Anxiety worries

[Brickhouse]

As a few may have read I have suffered with anxiety for 10 years now and have been prescribed almost every SSRI with no real joy. At present I am taking Citalopram and Valium for my anxiety.
After reading many reports that TRT can help anxiety and confidence I decided to get my Test levels checked. They came back low so I have been prescribed Testo-Gel to which I am waiting for my Dr to receive the letter from the Urologist.
There is a slight worry here...... I have used Dianabol (Thai Anabol) in the past for bodybuilding......They made my anxiety a lot worse. I am slightly concerned that I may get anxious off the Testo-Gel?

[ecdysone]

Difficult question...but doubt it, with test almost the opposite should be expected. Anyway, you're using it transdermally which will be more mild (in most cases).

Not to second guess your current drug therapy, but Valium is not renown for its anti-anxiety properties, especially when compared to almost anything else developed with past several decades.
Won't comment on the Citalopram, but I assume your doc has made a connection other than depression. Or, are you suffering a combination of more than just anxiety?

Sorry, just seems like totally the wrong approach to anxiety.

In any case, the Testo-Gel will clear rapidly after you stop it's use, if need be.

[bass]

that is a tough one, i experienced anxiety when i was taking pain medication prior to TRT, its not fun, so i feel your pain man! but been on TRT almost a year and once in a while i take those pain medications and no problem! so Ecdysone might be correct that TRT may help! keep us posted.

[J DIESEL3]

Sorry to hear about your anxiety brick I know it really sucks dealing with it...I also had on and off anxiety before starting trt.Now that I'm on trt I just no longer experience it anymore.Bass prior to trt pain Meds also set me off as well but now it's no problem when I need to use them.The only time trt was the cause of anxiety was when my e2 level was to high other than that I just don't have this issue anymore. Good luck man and Let us know how things work out.

[Times Roman]

not sure...

....but i do know that dbol AINT test! when you took the dbol, without test, im confident that your test levels got worse, not better.

....so i would assume you would have a different experience with the test than you did with the dbol

good luck!
---Roman

[V-ROID]

As far as anxiety goes, is it constant or more event oriented? Have you ever tried a Beta Blocker? Propranolol does wonders for millions by eliminating the physical symptoms brought on by panic attacks and phobias. SSRI, MAOI, BENZ, just turn most people into feeble feeling, lazy, fat heads (think Alec Baldwin). BB's can be used as needed and not physically addicting. They ares cheap and pretty safe worth looking into...

[Brickhouse]

As always.....Excellent and helpful replies, thanks guys, means a lot to me as this anxiety is really getting me down.

It was only a few months ago when I put in 'Anxiety Help' in to Google and I found someone had said about using Test to help him with anxiety and how it had worked, so I gave my Dr a call the next morning and asked for my bloods to be taken for Testosterone levels. When I got my results back I found I was low. For my age (37) the levels are between 9.6 - 30.5 ........I am 10.7 so very low. I then joined this forum and have found out so much regarding TRT.

Regarding my anxiety, I come across as a very confident person yet inside I am so nervous. I don't like being in Supermarkets, crowded places or anywhere that I cant make a quick escape from. I always try and look big as that makes me feel better, so I think I have a great lack of confidence. The Dr put me on Diazepam (Valium) 10 years ago and now I am addicted to it and trying to withdraw is proving very very difficult. My sex drive is very low, erections are poor, feel tired all the time, feel low, irritable.....Many have said to me I am like a girl with my little tempers!! Dbol made me feel good as in I watched myself grow like a tree but it made my anxiety so much worse which is interesting what Roman said about it lowering my Test. Also I dont know if this may help anyone help me! When I train at the gym I always feel anxious......Could that be a sign of low Test?

[ecdysone]

The Dr put me on Diazepam (Valium) 10 years ago and now I am addicted to it and trying to withdraw is proving very very difficult.

I don't know if you are aware, but to some extent, most of the benzos can substitute for each other. For example, you could use xanax in place of valium and thereby have a much more effective anti-anxiety medication.

[Hackamaniac]

I don't know if you are aware, but to some extent, most of the benzos can substitute for each other. For exa mple, you could use xanax in place of valium and thereby have a much more effective anti-anxiety medication.

Sorry, but not entirely true.... I was on clonopin for years and then another docotor s witched me to ativan, and i had horrible withdrawals..You will have to come off valium slowly...Or you will feel like complete shit.....I've also faught anxiety alot of my adult life.....I have several anxiety meds prescibed now, but don't take them very often....I know exactly what you are going through brick......Sounds like a panic disorder, with some general anxiety mixed in.....I know the feeling only going places that you can escape from quickly....Not a good feeling at all!!!! When I started test it didn't make me any more anxious, but I had to stop shortly after for different reasons.......I think the best thing for anxiety is to confront your fears, easier said than done, but every day go to a place where you don't feel comfortable, even if only for a short period of time.......Just baby steps

[ecdysone]

Don't mean to take this conversation too far off topic, but the reality is that all of the benzodiazepines are non-selective and act on all types of GABA/benzodiazepine receptors... ativan will very nicely substitute for clonopin - just has to be done correctly: stepwise tapering off of the clonopin and the dose of ativan has to be high enough to compensate. You cannot immediately stop one and start another otherwise you will definitely experience withdrawal symptoms.

There are far better panic disorder/antianxiety benzos other than diazepam. The only downside is they are generally even harder to wean off, but that is often not the major consideration.

