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Posted 8/1/2009 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to HW.

If you have an Anxiety disorder this is  great place to get understanding, advice, encouragement, and to give it back in return.

Before posting please do check out the resources provided by the A & P Moderating Team as you may find the answer to your questions in our resources. We have provided you with the link here in this thread.

Anxiety and Panic Resources:


https://www.healingwell.com/community/?f=9&m=104206&g=1109368#m1109368

So we can know how to best help you would you please take a few minutes to introduce yourself in this thread?  Maybe give us a quick background as to what brought you here?  It helps us help you more efficiently.

Looking forward to getting to know you better-

The AP Mods

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 9/19/2009 9:24:32 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/1/2009 7:34 AM (GMT 0)

Hello! Just joined. I found this site listed in the book Coping With Anxiety by Edmund Bourne and Lorna Garano.

I have suffered from anxiety/panic and depression since my teens (a few decades ago!)

I participated in group therapy some 21 years ago and it really did lower my anxiety and reduce my panic attacks, generally speaking, that is day to day, with no specific triggers. However, lately certain triggers will send both skyrocketing out of control again. I have found over the years regular exercise (brisk walking) to have a  tremendous tremendous relieving effect on anxiety and panic. It really does wonders!!! But I haven't been exercising in a long time and am fighting panic and anxiety and depression again. I have gained waaaaaaaaaay too much weight and exercise has become painful and tiring.

My panic triggers of 20+ years: I won't drive on the interstate, drive over long bridges, go out of town, fly, nor see a physician as I panic over medical procedures and taking medication. Also social situations make me very very uncomfortable.

I am an overthinker and worrier about just about everything. I haven't had a friend in over 20 years so loneliness is a killer. Anyway I feel better already reading on here and knowing I'm not alone again.

I do have a very very wonderful and supportive husband who has put up with this for many years. He is my rock and my shelter in the storm. And I am very thankful for him. But I still get completely overwhelmed by this anxiety and panic and depression a lot lately.

I am not taking any meds.  

Thank you for listening.

Spinnaker

Posted 8/1/2009 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I started posting a few days ago. I have a 15 year history of anxiety and panic attacks. I've been on different meds throughout the years, imipramine and klonopin, zoloft, effexor, and tried xanax. I go through long periods where I'm feeling great, no panic attacks, and wean off meds. Usually after a year or two off meds, the anxiety comes back. Just last month it came back with a vengence! I've had an awful time trying to sleep at night. The doctor had me try xanax and it did not work for me... made me feel worse actually. So he put me back on Effexor which worked well last time. I'm on day 5 of the 37.5mg and will go up to 75mg starting week 2.

On top of the anxiety, I was in the ER last Friday with severe chest pain, shoulder pain and tingling in the arm. Felt 10x worse than my panic attacks. They did a full cardiac workup, chest xray and have now diagnosed me with GERD. So I'm on Protonix as well.

I'm very frustrated that not only is my anxiety back, but now I also have GERD to worry about. I'm a teacher and NEED to feel better and be able to function, and I have about a month to do so. I started counseling and have been doing the online program for CBT, MoodGym, that I saw recommended on here. Hopefully with the meds, counseling, CBT, and all the support on here, I can conquer this beast once and for all!!!!
Posted 8/2/2009 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi....I have had anxiety and panic attacks for 18 years....Just started outta the blue one morning as i was was walking into work ( im a scrub nurse in surgery ) and i felt off balance and dizzy....This went on for a while , as i stayed home and could not even go to a restarant or grocery store without freaking out  and i  saw my  medical Dr and had all kinds of work ups done and was finally diagnoised with anxiety and panic disorder....My md dr put me on ativan twice a day and did great for about 6 years and the bam !!! i was getting up in the middle of the night with a heart rate of 180 and just severe panic !!

My dr sent me to a psych and was put on several kinds of meds till i found one that i could take, which is celexa and xanax......I have not had a panic attack in 10 years but still have boughts with anxiety attacks....from time to time......which is the ole off balance feeling  and dizzy.....I was doing really well and about a month ago i started not sleeping and the anxiety came back...i have upped my xanax and have to say i doing better right now......Not back to normal, but getting close....I found this board on a search and im glad i did....I like to help people and i need advise myself.......So thats my story........Thanks to all  and hope we can all get thur this together

 

Hugs

Lucy

Posted 8/2/2009 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
 hi..Lucy again..i wanted to add to my above message....i told you i worked in surgery, well, bad profession for people with this disorder....You see all this stuff and at the 1st sign of a elment then, u have  cancer, brain tumor, ect ect.....allthough i love it,.I wish i had never gotten into nursing, because i think it makes it worse, because we see alot and think the worse. Also my sister died about 2 years ago at age 49 of a brain aneursym..that was her second one, she had her first one at age 29 was caught and operated on and did ok till 2 years ago.....but i was checked in 2001 because these things are passed on to siblings  after a mra i was told they saw something and o man....what a mess i was  Had to have a angiogram of the brain and it was ok....thank god for many blessings....but anyway just wanted to add that

