Welcome to the room! We are here to help each other as we deal with problems associated with panic and anxiety disorders. Please feel comfortable to discuss any concerns you are having.

I have had problems with anxiety over the years. I had experienced panic attacks a few times, but it was noting worth mentioning, and happened when things seemed to get out of control, or I was faced with something very stressful. Over a year ago, I began to experience constant panic attacks that seemed to be brought on by a variety of stressors, all occurring at once. I finally went to the doc and went on FMLA from work and experienced the usual feelings, thoughts, and problems of going on meds, waiting for them to take effect, and dealing with side-effects. I found myself in the therapists' office a couple of times, too. Somehow, it all came back together, and things now seem to be somewhat under control. I say this because as we all know, "It's always something!"

I hope you find the basic information you need to get some idea what anxiety disorders are about. I tried to get the information right out of the references that are used by the American Psychiatric Association, so you have some of the best criteria to base your own symptoms and findings on. I hope this will be helpful to you. It cleared up a lot of misinformation for me. If you have any questions, feel free to PM the current moderators of this Forum, PRT, lonleysindy and Ophelia123 ! They will try to get back to you in a timely manner.

Sincerely, Jkm

Here are the last few posts from the older Anxiety Welcome/Intro Topic Please feel free to continue to introduce yourselves and post below!

Hello everyone Im sasha. Im BP 1 and have GAD. i take zanax, klonopin,prozac and lamictal, restoral

Just getting over a major cycle. So my life has been real fun

Hi again Sasha!

Sorry you've had difficulties lately. Was it brought on by something in particular? I'm glad you feel you've turned a corner though and are starting to get over the worst of it.
Hope you'll find the forum useful.

PRT xx

Well my ex husband was abusive and i just got re-married. There pretty sure its PTSD

((((((((Sasha)))))))))) Really wishing you more happiness in your new marriage xxxx

Hi everyone, I am new here. I joined today because I have overcome my disabling panic attacks and 90% of my anxiety. I am still in treatment, but consider myself back to normal. Here is what SAVED ME:

I went to Cognitive therapy & it helped me immensely. I also did biofeedback. Within a week, I was 50% better. I went for 3 weeks and fell 90% better. But you need to find a good cognitive therapist. They don't search back into childhood, etc. And it is time-based therapy. Meaning you don't have to go forever. It takes a couple sessions for the therapist to figure you out & them BAMM! They tell you how it is. The biofeedback helped me to increase the alpha waves in my brain. I am a new person. My depression went away too. And my mind doesn't race like it used to (thanks to the biofeedback). I didn't leave my house for weeks because I had so much anxiety. Ended up in the ER twice thinking I was going to die. Tried 2 anti-depressants. You can google cognitive therapy. It's supposedly the best thing for anxiety/panic. Better than drugs. Worked for me! (thank god).

Please feel free to message me. I have a lot of advice if you want to hear it. This is drug free stuff, because drugs could not help me. I don't think they are the answer for long term either. They only mask the problem.

P.S. Don't give up on getting better. I felt that way too! I was suicidal because I would always feel impending "doom". That's the only way I can explain it. It was horrible to go through. But I got help and I got better. You need to know that THIS WILL GO AWAY. But you have to know that. And you have to do something about it. There are many things you can start doing TODAY.

HI Glowbaby

I'm glad the cognitive therapy and biofeedback helped you.
I'm sure you'll have lots of wisdom for people on the forums who are still struggling with this.

PRT xx

I'm pretty sure i have panic disorder or something, i mean almost everyday i cant breathe properly, i start to worry over nothing , my heart starts beating so fast... and then i start to fear death for no appernt reason. My problem though, is that i cant tell anyone without feeling stupid or silly. About two weeks ago i was alone all day and it got so bad i phoned for an ambulance... id never do that for anything but it sort of took over me /= i even feel silly for typing this. The main thing i start to fear is having a heart attack but i dont know why.

I mean iv had a few panic attacks now and they have seem to come on for no reason what so ever.

This post has been edited by Bloodred: Jun 7 2009, 06:33 PM

to DF,
Don't feel silly or ashamed...you have come to the right place. There are lots of use that deal with panic all the time. Have you seen a doc and got some meds to help control it. You can live somewhat panic free with the right treatment. Feel free to post on the boards.

I dont actually have a doctor at the moment, id feel to worried to tell them though.

