Anyone else suffer from Anxiety?-Long

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

I have anxiety and IBS also. Its really a horrible combo. I started getting it when I was started on some birth control medication when I was 15. Im turning 26 in July and Im still dealing with it. Im not on any medication cause I cant afford it. No insurance. So I have to take it day by day. Its really hard, trust me I know. But you cant live your life in fear. Push forward and dont let it force you into hiding in your home. I know you can do it. You just have to have faith in yourself and do tell your family and friends what is going on with you. I know it may be embarassing but the better they know about your problems, the easier it will be to spend time with them with out the worries of getting embarassed if your stomach starts acting up. You will be amazed with how understanding some people are.

 

[CarriBrown]

I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder about 10 years ago, after several bouts of major depression and one failed suicide attempt. I take Paxil (which is sort of outdated but I'm doing well on it and don't want to switch) and right now I'm on a little higher dose because I just had a baby and am now suffering from PPD.
I have anxiety attacks on airplanes. If I don't take my meds, I am extremely anxious, I always feel an impending sense of doom, I run situations over and over and over in my head, I'm obsessive, jittery, gassy (I call them the "nervous farts") and sometimes moody. When I was young, people would say things like, "Don't be such a worry wart!" So, I've probably always had it to some degree, but I think my environment also made me more prone to it.
I'm very open about my experiences with depression and anxiety because I feel it helps people who are suffering in silence drum up the courage to get help.

 

[TheDuckCrew]

Quote:
i'm the same way. i was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder a couple months ago, i was also diagnosed with depression. when i was young, i was a selective mute and would not talk to anyone. all of my teachers have always tried to force me to do presentations in front of the class, but in fact, they only made it worse. i am now on a generic form of prozac (long name...don't know it) for both the anxiety and depression. i have noticed a huge change and now i am so much happier, and i can get up in front of a class for a presentation, hardly scared at all anymore.
when i discovered my condition on my own, i was afraid to bring it up with even my parents. i printed off papers on it, and left it for them to find when i was asleep. once i was diagnosed, i was terrified to tell anyone, because i was afraid of what they would think. but now i don't care anymore. because of that, i discovered that my horse trainer also has social anxiety disorder.
my life has totally changed and i'm finally becoming the person i knew i could be.
good luck on whatever you have. its hard to handle, but it gets better.

 

[lone cedar farm]

Paxil works for me!

 

[briteday]

As a medical biochemist and a lifelong anxiety patient...

1. Remove as much negativity in your life as possible...people, job stress, finances, relationships...surround yourself with people and activities that are positive experiences for you. Buy some meditation CD's and use them at night when you lay down to sleep, in the car, on your lunch time at work, any time you have a few minutes. Learn to relax. Exercise and eat correctly. Cut out all caffeine, smoking, and alcohol. Cover all of the obvious things before thinking that a miracle is going to cure you.

2. Get a referral to a psychiatrist known to do a lot of work with anxiety. Not every psychiatrist is good at working through the treatments with you. And they also have tons of pharmaceutical sales reps that call on them too. So try to find one that is several years out of college (med students are always looking for free food and drug companies spend lots of money to feed med students) and been around the block a few times. Sad to say, but some of the most knowledgeable docs I've found are the ones that treat the worst cases in the mental health facilities and prisons. Neither place is likely to pay for expensive meds and the docs get to see the results of less expensive drugs first hand.

3. Try counseling to see if it helps. some of us have acquired anxiety as a result of life experiences. And some of us have inherited anxiety just like heart disease or any other thing our DNA has passed along. If you can document cases of anxiety in generations past (look for alcoholism and other substance abuses as they were often suggested by docs before the 1950's when benzos were developed), you probably have the inherited form. Counseling may not work for the inherited type, but will help you cope better.

4. If you are agoraphobic (have difficulty leaving the house) get help sooner rather than later. Read about the kindling effect below. I have experienced agoraphobia and all I can say is take the first step outside the door. Ask your spouse to put a lawn chair on the back porch (where no one can see you) and just go out for 2 minutes to enjoy the sunshine. Increase as your tolerance allows. Try walking to the mailbox or just to the end of your driveway. And try to get professional help.

