Since I was a kid in HS, I remember sitting in class
sweating…hoping that the teacher wouldn’t call in me – even though I knew the
answer. I coped through HS, college, and
most of my first job. In my 30’s, I had
an anxiety attach while doing a business presentation. It wasn’t pretty. Since then I have developed an aversion to
presentations and social situations. I
got help from my family doc, who tried the “usual drugs”: Paxil being one. I use Xanax and Ambien as needed, but I can’t
take Xanax every day, so the doc says. My
doc referred me to a psych doc who put me on Remeron, which didn’t work. I went back to my family doc who put me on Serzone,
which worked very well. Problem is that
Serzone was pulled from the market in early 2000. I was able to get the generic version, but
now it is completely gone. My diagnosis
is Panic/Anxiety disorder, no depression.
I simple have a ton of anticipatory anxiety which leads to the classic symptoms:
sweating, racing heart, confusion, etc. Before meds, I tried a variety of herbs,
seeing a counselor, keeping a journal, etc.
All of these techniques helped, but I could not overcome the constant
fight or flight feeling inside. The constant rush of adrenaline is a bummer. I am in shape, don’t smoke, drink very little
beer, and jog 3x/week. That’s my story,
thanks for listening.