anxiety and panic attacks

[donaldduck352]

DD,
I too suffer. I have things that trigger though. last year I broke down and went on Lexapro. I never thought it would help as I thoght being educated and understanding life gives you lemons you have to work with them I could fix the world and me.

When I was young it was overwhelming death fear. Recently it was a hostile work environment. I have Ativan as a short term relief for panic/anxiety.
I got myself to the doctors office and had a break down there begging to be let off work for two weeks and avoid the triggers. It ended up the hositlity turned to my hours being given to a younger unqualified daughter of a caseworker. I was told there was a lack of work. This started in march when they hired her and slowly was marginalized when they discovered I was on SSDI.
I am seeing a psychiatrist that is great. she changed from PT to this late in life and lived with work place jealousy and hostility trying to make it miserable enough to quit.
I have breathing exersizes to stp panting from my chest rib cage and focusing on the diaphgram area just above belly button. I take 2 minutes for a refuel in quiet area. Mine is the recliner.

i feel like I have a million things going in all directions, I ahve to take care of everyone, save the world, family but nothing left for myself. I don;t need it.
but I went from melt down to at least driving to the pharmacy, ice cream stand. A 20 minute trip. I actually went out of town overnight last week with the husband and no kids and did not melt down. I tink because he really showed me a nice relaxing slow passed time and great dinner out. I did not even count the mile markers home.
I know if I did not have the lexapro on board I could not have done it.... I never was able to leave home on a trip let alone with out the kids. So I am conformed to realize the right med in the right dosw will work.

But I had to tittle up. From 5 mg every other day, for a week to 5 mg for a day for three weeks, to 10 mg and after two months 20 mg. For awile I took 1/2 in am when I got up and the other half before driving and evening work or meetings.
I hope you can feel better. Try everything, don;t rule it out. I was never a believer, thought I was the toughest person and smart. Didn;t coount when unfocused and flaring.
dianne

My doc has told me that I was going thru this for a long time,but was able to mask it.There is apoint were it gets to much and thats when we need to get help.I was like you I can handle any thing that life thru at me,Then suddenly I couldnn't Its a strange and diffecult feeling...

thank got for this thread.

ive been avoiding the DIS due to my anxiety and panic attacks, ive had 2 that have landed me in the ER and i got ativan for liek 5 days after and it helped but now i have no help (no doctor or anything i feel like im all alone and no one will help)

my parents think its a joke and i can just get over it. the only person whos trying to help is my aunt who along with my uncle and cousin, have panic attacks too.

i dont know my triggers, it feels like its everything, and now that my boyfriend of 1 year ended it and wont communicate to me why, thats not helping. he was the one person i could confide in and now hes gone and i feel so lost and alone.

ive been tryign so hard to find help but i feel like no one believes i really have these issues. i get dizzy and light headed and nausious all the time and start hyperventilating and most of the time im home alone so i get even more afraid that i could die andi could never call 911 on myself because i feeel like theyll just tell me to calm down and once im in an attack thats the last thing i wanna hear cuz i get frustrated because i cant.

i dont get nervous or anything in crowds, just driving now since the 2nd panic attack that landed me in the ER happened as i was driving and i had to pull over and ive been scared to drive since. im afraid to leave my house because i dont know what could trigger an attack.

it makes me dizzy and lightheaded even thinking about havign another attack, im so afraid to have another attack. and im terrified of having to go through all this alone.

if anyone has ANY information/ideas PLEASE pm me or something. i really feel like im fighting all by myself and no one realizes that this is something i cant do alone.

At my weekest point(and when I knew I needed help)I was driving to work and got caught up in traffic.I wanted to put my car in park and walk the rest of the way just to get out of there..
There is medication out there that will help.Please donn't think your alone cuase your not..

Keep in touch and let us know about your progress.Our thoughts and prayers are with you

DD

 

[Malton Seadog]

I suffer from infrequent bouts of anxiety, and they hit at totally random times.

I'm going to see a specialist at my local surgery who will assess me and go from there. They run free classes for anxiety sufferers to talk about and hopefully cure it.

I'm staying away from pills.

 

[donaldduck352]

I hope this works for you.There is some great support groups out there to hopefully see your trigger point that bring on the anxiety..

If you can get help w/out meds,that will be great

Taking meds is the right choice for alot.But it comes with a price.

If you can doit withuot it that will be great.

Good luck Matt..And please feel free to come back and tell us how its woking for you..

 

[ktwoof29]

I started having bad bouts of anxiety the day after my husband proposed. I had seen my grandmother and mother go through depression, anxiety, mental breakdowns, but I thought I could handle it. Then I started having random panic attacks, usually in lines at stores or the bank...whats that about????
I finally decided I couldnt live like that anymore...I worried everyday that something would happen to my husband...everyday...for 2-1/2 years!
I was put on Paxil and what a difference! After 6 years I feel sooooo much better...sure I worry but not all the time.
Paxil is great...I will never go off. I would rather take a pill everyday than worry and freak out all the time.

