HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Panicking and could use help ASAP

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/19/2012 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have GAD, depression and have severe panic attacks occasionally. I missed 8 days of work last month because of my anxiety. I feel an attack coming on now and I'm so afraid I'll miss work tomorrow. I really don't know what to do. This anxiety is like a personal hell and I feel like nobody understands it.
Posted 9/19/2012 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jk and welcome!

We understand how you are feeling. It is miserable dealing with panic, and the stress of having another attack and not being able to do what you need to.

Have you ever tried breathing and relaxation exercises? These are simple but powerful tools against anxiety and panic. We have links to videos that teach them in our Resources (main page 1st post) They can lower stress levels in general, and sometimes even stop an attack...give them a try and see if they bring improvement for you.

Have you discussed treatment options with your doctor? Medication and therapy are both widely used...and if you have not given any thought to this, now may be a good time.:)

Keep posting here with us as well. It is very helpful to talk with others who can relate to what you are going through!

I hope that you can get a good, peaceful night's sleep and wake up tomorrow feeling strong and ready to face the day.

Let us know how you are doing soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 9/19/2012 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks SC! I'm currently taking 3mg of Ativan, 10mg of viibrya and temazepam. As well as in therapy. I've been on so many different medicines and I still feel this way. It's so hard just to live day to day. I Also struggle with eating....any suggestions for medicines that may work. My doctor said the next step is a mood stabilizer. I'm nervous about that
Posted 9/20/2012 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder what a "mood stabilizer" is. Anyway, dont feel alone! I hope you read through multiple threads here as there is much chat going on about what meds we are taking, and how we are managing and learning to overcome. The forum moderators are particularly wise as they have the same problems and yet manage to oversee all of this!
Posted 9/20/2012 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, can I ask a couple of questions?...

How long have you been in therapy? It is very effective, but does take time before you start to experience the benefit. Keep up the good work, and know that this is going to help you tremedously in time.:)

And in regards to your meds...you are taking two benzos and an SSRI? Do you take both the benzos every day or as needed for anxiety attacks/break through anxiety? And, did the same doctor prescribed all of your Rx's?

A mood stabilizer is typically prescribed either for bi-polar or borderline personanity disorder and occasionally schizophrenia. Have any of these diagnoses been brought up by your doctor? If not, I would think a lot about this! Do you see a GP or do you have a p-doc? (psychiatrist)

Sorry for so many questions...but the more we know, the better we can understand your situation and possibly be able to make suggestions as to how you can work with your medical health/doctor and medication concerns.

Keep posting and gaining to seek the answers for steps towards your recovery.:)

S.C.

Posted 9/20/2012 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I've been in therapy for 1.5 years. I was taking 200mg of Zoloft, 45 mg of buspar as well as klonopin and 25 mg of Xanax switching back and forth. I also have tried Effexor and cymbalta. I do see a psychiatrist. I always take my medicine as directed. I would appreciate any suggsstions. I just feel like I have tried everythin, yet nothing seems to be getting better.
Posted 9/20/2012 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Irishgirl89,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  Glad you've found our online community. It's a great place to connect with others traveling the same road...you'll find much support, encouragement and advice from others who understand.

I have a 30 year history with anxiety and depression so I have been on many medications as well as in therapy more than once.  I can honestly say that I have had many good years when I did not have a lot of issues with my anxiety or depression but I have always been on a med.

I did try mood stablizers twice but I will admit that due to the side effects of both medications I was afraid to stay on the medication.  As the worry about the side effects was kicking my anxiety up I chose to increase my antidepressant and not use the mood stablizers I was prescribed.  Of course each of us is different and there are many different choices to use as a mood stabilizer.

I would advice you to ask questions of your Dr. re the mood stabilizers and then make an informed consent re using these meds.  I know many people who have great luck using the mood stabilizers.

For the members who are not familiar with mood stabilizers:

A mood stabilizer is a psychiatric medication used to treat mood disorders characterized by intense and sustained mood shifts. Many of these med are used "off label" as mood stabilizers.

The two I have been personally prescribed are Lamictal ( which I actually took) and Abilify which I never took. 

My issue with Abilify was the many possible side effects and one of those re increase in cholesterol. I have managed to bring my cholesterol back into normal range with diet recently and was not willing to risk this side effect.

I hope you keep on talking with us here in the forum and please know we care.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/20/2012 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice everyone. Is there an average time it takes to get the meds, etc settled? Also has anyone struggled with minor eating disorder issues because o anxiety? I really am grateful for everyone's feedback! It's putting my anxiety at ease :0)
Posted 9/20/2012 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi IG (did you change your screen name? It's perfectly okay, I just want to make sure I'm not 'losing it'...can't figure why I addressed you as JK in my first response!

Anyway, do you mean an eating disorder in the sense that you have trouble eating because anxiety makes it so difficult? In other words, stomach issues?...

Or do you mean in the psychological sense that you also have body image issues (belief that you are overweight when you are not) and are purposely trying to restrict food in order to lose weight?

Both can certainly happpen along with anxiety.

I've struggled with the later from the time I was a teenager. I developed the anxiety disorder much later, but believe that they are related.

I also have had stomach problems due to anxiety, but have learned to reduce my anxiety enough to be able to eat normally.:)


S.C.
Posted 9/20/2012 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Irish,

Good questions.  Each med will have a bit different time frame for when you will feel the full effect. For example, several weeks are often required for Lamictal  to reach its maximum effectiveness; however, improvement in some symptoms may occur sooner. Keep in mind that most of the mood stablilizers are drugs that your Dr. will start you out at a low dose and then have you slowly increase the dose until you are at the range the Dr. would like you to be at. 

I increased the Lamictal every other week so with each increase you have to remember to give the new dose a couple of weeks to feel the full effect.

Again this is just my own experience with this one drug.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 9/20/2012 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
SC, I did change my username for security reasons. It seems I have anorexic tendencies that come and go month by month. So I'm not sure if it's a disorder. My therapist is working with me on that.

Kitt, I'm so afraid of gaining weight on a mood stabilizer. It terrifies me.

I just feel frustrated because I'm in my 20s and hate that my anxiety is really good, or terrible. It's so unpredictable. There are so many good things in my life but my anxiety consumes every second of my day. Ugh!
Posted 9/20/2012 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I am so glad that you have shared this with your therapist...he/she can definitely help you with this issue!

Keep up all of your efforts...there are times when things seem hopeless, but there is recovery and healing from all of these things! Don't ever give up.:)

Keep posting with us, we are here for your support through this!

S.C.
Posted 9/22/2012 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi IrishGirl. I can so relate to you being scared about going to work....I hope that everything went OK? I was a bartender for years....really not the best occupation when dealing with panic attacks! I missed work once for 5 weeks and then again for 2 weeks. I was terrified of going back to work....I was just anticipating a panic attack behind the bar. I gradually eased back into work by working on slow nights and taking .25mg of xanax about a half hour before my shift. I don't advocate only meds as being the best solution, but it's what worked for me at the time. Hope you are doing better :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply