Anxiety and breathing

Hi. I am new here. A not so brief history. I have pd and gad for about 12 years. Dx at 27. For 10 years I was on paxil 12.5 mg every other day. It worked well only had one panic attack a year( probably because I forgot to take my pill!). Anyway. A year ago we moved to the northeast from out west. At this time, I decided to stop medication. No problem, right? Wrong. I did not have any withdrawal. However, seven months later anxiety/panic reared it's ugly head. Tried to deal with it on my own, that's when a new friend named depression came to visit. Mind you, I have a six year old and 4 year old twins. My husband works from 6 to 6-7 everyday. I know nobody in this area. Finally at the beginning of the year I went to a psychiatrist. We tried paxil again. After 10 faithful years, my dear friend turned on me. Then lexapro. Also not a friend. Then 5htp. Nothing. Neurofeedback. Nothing. Psychotherapy. Finally found a keeper, I hope. Anyway. 4 weeks ago we started Prozac. 10 mg. Very rough three weeks. Now I'm into 4 th week, side effects are gone. Spirit is better. Anxiety still a major force. Psych said to take Ativan. Ok. Still anxious. Started paying attention to my breathing. Wow. Shallow. My stomach hurts, my chest wall hurts, I feel dizzy. The problem is, I wake up like this throughout the night. I try my deep breathing exercises. Boy it's hard. I cannot seem to relax. At all. Things are good, but I can't relax. I am so tense that even a basic thing like breathing is messed up. I know this was super long. I'm sorry. I'm alone and scared. I just need to know that it can and does get better. I'm willing to do whatever it takes. My biggest fear is teaching poor coping skills to my children. Thank you for listening.

Kit,
Thank you so much. I have tears just reading your post. It is so nice to know I am not alone. I couldn't agree more. I totally have the what ifs. It's weird. Logically, I know my fears are unfounded. For some reason I have a hard time relaying that message to my nervous system! I am hoping doing cbt will help. I never did therapy the first time around. Just paxil. This time, I want to do it right. I'm just so scared I won't get me back. Anyway. I appreciate your reply. I am in desperate need of friends right now. So, thank you.

Kitt,
Thank you for very wise words. I can definitely say that I have become obsessed with this illness and finding the "cure". Too many books. All the natural supplements. It definitely has taken away from my family. Which in the end stresses me out more. Odd how it works. I will look into a bigger group. This was my first attempt at reaching out. I'm glad I did. Thank you again.
Ribs

Hi Ribs and welcome! I am sorry that you are suffering anxiety and it's symptoms right now. It doesn't seem fair, when we have little ones to take care of, and so much depends on us...anxiety keeps us from being the person we want and need to be!

You are not alone. A lot of us here are, or have been in similar circumstances. All of the advice you have received so far is excellent! I just wanted to add one exercise that helped me, when nothing else was working. When my anxiety was new and at its highest level, breathing was a challenge...and breathing exericses? Forget it! It was all I could do to gasp like a fish out of water;p

Then I was taught this exercise. At first it was challenging, but was the only one that made me feel in control, and confident to keep on trying! It's called the divided breath, and though not easy, it does give the sense of being in charge of your body/breathing, not the other way around!

The Divided Breath:

Think of your lungs as having 3 equal parts: the top third, middle third, and bottom third. In one continuous breath, but divided into 3 parts, fill first the bottom and pause, then fill the middl/pause, and finally the fill the top third and hold if possible for a second or two. Exhale in the same manner, but reverse. Let out the top, then the middle, then the bottom third of lungs-remember to pause slightly after each part-finally pushing all the air out of the bottom third of your lungs to complete the cycle. Don't worry if you can't manage the whole cycle at first, it will get easier. The pauses will get more controlled, and you may be able to hold the breath for 3-5 seconds before the exhale, eventually.

This will prevent rapid/shallow breathing (hyperventilation) and put you in control of your breathing again, until your anxiety levels drop, and it becomes normal/automatic again:)

Give it a try, but remember to practice and be patient. I hope that you will continue to post with us. This is a great place for information and support. We are glad you found us:)

Take care,
Scaredy Cat

Was it something I said? Haa, haa just kidding...it's easy to accidentally do. If you go into the 'My Profile' option at the top of the page, left side, you will see the 'Edit Ingnored Members' option on the right side. Click on it and just undo whatever needs to be done:)
S.C.

Yes! CBT is highly effective and I am p/a free as a result. I am glad that you are working through it. It does take patience and work, but it is worth it!

I am sure that with the therapy and reaching out in places such as this, you will have a successful recovery:)

Keep posting!
S.C.

RIBS,I know what you are going through I have the same symptoms ...FM

I to have really bad what ifs. I am 43yrs old married not happily btw for 24yrs. I have 2 children my daughter is 20yrs old and my son is 19yrs old. I am at a complete loss. I thought allthis time I was doing my children good by keep our family together, when honestly if not for the money I would so leave my husband. He is the most hateful person mostly about the kids. He's really never been there for them except finanically. He acts as tho he hates everything about them. This past april while my son was in college he. Took 12 klonopin and drunk on top of that so, he ended up in ICU on a ventiltor with me 5 hrs away. He's ok now I guess hell all I know is what I'm told and I've been lied to so much that its anyones guess. No one here talks home is the most lonely place in this world. All my husband says is he don't care, I'm so sick of hearing that. How does a parent just turn off their feelings. I want to leave but he has the money and I would have nothing. This causes so much aniexty and stress. Please help