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panic when waking up

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Posted 6/4/2007 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have been in a bad panic state for 3 weeks now and am back on zoloft for 2 weeks. lately i wake up in a panic state. has anyone had this? i also have bad headaches back of head, top of head and forehead. like a pressure feeling. my left arm is numb and tingling and i feel weak. i dont want to go to work. im so scared. can someone help me?
Posted 6/4/2007 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Keli,
If the arm involvement is a new symptom you may need to call your physician.
What you have explained here sounds like anxiety and panic but I am not a professional so I cannot diagnosis.
I used to wake up every morning for weeks and just start crying but I felt more like it was the depression as I just did not know what to do and than the anxiety piece was there too. I was anxious because I was depressed and depressed because of the anxiety which made me feel worthless.
It took many attempts to find the right drug combo and I still feel like it is not perfect. So I know the feeling of waking up in panic mode. I would not even get out of bed as the tears were instant. Just to get up felt like I was moving a mountain.
I wish you peace and hope you have a good physician and/or therapist.
Posted 6/4/2007 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
i think i just get so afraid of going to work and being around others. or what the day has in store for me. im also sick of waking up with headaches and that scares me. i just want to wake up feeling normal and happy again. im tired of feeling this way.
Posted 6/4/2007 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
I know exactly where you're at. I found that usually (not always) going to work anyway was the best option. It took my mind off it and got me somewhat physically active. That said, I had a lot of autonomy on my job and seldom did people breathe down my neck. I could just ignore those who did.

For me, anxiety seemed to thrive when I was idle.
Posted 6/4/2007 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
me too - but i am at work now and i still feel panicked. i feel nauseous and im afraid im going to throw up. i dont feel like talking to anyone. im afraid im going to pass out or die.
Posted 6/4/2007 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, it's that nausea that was the worst for me. Sometimes I'd go to the breakroom vending machine and get one of those little packages of peanut butter crackers and I'd feel a bit better.

If it doesn't pass soon, I'd say go home. Give yourself a chance to work through it, but take it easy on yourself and go home if it doesn't work out.
Posted 6/4/2007 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with D, if the nauseous feeling continues, give yourself permission to go home and work on the anxiety and rest.
I used to have severe anxiety just getting ready for work but once there I was okay until the stress of my job responsibilities overwhelmed me and I took early retirement.
So you are not alone, we are here to support you.
Take care of you.
Posted 6/4/2007 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone. the nausea is a little better. but my head hurts and i still feel like im dying. its awful. i feel like i cant see right either. i wish i knew what was side effects of my zoloft or if its anxiety or something else. im also pregnant. so my hormones are raging. i just want to feel like myself again.
Posted 6/4/2007 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
also i seem to be real sensitive to noise. anyone had that?
Posted 6/4/2007 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Keli. You poor thing with your body adjusting to Zoloft and your body adjusting to pregnancy! No wonder you feel out of sorts. When my anxiety was at its worst, I felt very sensitive to noise (having the constant headache doesn't help that either), I was also very sensitive to temperature and awoke to panicky feelings every morning. It was horrid. It is still early days with your Zoloft. Hopefully it should sort things out. Hang in there. You are not alone.
Posted 6/4/2007 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!
I'm sorry you're going thru this! But I do want you to know that it is pretty common to be more anxious on awakening. Have yu read any of Dr. Claire Weeks books? They are really helpful. The best thing an anxious person can do it to try and face the dreaded situation and wait it out or else they can reinforce the fear. It makes it more complicated though with you being pregnant. Your symptoms sound like classic anxiety but it wouldn't hurt to check with your doc about the pain in the arm.
I know it is TOO easy for me to say what should or shouldn't be done...I was 17 when I got my first job. Worked one day, woke up in the middle of the night with a PA and refused to go back. It took me a couple of years to try again...no good. I'm on disability cuz of it (I'm 42). If I had known then what I know now, my whole life's story might've been different...
Are you on mrds from a pdoc or do you have a therapist? I hope so, although I know you have to be more careful about meds at this stage.
Take care and we're here for you NO MATTER WHAT! ;)
xxoo
janet
Posted 6/4/2007 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Noise sensitivity? Definitely. Give the Zoloft another week. I've read that a lot of the SSRI drugs will increase anxiety for the first few weeks, and it's just a side effect.
Posted 6/4/2007 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
oh ok - i wasnt sure about the noise thing. i like jump at every noise and the tv being on hurts my head. or the radio. and im constantly asking people to keep their voices down. thanks everyone for the support. i think the zoloft is working in that the panic attacks have subsided somewhat. and i am not in constant fear like i was. but the weird side effects (of either the zoloft or the anxiety) are now just driving me nutty. i hope i feel better soon. when i went on zoloft in 2001 i seem to recall having tingling in arms, legs, hands. feet, but not in my head, face, etc - which is where i feel alot of it now. can symptoms change? also i dont remember headaches but i do remember feeling "not real" and just blankly staring for like weeks after starting the med. which i have all that now too. i hop ei can feel better soon. i dont want to go through my whole pregnancy feeling like this.
Posted 6/6/2007 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
yes I understand what you're going through. Mine is constant night and day. I'm on zanax. Hang in there.
Posted 6/6/2007 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
well i was feeling better sort of and then had another panic attack this morning. my head hurts again and im starting to freak out.
Posted 6/6/2007 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Has your doc prescribed Klonopin or Xanax? I think Klonopin is better cuz it's less addictive but either will help with situations like this.

My former therapist told me that anxiety usually strikes in the morning or at night when you are winding down. My anxiety is usually worst in the morning. Last Oct, I would wake in the morning feeling very scared and crying for no reason at all. Recently, I wake with a tight feeling in my chest. Try breathing in and out slowly and picture yourself on a tropical beach with a margarita...:0)
Posted 6/7/2007 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
thanks im not really sure what all i can take - im pregnant. and i feel bad just taking zoloft. i have ativan at the house but I wont take it without the drs approval and i dont even want to ask.
Posted 6/7/2007 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man, sorry didn't know you were pregnant!  Don't take anything.  Just do the breathing.  Talk to your OB, maybe he/she can recommend something.  I have 2 kids of my own.  Good luck and congrats!

Posted 6/7/2007 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
I think it may be a bit of "Anticipatory anxiety"
I have gone thru this but since doing my CBT am getting much better

Yes I get the tingling and all of the rest as well

Sad to say its all part of A/P hun

The headaches are unbearable at times something akin to migraine but not

Hope you get to feeling better and let us know

Keep fighting the fight ..
We are here for you

LYN
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