Topic : Fears, Phobias and Anxiety Disorders

I am 35 & have had anxiety since childhood. I tried dealing with anxiety by binge drinking & marijuana. Doesn't Work! I still have anxiety but nearly have it under control. I don't like taking medication but with bad anxiety attacks I take half a tablet of Valpam (Diazepam). My goal is to be drug free & anxiety free!

If trauma has caused anxiety it needs to be dealt with (sooner the better).

Healthy living is a key factor to beating anxiety. Eat well, sleep well, balance your life (keep your mind & body busy but don't over do it) Control breathing & thoughts (research meditation & find what works for you) WALK / EXERCISE regularly & look at the beautiful things in life.  Family & friends you trust can help if they understand what you are going through. Get out of the house & walk with your partner, family or friends you trust / feel safe with.

Research Government & Medical departments for free help (psychologists, self help groups etc.)

The internet is a source of info & ideas on how to live with / overcome anxiety.

Keep trying different things until you find what works for you.

When you feel an anxiety attack coming on, either sit or lie down with your feet up, relax & think of pleasant things or find something to do that distracts your mind from what you are worrying about.  I've been told by many people educated in anxiety that "anxiety has never killed anyone"

You are young & can beat it. Anxiety starts in the mind & you have to stop it in your mind (takes time, practice & patience) Don't give up, it will get easier! Everyone has bad days, don't let them drag you down all the time.

I'm 28 years old and have dealt with Panic Disorder since I was 20 years old.  I was very happy to read through this message board and feel like I had “friends” going through some of the things that I have gone through. Here is my story….

 

The very first time I had a panic attack I thought I was having a heart attack. I was just sitting at home watching tv around 8:00pm and all of the sudden I got very dizzy. I thought that I maybe had low blood sugar and asked him to get me some orange juice. Then my heart started to pound almost out of my chest and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I swore I was having a heart attack and had an unbelievable feeling of impending doom. My husband rushed me to the emergency room. As I sat there waiting to be seen I kept feeling like I couldn’t breathe, was extremely light-headed, shaking, cold and thinking I was going to pass out. It was the most terrifying experience I had ever had in my life. It was as though my world had stopped and nobody around me would help me gain control of what was happening to me. It was a very isolated feeling of helplessness. I was eventually seen and told I had experienced a panic attack. I was in disbelief as I told them I had nothing to panic about. They gave me a Valium and sent me home.

 

I eventually had a follow up with my physician. She placed me on Paxil and advised me to get some rest. For the next week or so I had uncontrollable dizziness and didn’t leave my bed only to use the bathroom. My husband had to hand feed me because I could barely lift my head. I have no idea what that was all about. The Paxil literally made me feel like I was "outside of myself". I just didn’t feel like me while taking it. I went back to see my physician. She then placed me on Buspar and advised me to get some counseling. The Buspar made me feel like an alien as well. While taking it I felt like I kept having zap-like feelings throughout my body. I made the mistake of discontinuing it on my own. I went to one counseling session. I was too embarrassed to go back. I live in a small community and did not want people I know seeing me walk in the counseling building doors. I was just so ashamed of myself. I was not on any medication for about a year or so after this. My panic attacks turned me into a hermit. I didn’t want to leave my house. I couldn’t keep a job because I was afraid of the anticipation of having another attack. My attacks had really disabled me from being the vibrant person I once was.

 

I had eventually started working at a local doctor’s office who turned into being the doctor I switched to seeing. He placed me on Lexapro and I felt like a new person. He also gave me a very limited supply of Xanax to take during emergencies.  He too advised me to seek counseling which I refused to do because I didn’t want to again be viewed as being "crazy". This was in 2002 - 2005.

 

Since then I have had panic attacks in many situations. Two that stick out in my mind are on an airplane and in my car while driving down the highway. Because of these attacks I have a difficult time on airplanes and driving out of town. I love to go on vacations, but as soon as I realize a plane is needed to get to where we are going - I start to freak out. Same with driving out of town. I WILL do both, but am very stubborn. I have also avoided being placed in situations where I've had panic attacks before in fear of having one again. I admit to having had a glass or two of wine before being placed in either of these situations.

 

Sure, I still have an occasional panic attack..... at least once a month. Usually at work. Today I see a different physician, am still on the Lexapro and take Xanax only as needed. I've also been going to counseling for about a year now. I actually see a Psycologist. She has given me the tools needed to help me through when times of stress and panic arise. I have been able to get through these situations today because of her guidance and help. And yes, there are still times that I am so anxious and am unable to stop and think about some exercises that I have learned, and I go into a full-blown panic attack.and gatherings knowing some of the tools I know today.

 

My anxiety is something that I still struggle with. Thankfully my family, close friends and a few co-workers recognize it when it happens to me and have assured me that they do not think that I am crazy. Still, I am very embarrassed by it....... but the difference is that these days I KNOW what is happening to me. I also struggle with the anticipation of having an attack. It’s just that I know now how to handle my anticipation a little bit more.

 

I only wish that 8 years ago I was not too proud to go and get mental health help. I could have been able to enjoy so many more social events and gatherings knowing some of the tools I know today.

 I would advise anyone who is suggested to get mental health help to please do so. Don’t be too proud to get help. Its out there.... with an open hand, ready to help......

