feeling alone
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feeling alone
| Mon, 07-10-2006 - 2:11pm |
hi all, im new here and am trying to reach out a bit. i started having panic/anxiety attacks last year. finally, about 3 1/2 weeks ago, i asked the family practitioner what we could do to help them. she started me on zoloft and gave me xanax if needed. im afraid of medication, but i took the zoloft. 4 days into it, i had a severe attack. it lasted 3 days. they said it was a side effect. so we stopped the med. she wanted me to try another, but im really scared to. the other issue here is since then, i can not come back to normal. i feel distant, sad, confused, alone, scared, i have constant worry about things that ARENT happening! im what if-ing alot. I feel like im not all the way here. I feel like im in a cloud and cant see clearly. you know how if you say a word too many times, it no longer sounds right? thats how I FEEL about everything. people, life, my child, my boyfriend.. Im starting therapy this week. im sure I have anxiety along with depression, but can anyone relate to these feelings?

I had a real bad period almost exactly 4 years ago. It was a physical thing as well as mental, but I had a feeling similar to what you describe. I'm not a nurse or a doctor, but I'll share with you what I did to try and "fix myself"...
I was very scared of meds, and help at the time, & I didn't have insurance, it was very scary...
The only thing I really thought to do was listen to my body and see what it "needed" to get better. Like if you have a craving for fruit, eat some... I don't know how to explain it, but I think it helped me restore my balance as far as vitamins, minerals, etc... that my body was using to heal at the time, or had lost due to the traumas. The first few days I had a large craving for fruit, then after a few days it was heavy carbohydrates, I slowly gained more strength and my head cleared up, but that took a while longer.
As I said, it was physical as well, I lost blood after being bit by a dog and we aren't sure exactly how much, so it may have been my body trying to build my blood back up and not healing the brain. I hope this makes some sort of sense, I'm not good at explaining what happened, cause it bothers me a lot (probably the primary reason for my anxiety now...).
Anyway, I'd suggest paying close attention to your diet, trying to eat real healthy and such right now. That might help at least from that aspect to attempt to normalize your body after the meds.
I myself am taking zoloft, just started it on June 29th, and thank god for me it's working. I definitely would keep in touch with your doctor, regardless of whether you decide to take another med or not. (o:
Good luck, and I hope you are feeling better soon!
~*~ Tangeloper ~*~
You are not alone. We want you to feel @ home by asking questions & reading the posts of others. Join in chats. Read what can be done in our *coping tips & tricks* folder below. I have used the belly breathing & meditation to get me through bad attacks. It took along time to learn the techniques, but they will come with practice.
I know that this is a difficult time for you. I hope that seeing a therapist will help. Explain your feelings honestly. Your new therapist is a professional & has heard it all before. Maybe he/she can help you with ways to cope. For now, even if you don't feel like it, give yourself a little push to do @ least one thing for yourself everyday. A bubble bath, make a phone call, work on a hobby, exercise, etc. Write the positive things about your life on a piece of paper & when you get down, read them. I have been in a *get stuck* state & couldn't think good thoughts or feel anything good about myself. Don't give up. There is hope. You will get well, but it may take time. Lean on others for support. Good luck & GBU! (((hugs))) jan
Hi, i just wanted to add that when I started the Lexapro, I had a horrible panic attack after dose 2.
Sheri Ann
I know how hard it is just to convince yourself to take a med and then
have it not work good!! PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP!! Medication works differently
on people- I had severe anxiety and panic disorder I am now doing well!!
I take xanax and paxil and have been in therapy since I was diagnosed
about 18 years ago.
Your feelings of being distant are a reaction to the anxiety. I have felt
disassociated myself and know that it is a scary and disturbing feeling!!
It does get better!! You will probably need some medication to ease your
panic and anxiety. The xanax helped me a great deal to relax and let the
paxil work and learn how to control my anxiety.
You are feeling alone because no one you know has panic disorder and
you are scared and need support! Please come and ask us questions or
just talk about how you feel!! Try part of the xanax your MD prescribed
it will help!! Please keep us posted about your therapy etc!! Take care
I hopw this has helped a bit! Judy
I just want to let you know that you described almost ALL of the symptoms I feel when I get a panic attack. Then, when you get one, you start worrying about getting another and other negative thoughts crowd your mind that make you feel even more anxious. I know how scary it can be, especially getting the feeling that you will never be "normal" again. However, I can assure you that YOU WILL GET BETTER. This is the 3rd time I am going through this. FIrst time it happened, I was prescribed Prozac and ativan as needed. THe prozac actually made the anxiety worse the first 2 weeks, although, it did start helping after the 3rd week. You just have to put up with it until it starts helping. You could take something like ativan to calm you down until the zoloft kicks in and starts helping. After about 6 mons of taking prozac, I was doing well enough to completely stop it. I was not taking any meds and I was doing great for a year until recently I got another panic attack. THis time the doc prescribed zoloft and ativan. The ativan really helps me calm down in a short amount of time. As for the zoloft, it made me sleepless the first night so I decided to take it with a sleeping aid until that side effect goes away. DOn't be afraid of the meds (I was at first also), they will help. Also, all of the feelings you felt are very common. You're not alone. Hope this was helpful :)
Ally
Thank you SO much for your words!!! knowing that MY symptoms have been felt by others, does truly help me. i've been so afraid and out of it, and no one close to me understands how this is manifesting in me. my boyfriend is being SO wonderfully supportive, even though he doesnt quite understand. I really needed to hear from others tho.. to know that my symptoms are what others feel too. that im not going to lose my mind and never come back. i sent my daughter(10 yrs old) to camp yesterday for a whole week, so im now also feeling a little lost as to my role every day...lol sometimes, having my schedule with her is all that keeps me standing up on bad days. i didnt go to work today, so that I could reflect and relax, breath and visit here :) Im so glad I found this network of new friends!!!
OH! my Mom came to sit with me last evening for a while, because I had worked my self up to crying so hard and couldnt calm down. shes a nurse..we took out the bottle of xanax, and she brought her nurses drug book (*lol I love educating myself..) we read about xanax, and I took a half a pill with her and my boyfriend(Matt) here..she waited till it started to kick in... then left me in Matts care. It did calm me down. I was a little spacey, but I think when i've worked my adrenaline up so high all day, that once you calm down, your in a uphoria type high naturally. so .. i tried to just go with the feeling.. and just relaxed with it. it was OK. they'll help me do this more, so that I can get more comfortable with the meds. :) your support is Awesome!
thank you!!!!!!