Hi.. I am new here.. Just don't have a lot to say yet.. I have several issues, have tried many things, other forums with no success.. It seems most forums prefer to have members that are well into recovery or now recovered, not deep at the bottom of the pit.. I was well-into recovery for a long time, but life has changed and now things are much worse.. I am at the bottom of the pit, so if I stay here there won't be a whole lot of positives for a while.. If this is not the right place for me, please say so now and I won't waste anyone's time.. Thanks.. Sorry for the neg..

to DF NoOne1,
You are in the right place. We accept people at all levels of depression and recovery. If you have an urgent matter post it in the Members Needing Extra Support Now (MNESN) or feel free to post in the apporiate room for you subject. You will find understanding and caring people here.

Thanks.. There are actually several issues of importance, and right now i'm just trying to stay detached or I'll lose focus again.. But I know the priorities are first to find income and then get another cat.. My last one was a great help, and my only friend.. When I couldn't do for myself, I did for her.. But now with the situation between painful physical issues and other, I'm home all the time and getting out for work isn't an option right now.. there are no friends to ask.. and in a couple of weeks, I will lose housing if I can't pay the bills.. I did notice agoraphobics on this site and was hoping for some direction for no-scam at home income, because with one of the medical issues I need equipment when I sleep at night, so being homeless will be major health threat, and helping myself in other ways will have been a waste of time so the rest will have to wait.. I know my personal communication skills are junk, my business skills are still good though, that's another big reason why I can start with this question and the others will come later.. And it's not fair to the animal trying to adopt another pet/companion without being able to support it, no matter how much I really really need one.. Sorry for the bad communica, hope you'll understand, like I said personal verbage stinks, would rather be writing a business letter.. thanks, and sorry..

I am not sure where you live, but check out the portal page of this forum...there are some articals about getting disability and things like that posted there i think.
It may be a good idea to post something along these lines of income in the Posting Sharing and asking part of the forum or in depression central as more people visit there and will respond to your post and be more helpful to you.

This post has been edited by lonleysindy: Jun 15 2009, 08:05 PM

Thanks.. the only Posting Sharing and Asking I saw was in meds, and since I'm not referring to meds yet, didn't seem right to put it there.. I did find the other though and will put in there.. thanks for the point.. as for the disability, one person completely alone no other income can not survive on that alone, they don't provide squat.. sorry for the lack of chatter, last forum didn't go well, just reinforces the why bother reaction.. so trying to stay on at least one necessary thing first..

This post has been edited by NoOne1: Jun 15 2009, 10:28 PM

Hello,
I am new here. I just turned 21 this year. I am hoping to meet some lovely people on here who can talk to me about my problems.

I have social anxiety and that has lead me to depression. I am very self-conscious and when I am with people I spend almost more than half the time thinking about what the other person could be thinking of me. I am afraid of criticisms and feel like I am never good enough for people. I believe I was normal up until 19. I started losing attention from my loved ones (my immediate family). I used to have great times with them and not worry about what and how they think of me. I miss them so much but I really do not know what happened. Then I gradually lost my sense of of identity. I became very shy and isolated. It is very hard for me to gain back any faith. This anxiety disorder and depression had caused me to be unable to do almost anything. I now have fears that I probably will not succeed in my career. I do not have any wise relatives or friends to talk to about my depression. I have never seen a doctor, yet. I am just ... embarassed and will probably sound silly.

I would be so grateful for any tips and advice!

- strawberrytops

i am not sure i have any great tpis for you sorry,,, socially i dont even want to be around people ,,, i cant stand the way i look due to weight gain and also dont have family ,, i can say though i do know what trigered my problems , have you had anything major or devasteing happen ? you sound stressed about entering the world as an adult , wich i cant blame you the world is so diferent the when i was 21 boy i was so carefree it was nt funny , i was pregnant not married yet and broke and i didnt care life was great ! boy i am not sure what happened ,, i know that times are scary and watching the news isnt good for anyone, i think you have taken the first step by coming here and talking . i was embarressed when i told my doc but then i realized that he was here to help me and he didnt make any judgements. thats what a good doctor does m some times we need help and should not feel bad or as a lesser person to ask for it. i am going to call him again for the 100th time as my anxiety is threw the roof ..what happened with your family ? can you plan a fun activity with them ? please dont be embarrassed to see a doc, its ok .

