thinking about medication -- help!

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to the forums... I joined because I'm in need of some serious feedback and support, and I don't know what else to do. If you have had experiences with anxiety, panic attacks, and medication, I hope you'll read on and share some of your thoughts. Any little bit would be a great help!

I'm in my early twenties and have dealt with panic attacks and anxiety all my life, although I never wanted an official diagnosis. My father was an alcoholic, verbally abusive towards my mom and I (we've been estranged from him for several years). My mother suffers from bipolar disorder. She's been in and out of therapy, and has tried too many different kinds of medication for me to recount. She has always shown an acute sensitivity to side effects, from temporary memory loss to weight gain to ringing in her ears; certain meds seemed to make her giddy, while others seemed to put her in a fog, with zero energy.

For the past few years, I thought my own problems were improving. I started attending college and started seeing my boyfriend of nearly two years -- he's a great guy and has been wonderfully supportive. But lately my anxiety has gotten worse. Often I do just fine during the day -- I go to class on a fairly large campus, I see people every day at work -- agoraphobia doesn't seem to be the cause. It's at night that I begin to panic for no apparent reason. Generally everything will be going fine, but if there's one tiny thing I'm worried about, I won't be able to shake the feeling that a panic attack is coming on. I feel jittery (a too much caffeine sort of feeling) and occasionally my fingers and/or toes will tingle or go completely numb. In a full-blown attack, I can't control my breathing at all and the numbness continues up my elbows and knees. My thoughts become uncontrollable and it takes hours to finally calm myself down enough to function (as a busy college student, this is really beginning to damage my grades).

Recently I started going back to regular therapy sessions. The subject of medication comes up a lot. After seeing the way different medications affected my mother, I'm terrified to put any sort of chemical drug into my body, especially since I've always shared her sensitivity to side effects when it comes to prescription drugs from the doctor. But I don't feel like I can control my anxiety on my own anymore.

Anyone been in this situation? And have any of you found medications or other approaches that have worked for you without too many adverse effects? I could really use some reassurance and would appreciate any kind of guidance in general as I'm making this decision. Thanks so much,

Lucy

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the meds they prescribe for anxiety are quite a bit different than the ones they prescribe for bipolar people.

Hi Lucy, Freezing pretty much said what I was going to!!!! I find Valium helps with immediate relief and andti-depressents for longer term "stabilising" of anxiety moods.  Have you tried some sort of Cognitive behavioural Treatment - a kind of counselling.  That has helped me out a lot with "free floating" anxiety that follows me around.

I had my first panic attacks in college so I can understand.  There is a lot of pressure isn't there?!  I suggest maybe go and have a chat with your GP about medication/counselling options.  Congrats for asking for help and input.  That's a great first step!! Keep us posted Lucy xxxxx 

Welcome to HW.......
Do check out some of the meds posted in the NEW med thread lol .....
I am sure most ppl are worried at first about meds but many have had great successes with them
and with self help such as CBT and other techniques to try and beat this or at least get ahold on it
I too take valium as needed and works great for me
Please do stick around and get to know us and us you
'Ppl here are fantastic as is the care and support
Stay with us
be well
LYN