Blood pressure and pulse OCD....plus panic attacks

I have a weird OCD and people think I'm so strange. I check my BP at least 30 times a day and my pulse upwards of 100 times a day. How can I stop? I'm on no meds. I do have a panic disorder. I have about 5-10 attacks per week.

I was seeing a psychiatrist and psychotherapist for six months. He only wanted me to take an antidepressant. We tried a bunch ... Paxil, zoloft, cymbalta, lexapro, Prozac...... And I told him about my Attacks...we tried buspar and atarax. Neither worked for me.

Does anyone have ANY suggestions?? This is so so hard
:(

Veestarlet

I would like to suggest that you find a new therapist that knows CBT.

Cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT) also have proven highly effective in treating symptoms of OCD, as well as preventing relapse. CBT aims to fix the harmful patterns of thinking and behavior that often accompany OCD. CBT requires commitment and hard work. The structure can vary, but CBT may involve weekly sessions over a period of a few months with a therapist, and often involves homework.

CBT works as well as medication and the effects may be longer-lasting, although a combination of CBT and medication may be the best treatment choice for some people. The decision to take a drug or to begin psychotherapy (or a combination of both) is a decision that can only be made by you, with the guidance of health professionals.

IMHO it  will be  worth the hard work as I am sure you are very uncomfortable with your OCD behavior.

Keep on talking with us and know we care.

Kindly,

Kitt

I really feel like I need a benzo of some sort for these panic attacks. But he refuses to give me any saying they are addictive and I will only build a tolerance. And that an SSRI is the thing I "really" need.
I HAVE been on Xanax before... At one point for two years straight. I've also been on Valium and klonopin. I was actually prescribed the klonopin by my Regular doc .5mg twice a day. The psychiatrist stopped that on my very first visit. I had only two pills left and he said take the two and be done. He wasn't going to write me for more. My regular doc won't write me anything saying that I should speak to the psychiatrist. So basically I can't walk in there and say... Gimme some Benzos to calm me. The answer is no. The therapist I was seeing knows about my OCD and was doing her best to help me but after six months of talking an homework assignments I was no better. I don't know what to do. Unfortunately I suffer PVCs. And because I ALREADY have this OCD where I constantly check my pulse, it's made worse. That leads to checking pressure. That all leads to panic attacks. It doesn't end.

Thanks for the responses. At least I'm not totally alone. Thank u very much.

This all sounds very familiar to me. I wanted to try to help you out. I was diagnosed with panic and anxiety in 1996. I also have severe health anxiety and dread every trip to the doctor and every test where results must be given.
I also have a psych degree and evaluate probation/parole clients re: drug abuse and mental health. I have been on benzodiazepines before and I also write up lots of reports for probation and parole on people who abuse them.
My personal opinion on benzos is this - they should be used to bring someone as close to base-level as possible to allow him/her to begin other types of treatments for anxiety. In other words, there is little chance of being able to focus on meditation, yoga, hypnosis, prayer, or even a counseling session when you are in full-blown panic. If taking a benzo can pull you down long enough for you to be able to get out of bed, get dressed and walk into a counseling session, then taking that pill is instrumental in your treatment.
However, long-term use may work against you. Your doctor is being cautious for good reason. Your body WILL become dependent on the medication even if you take it as prescribed. This is something you won't know has happened until you try to stop taking it. You may also experience 'rebound anxiety' while taking it.
The most important thing to do WHILE ON A BENZO is to begin learning about and using alternative coping strategies. It will take time and dedication - a lot more time than swallowing a pill ...but there is no rebound anxiety and the healing that you feel lasts so much longer. Even if you think something is useless and hokey, try it. Go through the motions. Learn yoga and take the time to do it. Start exercising. Volunteer in your community- sometimes the best way to stop worrying is to get 'out of self.' Make weekly counseling sessions. Begin to surround yourself with ONLY positive and uplifting things.
I do take an anti-depressant for OCD called Luvox. It is marketed as an anti-depressant but works best for OCD. This drug, and other anti-depressants, are not going to help with panic attacks. Panic is an acute symptom that must be dealt with on the spot. The only medication used for acute panic are benzos. However, there are lots of coping strategies that can be used to prevent further attacks or that can lessen their impact on your life.
Good luck to you. Hope this helped.