Today was really hard.

Today was really tough. I woke up with anxiety and spent the rest of the day with it.

I broke down and finally took some medication, after almost passing out while driving (forgetting how to breath). I think I need to take it until I get over whatever I'm under. Obviously me trying to get through this alone is not good.

Perhaps I've been embarrassed, I wanted to believe I'm stronger then this. Like maybe I'm crazy for having to take this medication.

Life was so normal 2 weeks ago and now it's completely upside down. As a mother and wife I am ashamed that I can't be the one everyone comes to. I feel like a failure to my family.

Does anybody have experience of taking Xanax for 2 weeks and Zoloft for 6 months?

first of all, please don't fee ashamed. it happens. to a lot more people than you'd probably think. gettng better is what you can and need to do to help your family. i have not taken zoloft, other meds in that category, but i've been on xanax as needed for 5 years. i've gone through periods where i took it every day,and i go through periods where i stretch one bottle (30 1mg pills) for 3 months. i suffer from addiction but my addiction psychiatrist is the one who continues to give me the rx for xanax as he knows i need it and don't abuse it. it's the one thing that's gotten me through when other methods failed.

listen, you're going to hurt your family by NOT taking your medication. you've got to accept that.

Thank you for the kind encouraging words. I had a tough nights sleep. That Xanax only lasted two hrs and as soon as it was done my heart started racing again. Although my breathing was ok because I've been forgetting to breath lately.

Any calming techniques?

Hi SuperTrophyWife,

I met you when you responded to my post this morning- I hadn't seen yours, just seeing it now.
I know exactly how you feel, I feel the same way :(

And I've had scarey episodes while driving, that is the worst.

While it's frustrating and disappointing and I get sick of it - I try to remind myself that it takes a lot of "invisible" courage to do the things we do, the daily tasks - while this is happening.

Don't feel bad about the medication if it's helping. You can always re-evaluate or change when you feel ready/stronger.

I have taken both of those years ago - I probably need it now!(lol) I took zoloft for about one year and found it helped, then tapered off and didn't feel I needed it anymore, and had xanax a few times for a plane ride and insomnia. This was for depression after a traumatic event, though, not for panic attacks. I am thinking of trying it again myself, for panic.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

SuperTrophyWife Probably one of the greatest usernames ever!

Breathing exercises really do help a lot. Also, when driving and I know I may be anxious I tend to have a play list or CD on deck that I can either sing along to or know will soothe me or hype me up to get courage.

STW, I tried to send you a message and it dissapeared?
Don't put yourself down over the meds, just be thankful that there is something that will shut down the panic/anxity. I honestly don't think I would still be alive except for the xanax, I started with the strong ones and over several years I changed to the lower strength, now I carry a prescription to shut down a really bad one or I may just not feel like fighting that day. "from reading your posts if I was your Dr. I would trust you to carry anything". Don't let your self be filled with self doubt about how your family feels about you, your family wants you well but they are smart enough to know that you have to have a little time to get your feet back under yourself. I probably shouldnt tell this but when my wife was at her lowest she somehow got pregnate twice and we had two beautiful girls, think she tricked me? lol
sending you a small prayer, accept it and get well.
Larry

Thanks Larry!! Just wanted to tell you that your last line really helped me, accept and get well. It was very powerful at the moment. Thank you for the prayers, god bless you.

Thanks to everybody else too. Xoxo

STW, My Wife and I got married 47 years ago Jan 29th 1966, 6weeks later her Daddy died he was only 53 I Loved Him like my own Daddy. As a result Carol started a very long journey with panic/anxity/depession. There were no good meds back then, the Psy's wanted to toast her brain with shock treatments I wouldnt allow it, a person needs to be able to remember their life even if it sux.
I Loved Her then and now, back then I didnt understand why my Love would not cure he. (some ego)
I am telling you this little story because I feel you need reasurance. The number one shrink in Fort Worth called me in a closed door meeting and told me that Carol would never be well and if I wanted to start my life over he would see to it that she was put into a state hospital where she would have no real rights under the law, I could get a divorce, custody of my Daughters, and be free from all the worry.
I looked at him and asked a question, Dr. if Carol had teminal cancer would you make the same recommendation, he wouldnt look me in the eye, I told him he was fired.
When she first started her problems she asked me Larry please dont give up on me, I didnt because I didnt know how to desert someone for the imperficket situations of life, it could have been anything cancer, a bad car wreck, etc., I was not a good man, just a man in Love and I still am, and your Husband is also, He will always stand by you, you are both one half of a whole being, he will not always know just what to say or do, (but He will always be there) "Stop feeling guilty, you have a little tune up to do inside your head bone". No matter what, or when, you are on this trip holding each others hand and heart, dont turn loose because you feel bad for him, (you know if it was him that was down you would fight the devil hemself for your man) "Let him be strong and there for you". Drop all negative thoughts, they are excessive baggage you dont need, Everyone on this forum has their arms around each other, we really care, we hurt with you, we laugh with you, this is just another kind of family, were here because we need each other! *** Larry

Larry: that was a beautiful post. I hope some day to find someone who loves me as fully and completely. Someone to turn to during these times would be a comfort. God bless you.