Just thought I'd add some good news here. I was pretty active in here a few years ago, but you know how it is, you get better and no longer feel the need to post.

My daughter has had anxiety since she was about 12. Hers mostly has presented as feelings of doom and potential disaster, and she has been socially awkward. She started therapy about a year ago and it's helped tremendously. After she turned 18 and had progressed well in the talk therapy her tharapist and I decided it was time to try some medical intervention.

She started on Pristiq about a week and a half ago and has had good results already. Her feelings of immenent disaster have almost disappeared, she feels more confident, has actually lost weight, and sleeps great! So far the only SE's she has had have been feeling slightly shaky first thing in the morning, some hand tremors and a slight "numbing" of her feelings. Maybe these will go away with time, but probably not. But to her and me these are minor compared to the horrible way she felt before. She started college last week and the move into the dorm, her classes and the whole freshman experience have gone really smoothly. I am estatic!! I was so worried she would adjust at all. Thanks to the Pristiq I think she is going to be OK afterall!

Hi Bird2E,

Well it great to hear a success story like this you must be so relieved and proud as well.

You have fought you own battles before and now you daughter has come through hers.

Best Wishes

Jim Bow

Bird2E,

Thank you, that was a wonderful story. I am truly happy for the both of you. It gives hope to all of us who still suffer.
I was taken by the fact that your daughter was given Pristiq. Because it is the med that my doc prescribed me, only two days ago.
I have read both good and bad experiences with it. But yours gives me permission to hope for better days.
There is a slight difference though that I couldn't help but notice.
Your daughter is just starting her life. You and her were able to nip the prob in the butt early. God bless you for that.
Me, I was diagnosed just five years ago, after living with it ( depression ) most of my life, never searching for help until I had to.
I'm 57 years old, and retiring in 3. So many years lost. Bird2E, you and your daughter are very fortunate to have a life of happiness ahead of you. Stay close to her, and never stop loving her. She'll love you for that.

PeaceY
Old Hippie

This post has been edited by ronnyw: Aug 30 2009, 12:03 AM

Thanks from another old hippie!

I am 57 also, and have often mourned the "lost" years. I had back surgery 2 years ago and had a lot of time to lay around, reflect and ruminate and somewhere along in there I had an epiphany. I said "Screw it! There's still a lot of life in this old Bird afterall. I "retired" when my daughter was 2 and now that she's gone off to college it's my turn again."

I certainly hope that you can get to this point too. Its been a long, hard road, but in some strange way I think of myself as one of the lucky ones.
In a very small nutshell: I was born to two people who should have remained childless. I was molested by a relative from ages 4 to five and go NO support. I have struggled with my identity and sanity for basically my entire life. I have attempted suicide 3 times and been hospitalized twice. I had no role models for parenting skills and planned on being childless. But fate has a way of playing tricks....I had my daughter at almost 40 and have, I hope, been the best Mom I could. Now, smack dab in the middle of middle age, and semi-handicapped with pain (it comes and goes) and I feel fantastic!! That could be the meds (I take 150 mg. of Effexor XR every day) or it could be that I finally got my together. I probably know myself way better than most do, and can now say I have looked the devil straight in the eye and said you! I know how hollow words sound when you're down, but believe me when I say, if I can do it, anybody can.

Your story is quite inspiring. I'm going to start Pristiq in 2 more days. It will be the seventh antidepressant I've used since 1994. I have gone through times where I wished I'd never been born and cursed my parents for having me. I've had times of great joy and contentment. I'm 41 and just lost my job of 15 years. I've had a few opportunites, but I haven't been married or had children. Maybe I'm being unreasonable, but I've been suffering from depression since 1984, and actively fighting it since 1994. I'm at the point where I want to defeat this once and for all, or at least chase the symptoms away for a very long time.