 

Lucy

Posted 8/2/2009 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hello I'm a new member as well. So i guess my story goes back to my childhood, when I was about 8-9 i started having my first bouts of anxiety. I assume at this point that it was a type of agoraphobia although of course being oblivious to such things i had no idea. I would carry around a water bottle and cough drops wherever I would go, since these things would help to distract myself from the feelings of anxiety. I wouldn't go on long Field trips or do any of that, and i tended to distance myself a little from most kids my age. Then after a few years the feelings dropped off and I was pretty ok for a while. Then at the beginning of this year around March-ish I had my first panic attack. Ended up calling the paramedics and such, didn't get taken to the hospital since they recognized my symptoms. For a while it was an intense battle trying to go to college while having panic and anxiety all the time. After going to a psychiatrist and working through things I finally have been able to start to get back on my feet. I have some prescribed medicine that the first doctor I went to gave me, but I haven't used it really. Unlucky for me the Agoraphobia came back! So I've been spending my summer trying to get back out there without feeling too bad because of it. So far I've been able to get to the point where most things that I do don't give me bad anxiety, although I'm a bit wary of traveling too far from home, and social things give me a little problems still. But I'm climbing up my list of phobias and back to normal-ness, whatever that might be.
Posted 8/2/2009 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to take a moment and welcome you all to Healingwell. We have some wonderful and supportive members all trying to live with a/p too. I look forward to hearing more from all of you.

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 8/2/2009 11:08 PM (GMT 0)

Welcome to HealingWell. This is a great site. I look forward to getting to know you better.

You will find the members warm and caring, wise and wonderful and you will make new acquaintances as well as new friends.

We know where your coming from and what you are going through so please know I am so happy you have joined us.

Thank you for your introductions.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt
Posted 8/4/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!

I have suffered from anxiety all my life but as I get older I am finding that it's only getting worse for me.  So many things set me off and I worry and obsess all day every day.  I worry about having a virus that I already was tested negative for, I worry about animals to the point where I cry.. I see a person who looks sad and I cant stop thinking about them for weeks.  What is wrong with me??

I am so glad I found this forum to see that I am not alone.

I have tried a few different meds but none worked and I experienced yucky side effects.  The only thing that worked (short term) was Ativan but after realizing I was addicted I weaned off of it.  I am not sure what to do next, but I think I just have to learn to deal with it.  I have been diagnosed with OCD, but I only suffer from obsessions no checking.

I saw a teenaged boy in the mall today soaking wet from the rain and holding a rose waiting for a date... I felt so sorry for him and couldnt stop thinking "what if she doesn't show?"  I know from experience with these thoughts, that I will think of this boy for weeks now.

What is wrong with me?  Does this sound like just anxiety?  Does this happen to anyone else?

 

Posted 8/4/2009 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Cant Deal

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.  I am glad you found us and I truly hope we can meet your needs.  The members of this forum know anxiety well and I think you are on the right track.  There is nothing wrong with you........  You are a person with anxiety.  Remember you have anxiety, it does not have you.

With the help of the members here in HW you will learn ways to cope with your anxiety and help make you feel better.

Stick with us and know we care.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 8/8/2009 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I just wanted to welcome all new members you have come to a great support group. Hope you all stay with us, take care all.

Ben
Posted 8/10/2009 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, everybody!

I woke up this morning feeling the familiar "rising panic" and anxiousness. I have no one to talk with and I have no time or desire to seek professional help because I am a very busy mother of 3 young children.

I did myself a favor and look for a support group so here I am ........

My panic attack started early 2007. I was driving and on my way to the airport when I felt shortness of breath. I went to ER and had an ECG (which was normal) and was told to see a cardiologist. I had a 2D echo (right ventricular diastolic dysfunction) which my cardio dismissed as stress. The weeks following the attack I was so exhausted that I cannot function well. I also had nocturnal dyspnea, etc. I was so anxious and felt so alone.

I finally got over it temporarily (through self healing in prayers and giving myself some needed rest) then the second episode came while I was driving over a bridge with my children. With sheer willpower I survived crossing the bridge without passing out or dying there or losing control of the car. Since then I avoided crossing long bridges and sometimes flyovers.

I am much better now but there were times when I am so stressed out (like when I discovered that my husband had an affair two months ago) and when I cannot find some important documents at home (just yesterday), when my children are sick with asthma, etc.

