u/Adhithya_23

I have been on desvenlafaxine 100 mg and aripiprazole 5 mg for about a year now for my MDD and GAD. It feels like I have total cognitive blunting—I can't do any work, and I struggle with severe executive dysfunction, weight gain, and lethargy. My mood is dull all the time; I am constantly irritated or sad, and I can't stop ruminating over my thoughts continuously.

Before this year, I was hospitalized because of my anxiety, and afterward, my doctor put me on aripiprazole. Since then, I have suffered from severe hypersomnia. My doctor suggested setting up a timetable and following a strict routine, but whenever I sit down to study, I am unable to do so unless I push myself with all my energy under intense pressure and high alertness Because of that extreme stress, I wake up with chest pain in the early morning around 3:00 AM.

Without forcing myself to that extreme degree of stress, I cannot sit to work, or else I fall asleep easily and feel completely exhausted. It’s either too much pressure or I do nothing—I can't feel normal or accomplish things normally. Please help me figure out what I should do; I am completely fed up with trying and failing like this."

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"I have been on 5 mg of aripiprazole for about 10 months now, and I take it with 100 mg of desvenlafaxine. I think my diagnosis is MDD and GAD, though I don't know whether it's bipolar disorder or not. I have symptoms of anhedonia (I am not able to feel anything), and I have experienced severe weight gain since I started taking aripiprazole. I also suffer from hypersomnia and executive dysfunction.

My doctor is scared to take me off aripiprazole because I was previously admitted to a mental hospital for severe anxiety symptoms, including chest pain, giddiness, headaches, body aches, and traumatizing anxiety. Now, I have severe ruminations and am unable to control my thoughts. Will my anxiety come back if I quit this drug?

My doctor is saying my symptoms are behavioral and referred me to therapy for 'activity scheduling,' but I don't know what to do

Update on Symptoms and Request for Treatment Plan Review

​I have been receiving treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) from my current psychiatrist for about eight months. I am currently taking Desvenlafaxine (100 mg) and Aripiprazole (5 mg). While this combination has helped manage my Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) symptoms, it has not resolved my depression or bipolar-related symptoms.

​Despite expressing my concerns multiple times—specifically about severe rumination, racing thoughts, and recent hypomanic episodes—my medication regimen has not been adjusted. I also mentioned that I am preparing for upcoming campus placements, which makes managing these symptoms even more critical right now.

​I feel unheard and concerned that my current treatment plan is not adequately addressing my condition. I would like to explore options for re-evaluating my medication or seeking a second opinion

"I am currently taking desvenlafaxine 100 mg and aripiprazole 5 mg. I was initially diagnosed with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder), but now my doctor suspects a bipolar spectrum disorder, specifically Bipolar 2 (BP2). I have been taking these same medications for 8 months with no improvement. Previously, I had severe psychosomatic symptoms which did resolve because of this current medication.

However, the problem now is that my doctor is not changing my medication. He has a strict hold on modifying my treatment, and I don't know why because he isn't explaining anything to me. Is there a specific reason why a doctor would put a hold on medication changes like this? I am severely depressed right now, gaining weight, and feel practically disabled and unable to do any work. Because my doctor is not changing my meds, I feel like he is not listening to me. Should I change my phychiatrist?he is not saying anything I am stuck idk what to do ?I am confused someone please help

Here is the corrected and grammatically polished version of your message, written in the first person so you can read it or send it directly to your psychiatrist:

"Hello. I am currently diagnosed with severe GAD and MDD, and I have been taking desvenlafaxine 100 mg and aripiprazole 5 mg. I am 21 years old and have been suffering from severe depression for more than a decade.

When I was in the 8th grade, back in 2017, I experienced what feels like a first episode of hypomania. Prior to that, I was the class topper until the 7th grade. But during this phase, due to sudden overconfidence, I started studying only one day before my exams. I became very talkative and experienced an intense level of confidence. I genuinely believed I was the most intellectual and intelligent person in the class, that I was highly mature, and that other people simply didn't know how to live life. I was acting much more intensely than my normal self. Consequently, my grades started to fall.

After about a year, this phase ended. Since then, from 2018 to 2026, I have been in a state of complete, severe depression and anxiety. I was only ever treated for GAD and depression because I never told anyone about this one-year hypomanic phase.

I need to share this with my psychiatrist because I feel a Bipolar Type 2 diagnosis might be more accurate. If anyone else has felt this way, please help. This is my life, and getting the proper diagnosis could literally save it, especially since I have struggled with suicidal ideation and have been admitted to the hospital for it before."

I am a 21-year-old currently diagnosed with severe GAD and MDD, taking Desvenlafaxine (100mg) and Aripiprazole (5mg). While my previous psychosomatic symptoms have improved, I am struggling with severe daytime sleepiness and a total lack of task initiation. I feel alert in social or high-stimulation environments (like college), but when I am alone, I cannot stay awake or control my racing thoughts. I also struggle with significant forgetfulness, which has been a pattern since childhood.

Yesterday, I took 50mg of Modafinil without a prescription. For the first time, I felt mentally stable and was able to focus on tasks like coding for several hours straight. Given how much this helped my productivity and mental clarity, I am concerned that I may have undiagnosed ADHD. I would like to discuss the possibility of an ADHD evaluation and whether a prescribed stimulant or wakefulness-promoting agent is appropriate for my treatment plan