Do you have anxiety attacks?

[lbgraves]

Wow, you're life sounds like mine. I personally have started grad school, 3 kids, close grandparent just died, issues, issues, issues I had an attack like you are describing right after myDS was born and thought it was heart attack--went to emmergency room. They said gallbladder when allwas said and done. They seemed unsure and now I wonder if it was at all

Did they ever do an ultrasound to confirm the stones? I had an abdominal ultrasound done that took almost an hour to rule this out.

 

[goofy's friends]

Well, my doctor put it this way...I could wait it out & handle it on my own and it could take a year or so. A year isn't a long time in my life however how long is it in respect to my children's lives and their development. That really got me. Looking back on the past 10 months...I feel like my kids have already missed out on that time...I don't want to add another year to it. Kids make messes and mistakes and moms get upset and yell. When I have my chest tighten up, my shoulders cramp terribly, and my arm go numb because of this....I am at the point to need help. I want my kids to remember me for things other than being the crazy woman yelling at them.

It has taken me two months to finally break down and take something. I tried therapy & that was a joke to me. I don't have time to sit & whine to someone...that's just how I felt about it. The first two days were hazy but I expected that. Today I have felt really good.

Interesting way to look at it re:kids and really hits home.........

 

[lbgraves]

Yes, it took this happening to make me realize that my kids have been put on the back burner for their school. When I commited to PTO, DH wasn't in the graduate program...that went thru a month before school started. In addition the VP had to go to CA to take care of her terminally ill father...which she needed to do. She tried to support me via email but I then had everything on my shoulders. I had never even assisted with a carnival before & I found myself organizing it all. Add to that the fundraiser, the backpack for Katrina collection, boxtops....140 hours in a month.

My kids didn't do anything extra because I couldn't handle that on top of everything else. This year is going to be different. DS is in soccer camp this week & has been signed up for the fall team. He loves swimming and after a month of lessons this summer he will be joining the swim club after soccer is over and thinking about the team next summer. He is considering cub scouts. DD is hesitant to join anything but I think that I am going to sign her up for ballet at the rec center. Every activity is close to our home...5 minutes or less...so if DH is out of town I can handle two activities in one day on my own.

The hardest thing for me to do will be doing something for myself. When school starts I am going to start working out again...I haven't been to the Y to do that since having the major attack in May. I am going to go to the scrapbook store one morning a week to crop...something that I really enjoy but don't take the time to do much. When I made the decision to stop working at the school (even without pay 400+ hours is a job ) I planned to research and start classes at the CC for medical billing so that I could work at home. That has been put on the back burner.

 

[twocjsmom]

Thanks to the OP and all who have contributed to this thread. It is so reassuring to learn that I am not alone in my struggles with anxiety! I have dealt with it for some time now, but never really accepted the extent to which anxiety has been affecting my life, my kids lives, and my married life until about a month ago. I have done therapy, and have taken antidepressants (most recently, Wellbutrin, which I now know can actually exacerbate anxiety due to the stimulant effect it has!) but havent made much progress in feeling better as a whole. I started Lexapro a little over a week ago, and already am feeling different. I also have a prescription for a low dosage of Xanax for the particularly troubling times, and wiht both, I can truly say that I have been able to experience what it feels like not to be keyed up all the time. It amazing to see how I have been feeling all this time, and how used to anxiety my mind and body have become. I am already feeling more energized and powerful, and I hope to continue on this path, not just for myself, but also for my kids and my relationship with my DH.

 

[lbgraves]

Isn't it amazing how everyone thinks that they are the only ones going thru this and once you start talking about it you find out that almost everyone you know is on something or is seeing a therapist?

 

[twocjsmom]

Absolutely! I have learned that so many of the people I am close with have similar issues. The crazy part about it is that I am a child psychologist and spend my time identifying and making recommendations about such things to kids and their parents, but was so blind (or in denial) about my own needs for so long! It does feel good to have things out in the open now.

 

[goofy's friends]

Did they ever do an ultrasound to confirm the stones? I had an abdominal ultrasound done that took almost an hour to rule this out.

Yes, said it was "sludge", not really stones, but that had to be what was causing the extreme pain. so, they took it out. I guess I will never know. Maybe they were right though, since that was 5 years ago and it hasn't happened again.

 

[dcentity2000]

Just as an aside, has anyone considered cognitive psychotherapy as an alternative to medication? It's usually very effective and can turn lives around. It's not what you think - no lying on a couch talking about your childhood. Rather, it's a series of challenging exercises that makes you question the way you think fundamentally.



