Hi everyone,

I am sorry to hear it has been a rough week all around, but am glad we are not alone. I am fidning after the panic attack this past week-end, I just want to sleep all day. The ER doctor gave me ativan which is helping me sleep a little better because the zoloft was not helping for sleep.

As it sounds that some of you have been on the ADs for a while, can I ask how your partners, family, friends have reacted? I haven't told anyone outside my husband and mom because I don't want people to be monitoring me. But, I do find that my husband is having a really hard time with the fact that I was so anxious to begin with and now that I am on medication.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? He is also quite controlling/ non-expressive, so talking these things through is no easy task.

Thanks,
riel

Hi Riel,

I have told a few people that I know have anxiety problems. There is more people out there that has the same problems that we have, but they have felt they were crazy too and didn't tell anyone. I have had anixety buddies at work. We kind of find one another. The last job I just left had two. Actually, one had a panic attack in the cafeteria and I was with her. She takes wellbutrin and xanax at night. She says it controls her anxiety, but she was extremely stressed and had a presentation that week. Her anxiety is totally different than mine. Her anxiety is mainly over her two children, 5 and 2. She is afraid of them being taken in public and freaks outs very easy over it. Mine comes from no where. I just got it from being stressed too long and it made me quit doing the things I like because of it. Like, driving alot (cause I had them when I drove) and large crowded places. I mainly have GAD. I haven't had but three panic attacks. Two of those were at home and at night. That is why I think hormones are making my anxiety. It comes from nowhere and sometimes when I should have it, I don't.

My husband doesn't understand and doesn't talk much either. He just told me over and over I wish I could make it better, but I don't know how. He is also hounding me about reading about anxiety on the computer all the time. I am type A and research oriented. If I don't feel good then I am determined to find out why. I think that is pretty much what everyone with anxiety does though. We just believe something underlying is causing this problem and we are too strong to be having these problems. I was always independent and anxiety brings you to your knees with co-dependcy issues for me anyhow. I have found that I am trying to slow down and see and smell and recognize life and its surrounding now. I think we go through life too fast and someone is telling us to slow down and calm down. It sucks, but I have survived it once and am determined to get through it again. Ten years ago, it took me a year to get it back together. I am assuming it will be that long again before I feel confident.

My advice is to feel out the person, you know who you can trust and talk with. I made the mistake and told someone the last time I had this problem and she (no longer friends) told everyone I was mental and needed to be on medication. I am talking called friends and family and told them I was crazy. Even though her husband was having anxiety too after his dad passed away. So, do be careful, because there are people out there who will ridicule you and make fun of you, but their day will come when they need someone too. I will leave there future in the hands of a higher person.

Take care if you need someone to talk with we are here and understand. Kind of makes me want to cry!

I've never been thrilled with the idea of being a girl and all the joys that go with it. I'm really confused by the perimenopause issues I'm having because this pins and needles/goosebumps feeling is usually worst about the third week of my cycle, but I've been having it a ton over the last few days, since I increased the zoloft dose to 125 mg. The skin on my face feels dry and tight, too, which is something I noticed alot when I tried the cymbalta. I thought it was because of the norepinephrine uptake inhibitor in the cymbalta. Now I'm not so sure. I've also heard these can be symptoms of low estrogen, but when the nurse practitioner checked my hormones when they should have been at their lowest, my estrogen level was actually ok. The gyn doctor I saw last week gave me a prescription for progesterone cream to try, but I think I'd really reather just shut my cycles off!! Trouble is, I didn't tolerate the birth control pills. I'm thinking of trying a different kind. ARGHGHGG--so complicated. Do I try to taper off the zoloft and get on a mood stabilizer, or try to get on a different bcp??

thanks for letting me vent. It's been another day riding in steerage until evening, now in the back of the passenger car again.

Ali

Well I sure hope she is. Maybe I should try PMming her. As soon as I figure out the MSN thing, I'll let you guys know, but I'll only be able to use it when I'm at home (evenings and weekends).

Ali,

My only comment on the matter is...If you try a new bcp then if you have side effects you can stop it immediately and the side effects go away immediately. If you switch AD's then you know how those se's go. Just a thought. A light bulb was blinking in my brain! I still say try orthocept or lo ovral! If you don't like them then you can feel free to blame me!

Good morning everyone (or is it a good morning...really?)

Ok, so my therapist didnt changed the zoloft and I asked her to increase it to 75 mg. But I asked her to give me 50mg and 25mg. She dont think its the zoloft that gives me more trouble breathing and the fast heartbeats so I have decided to go with my gut feeling. Yeah, I'm freakin stubborn. Its the aries in me

So, first I will do the CBT, no problem. As for the meds, I will go back to my doctor for that. Third, I am getting my blood test done to see if its not my thyroide glande since I had problem with it in the past. Four, I am going down to 25mg zoloft, NOT UP! Otherwise I will find myself having to take the klonopin like candies at the rate it is going. Enough is enough!

Do I look pi**ed and that I pretty much had it? You bet ya!

Thanks guys for being there. I love u all!


Joyce