Medication for anxiety

Mia, you are right on...........we are open 24/7 and if you cannot sleep at night, just hop on the puter and let Healing Well take you away. Post your feelings, share your good times, just post away.

I am so glad you are all here and that you know we are here for you.  I have always been and advocate for mental health issues and I know how it feels to be put down but I have gotten good at advocating for myself too.

Big group hug to all...............you are the best and I am proud to be a part of the A & P Family.  Thank you for allowing me to be one of you.

Kitt

Hi Kitt....

Big hug right at you. For me the forum helps to settle me when I feel lost or the a/p takes over. Just sets me straight just knowing I am not alone. I am not the only one that feels this way or that way. So does help me a lot.

I think just to have others that are going through/or have gone through the same thing is more then helpful. Makes one feel so not alone out in this big world. In fact makes the world seem a little smaller knowing their are people out there that do understand and going through close to the samething. Just to be able to share is very healing as well.

You have a great day Kitt, thanks... :)

Mia

Hey Cher...

Good to hear from you. Hope you Dr appointment with the Pdoc goes well. Glad it has been an easier week for you. Also that the cat scan was a good one.

Is amazing how a/p can make us feel and do to us.

Hope to hear from you after you see the Pdoc. Wishing all the best to you.

Mia

I take Lamictal. I am bipolar 2 and use it as a mood stabilizer. I like it. As for your Welbutrin. I take that as an antidepressant, but I can tell ya...too much of that can hype me up and put me in a panic/ manic mode. I was taking 300 mg a day last week and was driving home and got so manic I could barely sit in the car seat. The doc cut me down to 150 / day and I am fine. I don't normally get that manic...if I was getting panic attacks I don't think Welbutrin would work for me. It would make things worse.

Watch that Ambien...if you get depressed at all, stop taking it. I had a bad time with it. I do better on Lunesta.

(Geez, I sound like a drug addict!)

Cherthom....
Hey there :) Good to hear all went well. So how is the sleep going? I have taken ambien before. Not on a reg bases. Just when I have not had any sleep in a few days. Also I have taken Lamictal. It is given to ones that are bipolar and also is used with depression and I have known some with a/p that have taken it as well. You will find with some of the drugs that some are used for one thing and yet they use it to treat other things. So dont worry about that. If you were bipolar I am sure your Pdr would have told you. I am sure it is being used for you for something else. Call if you need to know.It could just be being use for you for the anxiety and to settle it some. If it works all the better for you. remember to give your meds even a few weeks to kick in. I am just so happy that you got to see your new Dr.
Wellbutrin for me is a huge No, No. Does me no good at all. In fact I have more trouble on it and makes me worse. Yet, I know some that it works great on. Just depends on the person.
You are doing a great job on taking care and getting a new Dr. Keep me up to date on how you are and how the meds are working for you. Remember you have any questions at all call your Pdr up. That is what he/she is there for.

Keep on taking care you are doing a great job... :)

Mia

Hey Cheryl.

So good to hear you are getting some sleep. I think with catching up on sleep it will help alot as well. I know when I would go with-out sleep for long periods of time I would really come apart and things got so much worse for me.
I took Lamictal for about a year, that was a couple of years ago. Then a few months ago ( being dumb on my part.) I stopped all meds and tried all natural stuff. I seemed ok at the start but then was hit major with a/p and my depression got very bad. I was all over the place and not sleeping as well. So back to the dr I went. Was then put back on Lamictal to settle me down. Am on different meds now.I had to start all over again. I am just now the last month or so, slowly getting settled and back to were I was. This time around it just seemed to be a harder fight for me.
I use to have the trouble of speaking up as well. But the last few years my mouth runs over....lol Not in a bad way. But I can say "No", which is such a short word and yet so hard from most to say. I can say things I dont agree with and things I dont want to do. I am at the point if someone does not like what I say , gets nasty then I guess they are not much of a friend. That is just the way I have to look at it now. Is amazing once one starts to speak up the easier it does get. Just have to start and take baby steps. Then you will find it is not as hard as you thought it is or was.
Your out look about all and the meds is very good. I think with your out look you will do very well. Just remember sometimes we have those days we might slide back down some, but it is ok and it will get better.

You take good care and have a great day and a great nights sleep....:)

Mia

Cheryl...

