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new* severe panic/anxiety going to a new doctor today

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Posted 2/23/2012 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
okay so im new to this but ive been reading everyone else's posts and its an awesome way to get advice and just to talk. im 20 and ive been dealing with panic and anxiety attacks since i was 17. i had to stop going to school bc of it at one point, but somehow i got over it and ive had only a few since then. in october, they started coming back and i had to quit my job because of it. since then theyve gotten so bad that now i cant do anything for fear of having one while im out or things like that. i literally dont leave the house its so embarassing but this is what its come to. i need to get over this. also im dizzy/lightheaded 95% of the day. its so bad i feel like im rocking on a boat or the rooms spinning, and it really never goes away. my doctor tried me on effexor and that made me feel ten times worse so i stopped that, then he had me go on zoloft, and i was fine for a few days then the 4th night i thought i was dying it made me so dizzy that i almost passed out walking to the bathroom, i couldnt feel my legs it was horrible so ive stopped that. my doctor was not taking me seriously and was kind of rude when i told him everything i was going through almost like he was making fun of it so ive switched doctors and im seeing my new one today. im nervous about it, and scared to take any different medicines for fear that theyll make me worse. any medicines that wont make me more dizzy?!
Posted 2/23/2012 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
beachie445

Welcome to HealingWell. 

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.

Good for you in choosing to see a new physician and I hope this one looks at other possible medical reasons for your dizziness and lightheaded feeling 95 % of the time.  This does sound dreadful and I hope your new physician takes the time to listen to you.  If your issue is anxiety then please know there are many ways to deal with anxiety.  Therapy, life style changes, medications all have their own place in treatment of anxiety.

For many people anxiety occurs when they feel worried and stressed about many everyday events and activities. Some things you may want to try to decrease your anxiety include daily exercise, eating healthy, and relaxation techniques - meditation and yoga are a couple of good choices.

I hope you keep on talking with us here in the forum as sharing your feelings with us is a good way to let out your fears and concerns as well as to find others who understand what your going through.

Kindly,

Kitt


 

Posted 2/23/2012 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Beachie and welcome!

I am so impressed that you have found another doctor and are pusuing getting help for yourself in this way! Great job.:)

I am sure that you will find the answers that you are looking for soon. You are doing all of the right things...including coming here.:)

We have a Resource Guide that includes all kinds of great self-help ideas. There are links to videos that teach breathing and relaxation exercises. These really can help to reduce A/P symptoms including dizziness!

I also have a favorite breathing exercises that I will post for you if you are interested. It really helps me when I am experiencing dizzy spells.

Post with us anytime! We are here to listen and support. Let us know how it goes with the appointment!

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 2/23/2012 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Kudos to you for finding another doc! You are on the right path with finding a new doc to help you deal with your anxiety and panic attacks without being "blown off", and not taken seriously, about your concerns.

I must say that your old doc doesn't seem to have too much knowledge of ssri meds, from what you are saying. If he did, he would have told you that the first few weeks of taking ANY ssri will increase anxiety and panic attacks in the majority of people starting out on them, AND he would have given you something to counter the side effects until the med kicked in.

Shame on him for not being a professional, understanding, and caring doctor! It's sad to say that a lot of doctors nowadays don't take the time to get to know their patients on a more personal level, and that they treat people like they're just a number. They want to get you in and out as fast as they can in order to get to the next patient.

I hope you have better luck with your new doc. If not, keep searching until you find one that you are comfortable with, as it does make all the difference in the world to have a good relationship with your doctor.

Best of luck to you....Fox
Posted 2/23/2012 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone for the support, but i went to this doctor and she basically said she didnt know much about anxiety/panic problems it wasnt her "specialty" and to deal with it until i found a psychiatrist who would talk to me about my "problems" -_- completely rude and told me it wasnt like i had a mental disability that downs would be something serious. um if youve experienced anything like i have the past few months, you wouldnt be saying that lady. so now im trying to look around my area for counseling or something to take my insurance. its so easy for people who have never experienced anxiety to say things like this. what a doctor...
Posted 2/24/2012 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to here you lucked out with the doctor. I guess I've been lucky. the drs I've seen have all listened to me and have helped. My first dr said if your anxiety is stopping you from doing the things you want then it's a real issue. I was 20 when I was diagnosed with PD/agoraphobia. I couldn't work, I had to give up my studies and I could barely leave the house. It was hard. I'd see all my friends going out, starting relationships, families and careers while I'd be at home. It was soooo frustrating.

It got It took me a long time to get my life back on track. Apart from taking zoloft I started taking afternoon walks. at first all I could manage was around the block every other day then I could go 2 blocks and so on. I think both the exercise and the fact I beat my fear even for a short amount of time helped me. i started doing some relaxation techniques which helped too.

Keep up the search for the right doc. Things can get better :) I hope you can find the right treatment and doctor soon so you can start your recovery.
Take care :)
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