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Posted 7/20/2008 3:31 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Everyone! I am new to this site and so glad I found you all!

A little about myself...I've been suffering with anxiety problems for a couple years now. I'm not on anti-anxiety meds....tried a couple and broke out from both. I am on Atenolol for BP and anxiety though. The Atenolol has worked very well for my Tachycardia and PVC's as well. Some days go by and I don't feel the anxiety too bad and other days it flairs up. Usually with chest tightness and sometimes muscle spasms or anxiety surges in my chest that feel like quick electric surges almost. I get hot and shakey and well...panicky. I am also going through the fun time of peri-menopause and have been told anxiety increases significantly during this time. I believe my anxiety started when I was laid off my job of nearly 26 years. I now work for a major insurance company in customer service and let me tell you...doesn't help the anxiety at all. But I'm darn grateful for my job and hang on to it tight especially in todays job market.

As I sit and type this my anxiety is up a little. I ate some very sugary cookies earlier which got my Tachycardia up and that brought my anxiety up. As I said the Atenolol does a pretty good job on my Tachycardia but sometimes it does break through.

I guess I was looking for supportive company this evening and I stumbled onto this site and as I said I'm so glad I did. I look forward to talking with all of you!

Hugs to you all! :-)

Posted 7/20/2008 3:45 AM (GMT 0)

upsndowns welcome to HW! It's lovely to have you join us.

Peri-menopause does no-one any favours! I'm glad the atenolol is helping with your symptoms, it's nice to find a med that suits you and works. I know how stressful it is to lose a job, and then the bun fight to get a new one. Sounds like a scary place to be with anxiety in tow.

Obviously you have a good doctor who is helping you out with these symptoms but it might be a good idea to have a chat about these anxiety symptoms (tight chest etc)..it may be that you need a stronger med to help you through this stage of life (no I don't work for a pharm company!!!)

How long has this anxiety been going on? Is it getting worse? Have you considered trying out CBT or any other coping strategies?

Sorry for all the Q's! I just want to know if we can provide some resources. Hang in there, we get it here at A/P, and again, it is lovely to have you join us. Stay well and let us know how you are going. If you want support, you landed in the right place.

Meg

Posted 7/20/2008 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Meg! Thank you so much for your warm welcome!

I've been experiencing anxiety for a little over 2 years now. No, it's not getting worse but not getting much better either. I've just compromised and adjusted my life to deal with it. I agree that a stronger medication would probably benefit me but I have to admit (shame on me) I fight it. After breaking out from head to toe from two of them I really hesitate to try another. And I've told my doctor it scares me to be on them because of the things I've heard about side effects and then trying to get off of them sounds like a real nightmare. I think she feels if it gets bad enough or I get so tired of dealing with it all I'll come crawling to her asking for the medication. She keeps working on me. She also wants me to seek therapy and I would LOVE to try it but honestly don't know how. I'll be honest...I have a hard time driving too far from my home (just me driving. I don't have any problem being a passenger...knock on wood) and find public transportation almost impossible. Nothing like an anxiety attack on a bus full of people. I am so fortunate that I am in a carpool to get me to and from work. Also my job is from 8:00 to 5:30 M-F so I'd have to find a therapist with evening hours who's very close to home or get someone to take me to and from. I appear to be full of excuses don't I? Maybe I am a little but there's a lot of truth here and I'm a very independent person and to find myself so dependent on others is hard for me. "sigh"

Please ask me any questions you feel you'd like to ask. I am grateful for any help, support or understand empathy you can throw my way!
Posted 7/20/2008 7:39 AM (GMT 0)

upsndowns,

I know what you mean about travel..as for public transport..forget it!!! I couldn't do that. I'm a student and I work 10 hour shifts to support it so I know what you mean about being too busy to see a therapist. A lot of people on this site have found a lot of help through the "moodgym" website. It's online CBT therapy and is perfect for people who don't have time, money or travel arrangements. I love it, and I'm pretty sure the link is in our resources at the top of the forum, if not, it's easy to find.

May I ask what meds caused such a bad reaction with you? It sounds unpleasant and I don't blame you for being a bit hestitant about trying others. I do believe, that there is no place for shame in taking meds for A/P disorders, it's an old line, but if you had diabetes, you wouldn't refuse insulin. If it works for you, then by all means try it out. Talk it through with your doc..if you so choose you can start on a low dose and work up. Coming of meds isn't hard if you do it slowly and carefully.

That said, it sounds like you are a wonderful, strong, independent soul (nothing wrong with being independent!) and I hope you will stick around with our forum. I'm sure some of our other lovely members will be on soon to impart their own wisdom.

Have a great day, :-) and know that we understand.

Meg

Posted 7/20/2008 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanting to add a warm welcome to HW and I do hope you will continue to post
I also hope that you see this is a family
based forum and we all look out for each other
'You are now part of the family

The members here are very helpful and so supportive

Stay with us plz

LYN
Posted 7/20/2008 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lyn! So very nice of you to welcome me to "the family" and I'm so glad to belong! I will continue to post and to learn from all of you here.

I think I'm one of those somewhat difficult patients who tries to fight everything on her own and doesn't want to take medications for various reasons and just hopes it will all go away as fast as it came on. Two years into it and so far it's refusing to leave...like a bad poltergeist!

I need to share my experiences, symptoms, feelings, and ups and downs (G!) with others who suffer from the same thing...others who understand. I'm confidant I've found it here! As I told Meg...I'd love to hear any and all suggestions you may have to offer...please! I am going to check out the moodgym website Meg suggested.

Again...thank you for the warm welcome!!

Upsn'
Posted 7/20/2008 5:00 PM (GMT 0)

Upsandowns,

Welcome! This is Kitt. so nice to meet you. :-)
You've found a safe, caring , and reliable support community for people battling Anxiety and Panic.. We have many members here who will be glad to lend an ear, offer information, and provide support for people who need it.

You have met a few of our wonderful members already and I know you will met many more.  We love new members so stick with us as we care.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 7/20/2008 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitt!

Thank you for the warm welcome and gentle hugs! So kind of you! Everyone here is so nice and I look forward to sharing with you all.

I'm having a good day. Woke with a little anxiety but it went away when I started moving around. Keeping busy seems to help me a lot. I hope you're having a good day!

I look forward to getting to know you and the others... :)

Hugs back to you!
upsndowns
Posted 7/21/2008 12:12 AM (GMT 0)

Upsn'

Hey I'm so glad you are part of our family! I'm sorry that website I mentioned wasn't in our resources (I'm not a very technical bunny!)

but can be found online. Keeping busy keeps my anxiety at bay..you sound like you are on the right track with that one. It's easy to get pushed into taking meds or making decisions about our health if we aren't independent and strong and ask many questions. I think I can learn a thing or two from you!

Hugs,

Meg

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