Hi and Welcome strawberrytops

It is great to have you here and I hope you find a lot of wise people here. There are many topics in this room, with loads of tips to help you cope with your anxiety. Losing your sense of identity is one of the worst feelings in the world and you are not alone. I hope we can help you to find yourself again. Please feel free to make yourself feel at home.

Trace

Hi, thank you for the time to read and reply. Well, my mother used to criticize me a lot. I don't stay with her anymore. I was very close with her side of family and looked up to them. Everyone was important to me and I cherished them so much. But my mother would bash me to her family and made me feel so bad. I started to believe I was no longer worthy and I guess I carry that feeling everywhere I go now. My family is very judgmental and I did not realize that until I started seeing what I was personally going through. Till then, I could no longer do anything with them. I feel like my heart is empty without my loved ones. I don't know why I am still waiting for their acceptance anyway. I feel like I am all alone now and need to be my own shield. I want to be able to love myself deeply and unconditionally and stop waiting for approval from others ... but how do I do that? I am sorry if I don't make sense. I will schedule an appointment some time to see my doctor.

- strawberrytops

Thanks and I look forward to it.

Hi, everyone,

I'm new to this forum, but not new to anxiety. :/
It's been getting worse and worse recently, though. I'm currently on Zoloft for both depression and anxiety... it's been helping my depression a bit, but my panic attacks seem to be getting worse every day.
Many of my attacks don't have a trigger - they just seem to happen at random. But they can be triggered by certain things. My worst is when people are dumb or inconsiderate. I've been taking that kind of stuff really personally lately.
Which, of course, means that I can't go to the grocery store by myself. It always seems to be a breeding ground for rude idiots,

About 5 years ago, I was on Xanex for my panic attacks, which helped while I was having the attacks... but has anyone found anything that can help keep the attacks from happening in the first place..? I would love to not have to be drugged out of my mind just to be able to buy groceries...
Thanks!

HI Xoron

Have you ever had therapy of any kind? It might work for you to learn some techniques that you can use to control your anxiety through CBT or something similar.

PRT xx

Reading this forum I can start to see how little things I thought to be unrelated are perhaps signs of the bigger picture. I started having serious stomach cramps about 5 years ago, they started when I was away from home visiting a friend. First I thought it was just the food or something but as the symptoms have continued and only show up at times of stress I'm starting to think they are linked. My belly feels HUGE and I feel like I am going to explode from the inside out, it happens mainly when I am holiday. But with the latest work situation (redundancy) its starting to happen a lot more and for extended periods. I can't seem to get it under control without taking myself out of the situation all together which isnt always possible.

I'm pretty sure I've had a touch of social anxiety but my new job has forced me to change myself over the three years I have worked there. Now redundancy I am worried that I am going to fall back into the old patterns again.

Hi Berkley, !
I also have digestive problems from anxiety and stress. Like you, I often get bloated and have stomach pains. It helps some to know the source of the problem so we can try to keep ourselves as calm as possible -- easier said than done! Social anxiety can be such a struggle. All we can do is deal with it as best as possible.
Iowa

Hey everyone. Up until about a year ago my "only" major malfunction was a severe panic disorder condition of 25+ years that was controlled adequately with meds[(ended up being BZD's, clonazepam (8mg/day)and lorazepam (1-2mg/day, as needed)]. That was after decades of being on the 'conventional' front-line meds, you name it

Kind of cross-posting here, but I'm still working my way around the forum. Past year and a half I've had profound depression on top of the worst PD w/agoraphobia levels I've experience. The combination is HELLISH. Now I understand why the suicidal ideations and attempt percentages with those with depression and an anxiety disorder are so high.

With me, my PD is best described as REALLY bad constant GAD that regularly peaks to regular panic attacks (even on the meds). Even on my meds for anxiety (the BZD's), I still get panic attacks even still in my sleep. As of late, it has been like a constant level 6-8 panic attack 24/7.

Anybody else been struggling with a chronic anxiety issue for a really long time?? Like I said, in my case it's been 25+ years since my first diagnosis, but anyone struggling for say, 1-2 years plus? Or comorbid with severe to profound depression? The serious depression has 'only' been for about a year and a half--at the profound level for the last 6-8 months.

By the way, when my anxiety levels were lower, CBT and similar therapy did help. In my case not enough to get off of meds but it did help. The book by Dr. Edumund Bourne is EXCELLENT for anyone with anxiety and/or phobia (much applies to depression also). Several years of therapy of mine were based on his work.