You know what?... When I started saying the "NO" word, some people did get mad at me. Some even would get a little nasty. Found out when one finally says No and stands up for themselves that you really find out who your true friends are. One you start it does become easier. If someone gets mad let them. Really is no big deal after a while. Found out you cant please all the people all the time and there also has to be a line to not let people walk over you.

Yes, this website is great and has been wonderful and so helpful to me as well. Found out also, that most people that don`t have a/p or depression just don`t or can`t understand. So is nice not feeling alone out here and having people that do understand and lend their support and kind words.

Isn`t it a great feeling to be able to sleep. Just with a couple of days sleep you can notice the difference. I will still have times I can`t sleep and then the tv becomes my best friend...lol But for the most part I do sleep, might wake up a couple times through the night but able to go back to sleep. Is amazing as well what lack of sleep can do to a person.

You have a good day and take good care...

Mia

I have had SO many family and friends ( supposed to be friends) get right ticked because I HAVE learnt to say NO and I do now more than I have ever in my life..........and the " friends " are not friends any longer ya know .......Family has seen a big difference in me and I dont think they like it BUT heck they will get use to it

EVERYONE was so use to me always being the one to call or come crying to when they had problems BUT were they there for me in the longrun ..NOPE..
MY friends and family HERE on HW have been my life support and lil sis is one of those special ones I have gotten so much help and support from..
There are many many others as well and you all know who you are whether new or vets here I have come to know and trust with all my innermost thoughts and feelings ..Pain sorrow ...tears of happiness and joy or tears of sadness....NEVER doubt that HW and the ppl here on this forum are the best ......

Take care all and happy to see the posts and comaderie here in this thread........Stay wth us and know we are here 24/7 like Kitt said ......LYN

Hi Cheryl...
DANG! 30* then to 70*! We won`t see 70* here until June. We have been having snow storms big winds. Were I am at the main highway is closed. We have more snow coming today and tonight, as well as this weekend. Is very cloudy here and white...lol

I also work from home, have for years. Have my own business so makes it nice. I have leaned as well not to bury myself in work. Took me forever to learn not to do that. It just added more and more stress. So now I take what I can do, and don`t have all the dead lines to meet like I use to have.

I also had cancer as well 9 years ago. Had surgery and did really well. I think after that my a/p got worse. Got to the point I worried so much about it. I would get a bump and I would think the worse. I would get even a common cold and blow it all out of whack. I would always think the worst. I had to work long and hard to try and get out of that frame of thinking. I do alot better, but still will have those times that the mind and thoughts try to take hold.But it is not as bad as it once was.

It took my husband a long time to even try to understand what was what with me. But as he also heard more and more people going through a/p depression his thoughts started to change slowly very slowly. But as he says since he has never had those feelings a/p and so one cant say "Oh I know how you feel". But, he can now say " I can try to understand". He can now listen with out the judging and the old saying of " Just get over it". But there still are the times it is very hard for him to try to understand and many times he cant come up with anything to say. Which is nice at times just to say nothing.We went the rounds with the get over it, be strong, be this and that, what the big deal and so on.He knows not to say "Relax", to me anymore. Because he can just Bite It then. But he does know that many people suffer from this everyday and seems to be more and more of us out there. it is still hard for him at times. Took him a few years just to get to where he is now. Thought he was going to have to be put on meds for awhile...lol DANG!!! At 1st it was very hard for him and even harder for me going through this and then trying to make him understand just a little or at least just look and keep an open mind. So for a few years that even made me stress more. Must say did even cause a few fighting words as well. But now that he has done reading, talk to others and trys hard to keep an open mind he is doing so much better. I was lucky that he finally just settle down about this and decided to keep an open mind and talk to others who have a/p and so on and to talk to others that have people in there lives they live with that have it as well.

I do think if someone has not been in our shoes and never has had a/p would not understand. They can try, but yet they cant say "I know how you feel".

But then there are those out there that in no way do they want to try to understand or do they want to. I figure so be it. Plus they always seem to be the ones that if it is not all about them then they want no part of anything or to even bother with trying to understand.
Like I say you sure find out who your true friends are. I have had many of my old friends go, and have had some wonderful people who have come into my life as well.

I am so glad to hear the med is kicking in for you. Just think what a few more nights sleep is going to do for you. Just remember if you have any trouble on the meds, which looks like you are doing great just call your Dr. Dont shy off about calling your Dr on something you feel that is important or want to talk about. That is what they are there for. :)

I think that is great that you got out and went shopping and by yourself... ^5 that is just wonderful Is a good feeling isnt it. you are really doing doing great so give yourself a huge pat on the back.

