New to all of this...

Hello everyone!

I've been reading these forums for the past few months and they have been a huge help, so I felt it was time to actually join.

I'm 29 and only recently developed anxiety problems. In November, two of my friends were diagnosed with cancer and a friend of a friend (who I didn't even really know) died randomly in his sleep and for some reason that, on top of the stress of teaching and going to grad school, flipped a switch in my brain. I became afraid to fall asleep and started having panic attacks. When I had a major attack at school one day, I finally went to urgent care. They ran several tests including an EKG, and everything was normal. The urgent care doc actually laughed and told me to just stop worrying so much...lovely right? I had a physical with blood work shortly after and again everything was normal.

My doctor put me on Sertraline, but I stopped taking it after a couple of weeks because it made my symptoms worse. I know people say it takes a while for it to work, but I couldn't handle it. Does anyone have any advice in the meds department? I was hoping to avoid taking anything, but realized last week when I flew to New Orleans that I have now developed an awful fear of flying (which could be a problem when I fly overseas in a few months...); then I had a terrible panic attack tonight (can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm having a heart attack), so I think it's time to talk to my doctor again about getting on something.

I appreciate your taking the time to read this and appreciate any support and advice you can give me. I never had any clue about how awful anxiety really was - the physical symptoms are absolutely terrible! Hoping I can get this somewhat under control soon so I can at least get some sleep at night!

Thanks everyone!
- Beth

I totally understand what you are going threw. I was diagnosed with anxiety when i was 19, but looking back i think I've had it since i was a very young child. I use to want to be a nurse, however since i have become what i guess you would call a hypochondriac, if someone tells me about an illness they have or symtoms of there illness i think the slightest simalar thing i feel means i have it, its very upsetting. I cant even sleep in a quite room because my brain goes into overdrive and feels me with fears of dying in my sleep. Every pain i feel in my bodysends me into panic. My kids flew on a plan last august from their dads back to me and i had anxiety for them being on a plane. A car ride most of the can be excrutiatng for me doesn' matter if a 5 minute drive or 3 hour drive. This car thing is new to me, i use to be fine with driving in a vehicle, as long as i wasnt driving. Just thinking of driving a long distamce (more then 10 minutes these days is considered a long distance to me these days)sends me into anxiety mode. I swear sometimes i purposly bring on anxiety/panic attacks just because thats what im use to everyday. I pray very often to feel "normal" but anytime i feel remotly "normal" that scares me too occasionally. I moved away from my family and friends in ny to il where my husband is from and as much as i long for a trip to ny to see my family and friends the thought of actually traveling terrifies me. I hope you are able to find soemthing to help you overcome and beat anxiety, hopefully since its still a new thing to you it will be easy. I dont know that this helped at all, i tend to just start rambling, sorry, i basically wanted you to know you are not by any means alone in what you are going threw. good luck!