 

[mrs_hower726]

It's good to have other people on here who knows what I am going through right now, it doesn't make me feel as alone about this.

I went to my doctor today and she thinks that all the symptoms I have are due to anxiety/depression. This is after testing everything in my body in which the tests say I'm in perfect health. She gave me a sample of Lexapro for a month, but I have to admit, I'm still VERY leery about taking any pill for anything.

The real anxiety started in May the day after we got home from Disney to find out my mom has breast cancer. The past few months have been the worst months in my life, and I have been driving the 350 miles to her house and back every 3 weeks for her chemo sessions and have put my career and everything else on hold. I think the thing that is sending me over the edge is the financial situation with my sister, basically, I hate to say no but I can't afford to keep saying yes to her.

If I knew that I could take the Lexapro and not get dependant on it, and I could get off of it once the chemo and radiation are over without major effects, then I would in a heartbeat. I'm tired of feeling the way I do.

Thanks for listening, and if you have advice, I sure would appreciate it.

 

[donaldduck352]

I started having bad bouts of anxiety the day after my husband proposed. I had seen my grandmother and mother go through depression, anxiety, mental breakdowns, but I thought I could handle it. Then I started having random panic attacks, usually in lines at stores or the bank...whats that about????
I finally decided I couldnt live like that anymore...I worried everyday that something would happen to my husband...everyday...for 2-1/2 years!
I was put on Paxil and what a difference! After 6 years I feel sooooo much better...sure I worry but not all the time.
Paxil is great...I will never go off. I would rather take a pill everyday than worry and freak out all the time.

I've heard great things about it and bad.But you know what,since i've been on it I have a better outlook on everything..I can even drive down the highway i dreaded before.I would drive 20miles out of the way to avoid it..
Cann't see me going off it anytime soon!!!

It's good to have other people on here who knows what I am going through right now, it doesn't make me feel as alone about this.

I went to my doctor today and she thinks that all the symptoms I have are due to anxiety/depression. This is after testing everything in my body in which the tests say I'm in perfect health. She gave me a sample of Lexapro for a month, but I have to admit, I'm still VERY leery about taking any pill for anything.

The real anxiety started in May the day after we got home from Disney to find out my mom has breast cancer. The past few months have been the worst months in my life, and I have been driving the 350 miles to her house and back every 3 weeks for her chemo sessions and have put my career and everything else on hold. I think the thing that is sending me over the edge is the financial situation with my sister, basically, I hate to say no but I can't afford to keep saying yes to her.

If I knew that I could take the Lexapro and not get dependant on it, and I could get off of it once the chemo and radiation are over without major effects, then I would in a heartbeat. I'm tired of feeling the way I do.

Thanks for listening, and if you have advice, I sure would appreciate it.

There is natural remiedes that never worked for me.I know people on Lexapro and got off it.Its not a easy road tho.Like the op stated and I feel the sameway.If it works,why stop..There is no way I want too feel like that again and I'm not taking any chances.At the worst point it was hell on earth to me..

I'm sorry I have not kept track of this post.I'll check it everyday..
Anyone that wants to talk about it,please post.Youre not alone..They are more people hiding this problem then trying to take care of it.And in the end all you are doing is keeping yourself from living a life,and we only get one

 

[rie'smom]

I used to have severe anxiety and panic attacks. The doc put me on Prozac-this was the late 90's. Anyway, I still had them. Then one day in the midst of thinking that I was dying, a thought struck-if I was dying, nothing that I did would change a thing. After maybe 5 seconds, the panic went away. For probably 10 years I didn't have one, then Gustav and Ike came calling. I had 2 panic attacks but each time I was able to tell myself that if I were truly dying, I couldn't change anything and the panic disappeared. It's hard because they come out of left field but try to start the self talk now and maybe the next time, it might help you.

 

[mrs_hower726]

I will have to try that the next time I feel really anxious. I was on the Lexapro for a few days and each day I had a harder time falling asleep, to the point that I was up ALL last night and finally fell asleep around 8:30am. I read the package and yep, one of the side effects is insomnia. Forget that, this princess needs her beauty rest.

So now we're back to square 1. I need to accept things the way they are. I need to find a way to make peace with the fact that i'm not working right now to help take care of mom, which I feel extreme guilt for not contributing financially (my DH fully supports me and tells me that I'm doing the right thing).

Tomorrow will be a good day.

 

[rie'smom]

Your husband is right. I think that you'd feel more guilt if you couldn't help your mom. Think about this: "Guilt is a wasted emotion." It serves no purpose except to make you anxious and sad.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"Guilt is a wasted emotion." Yes it is...

 

[donaldduck352]

"Guilt is a wasted emotion." Yes it is...

Very very true!!!!

 

[donaldduck352]

Just a bump,that way if anyone wants to add too this they can..

As far as me,Paxil,church and dealing with life-even tho sometimes I donn't want to,has gotten me back on a track I have not seen in a long time..

