new to the boards..questions! help

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2005
new to the boards..questions! help
6
Wed, 12-28-2005 - 2:00am

hey guys. my name is christina and im 20.
i've always been kind of high strung when i'm stressed. recently i've been under a lot of stress that i've never really been through before (breakup with first serious boyfriend...my childhood dog died :(...and my grandfather died all within a month...plus normal school, friends problems)
recently i've noticed my anxiety levels way up. i actually feel that i have had a few panic attacks. here are some of the things i've noticed:
driving in a big city ive never been in i started to feel really faint and dizzy. couldnt stay in the situation, kept blinking trying to regain focus and i couldnt. my feet and hands felt kind of numb. i felt like any minute i was going to pass out while driving and crash.
driving on bridges WHICH I USED TO ENJOY BEFORE because its pretty! makes me very nervous. and i get the lightheaded feeling and my heart feels tight.
sitting at a stop light i have this weird fear im going to roll into the intersection. my hands and feet feel tingly and no matter how tight i grip the steering wheel i feel like im losing control. (this isnt all the time. just a few times. i've tried to fight it off)
being a passanger, i'm nervous on interstates or going somewhere atn ight i've never been. HOWEVER, driving alone on an interstate at night where i know where i'm going doesn't bother me at all.
when im driving i sometimes get images that something weird, like a freak accident, is going to happen to me. i have to fight them off.
in a crowded lecture hall when i was taking a test, i had to fight off an anxiety attack and i dont know why it came on. i've never been too clausterphobic. i've noticed in sev. situations i look for exits in case i need to get out and breathe.
i also felt dizzy, lightheaded, OUT OF IT, at a concert. I USUALLY LOVE CONCERTS. this anxiety is messing up everything i have enjoyed!!!
talking one on one to someone i don't know very well, i'll find it hard to concentrate on what they are saying. i start feeling dizzy (im guessing the anxiety, since physically i dont think anything is wrong with me) and then am scared that im going to pass out in front of people.
i know that its unreasonable...YES, i have fainted, but 2 of the 3 times it has been after i've gotten a shot at a doctor. the other time was a long time ago when i was like 12, i don't know why.
so now i also have a pretty intense fear of getting shots or needles because i don't want it to happen.

since i'm new, ANY exercises that i can practice with any of these situations would be helpful. i'm usually a pretty laid back person and im so sick of this stuff! its not me at all. like my mom said, i'm too young to be feeling this worried!
these things don't happen all the time, just sometimes, and its kinda hard to figure out when.
the main thing i want to improve is my anxiety while driving because it is VERY SCARY.
i never feel as scared when i am by myself than when i am with people...i thought that was kind of odd.

i also wonder if this will go away as i get my life back in order and get over my ex and get active again with exercising, classes, etc.
i want to start seeing a therapist when i go back to school in jan. and would like to knwo what to expect. how do you treat the anxiety? i'd like to do it without getting on any regular medication.

well, i know this has been long, so thanks for reading. please respond.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 12-28-2005 - 3:52am

Hello, Christina! Welcome to our caring community. I am sorry to hear that things are so rough for you): It does seem that you are stressed to the max. From my experience, anxiety/panic can be triggered by major life changing events. However, getting an accurate diagnosis is your first step. We can't do that for you, but a doctor can. Everyone needs a good check up & your family doctor can rule out any medical conditions that might be causing your symptoms. From there you will be able to get the appropriate treatment.


Seeing a counselor upon your return to school is a good idea. Talking about the recent losses you've had & learning to deal with your grief is a first step towards recovering from your experiences. My deepest sympathy in the loss of your grandpa & your dog. I am sorry to hear about your break up. They say that time heals all wounds, but we all heal @ our own pace. I hope you're able to find some time for yourself over the holiday break. Your mind & body need rest to recover.


http://health.ivillage.com/mentalhealth/mhanxiety/topics/0,,4vcj,00.html

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Wed, 12-28-2005 - 11:20am

Christina,


It does sound as though you are experiencing

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Wed, 12-28-2005 - 5:46pm

I just would like to lend my support and welcome you to our community. Both Jan and Heather have wonderful advice for you. Not much I can really add. But I do want to urge you to see your doctor. There is a lot of help out there for people in our condition. I suffer from panic attacks and experience a lot of the symptoms you described. I'm on 25mg of Zoloft (very low dose, I know, but it works best for me), I have Xanax, and I am seeing a counselor and that combination seems to really be helping.

I wish you luck with your anxiety. I hope things can go back to normal for you and you can get to enjoying the things you are now missing!

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2005
Wed, 12-28-2005 - 11:46pm

do you take the medication on a daily basis? i really don't want to become addicted to anything where i'm never going to be able to get off of it without feeling anxious.

do you think that its possible to ease a lot of my anxiety without medication?

i know, i really need to ask a doctor, just asking your opinion until i talk to one.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 2:05am
IMHO, you do not have to take meds forever. If you follow the doctor's instructions you will NOT become addicted, nor have difficulty going off the meds. There are some folks who have won the battle against anxiety solely through self help, lifestyle changes & new ways of coping. It is possible. We're here to support you in whatever decision you make. Good luck, Christina! (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 11:40am

I agree with Jan. :)

For me, I take the Zoloft daily and it's not addictive however if and when you and your doc decide it's time for you to go off the med you do have to ease off of it slowly. As for the Xanax, I only take it when I'm having a panic attack that I cannot overcome on my own. I've had the Rx for almost two weeks now and so far I've only used three of the pills. And I haven't had to use one in a week now! :)

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi