so sick of anxiety and panic
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so sick of anxiety and panic
| 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
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

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