New Here...looking for support

Hi there,

I'm a 36 y/o mom of two and I've had Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder since I was in my late teens but wasn't diagnosed or treated until my mid-late twenties. (now with a lovely side dish of depression , thanks to unrelenting anxiety this year).

My panic symptoms are stomach pain, cramping, diarrhea, hot flashes and cold shivers, crying - and in really bad times I have fainted. I was on Celexa 40mg for about 7 years daily and it really helped - I was down to only 'event' triggered panic attacks and only a few times per year. I take an Aivan only during a panic episode. I also had CBT with a psychologist when I needed help in difficult times.

However, at some point in the Fall of 2010 I noticed my anxiety being higher than normal and by February this year I was having issues DAILY. I began to feel sadness - even over little things like dropping my daughter off at school (crying after watching her walk away) so I KNEW something in my body was out of kilter. In May I went to my doctor and got a referral to a Psychiatrist and he told me that my Celexa stopped working - and that it does happen to people after being on the same med for years. He diagnosed me with depression as well (although secondary to my anxiety disorder) and we tried new meds. I tried Cymbalta for 7 weeks and it helped my 'sadness' within one week - but sadly did nothing for my anxiety. Then I tried Cipralex for a few weeks - but no relief. :(

Also in Spring I began to notice that every morning I had diarrhea or loose bm's, gas, indigestion/burping and just generally feeling 'unwell' for the first few hours of the day - where I began to cry from the discomfort and difficulty in getting my daughter ready for school and driving her there - when I was in the bathroom 5 times within the hour . I thought this had to be from side effects of the new meds - but my doc took me off ALL meds for the past month and my stomach is not better at all. I'm seeing a new psychologist for CBT and he is the best in the city so I'm hoping for help.

I now just have Ativan which I am allowed to take in the morning (1mg) if my anxiety is too high for me to avoid an attack - but thats it.

I did all the blood tests my family doctor could give me to see if I had a gluten allergy or any other issue that could cause my morning issues and my results came back last week - all negative. She's telling me its IBS and I'm trying probiotics now but I'm exhausted and depressed because I can barely handle my anxiety every day - and now with months of this morning bathroom issue - I'm feeling sad and a bit hopeless.

I am here on this forum because I dont know anyone in my 'real' life who has anxiety disorder or panic attacks - my close friends know about this and I'm feeling like a burden all this year when they ask me how I am and I still don't have anything positive to say because I'm not getting better yet. :( I was a bit uplifted to even find this forum exists! I really need to not feel so alone with this....

Thank you for any replies and if you can relate or have anything like me in terms of my issues - I'd be so happy to hear about it. I'm shy and its hard for me to discuss the details...but thats how desparate I'm feeling lately - I'm reaching out in hopes that someone out there has similar issues or has had similar issues and found help.

Thank you so much,

H in Canada

If you have only been off the meds for a month, give it a couple more weeks to get them all out of your system just incase they were causing stomache issues. I really hope that you feel better soon and all this subsides.

Keep posting, you have found a good forum with wonderful members. Oh yes, and welcome!!!

Hugs, Karen

Welcome to the site VG,

I suffered for more than a dozen years with panic and anxiety. I have came a long way, if I put it on a scale of 1-10....1 being worst anxiety and panic and 10 being anxiety free, I would put me at a 7 and soon maybe an 8? A couple years ago I would have put me at a 3.

 

With all the progress I have made, I'm sorry to report that my stomach has not changed a bit. I don't get nauseated that much, but It can flip on a dime and cause me the frequents...so I have good days and bad days with my stomach.

 

I hope you find the support you need on this site and post anytime.

Best wishes......WM

Scaredy Cat said...


I did find relief though. I did a combination of CBT, and self-help books from the library. The CBT was amazing. It does take time and work however. The average time to start to see results can be 10-12 weeks, so be patient. The books from the library were awesome for extra information and reinforcing what I was learning in therapy."


I was actually going to ask about that - what books people have read? I have quite a few 'panic/anxiety self help books - but I'm now wondering if there are some other types of books - like a real person's account of their life with it and success.....maybe even a biography or something like that. I think it could help to read about others who have gone through this and have something to share... any book titles or authors you'd like to share? should I start a new thread for this topic?

I think that a new thread on the topic of recommended books is a great idea! Not only will you get the most responses that way, but others will also benefit from the posted information... go for it;)
S.C.

hi im new i just been looking for sum kind of support and answers i cant here at home. i am 30 female and i have been on cymbalta 60mg, for about 2yrs now and i love it but now due to insurance changes my doctor wnt me try effexor 75mg which i am the kind of person i dnt mind trying new foods but whn it comes to medicines i like to stick to what i kno and i am very scared to try this new medicine (well new for me) i have enough going on as it is and its the going thru the brk thru points of new meds i cant stand. as if havin headaches and tiredness and even suicidal thoughts isnt enuff my god i kno it could b worse but im jus at the point to where after im done with the rest of my cymbalta i jus wanna call it quits and take nothing......plz help has any1 switch frm cymbalta to effexor?? how was the transition and how do u change over?.....my doctor told me nothing i guess im jus suppose to take it and not wing away frm it *shrug

Post Edited (peaches205) : 9/22/2011 4:07:54 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Peaches and welcome. I am sorry that things are rough and that you have to make this change! I do not take meds, but I know that you should have been given a weaning scedule/instructions by your doctor.

I would call back and ask for a consultation on how to wean off of your current RX, and what to expect from the new one!

What other things have you tried for your recovery? We have an awesome Resource Guide (main page 3rd post) that has a lot of self-help tips. There are breathing and relaxation exercises, and even links to on-line therapy/CBT which is very effective in treating anxiety and depression.

Keep posting here with us as well...and feel free to start your own thread of introduction. This way more members can see it and welcome you:)

I am glad that you found us, it does get better, so keep posting and we will do our best to help/support!

Take care,
Scaredy Cat