so sick of anxiety and panic

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2005
so sick of anxiety and panic
8
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 8:36pm
I am so tired of being afraid of every little thing.I cant work(and we really need the money)!I hate being alone, I hate going out.I feel like t this is running /and ruining my life. I dont sleep well, I am up all night then tired alll day...
I cant take meds b/c I fear side effects.I am at aloss. I have 3 kids and cant keep going like this I need a way to get better!!
tia for any help or advice
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 8:51pm
Hello there, I too am tired of this anxiety and panic. I think I am having a pretty good day and all of a sudden those scary thoughts just take over. Anything from the fact that I may not see my grandkids because of the divorce, to the feeling that I may have a heart attack cause my brother and Dad both died from that. It's just terrible, I do take Xanax and that helps....but I want to be able to be free from meds and back to myself again. I just can't stand this feeling. Sick of it too!!!!!!! But the amazing thing is that when I get that way if I get busy doing stuff or taking a walk and I do work 12 hours a week.....that it does help. So I guess it's getting better but sometimes it doesn't feel like it. I'm sorry I'm rambling, but that's the gist of how I feel most days. Hopefully we all get better. Jan
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 9:15pm

Jan, that's just how I am. I can't go anywhere or do anything without that fear being there. I am getting better at stopping the attacks before they escalate (doing Jan's belly breathing alot). That's why the pdoc wants to change my xanax to ativan. I told him it's working, but he says if I can't go anywhere and if I fear everything, then it's not working. I told him, "but I can go with dh" and do fine, he said that's not what "normal" is and that I'm going to wreck my marriage if I continue on this road. He wants me to return to work and be anxiety free and thinks the ativan will do that. I'm going to continue on the xanax for a few more days, I need a good pep talk to change meds, or at least a couple of days to get use to the idea. I can't be zonked out with a 4 year old, and I often have my 2 grandsons here, also - 3 yo and 5 yo. I don't take them when I'm home alone (scared again) but I have to be able to help dh when we have 3 of them!! I hope you will both come to chat tomorrow night. Maybe we can help each other with some postive thoughts!

Hugs,
Sheri Ann

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 9:26pm

Hi, the only advice i can offer is to encourage you to go speak to a psychologist who can teach your coping techniques. once you've learned how to master your panic and distract yourself from anxiety provoking thought you'll be able to be more introspective and hopefully figure out what is at the root of your panic.
as for medications, i understand your reluctance, but i've had really good success with them. i've had anxiety since i was a child, but about 1.5 months ago it suddenly got really bad, so bad that i could't leave the house. i live in manhattan, far away from my family, and i didn't know how to deal with things...so finally i decided to break down and speak with a psychiatrist. she gave me a low dosage of klonopin to take once a day, and 10 mg of lexparo. the klonopin begins working immediately and has very side effects. it calms you down and helps you get through the day. after 2 weeks i didn't have to take the klonopin anymore!! and i haven't had a panic attack since then. the lexapro takes a little longer to begin working, and also has very few side effects.
I dont know if this experience will help you change your mind regarding medication, but its something to think about.

Mia

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2003
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 1:31am
Hi -- I don't think I've posted to this board before, but I've been in your situation. I had panic attacks and constant anxiety, to the point where I couldn't fall asleep at night because I was convinced that I would die before the morning. It took my counselor a long time to get me to go on meds, and I tried four different ones before one worked, but the one that works (Celexa) is great for me, the anxiety is almost entirely gone, and other than nausea on the first day and a period of about a month where I lost my sex drive (it came back tho), there haven't been any side effects. I was afraid of side effects, but it turns out that with this one the side effects have been minimal and I feel completely normal except that the anxiety is gone. So I'd recommend not giving up on medications until you try a few, and weigh whatever potential side effects you might be afraid of against the possibility of continuing with anxiety. Good luck, I know it's tough!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 9:15am
Nice to have you enter our discussions, legendshot. We are very happy to have a new member to our community. Check out our chat schedule & drop in when you can. The folks will save you a seat. You have alot of insight into this anxiety bug & a some good experience to share. Post often.
 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2003
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 9:16am

Hello, sorry that you are having such a bad time of it. I am a veteran of this disorder. I'm 53 and have been on meds for 20+ yrs. To some degree I understand your fear of meds. To this day there are certain meds that scare me but I felt sooooo bad at my worst point, fear, agoraphobic, my husband was my safe person, could have no company nor talk on the phone,hyperventilating all the time etc. My first visit to the Psychiatrist and when he told me that he was going to give me something to help........I was thrilled !!!! We have a picture with me holding the bottle. Do I like taking medication? No. some here have known me so long that I used to not have insurance and we paid around $400 a month for my meds. Women think how lucky we are that there are things out there to help us. In all these yrs I have only had 1 bad relapse. I had 2 young children, Dr. made me go to work. I did that until about 3 yrs ago. Now I have my own business. I still have anxiety but everyone does. The #1 thing that you have to try and get rid of is FEAR. That is what triggers all of this. When asked what I fear in life? I say having a panic attack. I sure hope you will reconsider the meds because they sure do help. There is a time span to get used to them being in your body but it does happen.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 9:45am
Thanks Sheri Ann for the invite to the chat. I just might check that out. What time is that again? I am trying to get some things done today.......trying to keep those scary thoughts and what ifs from coming to the front today. I just want to feel normal again...I just want things to be normal in our family again. I know life has ups and downs, but we have had our share of downs these last 2 years and it's taken it's toll. Anyway, thanks for the support, and HUGS to you too. Jan
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 11:49am

Chat is from 9 - 11 pm est on Tues & Thurs. I hope you join us!

Sheri Ann

Sheri Ann