I've always been a worry-wart since I can remember.

I also have so many fears since childhood (darkness, lightnings, submerging my head underwater). I also wakes up at night with the feeling of doom, feels sad for no particular reason.

I hope I can find healing and a friend in all of you.
Posted 8/10/2009 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
ivorycharm

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.  What a great first post and please know we are here to help you.

I am going to start you a thread of your own so please look for your name in the topic as I feel it will be beneficial for you to have your own special thread so members can respond to your issues and offer you advice and provide you with support .

Again a warm welcome to HW.

I wish you peace,

Kitt


 

Posted 8/10/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - first timer. In a matter of months I was diagnosed with cancer, divorced (20 yr. marriage), retired and moved across the country. First year after all this I just slept. The second year I developed anxiety attacks. Through self help books/tapes I have the attacks under control. Does the underlying fear ever give up? Unfortunately where I live and the insurance I have, affordable therapy is not in the picture. I've tried antidepressants (including the before in my life and I have real problems with side effects.
Posted 8/10/2009 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi im john i just joined and trying to figure out how the web site works.

I found this web site from google i was searching for advise for my anxiety

Edit:  Hello John.............I started you a thread of your own and I will combine all your posts and then answer some of your questions.  Welcome to HealingWell.

Kitt

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 8/10/2009 12:37:45 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/12/2009 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I'm new to this site and think that it is a wealth of information. I have recently started taking anti-anxiety meds due to a thyroid condition. I have been having trouble for the past month with extreme panic and anxiety the meds seem to help however, I spent Monday night in the hospital with a full cardio workup because I thought I was having a heart attack the cardiologist said that the thyroid was causing my heart to beat fast. I'm very fatigued and I think I'm going crazy most days. I look forward to reading everyone else's stories.

Minicooper
Posted 8/13/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Minicooper,

Hello and welcome, I am Kitt.  I promise you are not going crazy.  You are having anxiety and panic attacks but they are managable and it does sound like your thyroid problem is kicking up your heartrate which also will cause you to feel anxious. 

I have a 27 year history of anxiety and depression.  I am not sure which came first the anxiety or depression and my therapist feels the same way so we have worked on both.

I have taken meds for years as well as worked on learning to keep my anxiety under control. 

I know you will meet many kind and caring members here in the forum so please do know that you have found a great support group.

My email is open if you have any questions re the forum so please do ask.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

Posted 8/13/2009 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Ms.Mew

Welcome to HealingWell.

Support groups are a place for people to give and receive both emotional and practical support as well as to exchange information. People with health conditions, as well as their friends and families find support groups to be a valuable resource and get confirmation that their feelings are "normal", educate others, or just let off steam. IMHO joining a support group is joining a family so a warm welcome to the  A & P Family.

To answer your question,  I am 27 years out from my first panic attack.  I remember the days when I always had Tranxene in my purse "just in case".  I continue to have anxiety, but no longer have to have a benzodiazipine in my purse.  Unfortunately, I think once anxiety enters your life it tends to want to stick around. 

You can learn how to control your anxiety and not let it control you.

Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or coming month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. Focus on the present and stop trying to predict what may happen next week. Next week will take care of itself. In other words practice "staying in the moment".

With kindest personal regards,

Kitt


Posted 8/13/2009 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
danib

Thank you so much for you intro and I know we have met in the forum but I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your presence here. 

You are always kind and caring and you are brave enough to take a chance and reach out for help. You are a true asset to the A & P Forum


Wishing you the best,

Kitt

Posted 8/18/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I am a newish member here at Healing Well.:)
And I have to say I think this website is beautiful and helps people without finding the need to hack up money or time with a psychiatrist or friends when we can come here and ask for some advice.

I posted a short hello on my first post about trying to help my boyfriend with depression and anger.

I was mentally and physically abused by my mother growing up, actually until I was 15 years old.
She mentally abused me by saying she is going to kill me, hit me, scratch me, push me, whatever threat she could think of. She even told me she would push me off our citys largest bridge. My mom beat me on the phone talking to my boyfriend once and he was so upset he called the police and told them that my mom regularly hits me. which she did. So the police came over and told me if she hit me again, I wouldn't have to live with her anymore. Of course she stopped.
(my mom is a single mom and I do not know my father)


So I think the way I was raised brought me onto having anxiety problems. Every now and than I feel like I am not good enough, I cry for nothing probably once every few months. And I haven't had an emotional break down in a while.

But my big problem is that I don't feel right when I am around too many people for too long. I am not chlostrophobic, I am just really insecure about myself at times. And I guess that dawns on me as a person. I feel like I can't have real conversations about people. And when I try they see it as dull and disinteresting. I make people laugh a lot because I guess I'm just a natural goof. But I'm happy about that. I am just unhappy to feel like I can't really talk to people....

