Hello.. Looking for a little help from some online friends :^)

Hello, my name is Mitchell and I'm 21 years of age. This is my first post on this website and i come seeking answers to some questions.


I was first diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder at the age of 14-15 at the doctor's when i was in 10th grade. Throughout grades 5-6 in elementary school i used to eat lunch with the principle and i didn't feel safe at all at school and used to fake sick all the time. In 9-10th grade this problem started again and i started missing alot of school/being sent home "sick" I went to the doctor's and was asked a series of questions that then determined me to have an anxiety disorder. Seeing as my mother and grandmonther/father on one side have panic disorder, I figured it was passed down threw genes. MY anxiety however, has gone in stages, it's constant worry for a certain period of time and then no worry at all for a few years usually (started in 5-6 grade, disappeared MOSTLY until grade 10. Not to say i didn't have small panic attacks weekly, but it wasn't the constant worry that had troubled me every waking hour. Now again, at the age of 20, i go to a college exam, and have a severe panic attack and have to write the exam in the hallway, proceed to having one on the bus ride home, and things just went progressively downhill from there. It is now a little more then a year later, and I've gone from confining myself in my room, to being exposed to a public place maybe 20-25 minutes without having a panic attack, so there is progress! about a year back, when this all started, my doctor prescribed me a weeks worth of Klonptin i think it's called in the U.S. (Clonazepam) (I'm from Canada). Anyways, that was a waste of time, it helped me get threw the first week at my job, then sent me into a huge spiral downwards afterwards.


Now, I've been given a few options from my primary care provider. Either I, self-teach some CBT (I can't afford it even in Canada, seeing as my job never provided insurance), or i go on some medications, she never told me which ones yet however. I'm really looking to opinions on ways to self-teach myself some kind of SERIOUS calming techniques that can be learnt easily/quickly. Yes, i am aware that most of the time things like this don't go away overnight, and I've been working on mien constantly for the past year of my life. It's taken away most of my social life, and is interfering with doctors appointments even though I know they're only there to help. I really don't want to go on meds, my mother was on them for a while and some of them have serious side effects, and I'm just looking for some general opinions from people who've experienced being SOMEWHAT im my shoes.

Post Edited (Anxious ardv4rk) : 1/26/2015 1:23:30 AM (GMT-7)

Hi A.A. and welcome!

I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with the challenges of returning anxiety and panic currently.

When you are struggling to do all that you need and want to do, then yes, it is wise to seek ways in which to find recovery.

I am glad that you are talking with your doctor about possible treatment options. This way you are educated and can make an informed decision about how to proceed.

For me, I started with therapy and self-help to relieve my daily panic attacks. I figured I would give that a try initially, and see if it was sufficient to treat my issues. Then, if I still needed the help of an Rx...I would have that option...

I ended up experiencing a great recovery from the tools I learned, and never did end up using the medication that was prescribed to me by my doctor.

However...it was a long hard road, I must say! I wonder now, if it would have been easier to intitally take the meds...in order to get me to a calmer place in order for the techniques to be more immediately effective ...and then weaned off at a later time?

This is just something you will have to decide for yourself. One thing you may want to ask your doctor about is the possibility of an antihistamine (Vistaril) taken as needed for panic episodes.

Unlike a benzodiazepine (Clonazepam) it is not a dependency risk. Also, it does not need to be taken as a maintenance (daily) Rx like an SSRI...and does not have adverse side effects tendencies.

As far as self-help...

Here is the link to our Resources. Inside you will find great stress relieving/panic relief exercise links. Book recommendations, coping skills, therapy worksheet down loads and more! Check it out and see what looks helpful for you.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Keep posting with us as well. We understand, care...and support if key.

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

Correct...there are negligible side effects with an antihistamine taken 'off label' for anxiety...

The downside? Efficacy. Vistaril is not going to perform to the extent of a benzo. It may be compared to 'taking the edge off'...rather than shutting an attack down...

Still...an antihistamine Rx along with strong coping skills learned through on-line therapy/self help may be a winning combo for you.:)

Keep posting!

S.C.