Home→Forums→Emotional Mastery→Feelings of Dread
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September 4, 2016 at 10:17 am #114210RoseParticipant
What would cause chronic feelings of dread? An unnerving feeling deep inside. Would this be depression?
September 4, 2016 at 10:36 am #114211Nina SakuraParticipantAnxiety disorders and an inherently negative view about the future turn of events, past traumatic experiences are causes. Tell me more about situation though – When do you feel this dread the most and when did it all begin?
September 4, 2016 at 11:19 am #114213RoseParticipantI have a long history with anxiety and depression which is controlled through antidepressants. I get worse in the Autumn/Winter months, despite Vit D supplements. The feeling of dread started during the Autumn last year. I thought it might be my medication, so decided to very slowly decrease them, with the goal of coming off of them completely. I went from 100mg to 75mg over 4 months, with a gradual decline in my mood, and a constant feeling of dread/foreboding which led to severe anxiety. Also accompanied by a lack of joy or pleasure in things I used to enjoy, feelings of dread and doom at the thought of doing simple tasks such as washing dishes. My medication has been increased to 150mg, I’ve noticed a huge improvement after 3 weeks of taking the increased dose. I still get bad days, but much more manageable. I’m scared to ever try coming off them ever again. I’ve been medicated since I was 16 (I’m 25 now).
Is it possible that my moderate clinical depression can be managed through mindful meditation alone? Or will I forever need to be medicated due to a possible chemical imbalance?
September 4, 2016 at 5:30 pm #114234AnonymousGuestDear arose91:
Chemical imbalance is not something one is born with. There is a two way interaction between experiences in life and chemicals released in the brain. The idea that depression can be managed like diabetes: simply add insulin/ inadequate serotonin or the like is incorrect.
I was told that I will need the anti depressants and anti anxiety I took (17 years) for the rest of my life. And the few times I tried to get off those within those 17 years- I failed. I too was scared to try again, especially after the last effort of a couple of months of abstaining (my anxiety increased to levels I did not experience when I first made an appointment with the psychiatrist).
I managed to finally get off all the drugs (SSRI anti depressants, Klonipin and Seroquel) in October 2013- and took absolutely no psychiatric drugs since. Neither did I self medicate with any drug. I did so by using the skills I learned in therapy through guided meditation, mindfulness, observing my thoughts and fear from a calm place in the brain (not being fully identified with the anxiety, that is having a place in the brain calm enough to observe, from there, the anxious part).
Will be glad to share more if you’d like. Let me know.
anita
I was told
September 5, 2016 at 1:55 am #114276RoseParticipantAnita, thank you so much. Since starting the medication I’m able to use coping skills,and the mindful techniques of observing my thoughts have been very effective. I don’t know if I could go through what I’ve just come out of ever again, it was a truly terrifying experience and I couldn’t function.
September 5, 2016 at 9:18 am #114294AnonymousGuestDear arose91:
If you decide to get off the drugs, if you ever do, then do it very, very gradually while practicing the skills you learned, one hour, one day at a time, while seeing your psychiatrist to evaluate the reduction in amounts, with the psychiatrist’s support as well as maybe a competent psychotherapist and while- perhaps- being involved in a schedule of aerobic exercise, yoga and the like.
I understand fear though. If, and when you are ready.
anita
September 5, 2016 at 11:05 am #114300RoseParticipantThank you Anita. Do you have any other advice on how to cope when/if I do try to come off of them again? How did you do it?
September 5, 2016 at 11:19 am #114302Nina SakuraParticipantDear arose,
I hope you find useful ideas here about coping with your situation. I have never used medication, so i cant be of any help here 🙂Regards,
NinaSeptember 5, 2016 at 12:09 pm #114307AnonymousGuestDear arose91:
I did it just like I wrote to you in my last post to you:
1. “Very, very gradually.
2. “While practicing the skills you learned (like the “mindful techniques of observing my thoughts have been very effective” that you wrote).
3. “One hour, one day at a time,
4. “While seeing your psychiatrist to evaluate the reduction in amounts, with the psychiatrist’s support
5. “As well as (the support of) a competent psychotherapist
6. “Being involved in a schedule of aerobic exercise, yoga and the like.anita
September 6, 2016 at 2:31 am #114354RoseParticipantThank you Anita
September 6, 2016 at 8:55 am #114392AnonymousGuestYou are welcome arose91.
anita -
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