I highly recommend his book to anyone with anxiety and/or phobia problems. Many/most good shrinks and therapists model their treatments around the methodologies in his book. When it was possible for me, I was able to find meditation to be extremely helpful. Over the years I did master meditation (transcendental mostly and from an old Thai lady who used to work under me).

Proper nutrition and exercise shouldn't ever be written off. Both are key with trying to manage any condition like anxiety, depression. OCD, PTSD...Unfortunately my agoraphobia is almost total lately so I am unable to exercise but if you are able--regular exercise can make a big difference.

My anxiety is free-floating too. Significant stressors only put my levels through the roof and through the stratosphere. I've been on alprazolam (Xanax) on and off a number of times over the years, along with many, MANY others.

HI HoppyJoe, welcome to DF

Thank you for the book recommendation, I might need to look that up myself. I'd also like to try meditation properly as i'm struggling with anxiety at the moment and anything that calms me down would be very welcome.

There are people on the boards who have been suffering with anxiety for a long time, so you're not alone, although they may not read the welcome threads. I think having anxiety for that length of time is sure to make you depressed. I hadn't understood until recently what it's like to have constant anxiety and it's very hard to deal with so hats off to you for putting up with it for over 25 years.

I hope you find the forum helpful.

PRT xx

Thanks for the welcome, PRT. It's always good to be around others who understand first hand. Oh and a head's up: I tend to make lengthy posts ;-)

The book is titled, "The "Anxiety & Phobia Workbook" written by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D. and put out by New Harbinger Publications, Inc. I have the 3rd printing from 2001 but the last printings have all the same basic ideas, I'm sure. The new publications probably have new medication trends (off-labels, SSRI/SNRI, etc. warnings, new nutritional/supplements updates), etc.

Google (or whatever) 'Edmund J Bourne' and you can get an idea of everything in a nutshell.

Meditation is something I think everyone should at least try (along with visualization, imagery etc, etc). When my anxiety was manageable, before my depressive episode, meditation helped a LOT once you start getting it down. My medication(s) were cut down up to 2/3's before my depression became a comorbid issue.

With myself at least, my anxiety was never comorbid with depression until a lot of s* hit the fan and I spiraled down to a really bad case of depression. The vast majority of anxiety sufferers also have depression and vice versa (i.e., comorbid). I am/was part of a very small percentage where the anxiety didn't cause the depression.

Believe me, the doctors really, really tried to rule that out which is why I can't take the front-line, conventional AD and anxiety meds anymore. These 'front liners' like the SSRI's work for a lot of people. I'm just not one of them from being overly/wrongly medicated on them for so long. I have come to really hate depending on medication(s) but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do....even with the benzodiazepines which are the only type of medications I can take as a 'maintenance' drug (long, long term).

Don't take your hat off just yet.. I haven't been able to put up with the anxiety for all of these years. It's been an ongoing process that still after all this time requires the BZD meds.

I look forward to learning and sharing information on the forum. And really look into that book by Bourne. It will be one of the best $20 you've spent IMHO.

This post has been edited by HoppyJoe: Aug 20 2009, 05:42 AM

Hi,

I have had mild anxiety and depressive symptoms most of my life. Possibly some Generalized Anxiety Disorder but a lot of it was social anxiety i think. I was alwys shy but sometimes to an extent that really interfered. This of course led to not making many friends in primary school and the kids picked on me (also because im eccentric). Those experiences and in high school too have had a profound effeect on my personality, my affect, and my intimate relationships, my ability to interact with others and self esteem (It all perpetuates everything else). My parents expected a lot of me and i think this in combination with my social history is the biggest reason behind my lack of self worth and belief in myself. One teacher i had in grade 5 also bullied me in class for a year. It wasnt until after i finished high school that i really felt i started developing social skills properly, and boy did i have a lot of catching up to do. But i did it and i have a wide circle of quality friends, so many that i barely have time for them all (although i have recently gone through a few falling outs with close friends).

