Getting weak and scared

You are by NO means alone in the struggle over anxiety. I am right there with you. I went to the doctor and am diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). I am in your boat and am around the same age. You can't constantly obsess about anxiety or else it will dominate your life. Don't focus on every single symptom and stay off Google. This may sound crazy but our minds can make us believe that we have something wrong with us when we are perfectly healthy. It is scary but a true fact.

I would discuss this with your doctor and then go over the possibility of medication and treatment. I know for me it is the constant struggle know for me personally whether I want to take my meds or to fight it naturally.

Try not to think about every ache and pain too much

But you are by no means alone.

When you say your meds work only for a little while,....do you stop taking them? Or are you taking them as prescribed at the dose and frequency your doctor recommended? I ask because most A/D's require 6-8 weeks to reach a full effect, and even then, may need adjustment.

Staying away from google would be a very wise choice! So many of us are tempted and so many of us have come to realize that quite often, it just makes us feel worse.

Given your intended vocation, this may be a type of "education by experience." You'll be so much more sympathetic to others going through this, when yourself have experienced these panic attacks and anxiety. There's often times a silver lining, if we look hard enough. :)




M.

If you feel okay sharing, may I ask what medication you're on? You said it worked and then stopped working? How long did you take it for,--or,--are you still taking this medication?

As we've mentioned, A/D's take several weeks to reach a therapeutic level. And even then, your doctor needs to re-evaluate you and see how well the meds are (or aren't) working, and make appropriate adjustments or changes.




M.

Do you recall the name of the meds you take?

Some meds are meant to be taken on an "as needed" manner, or "prn," such as when you feel an anxiety attack coming that you haven't been able to control using self-helping coping skills.

If you are taking an anti-depressant, and you take it daily, and it's only been a week, you need to give it a few more weeks of taking it daily for it to work. Those types of meds are not designed to provide immediate benefit (that's what the "as needed" meds are for,...to use until things get stable).

Also, sometimes in the beginning, our symptoms can perk up a little bit and get worse before they get better, but that is temporary.

Whatever medication you're taking daily for your anxiety (the one you take every single day, not "as needed")....you have to give it more time. It's much too soon to expect relief or results.

Hang in there, practice your coping skills and breathing skills, and give this daily medication a fair chance at working. It really is too early to know. Whatever you do, do not stop taking that daily medication. It needs to be taken regularly for,-- usually 6-8 weeks, before being re-evaluated.

Stopping that med suddenly can cause some very untoward side-effects. When in doubt, please contact your physician. Pharmacists are also knowledgeable about these things, too.



M.

Thanks for the advice Merrida. I really appreciate it.
I might take you up on your offer Chadj. My family supports me and they have been a big help but there's only so much they can do because they don't really understand what I'm going through. I'm glad I found people who can connect with me.