Stopping medication

       Anyhow, I recently stopped taking Paxil which I've been on for about 12 years. Its' been very helpful in taking the edge off of anxiety and letting me enjoy myself more.  I've tried stopping taking it several times,  but after a few months  restart it again because I get more anxious and that makes me depressed and insecure.  I stopped taking it again several months ago and feel anxiety building again.  I recently heard about cbt and ordered a book by David Burns.  Also want to try nutritional therapy, like b vitamins and am going to see a Naturopath.

      I had an experience several days ago that upset me alot.  I was in yoga class   and everybody was chatting comfortably with each other before class=I was new. - someone asked a question and I thought I'd risk responding out across the room.  Everybody listened, I didn't feel anxious when I spoke, but afterwards everybody stopped talking and just sat there. I felt all these horrible things, that it must have sounded strange, I looked strange etc etc etc, the usual negative self-talk... I lay down on my matt, and started to feel "buzzy" in my body and head and my stomach lurching. Even the instructor remarked how unusual it was for that particular class to be quiet.I fought the impulse to get up and run out in tears and made myself stay.  I stayed on through the next 1 1/2 hr and did the yoga, it felt very painful. Everything the instructor said sounded like she was saying I'm a baby.  She was talking about facing ones' fears, and I felt she was talking about how I dont' face my fears, I need to push through, everybody else does.  I felt so weak. I must have manufactured these thoughts myself, but they feel so real. 

      Does anybody have any comments or similar experiences?

I dont think im best qualified to comment on yoga classes since I am acutely allergic to exercise . However, I can relate to the feeling of anxiety you get in a class-room. When I was at school, I used to answer across the classroom occasionally and I got exactly the same things that you are describing. Stomach churning & Self doubting as well as feeling my heart was going to burst out of my chest. The good news is that you are not alone. You are a member of an exclusive club of which there are many members. There are many different forms of therapy out there which dont involve meds directly. Cognitive Behavoural Therapy (CBT) is just one of them. There is also Systematic Desensitisation (SD), flooding and relaxation training to name a few off the top of my head. A psychologist is probably best placed to tell you which is best suited to you although a normal doctor should also be able to tell you. Each have pro's and con's like everything in life. They are easily found on the internet.

I hope this is a help to you.

Darren

With much appreciation-