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Panic Attacks At Work + Starting Lexapro, please help!

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Posted 12/12/2015 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum. A little backstory I've been suffering with anxiety and mild depression for a few years, always the shy type and anxiety attacks during school presentations. I'm now 27 and things have been getting worse and rapidly. The panic attacks started in movie theaters, which I just avoided. But now the panic attacks have been happening in other areas of my life that I cannot avoid (like work). I now get anxiety it seems all the time: in line at the grocery store, sitting at my desk at work, in meetings. I can't avoid work like I can a movie theater, and it's starting to seriously affect my life :( My main fear is a fear of having an anxiety/panic attack in a place that I cannot escape or leave. I have client meetings at work and I fear that I will have a panic attack during that meeting, and I cannot just get up and leave during that meeting. The fear and anxiety is taking over my life. It's a vicious cycle and it's getting worse and worse!!!! I feel like the old me is slipping away so fast. I can't believe I can't even meet with clients at work without panicking, and I see my coworkers who are just fine and I'm sitting at my desk trying to hide the fact that my throat feels like it's closing up. Anyway, my GP just prescribed Lexapro, 5mg. I'm SO SCARED to start taking it. I'm mainly scared that I will have that surge in anxiety and weird health side effects when I start it, and that those side effects will happen while I'm at work or in a meeting. I can't just leave work if I start feeling those side effects :( I've already missed so much work due to these symptoms (I also suffer from migraines). So I'm now fearful of "feeling strange" while on the Lexapro, and not being able to do anything about it while at work (that feeling of being trapped). Gosh I'm such a wreck. If anyone is still reading, I would be grateful for some advice or your experience on Lexapro and its success in helping with anxiety and agoraphobia. Thank you....
Posted 12/12/2015 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SFP and welcome!
I am so sorry you are having these issues with anxiety and difficulty dealing with the fear of starting your medication for fear of feeling the possible start up effects.sad It is ironic that we are often afraid to take that which can help us.
While true, that the initial start up of a med can be a challenge (anxiety can increase at first, but then lessen with continued use) it is worth trying in terms of the big picture and long term.
One way to help offset the start up effects is to practice coping skills.
Everyone, in my opinion, should learn and practice these coping skills as part of their anxiety management plan...
...and these tools can really be invaluable in getting through your start up...and beyond!
Here is the link to our Resources where you will find the links with instructions for all kinds of techniques. If after taking a look, you would like specific recommendations...let me know, and I will be happy to pull and post some for you!

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

Keep posting with us for understanding and care. Support if key, so well done on reaching out!
Talk soon,
Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/12/2015 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your quick reply, means a lot! Are there any helpful ones you think can help with getting through those client meetings? I have a couple tomorrow and I just know I'll be sitting at my desk fearing those meetings all day, which usually turns into an attack once I start the meeting and the door closes. I've tried deep breathing and still can't seem to shake the anxiety!
Posted 12/12/2015 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Here are the links with good anti anxiety/attack coping skills. They do take practice...and the best time to practice is actually when you are not under pressure or feeling anxious...

...in this way you can focus better...and have the techniques down for when they are needed most.

However, you can have a look and get started tonight and tomorrow before your meetings...and it should help.

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions
Panic attack relief exercises:

http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/panic.asp

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_i

Positive mantras are HUGE for me as well...so I would suggest repeating something to this effect if you start to feel shaky:

"I am okay, this is only anxiety making me feel this way."

"I have made it through a situation like this before and been fine, and I can do so again now."

Best wishes on your day tomorrow...continue to practice the self help...and keep posting.smile

S.C.
Posted 12/12/2015 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
Welcome to the forum you will find good support here from others who can relate to what you are going through.
Lexapro is a good medication so I hope it works well for you.
Check the links SC has posted as they are good ones.
Hibee
Posted 12/12/2015 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Searching,

You have come to the right place! Most of us have went through what you are describing:) And most anxious people are experts at hiding their anxiety for fear of freaking out and looking stupid.

The med your doctor chose for you is really good. There are a ton of people on Lexapro. It seems to work really well with most people's chemistry and tends to have few side effects. Starting off at 5 mgs is what most anxiety patients do, to minimize the side effects (if you have any at all).

If you are super nervous about the start up, you can ask your doctor for a script for Xanax, or another benzo. Good luck!!
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