Rich::

 

[goofy's friends]

Just as an aside, has anyone considered cognitive psychotherapy as an alternative to medication? It's usually very effective and can turn lives around. It's not what you think - no lying on a couch talking about your childhood. Rather, it's a series of challenging exercises that makes you question the way you think fundamentally.




Rich::

Actually, this is what i am going back to school for--counseling--so I find it all fascinating. I have to do some therapy for my hours. So, yes, I have done some and will do some. This also adds to my questions though as to whether all of my stuff is normal or not..........


The challenging exercises would be very intriguing to me, anxiety or not I'm a glutton for punishment aren't I

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

Thanks to the OP and all who have contributed to this thread. It is so reassuring to learn that I am not alone in my struggles with anxiety! I have dealt with it for some time now, but never really accepted the extent to which anxiety has been affecting my life, my kids lives, and my married life until about a month ago. I have done therapy, and have taken antidepressants (most recently, Wellbutrin, which I now know can actually exacerbate anxiety due to the stimulant effect it has!) but havent made much progress in feeling better as a whole. I started Lexapro a little over a week ago, and already am feeling different. I also have a prescription for a low dosage of Xanax for the particularly troubling times, and wiht both, I can truly say that I have been able to experience what it feels like not to be keyed up all the time. It amazing to see how I have been feeling all this time, and how used to anxiety my mind and body have become. I am already feeling more energized and powerful, and I hope to continue on this path, not just for myself, but also for my kids and my relationship with my DH.

I wish all the best to you and your family.

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

I was just thinking...isn't it bizarre how the anxiety attacks can present themselves in different ways? I have been to the emergency room twice for attacks. The first time, I was just sitting on the couch watching a movie (Dark Water, I think) and it struck me, shooting pains down my back and arms. My heart wasn't racing but I felt hot and like I was going to pass out. I couldn't catch my breath for anything. I got up from the couch, went into the bedroom and laid down on my bed and just started rolling from side to side to try and stop the pains. Everything was spinning and my mom came in and I got up, grabbed her arm and headed for the car. She zoomed me to the ER because I told her this is the last time I was going to see her, I was certain I was going to die that night. I got hooked up to an EKG machine right away and I calmed right down. It just went away like nothing had ever happened. All told it lasted probably 20 minutes. It was unreal...i've never felt that way before. The second time, I get an intense pressure in my head and start shaking like a leaf. I got dizzy and just felt light. I also got a burning sensation down my head and back. Again, went to the ER and straight into the CT machine. They said everything looked OK but it took me over an hour to calm down..probably more like 2. Like a previous poster said, lately, I get anxiety attacks from worrying about anxiety attacks. You don't know when they'll strike and they can be so frightening.

 

[lbgraves]

Just as an aside, has anyone considered cognitive psychotherapy as an alternative to medication? It's usually very effective and can turn lives around. It's not what you think - no lying on a couch talking about your childhood. Rather, it's a series of challenging exercises that makes you question the way you think fundamentally.



Rich::

While I think that this could help someone in an ideal situation...to reference Dr. Phil....it just wasn't working for me. DH was still going to be gone or busy with his graduate program until the end of August. The kids were going to need to be taken care of during the summer. I was going to have no time to sit and talk to doctors until I found one who would give me constructive feedback. I agree that once things are back to "normal" you can learn to adjust to them in time. I didn't have time to shop doctors to find one that would be able to help me over the summer. As DS summed it up the other day...my brain needs a time out.

 

[Christine]

I'm really surprised that so many people were prescribed Xanax. My doctor was pretty adament that while that was great there were so many problems that he much preferred treating the condition with a daily medicine than treating an attack with something like Xanax. Most of the SSRI's also treat anxiety and the resulting breakthrough panic attacks. Does anyone else's physician feel this way?

My psychiatrist said that GPs are "freaked out" about Xanax. Naturally, it is addictive but as long as you are being monitored, it is fine. And when you want to stop, there is a taper process. Unfortunately, many GPs are way to busy to properly oversee a person with anxiety and/or depression. If you are truly interested in using the right medications, a pyschiatrist is who you should be with. They are trained in pyschopharmacology to find the *right* med for you.

As far as the scary Xanax stories, have you read any of the stories about people trying to withdraw from Paxil. My doctor says it is horrendous. The drug companies are very careful about saying the word "addiction" in reference to these SSRIs. The SSRIs are godsend drugs to some people, but they are very addictive whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

 

[Christine]

Just as an aside, has anyone considered cognitive psychotherapy as an alternative to medication? It's usually very effective and can turn lives around. It's not what you think - no lying on a couch talking about your childhood. Rather, it's a series of challenging exercises that makes you question the way you think fundamentally.