If anyone wants to add too this,please feel free..I-WE want to know what works for you!

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Hello Donald, I wish I had found this thread sooner. I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for just over 20 years now. It can so beyond terrible. I understand. I have done just about everything to try and and treat this. I have my ups and downs. I am on Effexor XR now and I have Xanax for the really bad days. I would recommend you try a website called stresscenter(dot)com. It has both forums and live chat, and I have been on it for years. People are beyond helpful on there. I have had people help me out of attacks and done the same for others. I really hope you guve it a try and if you ever need anything, please contact me. I do understand.

 

[donaldduck352]

Hello Donald, I wish I had found this thread sooner. I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for just over 20 years now. It can so beyond terrible. I understand. I have done just about everything to try and and treat this. I have my ups and downs. I am on Effexor XR now and I have Xanax for the really bad days. I would recommend you try a website called stresscenter(dot)com. It has both forums and live chat, and I have been on it for years. People are beyond helpful on there. I have had people help me out of attacks and done the same for others. I really hope you guve it a try and if you ever need anything, please contact me. I do understand.

Thank you for the website.

I'm bumping this cause there is a lot of peeps out there that need this!!

 

[donaldduck352]

Hello Donald, I wish I had found this thread sooner. I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for just over 20 years now. It can so beyond terrible. I understand. I have done just about everything to try and and treat this. I have my ups and downs. I am on Effexor XR now and I have Xanax for the really bad days. I would recommend you try a website called stresscenter(dot)com. It has both forums and live chat, and I have been on it for years. People are beyond helpful on there. I have had people help me out of attacks and done the same for others. I really hope you guve it a try and if you ever need anything, please contact me. I do understand.

That website is great.It taught me things and ways too deal with the hard times.

I highly reccomend it

The forums are very helpful as are the chat room!!

Thank you again!!

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

That website is great.It taught me things and ways too deal with the hard times.

I highly reccomend it

The forums are very helpful as are the chat room!!

Thank you again!!

Donald-that is SOOOOO great. I am so glad to hear all your progress. I hope you continue to do well. I am still checking in on here all the time so if you ever need to talk or share anything I will be here. Congrats again!

 

[donaldduck352]

They say 1 out of 3 has a problem..

There is alot of peeps that can do this website you have gave me and learn..

Just take the test and it will open another world that you pulled the wool over your own eyes for many years and enjoy a better life!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I feel so badly for all of you. I in no way want to imply I have the answer but since some folks were asking for any input at all I thought my experience might help. I used to get panic attacks pretty frequently until I realized it was stimulants that were doing it to me in my case. I used to drink caffeinated beverages just like everyone else, and would sometimes take OTC Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) or prescription allergy meds to help with a stuffy nose and never linked the relationship. But then one day I had a really bad episode about 1 hr after the sinus medicine and . After that episode I stopped consuming any and all stimulants with the exception of Nyquil maybe once a year and turned to Benedryl and Flonase instead for my sinus'. I am happy to report that, at least in my own individual case, this worked and I no longer get any attacks... for me it was all drug induced. I'm just super sensitive to stimulants and so are my kids, we now live in a stimulant free zone and everyone here is better. This might not work for anyone else but I figured I could throw it out there just in case.

Here is a to all of you struggling with panic attacks, I really hope you all find your own peace

 

[donaldduck352]

I feel so badly for all of you. I in no way want to imply I have the answer but since some folks were asking for any input at all I thought my experience might help. I used to get panic attacks pretty frequently until I realized it was stimulants that were doing it to me in my case. I used to drink caffeinated beverages just like everyone else, and would sometimes take OTC Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) or prescription allergy meds to help with a stuffy nose and never linked the relationship. But then one day I had a really bad episode about 1 hr after the sinus medicine and . After that episode I stopped consuming any and all stimulants with the exception of Nyquil maybe once a year and turned to Benedryl and Flonase instead for my sinus'. I am happy to report that, at least in my own individual case, this worked and I no longer get any attacks... for me it was all drug induced. I'm just super sensitive to stimulants and so are my kids, we now live in a stimulant free zone and everyone here is better. This might not work for anyone else but I figured I could throw it out there just in case.

Here is a to all of you struggling with panic attacks, I really hope you all find your own peace

That will work for some and we are greatfull for the input cause this can be alot of peeps problem also but when you dont have caffiene or stimulets in your body there is deff something wrong that needs a MD attenction..

Some people have a chemical inballence in thier brian called serritones that dont connect.Its nothing we took or did it comes natuarlly and we cant do nothing about it!!

Its a dissorter that know one can help there self with..
I've being living with it all my life,but intall recently discovered what it really is!!

I'll post more later on this and give you more info on the symptoms..

 

[King Triton]

Just know you're not alone. I went through that also and I'm still dealing with it. My anxiety attacks were a lot worse before taking meds for high blood pressure. Xanax helps me along with meditation and deep breathing. Everyone is different so find out what works best for you. Just know we understand and we're here for you.