Anxiety?

[AllieMackie]

I was on Paxil (an SSRI) to deal with my depression after my mum died, and the anxiety I had felt for the 1-2 years before that. It worked wonders, but then my doc wanted to wean me off of the Paxil because the therapy had helped with mum so much.

Well, weaning sucked major (a month of dizziness, head throbbing and hand "zaps") and now not only is my anxiety back worse than ever, but I get panic attacks every second night before bed. I get that same "feeling of dread and the end of the world". All my life problems culminate right when I'm trying to sleep.

So yeah. definitely look into meds. I'm looking into getting back onto an SSRI, it just helps me so much.

 

[~Jessie~]

This morning I was sick again and almost had a panic attack on the bus. That seemed almost triggered by claustrophobia if that makes sense... It was packed and I felt so trapped in there.

I've had that happen before when I've uncomfortable in certain places, i.e. crowded restaurants. I've had to walk out of a couple of places before to rebalance myself, if that makes sense.

 

[Beanie]

A couple years ago at the Harry Potter 7 release party, the store was so packed and there were so many people around me, at one point I was like "I have got to get somewhere less crowded RIGHT NOW or I'm going to have a serious panic attack." I could feel it coming. I had to fight to get back to the front of the store (everybody was crowded in the back where the line was going to form when they started calling numbers) where it was less crowded so I could settle myself back down. I found a spot where people weren't elbow to elbow with me and I stayed there until they started to call numbers and the crowds in the back thinned out to make room for the actual line.

It might be claustrophobia for you that is made worse by underlying anxiety. If it makes sense, after you've had a few panic attacks and you start to recognize what an impending one feels like, you start to make it worse for yourself... because you start feeling anxious and you start thinking about what's coming, and you just panic more, and it snowballs until a panic attack is coming and you can't do much to stop it. That's what happened with me. I had to get out or I knew I was just going to keep feeling squished and uncomfortable and I was going to freak out. As soon as I escaped that squished feeling I could get a handle on everything else and calm down.


I hope Josie's doctor can recommend a good one for you!

 

[AllieMackie]

I am talking to Josie's doctor today hopefully to get some ideas where to go. I think I may have another bout of depression too, I had a really bad bit of depression a bit over a year ago and I had just gotten over it when my mom died. I know I'm really prone to becoming depressed because of my hormonal imablances and PCOS. It's a really common side effect so my dad is concerned that might be going on again as well. I can't really tell if I am depressed or not.

This morning I was sick again and almost had a panic attack on the bus. That seemed almost triggered by claustrophobia if that makes sense... It was packed and I felt so trapped in there.

Definitely check on the depression thing. When my mum died, I was slowly ceasing to function. Not getting out of bed, not caring... finally saw a doc at the insistence of Matt, and after listing the symptoms... I ahd pretty major depression.

Depression, especially grief-induced depression, is thankfully temporary as long as you take care of it. You might want to seek a therapist. I went to about 10 sessions with one and it helped immensely just to get my thoughts and frustrations in order surrounding mum and her death. I came out of those sessions feeling a little bit clearer every time.

Panic attacks in enclosed spaces are incredibly common, yes! I often get them if I'm at house parties. Clubs, bars etc I have no problem with, house parties get me though. I need to borrow a bedroom to freak out in.

Definitely seek out your doctor and just mention all of your symptoms. With depression + anxiety/panic, an SSRI sounds like it may be an ideal solution for you. Your doctor might have ideas too, so definitely seek advice.

Seems like I'm in a very similar boat as you! Feel free to PM if you ever need to talk about it.