 

Angel

 

hi all i am adoctor after 6 years in college and 3 years of working a doctor i never had aproblem  now i cant see any ond ifear from failing down .......... heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp meeeeeeee

 Hi everyone im 17 years old and almost ready to give up !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Im Cunffused with myself and have not a clue why my body is reactting the way it is... I need Help A.s.P...I cant even walk down one road with out a tear coming down my face, my body then starts to shacke, and then comes the pain at my chest! Later after all that goes through i get the suicidal thoughts.. I DONT WANT TO KILL MYSELF!!! ((I WANT TO GET BETTER))
I wish there was a Treatment somewhere that could help me ive been sent to hospitals, Clsc clinics... and been very tougth! right now im on effexor xr medicine and still aint working been all the way up to 150mg..
Last week i stoped my pills from bad headaches and was all depressed and shocks all over my body. i dont under stand why im having the bad thoughts in my head, am i stupid? am i mentally handicaped? i have not a clue.. but im always stuck in my room everyday scared to go outside aruond people... i wish i can be with my friends again and shop and do all kinds of great things, also get back into school i want to finish and become a counselor when im older..

ty for reading this.. i really need help or might just end up really bad shape then what im in now A.s.a.p.  -Sarah-

Hi my name is Ivy and I have been suffering from anxiety and bipolar and ptsd since I was 15 I am now 28.  I just wanted to say that Effexor is an antidepressant and that would cause you to be more jittery.  Do you have problems with depression?  I am on Klonopin and Hydroxyzine for my anxiety.  I have a friend who has anxiety and she is on Ativan.  Maybe you could suggest these to your doctor.  An antidepressant is definitely not the way to go.  Hope everything works out for you.

You can also find so much information on medications and disorders on webmd.com

Hi, I've never done this before and this is the first time I've ever tried, so if I do something wrong tell me.  But I read your message, it makes my heart cry. You are so young and have so much time and life ahead of you. Does anyone in your daily life know you live with this feeling? I'm not trying to be nosey, but I wish you'd e=mail me and tell me more. There is hope! foxy58roxy@yahoo.com. Please read my message and you might understand where I'm coming from. I know its horrible to daily live in fear and torment.

My personal story is 49 years long. This message is to help and let others know, I want more research and recognition about mental diseases. Mental disorders have always been ignored, denied, referred to as dumb, and shameful misfit, mental issues are not anyones fault. A person should not be punished or mistreated for having this disease.

There is a need for places, research, and help for people that have this.

Mental disorders eat away at a persons mind faster, and more damaging then cancer.

 

A person with cancer, draws multitudes of attention

A person with a mental problem becomes alone, people don't want to be around that kind of person, "there's something wrong, I don't want to catch it"

 

I'm ANGRY! This sickness has raped me of 30 years of my life, caused me to be separated from my family, it has not allowed my life to be able to have people in my life, it's caused me to push my children away, it's present every day I wake up. But I taught myself to except it and learned to cope with it.  But now it's gone to far, My son is now laying in a hospital, lonely, scarred, confused, and he don't understand why he feels so empty.   What has me so up set. I took him to 2 different hospitals, called  3 different help centers, and not any of them would help us. We were told he wasn't bad enough  to receive emergence help, Because he hadn't hurt him self or anyone else. We were told to go home and wait until a week day, and make an appointment. This young man was having a mental break down, reaching out for help, he was smart enough to know he needed help and there was no where for him to go and be safe, and not hurt himself or anyone else.  I know he isn't the only person that has experienced this problem. It's time our country, government, scientists or who ever start recognizing this is a growing problem, and it can't be ignored any more.  mental disorders in America should be just as important in politics, and in research as cancer, health coverage, etc...

I would like to know if I'm alone feeling this way about something that effects so many lives but always gets diagnosed and blamed on some thing else.

    THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO OUR GOVERNMENT, THIS DISEASE EFFECTS OUR COUNTRY AS MUCH IF NOT MORE THEN ANY OTHER DISEASE.

 

 FINDING CURES, PROVIDING PLACES TO GET HELP, MORE EDUCATION,  SUPPORT GROUPS.  ALL OF THIS WOULD HELP CUT DOWN ON FRUSTRATED. ANGRY, CONFUSION WHICH ALL FEEDS CRIME. ROAD RAGE  JEALOUS COMPANION KILLING, RAPE, CHILD ABUSE, this ONLY NEEDS EDUCATION AVAILABLE, AND TAUGHT ABOUT,  IT'S PRESENT AMONG US AND IT'S NOT GOING AWAY OR GETTING ANY BETTER.

 

AM I ALONE?

Girls, you're both so young, let me share this. I'm 49, I've been prescribe over 40 different meds, been to over a dozen different doctors, numerous counselors, and I'm not better, But I am at the end of my rope. I will not live the rest of my life being a slave of this disease. It's raped me of most of my existent life. I'm only one person, but I have a voice,  and the ability of how properly to let it be heard. There are many like us, many experience the same disease. It's a disease, we're not crazy.  With some research education, and team work this could be the beginning of a end of lives being damaged because of chemical imbalancement in our brains and minds.  Together we could heal and experience a new way of life.  There are solutions and answers.  We just need to step forward, bring recognition of the disease to the public, our governor, and whom ever it concerns, and something can be done. I'm writing letters to see what I can start.  There more and more, each day another person experiences for the first time. This disease has been  pushed aside, it  has been ignored,  and the subject scares people because the unknown can't be normal.  People think different is bad, wrong, and can;t be controlled, most people are embarrassed and shame.  If you stop and take a good look at yourself, you'll find you have great qualities, and are qualities that the majority of human beings don't have.  People with this are a selected and chosen few.   SPECIAL GIFT,   work it right and depression can work good ways in a life.  share with me your story. foxy58roxy@yahoo.com