4. Don't be afraid to take medication. It is a known biological fact that some anxiety is caused by a problem with a chemical known as GABA. It is the very receptor that benzos act upon. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that docs may talk about in treatment plans. Well, 95% of your serotonin receptors are in your gut, not your brain. May have something to do with those of us who have the urgency, frequency, constipation, diarrhea problems. For those cases and also sleep problems there is a little known anti-depressant, mirtazapine (brand name is Remeron in the US, but is available as a cheap generic for a few years now), that works wonders for me and many others. It sucks as an anti-depressant but it is wonderful for the gut and getting you to sleep. But because it has not worked well for depression and has undesirable side effects for depressed patients (sleepiness, lethargy, weight gain) there is very little taught to docs about it. Also, it is not in the same biochemical category as Paxil and Prozac. So if those drugs have not worked or made you worse, give it a try. You need to give it a fair chance if you try it, have your dr work with you adjusting doses and be willing to give it time to work out the side effects. Most people can barely move and want to sleep for the first 24 hours. And most people will crave carbs and many gain weight on the med. But when you find the right dose...priceless. Also helpful for the diarrhea / nausea types is an over the counter med known as loperamide. You can buy it at Walmart dirt cheap. You take one tab as soon as you have an episode or feel your bladder, bowels start to gyrate. And you can take a second tab if the symptoms persist. It does not tend to constipate but you do have to eat a good diet anyway. It is fairly harmless and I know many people with IBS / Ibd who use it as part of their daily meds, for years.

Remember...if you were diabetic would you resist taking insulin daily? If someone gives you grief about meds, try that on them. You have a chemical insufficiency and there are medications that can treat it.

Smoky...0.25 mg is barely even on the scale to be considered a therapeutic dose.

And for everyone out there who thinks benzodiazepines are addictive...addiction is defined medically as using more and more drug to get an effect...rarely does this happen to people taking those drugs (xanax, klono, valium) for anxiety. In fact, most people are able to reduce their dose once they gain control of the situation. Xanax is one of the most abused drugs...but not by patients with anxiety. And there are many well documented, well reviewed studies of patients who have used benzos for over 40-50 years now with no adverse effects, and have lived very long healthier lives because they took the meds and went on to lead productive lives. Beats sitting on the sofa with the drapes closed for the rest of your life, IMO.
Secondly, anti-depressants (Paxil, Prozac, Effexor) work in about 30% of the cases in anxiety and the drug companies have to do almost 100 studies each to prove efficacy of those drugs to the FDA for approval to sell them for anxiety. How do I know? I used to work for the companies that make these drugs. They only test for 6-12 weeks and use very vague scales to gauge improvements. So if those drugs aren't working for you consider a benzodiazepine. It is a known fact that benzos stop the symptoms of anxiety and panic 100% of the time. It is what an ER doc would use if you showed up in a panic attack. So why wouldn't you use it as long as you are given the correct dose and proper instructions.
On the other hand...general practitioners (GP's, family practice, ob/gyns, internists) usually have little experience with these drugs and diagnoses, so find a good psychiatrist to do a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Don't let every shmoo mess with your brain. Most patients also find that there are groups of docs in their areas that do not believe in benzos and will only prescribe anti-depressants, even local psychs. The benzos have been on the market since the 1950's, are no longer patented (= cheap generics available), and don't make any money for the major drug companies...so the drug companies pay sales reps tons of money to market the more expensive anti-depressants. If the AD's work for you, great. If they don't, ask for benzos. You are not a drug seeker, just need plain old relief from something that is known to work 100% of the time.

StawberryHouseMouse...get a good diagnosis and then get a Rx for benzodiazepines. They are dirt cheap. Walmart charges less than $10 per month.

There is also a theory out there called kindling. The longer you experience symptoms, the more likely your body will feed off the results and you may get worse if not treated.

So, first take control of what you can to make your life better. Get a referral to a good psychiatrist. Do some counseling to see if it helps. Add meds if needed. Try to move outside your comfort zone every day, even if it is just one more foot outside the door. Continue to explore new ideas as they develop in the treatment of anxiety.

Why? Because the pursuit of happiness is a constitutional right.

 

[Smoky73]

I was hoping that this thread would continue, seeing so many of us suffer from anxiety, I am not sure about others but I feel conforted having this here to talk to you guys and share day to day dealings.

