for you. I think it is very normal to be depressed given our situation.
    hugs, jackie

    Glad the celexa is helping
    Glad the celexa is helping you Jackie.
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #21
    Options
    Dear Eil, I am so sorry this
    Dear Eil, I am so sorry this whole experience has taken such a toll on you. I certainly know what it's like to be depressed. I did take citalopram for a few weeks but went off it as it made so much more tired than I already was. My doc wanted me to stay on it longer but I just hated sleeping all the time and the depression lifted. So my se weren't really bad and some people do just fine. Try it and see, you can always go off it later or try something else. I'm glad you're going to therapy. I think it helps to find a place for our fears and anxiety because there is no denying the dangers of bc, but hopefully they can help you put it in such a perspective that allows you to carry on and find joy in your life. All my best to you sweetie,

    hugs
    jan

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