Please Help!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Please Help!!!!
11
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 10:26am

Hi everyone. My name is Liza and I have been dealing with anxiety for years now. Although lately it has gotten worse and I've become slightly agoraphobic. Here's a brief description of some of my fears:

-SPIDERS!!!
-Doctor's offices/hospitals. Can't step foot in them!!!!!
-Large public places - afraid that I'll lose control and have panic attack.
-Driving on freeways/high-traffic roads.
-Fear of being in hostage situation (sometimes when I'm out in a public place - I start thinking about where I would run or hide if the store was robbed or a gunmen came in).
-Hypochondriac (sp?) - anytime I have a pain, etc., I assume I'm dying.

Those are the major ones. I'm currently on 25 mg/day of Zoloft and that doesn't seem to help. Over the last two weeks, the panic attacks have gotten much worse. Last night I was sure that I was going to pass out. I also felt tightening in my chest and almost like my throat was closing up - I had labored breathing. I took 1/2 a Xanax and that helped. But, as soon as I started getting ready for work this morning - BAM - it starts again! I hate feeling like this. Please tell me I'm not alone! Has anyone else had tightening in the chest and the throat feeling? That really freaked me out and I want to make sure there isn't anything wrong with me.

Thanks!

Liza

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2004
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 10:32am
Hi Liza!
Welcome to the board! Oh gosh, if you read someof the posts, you will see your not alone. I have similar fears to yours, the health fears, fear of public places. I have some other dooseys to throw in the mix. When you say 1/2 xanax, 1/2 of what .25 or .50? Im asking because you may want to take a whole one but I dont know the dose. I take .50 and Lexapro and I have been feeling great the past 3 weeks. Before then I was a wreck. You will see some older posts but I was bad. The xanax is a god send and its ok to take what ever dose makes you calm down. I have had the chest pains-the girls here heard that from me for a good week. My throat has felt tight, I understand everything your feeling. 25 mgs Zoloft isnt much, are you just starting? When I was on Zoloft, I believe I started on 50 then 100mgs. I was on while pregnant. Anyway, your not alone, its a crummy feeling but your not going to die. This is a wonderful group of people and they have come to my side many times I thought I was dying. Please stick around and think about revamping your meds.
Hugs!
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 10:51am

Hi Liza, I'm glad you found us!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 10:59am

Hello, Liza! You are NOT alone. Many of us have the same symptoms when panicking. Chest & throat problems have plagued lots of folks. It's always a good idea to have things checked out medically. It gives us reassurance that it is anxiety & aids in accepting our disorder & working towards recovery.


You didn't mention seeing a therapist. That helps me to learn new ways to cope & to identify patterns of behavior that I need to change. Perhaps you do need a med tune up. You shouldn't be suffering so. There is a med that's right for you, but it takes a bit of trial & error to find it & the correct dosage.


Take a peek @ our *coping tips & tricks* folder below. I use meditation & belly breathing to help me. I actually didn't drive @ all for 3 years, but overcame that by approaching driving in small steps.


You can learn to relax & deal with the anxiety. Others will share their thoughts in posts & in chat. Please post anytime. We care & want to help in anyway we can. Good luck & GBU! (((hugs))) jan




 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2006
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 2:14pm
I just started reading the posts about 2 weeks ago and was amazed at all of the other people that were experiencing the same thing as me. When it is happening to you you think you are the only one and you don't want to tell anyone. It was a big relief to me and everyone is so nice. Sheri
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 3:16pm
sorry to hear you're feeling that way. :-( One thing I wanted to say is that when I was taking Zoloft, I was taking 100 mg, and I was told that even that dose was small. So 25 mg is a VERY small dose. I would ask your doctor about increasing it. I had great results with Zoloft the first time I took it. Good luck.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 07-01-2006 - 9:13am

Sheri, I'm so glad you feel comfortable here!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2006
Sat, 07-01-2006 - 12:12pm
I have never had web friends!! It is so cool!! I need to learn all the lingo so I can keep up. Sheri
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 07-01-2006 - 12:23pm

If there are ANY abbreviations that you don't know,

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2004
Sun, 07-02-2006 - 9:51am
Mee too. I have a 20 month old so she takes much of my time but I look forward to any free time to come on line and see how everyone is and discuss if Im having a bad day. Its a nice comfort level and you dont have to get out of your jammies or get in the car and who cares if its a bad hair day! lol lol
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Sun, 07-02-2006 - 10:00am

Hello. I can totally relate to the fear of the worst when anything goes wrong in your mind or body. I am really bad at times with that. I will have a headache in an area that has not hurt before and have myself convinced it is a tumor. Then I get nauseous and the heart racing feeling and just feel I am going to explode or die or something. I have this awful feeling and it makes me sick and I feel like I have to do something or I will just lose it but I can't do anything to make it stop. All I can tell you is to remember that it will pass. It always does. Your mind cannot stay like that for long periods of time. It has a built in safety mechanism to where you will calm down. It is not always as fast to go away as we would like - I know. That is the hard part - waiting. And then I will feel better and worry about it coming back again. That is the pits. I am on Zoloft too but weaning off. It seemed to stop working for me. I am going to try therapy only. Maybe you need to find a therapist. It took 3 different people before I found one I clicked with. Be prepared that the first one you talk to may not click with you but that is ok, just try another. And keep telling yourself that most all things we think are going to happen never do. I have worried about so many things being wrong with me physically and mentally and not one of them turned out to be true. Easier said than done, I know.

-Kim

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