I feel so hopeless!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2002
I feel so hopeless!
6
Sun, 04-09-2006 - 7:45pm

I feel as if I am never going to get away from this awful feeling of panic and depression. I started taking Zoloft last Tuesday so I am waiting for that to really kick in. I am having to take at least .5 mg of lorazepam every day (sometimes 1 mg) to help with the anxiety. I started seeing a therapist on Friday, hopefully that helps, I hear she is one of the top recommended in the are. Tomorrow I go in for a head CT to make sure the headaches I get aren't serious. I am worried about that. If nothing is wrong with my head, I am afraid I will find something else "wrong" with me. I am becoming agoraphobic. I don't want to go out to dinner or to the store. Going to work is a struggle. I hate this! It is all so new to me (the panic). I am so afraid I will never stop feeling this way. Please someone tell me they managed to pull themselves out of this pit! I am doind everything I can think of right now. Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Jessica

siggy by Cheryl

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 04-09-2006 - 8:03pm

I have had some bad spells of panic with agoraphobia. When I look back @ the 36 years since my very first panic attack, I have had so many more good years than bad. I was able to pull myself out of the pit & live a productive life. It is NOT unusual to read about those in our community who have completed their education, held down jobs, married/raised families, travelled, done just about anything & everything all while living with an anxiety disorder. You can too, Heather. I am positive of it.


The problems you are facing now seem insurmountable. But, they aren't. You have been stressed to the max & left to feel hopeless. All of us have gone through feeling as if we should be better. Yesterday! It never happens soon enough. Your coping skills are not enough to carry you through. These take work. It's hard to do that work when you're in this frame of mind & feeling so exhausted. I wish you well on the CT scan. @ some point, we have to accept that anxiety is @ the bottom of our physical ills & move ahead. The meds will take 4 to 6 weeks to achieve maximum effect. That's great news that your therapist is tops in her field. You have alot of positives going for you @ this time. Let them work for you, Heather. Live in the present. Work @ keeping the positive thoughts flowing. Keep the *what if's* @ bay.


Sending some magic wand type dust your way. You will soon be right as rain. Finding your balance is within your grasp. Don't give up or in. Good luck! (((hugs))) jan




 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2006
Mon, 04-10-2006 - 12:22am

Jessica,

Stick with it...you're taking positive steps but things won't get better overnight. I started treatment just a month ago...while things are better for me now I still have my days when I feel really down and I have to push myself to do the littlest thing. One thing I did really helped me - I kept a journal. Every day at first, now I write every few days or so. But, for the first few weeks I wrote everything down - what meds I took and when, when I went to bed and how I slept, how I felt and what kind of thoughts I was having, when the anxiety was the worst, etc. Day by day it didn't feel like I was making much progress, but when I look back now at those first few days I see a big difference. Being able to do that really has helped me believe in what I'm doing and be able to acknowledge those small steps I might otherwise miss. Give the meds time to work on both the anxiety and depression, which can take 4 to 6 weeks, and vent here anytime - the awesome people on this board have so much wisdom on this topic it's unbelievable. I wish you the best!

~Meghan

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2003
Mon, 04-10-2006 - 9:44am
Oh Jessica, believe me we have all been there, which I know you don't want to hear but the best part is we make it back. Sounds to me like you are doing all the right things. I remember so vividly feeling the way you do. I thought I was doomed for life, it would never be the same as I knew it. I'm sure you have some great responses I did not read them but it will get better and it sounds like you are putting the effort into it. (((hugs))) Debbie

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Mon, 04-10-2006 - 4:03pm

(((Jessica))) I totally can relate to how you are feeling.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2006
Tue, 04-11-2006 - 12:09am
Jessica you are doing the best that you can for yourself. Try very hard to continue to do the "regular" things and try to not back away from things. That only seems to re-enforce the "feelings" that you are not OK doing your usual things. Panic is tough, no doubt about it, but it can be treated. You are seeking treatment and that is the best that you can do. You will get better, perhaps just not as fast as you'd like to. It's going to be OK!
Blessings,
Suz
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2004
Thu, 04-13-2006 - 9:33am
Jessica - I would strongly suggest you visit anxietybusters.com - you'll be glad you did.