Rich::

Rich, I've been doing this since March and, so far, no help. I've discovered lots of things but apparently I'm a "skeptic." My anxiety is coupled with 'health anxiety' and it is very hard for me to get past believing that I don't have an illness which is causing my anxiety symptoms. So the cognitive behavior therapy has not helped me.

 

[twocjsmom]

As for the questions about therapy in conjunction with a medical treatment, yes I am undergoing cogntiive therapy long with relaxation therapy. There is a true biochemical component to anxiety which is why medications are effective, but I do agree that there is cognitive retraining that is needed to be done as well for long term successs.

 

[my3kids]

The SSRIs are godsend drugs to some people, but they are very addictive whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

I don't think thay are addicitive as in addicitive like cocaine or oxycotin, where your body craves the medication. I think your body becomes used to the medication and while you don't 'crave' the drug as in an addiction, your body does go through a chemical change upon stopping. As long as the medicine is stopped slowly in accordance with its' labelling, it is not a problem, at least not long term.

 

[Christine]

I don't think thay are addicitive as in addicitive like cocaine or oxycotin, where your body craves the medication. I think your body becomes used to the medication and while you don't 'crave' the drug as in an addiction, your body does go through a chemical change upon stopping. As long as the medicine is stopped slowly in accordance with its' labelling, it is not a problem, at least not long term.

Very true. But it all ends up the same. Severe withdrawal symptoms. I have been on and off Xanax since 1995 (starting when I found I had cancer). There have been times that I've taken it regularly for a few years. When I stopped, it was no problem. I never "craved" the drug like you do with cocaine, it didn't give me a high, etc. But, Xanax does flood certain receptors in the brain and when you stop using it, it causes a problem for the very reason you mentioned above. It creates a chemical change in the brain. I guess my point was that using Xanax is really no different than the SSRIs but it got a bad "rep" many, many years ago before the SSRIs were even invented!

I guess I've been listening to my doctor too much. He thinks the panic over Xanax is unwarranted.

 

[zalansky]

I have been to 2 clinical psychologists and they both told me to take Xanax. My GP would not give it to me either. I went to another GP and he gave me a lose dose .25. He told me to take them when needed, but I need them every night to sleep. Christine, you seem to have alot of knowledge with xanax. How can I wean off of it? I don't need it anymore but find I can't sleep without it. By the way I take two every night, making it .5 I am taking. I tried taking .25 last night and could not fall asleep. I think it is a mental thing for me. I have taken xanax before when my mom died years ago and stopped then with no problems.

 

[Christine]

I have been to 2 clinical psychologists and they both told me to take Xanax. My GP would not give it to me either. I went to another GP and he gave me a lose dose .25. He told me to take them when needed, but I need them every night to sleep. Christine, you seem to have alot of knowledge with xanax. How can I wean off of it? I don't need it anymore but find I can't sleep without it. By the way I take two every night, making it .5 I am taking. I tried taking .25 last night and could not fall asleep. I think it is a mental thing for me. I have taken xanax before when my mom died years ago and stopped then with no problems.

I take .25 mg every night at bad. I still can't sleep sometimes. Anyway, I've gone through times where I have been TOTALLY off Xanax. It does take several nights to get past the sleeplessness. I do agree that, at such a small dose, it is mostly a mental thing versus a drug thing. All I can tell you is to cut back to the .25 and then tough it out. Yes, it sucks. You might try adding a little bit of Benadryl to it. I take 2 tsps. of the Children's Benadryl liquid when I am having a problem and don't want to use more Xanax. It will eventually go away. But the Xanax does flood some of the brain receptors, and then apparently they shrink a bit. When you withdraw from Xanax they can "overreact" which may heighten your anxiety for a short time and make your brain more active. If you gradually reduce the Xanax, it will make those processes return to normal more smoothly.

How many nights have you tried to go without?

 

[SillyMe]

I only took Xanax for about 3 months (3x/day..don't remember the milligrams offhand). I weaned myself off the same way the doctor started me on it. I went from 3x/day down to 2x/day for about 4 days, then down to 1x/day for 4 days to nothing. I wasn't on it long-term so I didn't have any problems, but I imagine if you wean yourself that way you shouldn't have any withdrawals. If you've been on long-term, you might want to stretch it out longer than 4 days between doses.