Other than that I love life, animals, music, movies, arts and crafts, traveling, dancing and etc.

Some people who don't understand me view me as fake, but I know I'm not. Sometimes things make me excited sometimes they don't. and I guess people view me to always act a certain way? I don't know.
Everytime I get something new and really nice, I feel like I don't deserve it in a way.
I just got a new lab top yesterday and I am thrilled but I still feel that I kind of don't deserve it.
I tell my boyfriend everything, sometimes too much. and he basically sees that I overanalyze sometimes which is true and think everyone is out to get me which is also true.

So I found this website on google, and wondered if I can get some moral support here as well as give some back.
Sorry my post is really long.

<3 Wisp
Posted 8/18/2009 10:34 AM (GMT 0)

Dear Wisp,

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.

I am so sorry to hear of your abuse at your Mother's hands.  You are a wonderful person and I hope you have been to therapy for yourself to help you understand what a good person you are.

Many of our core values are set when we are young and we carry this values with us through much of our lives.  My stepmother was verbally abusive as well as she drank heavily.  I believed the things she said to me so I grew up with low self esteem and to this day I have to remember I am not the person she told me I was.  So please do know you are simply quite wonderful. 

Decades after child abuse is over, people still suffer from depression, migraines, addictions and more use of health care services.

Please remember to take care of yourself first. I wish you joy and happiness.

Kitt


Posted 8/20/2009 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everybody.

I am new here . So, I just want to say hi to all my friends here. I want to stay here with al of u . Thanks Admin to gives us such a nice and informative forum. Keep it up.
Posted 8/20/2009 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HealingWell  DTrotter9

I have found the support, validation and encouragement that I receive here, to be so helpful and healing. I hope and trust that will be your experience as a member of the HW family.

This is a great site and the A & P Forum has awesome members that will try to help you so know you are part of the HW Family now.

Again a warm welcome.

Kitt



Posted 8/25/2009 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! I'm 36 years old, male, married with an 8 year old daughter. I have been having panic attacks for about 9 years. My father suffered from nerve problems starting around 36 years of age . He was a lng time user of Nerve pills. Just recently I've been feeling like I'm loosing it. Constant worrying, thinking of issues that I have no control of and non stop thinking. I have faught these obsticles without meds. until now. My DR. just gave me a 2week sample of Lexapro to try. I have always been ''The Funny Guy'' who makes everyone laugh. I've also never used medications for anything. I'm now freeking out over weither or not to start taking this Lexapro. If you guys are like me you way every decision a hundred times until ''It'' becomes another issue. A glass of wine sometimes helps me, or maybe I just think it does. I guess I'm just looking for some advice on taking this med. After I take it am I going to start worrying about side effects or if it's even working. I just wish I could be the old me. I can barely remember him.            THANKS!
Posted 8/26/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thinker!

Welcome to HealingWell.  Many members are not excited about taking medication and choose an alternative treatment for their anxiety.
 

It's normal to feel anxious or worried at times. Everyone does. In fact, a moderate amount of anxiety can be good. Anxiety helps you respond appropriately to real danger, and it can help motivate you to excel at work and at home.

But if you often feel very anxious without reason and your worries disrupt your daily life, you may have generalized anxiety disorder.

The two main treatments for generalized anxiety disorder are medications and psychotherapy, either alone or in combination. It may take some trial and error to discover which treatment works best for you and which you are most comfortable with.

Also known as talk therapy or counseling, psychotherapy involves receiving help from a mental health provider through a combination of talking and listening.


Some ways to cope with generalized anxiety disorder include:

Joining an anxiety support group. Here, you can find compassion, understanding and shared experiences. Coming here and talking with us was very brave and trusting of you.

Taking action. Work with your mental health provider to figure out what's making you anxious and address it.

Letting it go. Don't dwell on past concerns. Change what you can and let the rest take its course. Repeat as needed.

Breaking the cycle. When you feel anxious, take a brisk walk or delve into a hobby to refocus your mind away from your worries.

Taking care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat a balanced diet, exercise and take time to relax. Avoid caffeine and nicotine, which can worsen anxiety. Don't turn to alcohol or unprescribed drugs for relief.

Sticking to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed. Keep therapy appointments. Consistency can help keep your treatment plan on track.

Socializing. Don't let worries make you isolated from loved ones or enjoyable activities. Touching base with others offers a healthy diversion. (Reference: Mayo Staff)

So you have more then one choice.  Revisit with your Doctor if you are uncomfortable taking medication.  It has to be your own decision.

Again a warm welcome to you and I hope yu stick with us.

Kitt

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