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Posted 8/30/2009 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to welcome all new members to HW and our A/P Forum!
Posted 9/1/2009 8:25 AM (GMT 0)

Hello All,

I am now 20 years old and on 50 m of zoloft im in week 5 and starting to feel a little better. When i was younger i was a joy and a very happy child, then when i turned 7 it all started going downhill. became anti social and had trouble in school, very akward and miserable! Didnt understand what was wrong with me and why i feel things different from others. I live in Beirut, lebanon in the middle east. I am arab but i was born in california, lived in lebanon since i was 7. I went to austin for college last year where i was finally diagnosed with general anxiety clinical depression bulimia and social phobia. Several doctors insisted that i go on some medication however my society and my family dont beleive in taking medication for things like this. they accused me of constantly being over dramatic and taking the easy way out. In this society mental wellbeing is not an issue and should not be discussed! It got very bad when i started having panick attacks in austin and thats when my mom actually gave in and let me see someone. Now im seeing a psychiatrist here in lebanon and my dad beleives this is a waste of money, so thats why i sought out this forum, because i cant really talk to anybody here, its unheard of! All this support and open-ness is great! its amazing to be able to have this access to the experiences of so many people!

That's why I'm here, thank you to everybody and I wish you all the best,

I hope i can be as helpful to you all as you have been to me

Posted 9/1/2009 2:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Yogi,

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.  I am so glad you found us. 

Support groups are a place for people to give and receive both emotional and practical support as well as to exchange information. People with health conditions, as well as their friends and families find support groups to be a valuable resource and get confirmation that their feelings are "normal", educate others, or just let off steam. IMHO joining a support group is joining a family.

I am glad you are seeing a psychiatrist and please know this is a good thing.  You are the only one that can take care of yourself first.  Please do not let others tell you it is wrong or a waste of money to receive treatment for a mental health disorder.

Do come here and talk with us and know that I have read a post already where you provided encouragement to another member.

I believe you will like it here in HW.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

Posted 9/1/2009 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Yogi :)

Nice to meet you and welcome to HW and our A/P Forum. Kitt already gave you great advice, so I don't have anything else to add except that I'm glad you have a place you can come for some peer support. There is so many great people on here that will make you feel a little better in no time.

Take care!
Posted 9/6/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
My ordeal with panic attacks and depression started 30 years ago after the birth of my second child. This disorder was not realized at that time. So I started off with anti-depressants that did not work and anti-anxiety medication. I suffered for about 3 years without knowing what was wrong with me. I drank to try and self-medicate, but that didn't work. I finally became what I called "normal."
Approximately 10 years after that, I started having panic attacks. As a nurse, I realized that this was just fear, however, my body didn't. I had a wonderful nurse practitioner that put me on Zoloft and it worked wonders. After 5 years on Zoloft 50mg every day, I began again with panic and my Zoloft was increased. And 10 years later, my medication was increased to 150mg a day because of panic symptoms.
I am currently finishing my MSN with Educational Specialization and hold a job as a Clinical Manager. It is hard not to think of having panic attacks and if I will need to take time off.
Meri
Posted 9/6/2009 2:16 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Meri,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.  What a great intro and thank you for sharing with all of us.

I am a nurse too............and I went along well for years on one med and then wham it just stopped. 

Through therapy I have learned to stay in the moment and not get caught up in Anticipatory anxiety as that is what brings me down, the "what if thoughts"

The best advice I can offer you right off the top of my head........learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or coming month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with our problems. Focus on the present and stop trying to predict what may happen next week. Next week will take care of itself. :-)

Please feel comfortable starting a thread of you own and post your feelings, issues, vents or whatever helps you.  We are here for you.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 9/7/2009 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Kitt,
Thank you so much! It is really hard not to think about how bad the panic attacks were. The fact that I am having symptoms again is scary. I have been trying to locate any recent information on Zoloft and the length of time it will continue to work, and any addictive properties it may have.
I have recently gone through my son who has been put in jail and large bail bond I paid, my ex-husband's death, continuing school, and taking on this new position. I realize that this is enough to cause anxiety and I tell myself this. But it seems as if my body wants to betray me again. I would like to find something that is proven to help with anxiety (not meds). Any ideas?
Thanks, Meri
Posted 9/8/2009 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning Bobbysgirl,

I do see why you are worrying about your anxiety spiking as you have been through a lot lately. ((((((((Hugs))))))))))).


One of the best remedies for anxiety is to talk about it. Here's where good friends and family can come in. The old adage "A problem shared is a problem halved"

 

If you prefer not to try medications here is a link to a free online help site for CBT therapy.  You can work the program from you own home on your own time.


Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to  feel / act better even if the situation does not change.

Here is the link to the MoodGYM online program:

http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

Many members have used this online help program and I hope you find it is a tool that will help you.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Posted 9/10/2009 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
Kitt,
Do you still work as a nurse? If so, how do you manage at work?
Meri
Posted 9/10/2009 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi.

I am here to help others with what ever I can and look for certain answers that I need to cope up with certain things in my own life as well.
I came here after searching on internet for some anxiety related posts and I think this is very much what I wanted.
Posted 9/10/2009 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi people.

This is great.
Over the past few days I have read a lot about things that were actually there in my life and I was not realizing what it exactly was. I am here to help others and find help for myself in any possible way.
Cheers.
Posted 9/10/2009 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
snakeeyes148

A warm welcome to HealingWell.  We are so glad you found us and we love our new members so thank you for posting here in this forum.

You will find the members are wise and wonderful.  Stick with us and know you have found a special forum.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

Posted 9/11/2009 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to welcome all new members to HW and our Anxiety - Panic Forum. Hope to hear more from each of you.
Posted 9/11/2009 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
bobbysgirl

Hey sorry I am just getting here to this question.

I have always been on a antidepressant and a low dose of Valium for years.  Sometimes the meds had to be fine tuned.

I love nursing and I just learned to live with the anxiety and prepare well before leaving for work.

I still work as a school nurse substitute now.

You can do what you really want to even with anxiety.

Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 9/11/2009 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Barcadia101

A warm welcome to you and I am so glad you found us.  I hope that we meet your expectations.

I am sure you will make new friends here and find the support and caring welcoming.

Kitt

Posted 9/12/2009 9:57 AM (GMT 0)
I joined recently in order to find online support, information, and encouragement. I cope with generalized anxiety and mild depression. I see this forum as a great way to end isolation.
Posted 9/12/2009 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Nova Scotia Lass

Hello and a warm welcome to you.  I am so glad you found us and I hope that we will be able to meet your expectations.

You will find the members here warm and caring.  We know where you are coming from and what you are going through.

Thank you for the introduction.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

Posted 9/12/2009 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to welcome all our new members. Only its sad to me that so many more are developing anxiety. But this is a wonderful and supportive forum, and we can all relate to how you are feeling. Again welcome everyone!

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 9/19/2009 1:33 PM (GMT 0)

New members, please introduce yourself here in this thread.  :-)

Posted 9/21/2009 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
bump

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