Well I need to head off this thing and get a few things sent out to fedx here soon. You have a good weekend and let me keep hearing from you.
Wishing you all the best

Mia

Hey Cheryl...

Well is still cold here and have been getting hit hard by one snow storm after another. Plus have had high winds with blowing snow. Just got had about 4 more inch of snow over night and are due for another storm that is heading our way.
Yes, sometime and many times the med can make on feel odd, and a little off center. If it keeps up do call your DR just to check. Is always best to keep the DR on top of things. I know with me I felt off for a couple of weeks. Then it all kicked in. With upping your dose you can sometimes have that feeling again. But do check with him/her is always the best. I know meds react different on each person. Some do very well and will have little or no effects while others can have many effects to where the DR might want to lower it up it or even change to another med.
Is hard that I know. But, hang in there. I think you have really come a long way in a short time. Sometimes we can see it but others can. Just by reading your post you are doing good. Try not to think about how your husband or others might feel. I know it is hard not to. You have to take care of you. Don`t or try not to add the stress of taking on their feelings. I know it is hard not to.
You take good care and call the DR and let them know how the med is working.
Mia.... :)

Thanks for the advice Mia & Panike, my husband hasn't made any comments lately.Though, yesterday I went to see the endocrinologist because I noticed when I take my thyroid meds, I have heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat. They took me off the meds for now and when I told him, he sighed really loud. I decided that I don't care what he thinks and if I think what I'm doing will help; then that's what I'm going to do. I just started uping my dose of Lamictal and it makes me feel sort of dopey but at least the anxiety is gone...Yeah! I have to learn to stop thinking about how I feel all the time..know what I mean? I keep checking my pulse and thinking I feel weird to the point that it's irritating me! Do you do that at all? I'm also forcing myself to go out and do things which I had completely stopped doing for fear something would happen. I'm going to a neighbors pampered chef party on Monday night and there will be "strangers" there..I'm a tad nervous but my counselor insists that I go. Guess if I have to, I can make an excuse to go home. (:
I am surprised my husband has been so cold about all of this. I guess if you can't "see" an ailment, then it's hard to understand. Like you said Panike, unless they go through it they don't understand. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. It's hard to deal with sometimes. Hopefully these meds will do the trick. I hate to have to take anything everyday but if they do the trick, I must! I think at first I was thinking like my husband..I'd tell myself "get over it", "deal with it" but that's not going to work. Hopefully I'm on the downside of this hill!
Take care you two and have a great day! (and stay warm!)
cheryl

Hey Cheryl........ :)
Give your self some time on the new amount of the Lamictal you are taking. Give it a couple of weeks and see how you feel. Of course if you start feeling worse call your DR.
Pampered Chef Party, I went to one a couple of months back. I did get a little nervous. I put a rubber band around my wrist and when I felt I was going to panic or the heart pound I would snap it a couple of times. I had a long sweater on so no one seemed to notice. Plus I would step out for some fresh air and snap away.
Yes, I would do the taking of my pulse all the time. Make sure it was not beating to fast or skipping. The more I would check the worse I would get. I had to try and teach myself not to do it. I still check it, but not as much as I use to. If I get that strong feeling to check it I get busy doing something. Get on the comp, read, something anything. If I do it during the day, I go out to the barn and saddle up on of the horses and ride in the indoor area. I just have to get my mind off of it. Seems like I would sit around and do nothing but check my pulse. I think many of us do that and have been there.
I don`t think it is just a man thing to not understand, or want to try to. I found it is hard for many people male or female to try and understand. If many and most have not felt what we do, then is hard to understand. Like I have said in a couple of other postings, I have even lost friends and friends I though were close ones. I have one friend that is very honest and she came out and said to me, she did not know what to do or how to help. I told her just listening or being there was enough. I think at times people dont know what to do or what to say. Then again there are those that just dont want to deal with it at all.
Have had ones tell me you dont look like you have something wrong with you.Look like, what we are to have some look about us.. Oh Well!!
Trying to stay warm here. They closed down some of the roads and main highways here this evening do to blowing snow and strong winds. Got an extra 29 inches of new snow now on top of what we already have.
You take good care, have a great night and wonderful day tomorrow.
Mia........... :)