Last year i had a very very bad year. Depression and self medicating aside my social anxiety reappeared out of no where. I had forgotten about it - i had last experienced it with this intensity in about year 8, which i had forgotten about. This episode last year was so bad that i would phase out of reality and i couldnt hear or decipher what people were saying and if i did then i would almost immediately forget what they had said. Ther was just SO much information in my head i could barely keep it there. The anxiety meant i couldnt concentrate either. I had panic attacks in groups sometimes but almost always when people spoke to me. This of course caused much alienation and anxiety about being conscious and able to hear/communicate and i was scared that i was going insane. Friends believed i was being selectively deaf and teased me about it thinking i was being stupid. This magnified my own beliefs which come along with this type of thing about being a pathetic failure as a human. I interpreted most things that people said as a direct insult towards me even when it had nothing to do with me and if i only caught part of a sentence my mind would fill in the blanks and make it about some epic failure on my behalf. I had no way at all of communicating what was really going on to them. I didnt quite understand in the first place. You need to understand something before you can find words. My mind would go blank whenever i needed to answer a question. I couldnt even remember the question (and sometimes, a whole party- no avenues to help myself!). The one time i was free of my (terrible) thoughts was when i needed to think! I would freeze when spoken to or confronted. I developed IBS which i think is anxiety related and experienced constipation and lots of gas when triggered (ie around other people) which gave me even more anxiety and fear that i was physically disgusting. This became another massive anxiety issue for me. In short, my mind deteriorated and after that my body followed suit. Before all of this i had a very wide circle of friends and was enjoying myself socially a lot. I am almost back there now.

I have had scattered panic attacks in my life, but nothing "too" serious in comparison. Apart from that i have a phobia of spiders, which doesnt trouble me much.

...this is not the way i would normally introduce myself. lol.

This post has been edited by alyced: Aug 23 2009, 11:54 PM

Hi and Welcome to the Anxiety Room Alyced

Its wonderful to have you here.
I am so sorry that you have suffered extreme anxiety and social phobia. There are many others with social phobia here.
I hope you find a lot of info here and you will receive a lot of support.

Trace

Hello I'm Amber. I've been suffering from pretty extreme panic disorder for about 10 months, with scattered panicky episodes for years before that. My panic attacks are strange because my heart doesn't race, generally, I just get this strange sensation in my brain that's really hard to describe...like its at the crest of a wave and the whole time I'm just waiting for the wave to break, and when it does I get hot flashes, chills, and my hands shake. Then of course the standard chest pains and I'll immediately think I'm about to die, at which point (because of all my research) I'll realize its just a panno and start to chill out. Its also scary because it'll come about for absolutely no reason, nothing triggers it except eating, but only occasionally and only if I'm at a restaurant or eating publicly (I'm pretty into secret eating...not bingeing so much as just...not being around other people when I eat. I actually eat very little) I used to suffer from social anxiety, but my social life is actually one of the few good things I have going for me at this point. I also suffer from mild depression, which came first, who knows! I just got prescribed Celexa (and Lorazepam on the side) so hopefully that will relieve things in time. Not looking forward to the next few weeks though, as I adjust to it. I just have to think about how mellow I'll be on the other side and in the meantime repeat my mantra: "DFO, DFO, DFO..." (don't freak out) :]

(again) heyitsamber,
I absolutely love your matra! I'll have to try that one. My usual one is "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this". We should start a thread in the Water Cooler of mantras that people find helpful! Make yourself at home with the rest of us anxious people!
Iowa

My doctors cant figure out whether I'm having panic attacks or seizures...usually these attacks come when I am sitting close to a television or a computer. Has anyone else had this experience?

Hi and Welcome bobandwinnie

That must be terrifying for you. I have not had any experience with that, but have they done an MRI on you, perhaps they would be able to tell if its a seizure with that. Oh, yes, you have a VNS implanted as well, as I read from your other post. Could this possibly do this, especially since its near tv's and computers?

Trace

Guess what Trace? Because they've put this VNS implant in me....they cant do MRI's on me anymore....or I'll cook like bacon. Pretty neat, huh? Yet another wonderful thing in my wonderful life.....

(((((((((((Bobandwinnie)))))))))))

That is awful. I am sorry that you have to live with this. There has to be a way for the doc's to find out.

Trace

hi im krystal. going through a relapse atm for panic disorder with minor agoraphobia and depression (getting better i have learnt ot manage it b4 and i can do it again) started meds (lex 10mg) again 6 days ago feeling a bit better now.. still anxious but i know they will kick in soon... last time i figures i treated just the symptoms and not the cause so this time around i have incoperated CBT with meds and a change in my diet . wish me luck

Hi and Welcome Krystal

It sounds like you are fighting your Anxiety with everything you have. That is excellent!
CBT works wonders and you will get a lot of support here. Good Luck!
Please make yourself feel at home.

Trace