A couple of things...
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| Wed, 12-14-2005 - 9:12am |
Good Morning Everyone,
I just wanted to post a couple of things that I have been thinking about lately and get everyone's opinions on them.
1) Exercise. I have found that this really helps me to normalize my emotions. The more often I hit the gym and work up a good sweat, the more stable I seem to be. I go 3-4 times per week because life is just too hectic to go more, but it seems to help. If I have a super busy week and can only make it twice, I notice that I am more sullen and tired. Anyone else experience this?
2) Recovery time. While many of us have similar symptoms, etc., we all experience our anxiety differently. I do not have generalized anxiety so I don't really deal with it on a daily basis. But, when I do have a panic attack (usually about twice per year), it is a whopper. Mine don't last the usual 10 - 15 minutes but actually last for several hours. After I have had one, my body is a little wrecked from the constant adrenaline and elevated heart rate and blood pressure. As a result, it takes me many days of sleeping and relaxing to just feel physically normal again. I am just now feeling that way after last Tuesday's mother of all panic attacks. Do any of you find this to be the case for you?
Thanks and I hope that everone is having as peaceful a day as possible.
Jules

Hi Jules,
yes, when I don't exercise I know it, my anxiety is worse. I try to exercise 7 days.. on the days that I don't feel like it
I don't exercise. I know it would help but with a full-time job and two young DDs I can hardly find the time to do the things that have to be done. I do have generalized anxiety so my attacks are almost daily and may not be as severe but seem to last for several hours also, so I know what you mean. It really is draining. Are you able to take any medication when your attacks hit? I know a lot of people get by without it but thought maybe since yours are so severe that it might help some. Exercise and natural remedies really seem to be best for a lot of people though. I have clinical depression and generalized anxiety so mine is a chemical imbalance and I have accepted that I may have to be on medication long term.
Hope you can stay anxiety free for as long as possible.
Hugs.
Alison
Alison,
I take Paxil on a daily basis but nothing when the attacks hit. Years ago, I got some xanax from the Psychiatrist. But I know that I have an addictive predisposition so I just never took them. But when I was at the ER last week, the nurse brought up a good point. She said that I am young now but, when I get older, they will worry about my health more because of the danger of having a heart attack when my heart rate and blood pressure get so high. Thinking of it that way made me reevaluate whether I would be willing to take a short acting benzodiazepine.
Alos, I am only on 10mg of Paxil. I was trying to discontinue the med and went down to 10mg almost 2 years ago. However, each time I have tried to go down to a half pill, I have increased symptoms as well as withdrawal related ones so I have just remained at 10mg for awhile. It is being prescribed by my internal medicine doctor because I did not like the psychiatrist I was seeing. But I found a new psychiatrist after this last attack and am seeing her on January 3rd so we will see what she says about meds.
Jules
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I think I might too. I was taking a lot of valium and xanax before when I was on them. Now that I am on lithium and they can check the levels, my pdoc says that I metabolize the medicines quicker than most people. That made me feel better about the dosages I have to take. I just have to make sure not to get too dependent on them. There is a fine line. I hope if you consider one that you can deal with it without falling into the addiction. It is very easy to do with these meds but since your attacks are only about twice a year it is possible to use them only at those times and not worry about the addiction.
Good Luck
Alison
The exercise definitely helps me, as do vitamins. Every time I stop the vitamins, my anxiety is through the roof. And I do feel like I eat well, lots of fresh veggies & fruits, so go figure! When I have a panic attack, I feel like you describe, totally physically drained. I will sleep for the rest of the day, that must be my body's way of recovering. I believe the panic attacks hit me when I am exhausted and it is my body's way of shutting down to get me to slow down. Make sense??
Sheri Ann
Sheri Ann
Exercise is a wonderful thing especially when we get the aerobics going.
Judy
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