Just thinking out loud here, but I think one needs to try and separate the anxiety issue from anything one might experience from TRT.

[Hackamaniac]

We are pretty much agreeing then, Imo anxiety meds are great shorterm, but cause alot more anxiety and problems long term.....Diazepam is a pretty outdated drug for anxiety, but does very well for innner ear problems......

[Brickhouse]

anxiety meds are great shorterm, but cause alot more anxiety and problems long term..... I have read about long term use making anxiety worse.....I have been on 15mg Diazepam (Valium) for 10 years!

Sounds like a panic disorder, with some general anxiety mixed in... Thats what I am diagnosed with having, the exact way you phrased it!

..I know the feeling only going places that you can escape from quickly....Not a good feeling at all!!!! When I started test it didn't make me any more anxious, but I had to stop shortly after for different reasons.......I think the best thing for anxiety is to confront your fears, easier said than done, but every day go to a place where you don't feel comfortable, even if only for a short period of time So I need to confront my fears.....I have so many 'What if's' ready in my brain......Like 'What if I pass out and make a fool of myself' When I get anxious I get dizzy, it is a horrible feeling as you know. I have read so much on how to breath properly but when I am nervous my breathing goes mad!

I was wondering if Test may give me a bit more confidence and save me from sleeping all the time and give me back my sex drive?

[bass]

anxiety meds are great shorterm, but cause alot more anxiety and problems long term..... I have read about long term use making anxiety worse.....I have been on 15mg Diazepam (Valium) for 10 years!

Sounds like a panic disorder, with some general anxiety mixed in... Thats what I am diagnosed with having, the exact way you phrased it!

..I know the feeling only going places that you can escape from quickly....Not a good feeling at all!!!! When I started test it didn't make me any more anxious, but I had to stop shortly after for different reasons.......I think the best thing for anxiety is to confront your fears, easier said than done, but every day go to a place where you don't feel comfortable, even if only for a short period of time So I need to confront my fears.....I have so many 'What if's' ready in my brain......Like 'What if I pass out and make a fool of myself' When I get anxious I get dizzy, it is a horrible feeling as you know. I have read so much on how to breath properly but when I am nervous my breathing goes mad!

I was wondering if Test may give me a bit more confidence and save me from sleeping all the time and give me back my sex drive?

it will!

[steroid.com 1]

Did you get your Cortisol level checked?

[Brickhouse]

Did you get your Cortisol level checked?

I didn't.....Should I ask for it to be checked?

Thanks Bass......So Test will give me some confidence, energy and sex drive.....Excellent as my confidence is so low, even though I put on a false front!

[Hackamaniac]

I didn't.....Should I ask for it to be checked?

Thanks Bass......So Test will give me some confidence, energy and sex drive.....Excellent as my confidence is so low, even though I put on a false front!

Check your pms

[steroid.com 1]

Yes, elevated and suppressed Cortisol levels can and will cause all kinds of anxiety issues.

See the stickies and get a complete hormonal BW done than post results here.

[Ace111]

"I don't like being in Supermarkets, crowded places or anywhere that I cant make a quick escape from. I always try and look big as that makes me feel better, so I think I have a great lack of confidence."

Sounds like it's social anxiety disorder/phobia. I've got this too and for me it's from low self confidence which then spiraled into affecting other parts of my life. I don't get panic attacks, I appear calm on the outside until I'm put on the spot and have to talk. Then I start sweating, blushing, heart races, voice breaks. I can recognise when my thoughts are irrational but my body still reacts with the 'fight or flight' mode. And because of the tiredness I don't have the energy to face my fears or 'fake it till I make it'. It takes too much out of me mentally and the physical symptoms mentioned above also hold me back. My GP won't prescribe me beta blockers and I don't want any anti anxiety/depressants which they're willing to give me.

Hackamaniac is right about putting yourself in uncomfortable situations but you need to recognise your thought patterns and irrational beliefs for this to work so that you're not in a constant state of panic while in those situations.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is good for that. Google "mood gym". It's a free online CBT course. It's good to get you started on recognising false beliefs. Also try meditation. It helps to calm the mind and to let thoughts float by without you dwelling on them.

[pugster]

i agree with ace on this, , reading back thro all your posts over the last month you have gone thru some things that would be stressful for anyone and that you have a social anxiety disorder /phobia , this in itself will cause low self esteem /anxienty /panic attacks/depression and a host of other things , i am going to be honest and say something you will not want to hear - hrt is not going to be your magic bullet and suddenly cure you , yes i agree that your testosterone lvls are not optimal , but as it was explained to me what is low for one person another can function on no problems at all , everyone is different.
going to the docs every few days and demanding and barrage of tests /self diagnosis is not going to endear them to you and tbh will just reinforce the idea that you have a serious mental health problem , tranq and benzo medication also have a rebound effect that makes anxiety /panic worse in the long term , this needs to be addressed first and your mental health route throughly exhausted and examined before you even think of adding other protocols.
that said i hope the gel helps you , you will know within a week if it is or not , personally i think it will help you on some areas (sex drive, confidence) , but your anxiety /panic /social phobia will have to be tackled in other ways such as the cbt ace mentioned (ask your doc to be referred for cognitve behavoirl therapy).

all the best with your journey

[Brickhouse]

Really great and kind advice here......Thank you guys. I will keep you all informed on how the gel goes and see if my Dr can put me forward for some CBT.