Agitated Depression

[Mick909]

My psychiatrist diagnosed my severe major depressive episode as characterised by agitation. I am in recovery with help from lots of medication. I feel the darkest moments of this episode are behind me (I hope), however the agitation persists relentlessly.

I have a feeling of discomfort in my chest and it makes me twitchy. I don't know how to describe it but it is entirelly pyschosymatic. I keep needing to rearrange my t-shirt and spend most of the time with my hand on or over my chest. I cannot relax or sit still properly. I sit the only way I can in a really bad posture bent forward which is ruining my back. I also feel the need to be occupied constantly, which is not easy when depressed. I find it impossible to ignore. I’m desperate for my mind to let go of this.

Anyone else dealt with anything like this? Does it stop?!

 

[jajingna]

Not sure I've heard of "agitated depression" as a diagnosis before but certainly agitation is common in mental illness. I believe anxiety is the most common issue that people suffer from, and then it's depression, and the two often occur together, so it's easy to see where agitation would arise. I've had some bouts of that in the past and it was hard to deal with, restlessness and racing thoughts I guess, and it was like being manic too perhaps. It's a confusing state to be in and difficult to manage. In my experience though this all pointed to psychosis. I had to get on meds for that a few times.

 

[Mick909]

My diagnosis is MDD, but goes on to say current episode severe, without psychotic symptoms, characterised by agitation.

 

[supremekai123]

I too have this going on! It could be akathesia it's an inner restlessness and u can't stop twitching. I get head spasms and arm twitches and constant anxiety. You may need to taper your medication more slowly. I have the same thing I bend forward because it's easier to breath

 

[Mick909]

I too have this going on! It could be akathesia it's an inner restlessness and u can't stop twitching. I get head spasms and arm twitches and constant anxiety. You may need to taper your medication more slowly. I have the same thing I bend forward because it's easier to breath

Sorry you have this too. Do you always have this or does it come and go? Mine seems to be a lingering symptom after a really bad depressive episode. My doctor has given me Pregabalin which he is slowly increasing each week.

 

[supremekai123]

I've started having this for a while now. It's hard to say what's causing it but I think it could be from SSRIs and tolerence to them for me... Also there is bad anxiety startup of u don't taper up on meds and you get akathesia and this just awful anxiety. I want to try pregabalin how does it make you feel have u noticed anything yet or are you at to low a dose

 

[Mick909]

I have increased my SNRI dose recently which I was warned might increase my anxiety temporarily.
I am tapering up Pregabalin each week, started at 25mg 3 times a day to 150mg 3 times a day. Am currently on 100mg 3 times a day. It is hard to tell as unlike diazepam (which I'm also on) there is not any immediate sedative affect. My sleep has improved. I think it's probably helping but hard to say as am on so many other things! Will keep you posted though!