Hi there, Mister Barry. Your GP has referred you to me to discuss your anxiety. So tell me, how have you been feeling?
Well, I'm still from anxiety and panic attacks; and the medication that I'm taking, I found that it seems to have some side effects and it makes me still feel a little on . So I found it better to take the at night rather than in the morning. And so I can the day kind of thing. But I still feel quite .
Okay. Getting used to the medications can be difficult going back. When did you start the treatment again?
Oh, what, three weeks ago now. And that was the , the one to hopefully control the longer term, and the , which is for the more short term control.
How many of the chlordiazepoxide are used a day at the moment?
Well, the doctor gave me three times a day, but to be honest, I'm trying to . I only use them if I really, really need them.
Good. And do you feel okay with that?
Yeah, it's like I don't feel like they me enough, if you get what I mean. I know that my main aim to tackle this is, to be honest, is getting and more exercise. Because I know that's the feeling that I need to aim towards. Because I know from that when I work out, I feel better, I feel more relaxed, etc. So I'm trying to work towards that.
So, how many actually are you having at the moment?
Today I've had to go into work just for a conference with my , you know, just to discuss how things are going and stuff to take , because I just felt like I couldn't it otherwise.
Right, okay. So over the past four or five days...
None except for the today.
So you've actually been laying off them altogether?
Yeah, I've been trying. And when I do take them, I don't. I only feel suppressed for a very short amount of time.
Right now - the citalopram medication?
Yes, I'm on 20 milligrams once a day. And the side effects - Headaches were quite bad to begin with, and I'm still getting them, but I think that could be more stress related because they're not very - I wouldn't call them painful headaches. I just can feel they're there. I also had a , so I wondered if I might just have an or something too.
Okay, we'll come back to that. But you're now taking the citalopram at night?
Yeah. I found that if I take it first thing when I get up, I still feel quite edgy. And also the side effects.
Yes. Okay. Right now, the reason you started the treatment was because you were getting panic attacks. Can you tell me a bit more about the attacks?
Yeah, well, I couldn't leave the . My heart races and I really struggle to breathe, and I just feel an intense fear. It makes me feel sick and dizzy if I go out into the .
You find it very difficult to get out and about. Are you beginning to , do you think?
Yes, I've managed. I've got. I went over to the on my own, and I managed. I felt a bit - a bit jittery at first, but, you know, I've learned over the years, after suffering quite severely with them. Years ago, that you just have to take your mind to a different place. And, you know, I just on what I wanted from the shop. That was the first time I've been out on my own since I started on the medication.
