Is this Depression, Stress or Anxiety?

Question

I'm 25, have hardly any appetite, constant upset stomach / recurring infections, shaky, but I don't feel tearful over anything that I should. I feel mentally numb, can't look people in the eye, always feel guilty for things that are nothing to do with me. Also crave cheese, salty foods + carbohydrates (but not chocolate and sweets). Dark circles under eyes, pale face, snappy, impatient, obsessive. I've had enough and really want to do the best thing from here on but.......don't know what the best thing to do is! My GP is reluctant to prescribe something like Valium but the thought of something like that fills me with relief if I could just use something to escape this 24/7 feeling of constant lack of well-being. I have been on Corticosteroids (Prednislolone) for Inflammaotry Bowel Disease for 10 years now and I read that this can severely deplete Serotonin levels. Anybody experienced these symptoms together and found that any medications / techniques / treatment has worked for this?

To: ninety9point8. I've NEVER had Valium in my life!

Answer 1

You are depress!!!... Have you check your thyroid lately, sugar levels? have you check your meds interaction with each other? It could be so many things, but you are the only one who can stop those feelings. Why worry for things or situations that you will not die for it, or is not under your control.
What you can do my friend is think back when you used to feel happy and want to do things, think when everything changed, recognize the symptoms, them study them. after find a solution to be better. But everything depend on you and how much you willing to put in to get better. my guess thyroid is one of the decease that attack your entire body from head to toe and you not even recognize it till you have the symptoms. It's good that you have ask here, because is many of us can give you a tip that may help you. hopefully you will find the answer. Choose A professional Specialist not a regular Dr.

Best.

Answer 2

Well, I know what you're going through. I had a time several month ago in which I was not myself either. But things got better. I'd say you're just experiencing anxiety which is kind of a broader term for what could be a lot of other problems. My advice would be to not make any life changing decisions right now because your judgemnet will be bad. I made a lot of mistakes when I was experiencing this. Just wait and things will get better. Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 3

You have severe anxiety. Please see another GP and get a referral to a good therapist who can help you heal. You shouldn't be taking corticosteroids longterm, I know that for sure. I have anxiety, and I find that a half of a xanax (when I really, really need it, which is rarely), a nice, long walk, a hot relaxing bath, and/or a cup of calming chamomile tea really do the trick. Cut down on the cheese, salt and carbs - they are directly affecting (if not downright contributing to) your Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Get some help. Some NEW help, the GP you've got now is no good. There is a good life to be lived, I'm working on it too!*hugs*

Answer 4

It does sound like you have food allergies/intolerances. Dairy is a definite suspect here. You may be suffering from depression and no wonder with all the probs you got and not getting the best help from the professionals!
I would recommend trying some alternative therapies as well as asking your GP to refer you on to a specialist.
Nutritional therapy would be a good start, get you off the wrong foods and onto the right foods for you. You could get a food allergy test at your local health store.
Hypnosis is now being recognized for treating IBS and it can definitely help with many of the symptoms you have at the moment. The relaxation used in hypnosis is excellent for helping stress and anxiety.
Good luck.

Answer 5

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 6

There are many causes of dark circles, from age, heredity, allergies, cold or sinus infection, bone structure and glasses which are not so commonly known.
http://www.mydarkcirclesblog.com/2006/11/27/causes-of-dark-circles/


If you would like to apply home remedies to reduce dark circles, here are some of my suggestions:
Buy a box of regular, old fashioned unflavored gelatin (e.g. Knox) from grocery store. Take a small cup or bowl and put in 1 teaspoon of the gelatin mix. Add one tablespoon of boiling water & stir for a minute. Test it on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot. Then, using a cotton ball, pat it under your eyes as you would an eye cream or gel. Go lie down and listen to some music, or take a bath & let it stay on for at least 30 minutes. Then just rinse it off. Gelatin is very high in Vitamin K & Biotin. It will not remove your dark circles on the first application (but you will notice a difference), but if you do it daily for a week, and then 2-3 times a week for maintenance, you should notice a drastic reduction in dark circles.
http://www.mydarkcirclesblog.com/2007/01/01/special-spa-home-remedy-to-reduce-dark-circles/

To hide dark circles, you can use YSL concealer or salmon concealer..
http://www.mydarkcirclesblog.com tips on how to reduce dark circles, the causes of dark circles, home remedies; eye creams reviews, make up tips, and natural healer.


http://www.cleansecolonblog.com Cleanse Colon Blog writes about colon cleanse home remedies and review colons cleanse products.

Answer 7

Yes. Valium is most often prescibed to alcoholics in recovery. I can tell by your message that you are smart and depressed. Everything you said, salty foods, mentally numb, shaky, guilt, carbs, pale, snappy, impatient, obsessive. You are coming off of it. Good for you. Good for you. Feel the pain. Then move on.

Answer 8

its sounds like anxiety to me, some of the things you mentioned like not feeling tearful when you should remind me more of depression but everything else sounds like anxiety. I've dealt with severe anxiety in my life, health anxiety was a small part of that and YES that can generate symptoms or aggravate real problems into much worse seeming problems, it can cause a slew of health problems and bad feelings because anxiety effects your nervous system which is connected to every single part of you. i would suggest listening to you doctor for now, try taking a yoga class (there are very gentle forms of yoga i would recommend that type for your problem) learning to relax and center yourself can work miracles.

Answer 9

long term steroid use like yours can indeed deplete serotonin levels and cause clinical depression. And you certainly sound like you have clinical depression. Suggest that your family doctor is not the one to deal with this. You would do better to see a psychiatrist for medications, as they know them all and can best decide what will be best for you, and also see a therapist to help you learn coping skills for your various health issues.

Answer 10

I'm sorry your going through that experience. I suffered from Anxiety, Depression, wich tadda... .is caused by the wonderful word... STRESS. If your under a physicians care try talking to him and telling him that you don't want; to be put on any severe meds. I was put on sedatives without even knowing what I was taking wich made me furious. I bought a self help book, cause i was at my witts end. "Anxiety"... It was a great book and it taught me how to believe in myself and my ability to calm myself down. I swear by it. I find that by calming myself, and knowing what triggers my feelings and moods... It helped me tremendously with my axiety, depression, and IBS. Good Luck to you!!!