 

[Squishy22]

I was on paxil when I was 13. It didn't help me much at all. I finally quit it a few years later. Was put on abilfy for bipolar disorder (depression) and gabapentin for anxiety when I was 18. The stuff made me too tired to even stay awake in class. No matter how many hours of sleep I got. I finally had to pull the plug on that as well, or I'd start failing school. The initial tiredness you feel should subside after a few months of being on a new medication, but I didn't have a few months to spare. Only certain situations trigger my anxiety so I think I would be better off on a medication that was only used before I put myself in those situations. Such as taking a xanax before a trip to a crowded store, a meeting, a bus ride, a speach, or what have you. My friend is on xanax and she is now driving, which she's never done because her anxiety kept her from it. She has changed so much. More outgoing. She is 24. Xanax can be addicting, but it can help some people so much. Of course are more options out there other than xanax, but its the one I am familiar with.

 

[Laurelin]

Thanks guys soooo much.

I have more problems in the morning than at night. I think part of it is just my major stressors are first thing in the morning. I am claustrophobic on a good day so I think it aggravated that and made it worse this morning. I feel trapped a lot so I walk ALL the time. I walk for no reason or I walk the dogs. For some reason it feels a lot better when I'm walking even if I'm going nowhere.

I can tell Im not functioning as well as I used to. I am so much more tired and I don't go out and have fun like I used to. My depression last time was hormone related and I'm not sure if this is too. Of course I've been through a lot this last year so that could play a part in it. It's weird though because it's hitting now. I was fine right after my mom died but now I'm not nearly as fine, if that makes sense.

I'm really surprised how common this is for people. I dunno it just strikes me as strange that so many people have depression or anxiety issues.

 

[Squishy22]

For the longest time I thought I was the only person in the world who had a bad anxiety problem. Even ashamed. I am also surprised at how common it is.

 

[SmexyPibble]

I've got to be an expert on this topic. I'm sorry your going through this; and it sounds like your prediciton is correct; I suggest either seeing a doctor, phsyciatrist or possibly just a local doctor.

Try to relax; anxiety and panic attacks are the worst things in the world. I hope you never have to experience one full on. All of your muscles tighten, your eyes roll back in your head, you hyperventilate and can't breathe...I've had two; they happened when I couldn't see my brother Bobby. So watch out for yourself, and see if you can get a medication to help.

 

[puppydog]

No worries Laur! I always tell my housemate, as long as there is company in the insanity, you don't feel so wierd! LOL!
Both her and I suffer from anxiety and depression. Don't let anyone tell you that meds are a crutch, don't let them tell you it is crock of sh*t. I know what works for me and I am sticking with it. I just think those that down the meds are either rude, hurtful or plain ignorant to the situation.

 

[Saeleofu]

What the OP wrote certainly sounds like a panic/anxiety attack, but I'm not a doctor...I'm just and undergrad psych student that just finished writing her abnormal psych test paper over anxiety :lol-sign:

I have had anxiety problems too, they seem to come and go to an extent. I too have trouble admitting that I have a problem, and even when I was scaring myself shitless a few months ago, I still didn't go see a professional. I should have, but I didn't. My family is big on hiding both mental and physical illnesses, so that probably has something to do with it. By the time anyone in family goes to see a doctor, it's usually bad Heck, I had a panic attack on the way to the psychologist when I went to get my AS diagnosis (that alone was one hell of a battle, mentally speaking, and I'm glad it's over and I can get on with my life with that extra knowledge lol), and even though I was right there in front of a psychologist not even 5 minutes after my panic attack, I didn't even mention it.

I would still suggest seeing someone for help. It doesn't necessarily have to be meds, for some people various forms of psychotherapy work just as well.

I had the same response to classes before too, namely my organic chem class and my comparative anatomy class (those two classes are the reason I'm no longer a bio major). My issues with attending class have cleared up for the most part with a change in major, but also that I have classes with my friend now. We've both admitted to eachother that if it wasn't for being in class together, we'd be screwed. I've always been fairly reserved socially and for the first 2 1/2 years in college I had no friends; then one of my coworkers pretty much forced herself on me and now we're best friends. It's sometime scary to think that in less than a year we'll be halfway across the country from eachother, and I'll again be alone and not able to depend on anyone (which is why I'm working harder than ever towards getting a service dog, but that bit about not wanting to admit problems to doctors is standing in my way >.<). </sentimental moment>