I first want to say I have gotten some very nice books that have helped me understand the anxiety issues better. Call it- Self Therapy.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446670537

This second one-although small- was very well written and is my favorite I think

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553272454


Part of my anxiety is with meds, and any meds that lists "nausea" as a side effect, for obvious reasons. The Lexapro practically made me comatose and the Cymbalta was not much better. If I start off a med and start gettting nauseated, I will not continue to take it, no matter if it "supposed to be temporary". That being said, the doctor prescribed me the Buspar because he was not positive the Xanax was sufficient I guess. I picked it up last week, but have not taken it. I have been taking the Xanax 2-3 times a day as doctor recommended, and feel good. I been trying to take it later int he evening (I go to bed about 9-9:30) so right about when I go to bed as I was taking it about 8pm and it was wore off before I was getting up so was having the sick feeling int he mornings. Once I get the pill in me again, I feel better. I was having a issue with the new manufacturer Xanax (different than the first ones I got) that they were making me light headed and a bid confused but after reading a bit, I learned that if you eat something before you take it, the medicine will peak at a lower level than if you take it without food. So I am sure to take it with food in the AM and Ihave not had the lightheaded ness and confused feeling.

I like the Xanax as it works within the hour. Dr probably will not be happy with me not trying the Buspar, but I feel comfortable on the Xanax alone. I have a relaxation CD I downloaded from Amazon as well and it is very nice. I have also tried to remember to breathe with my stomach and not my chest, that seems to help as well.

The big test will be the next time I have a show to go to, but that will not be for several months. Small tests will be to go to the city to do some shopping and eating out somewhere, all things that make me anxious.

 

[willowcol]

I did it, I went to a poutlry auction yesterday. Didn't buy or touch anything as I don't want to bring home anything to my chickens but it was very crowded and we stayed til it was over. I almost changed my mind when we got there but my husband was great and we sat in the car til right before it started, then went in the side door and sat right there. I took 5 chicks to sell my husband signed them in and I got $25.00 for the 5. It was pretty cool. THere is another 1 in 2 weeks I hope I don't talk myself out of going, it was nice seeing all the Rabbits, goats, turkeys, chickens and stuff.

 

[ronnie]

i am 62 years old i suffered from panic attacks and anxcity all my life. i did not even drive....i am on prozac and klonopin i guess it helps....i only go out on days i feel good and drive to the store cause i have no one eles to do shopping for me.....i am scared all the time...but talk to myself....i see a shrink for 30 years was in hospital 3x and found out you have to deal with it and go slow, do things at your own pace....really you are in control of yourself believe me no one eles can help or even understand what we all are going through.....ronnie

 

[bheila]

I figured I'd post here since no one has for a while...

I went to my 6yr old daughters play at school tonight which was and accomplishment

My parents rode with us because we have a big van. When the play was all done my mother announces that I need to drive us all to Taco Time for dinner. I said to her, "you know I don't eat inside restaurants." I decide to just keep my mouth shut and go. The whole time while driving there of coarse I'm freaking out on the inside and sweating on the outside. She keeps making stupid comments like, you'll be fine, what are you afraid of, where else will you go to eat if you won't go into Taco Time, let's go to Red Robin instead(which is 20x's busier). I wished she would've just been quiet.
We get there, I stomp to the counter order my meal and sit down to eat. It wasn't that bad

but only because right after we got there all of the other customers left. We finish our meal go to the van and of coarse she has to make another one of her comments. "Next time you can graduate to Red Robin" All I can think of is PLEASE SHUT UP!!!! I know she thinks she being supportive but she's far from support for me. She'll never understand me or what it's like to have anxiety/panic attacks. I have an uncle who's skitzo, my mom doesn't understand why he can only go into one specific grocery store. She constantly tries to force him into other stores

I explain to her it's because he's sick, she just doesn't get it

Sorry, I just needed to vent

 

[Sierra pachie bars]

I have a very close friend of mine who suffers from anxiety. I offered her the use of my service dog to see if that would help her when she was out. We have talked a bit and she does think that would help her. I know how much she struggles with it. Medications do seem to help her but she still has to deal with it. It makes going to school hard for her. Research anxiety dogs, I am not sure what the laws cover in your area. But I do know several people who do use them. In fact one of Milo's trainers has one.