My name is Samantha, I'm 16 years old and have suffered from panic attacks since I was 14 years old. Now, I know when I'm going into panic mode because I start to sweat, all of the muscles in my body get instantly weak and achy, I can't concentrate, I shake a little, and finally I get unbearable stomach pain. It's right below my belly button and I'm always on the toilet because of it. Sometimes I get diarrhea, sometimes I don't. The sweating and etc is nothing to me, the pain is the absolute one thing that I cannot handle. It feels like my intestines are being sliced in so many different directions. I was given Belladonna (Donnatal) for that. It helped me calm down, it took away the shaking, fidgiting, muscle weakness, etc. It didn't help with the pain. I could fall asleep sitting on the toilet, and if not the toilet, I'm sitting on the edge of my bed hunched over with a pillow on my stomach for at least 5 hours. Sometimes it's a short episode, other times it can go through all the night. I've learned to controle it better, but the pain is still worse than ever. I've had an upper and lower GI but it came up normal. My doctor thinks that the pain is obviously caused from anxiety. I only have the pain when I have my panic symptoms. I was just recently put on Lexapro. I've never taken an anti-anxiey medication before, the Belladonna is a seditive as I was told. I've only been taking the Lexapro for 4 days now, I believe. I'm just wondering if that medication works well. I'm also going to a pain manegment clinic for my chronic pain, if the lexapro doesn't work. I'm also wondering if I could have Agoraphobia, I believe that I might because I get panic attacks almost everytime there is people around. I've gotten panic attacks in target, walmart, the movies, and the mall. I even had 2 panic attacks on halloween, I was so nervous to even know that kids were going to come to the door. (I didnt go out for halloween, obviously.) I also get anxiety when I'm driving out of town. It happened when I went to go meet my new therapist for the first time, the place was out of town and I started to get nervous, and freaked out when I realized I didn't bring the Belladonna. I also suffer from bi-polar disorder, OCD, and depression. I believe I have both seasonal depression and depression all year round. Sometimes, alot of times, I get panic attacks out of nowhere. But my questions are, is Lexapro a good medication for anxiety disorders? And could I possibly have Agoraphobia?
I'm homeschooled because of this, and I want my life back.
I want my friends back, I want to live.
P.S- I believe I had my first panic attack on the first day of Middle School, 7th grade.
I'm currently a Sophomore. I'm always in the house, and when a friend invites me somewhere, I say no.
I feel horrible about
it. I never go outside, and even going in the living room can bring on a panic attack.
Sometimes it's too bright outside, and I get nervous. I always revert back into my bedroom, where it's dark.
OH and when I'm having my panic attacks, anything cold that touches me, such as a cold breeze, cool bed sheets, etc,
Makes the pain worse. I know it sounds ridiculous, and I don't know why the cold has that effect, but it just does.
I also get anxiety attacks when my birthday, and the holidays come around.
And I've noticed that I have a hard time remembering things, like what I did yesterday. My memory is usually sharp.
Thanks again.
Post Edited (SamanthaSURVIVE) : 11/5/2009 10:33:55 AM (GMT-7)