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Posted 8/15/2007 7:25 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all! I just want to introduce myself. I'm Jill and have been suffering from PA/anxiety/depression for about 20 years now. I had my first panic attack my freshman year in college. Since then I have been on different medications (klonopin, imiprimine and now Zoloft and Xanax). Until recently, I had been able to keep it under control. I have started having panic attacks again, mostly at work.  I am currently taking a leave of absence as I cannot cope while I am at the office. I saw my doc yesterday and she has increased my Zoloft to 200mg, added Buspar and increased my Xanax to .5 2x a day. I have never been on this much medication and I am kinda freaking out about it!  I have an appt next Friday with a psychologist to start CBT and I am soooo hoping that will help me. Anyway, I'm glad I found this forum as it helps to know that I am not alone.

Take care,

Jill

Posted 8/15/2007 10:03 PM (GMT 0)

JillyBeans

Welcome to the best place on the net. We are so happy to have you join us and I am Kitt.

I know taking a lot of med is scary, but many of us do as it is the lesser of two evils at the time.  Remember you can always wean off the meds when you are feeling better, with your physicians help.

CBT, kudos to you, that is such a huge part of getting better and learning to reset your thinking.  I am happy to hear you say your going to be in therapy. It takes hard work but you will find so many people have learned CBT and practice it that it becomes natural for them.

Again a warm welcome to the family.  We will help you through this rough time and be here for you to offer support and help in anyway we can.

Gentle Hugs

Posted 8/15/2007 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes people try to evaluate why they are having attacks and what you have to do is look what's going on around you, Is they any stress at all, even if it is the smallest little bit, it could bother you, I'm going to try from now on to isolate what is going wrong and dealing w/ it when I'm feeling bad. Hope this helps and hope you feel better, You're going in the right direction to get help,
Posted 8/16/2007 3:25 AM (GMT 0)

Jillybeans,

I'm glad that you found HW, it's an amazingly supportive place.  I understand about your fear of taking all those meds, but I agree with kitt, if you need them right now than it's better to take them and when this bad period passes you can re-evaluate your need for them.  I upped my xanax last oct when I fell into a pretty severe setback.  I used the higher amount until I felt better and could lower it.  I'm still on more now than I was before last oct, but once I'm comfortable with it, I'll lower it some more.  I think learning cbt will help you alot too.  I use it all the time and once you really get the hang of it, it does work wonders.  I hope you will start to feel better soon!

Posted 8/16/2007 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
Jillybeans
Adding my Welcome to the HW family
The support and caring is next to none

I do hope you will stay with us and get to know us and us you

Post often and KNOW you are not alone anymore you haveplpl that understand
I do CBT and for me it was /is the best thing as well as relaxation and self help techniques like deep breathing and books

be well

LYN
Posted 8/17/2007 12:00 AM (GMT 0)

Thank you for the warm welcome and support!! I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone!

Jill

Posted 8/17/2007 2:37 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Jill,

We are excited to have you with us and I love your name, clever.

This is a great site and the members are not only caring and supportive but fun too.

So make you self comfortable and consider youself family. yeah

Posted 8/17/2007 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I know medication helps some, but it never helped me. I too had my first attack in college! (sophomore year actually). Good news though, I graduated in '04, and now I'm recovered! You can do it! CBT is good, your therapist may also try acceptance and committment therapy, exposure therapy, and others. Different things work for different people. The good news is there are lots of options. I also recommend the book "The Worry Cure". It is a slightly different approach and worked well for me.

Good luck, you will get better! Give therapy a little time to work, and make sure you do the homework and do what you can on your own. That is what really will get you better.
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