Anxiety - Advice wanted

[Curly]

Hi all, this is my first post so bear with me, I'll try to keep it brief
Apologies in advance for my writing but I really needed to get this out, and the power has gone out 3 times so I keep having to retype it!! Argh!

I have been suffering from an anxiety disorder since the start of the year. It came about due to the combined stresses of moving out of home, moving from the country to the city, starting uni, leaving my family and friends, etc etc. (And my mother has suffered depression/bi polar so apparently I am more susceptible to mental illness).

My panic attacks involve nausea, sweating, light-headedness, shaking and tension headaches. I saw a clinical psychologist a few times at the start of the year, and she helped me to identify what I was going through and taught me adapted relaxation techniques and positive thinking. She didn't put me on any medication because she said I was only a mild case and my best chance would be with other forms of treatment.

I have been improving and have managed to get out and about more; going to more classes at uni, going back home to see family and friends, shopping, the pub etc. The problem is that if I'm out somewhere often I'm not really 'there', and I'm avoiding doing anything for fear of aggravating my anxiety and causing an attack (for example I won't eat anything, even though I know it will line my stomach, for fear of feeling ill). I’ve always been a shy person but I used to love a crowd, love going out and doing things.

And every now and then I'll fall in a hole like the one I'm in now, and I'm just sick to death of the whole business and want it to go away. I’m sick of feeling sick! I want to be able to go out with my boyfriend and have a drink and a dance without feeling ill and wanting to go home. I’m frustrated by my inability to really * do * anything because of my anxiety. I know relaxation and changing your way of thinking can help, but I don’t think it’s working for me. In a matter of months I’ve gone from being a fun, easy going person who loved ute shows and b&s balls and musters to a bloody anxious wreck who struggles to do anything.

So what I was really after was some advice from other people who have anxiety. Should I ask my doctor about medication? I was wanting to know what sort of medications there are, and what risks are associated with them. I know there is a risk of dependence on medication but honestly as far as I’m concerned anything’s better than this. I feel like I’m not going to be able to ever really do anything again.
So if you can offer any suggestions or advice or anecdotes please do…

Cheers
Curly

[Blue]

Hi all, this is my first post so bear with me, I'll try to keep it brief
Apologies in advance for my writing but I really needed to get this out, and the power has gone out 3 times so I keep having to retype it!! Argh!

I have been suffering from an anxiety disorder since the start of the year. It came about due to the combined stresses of moving out of home, moving from the country to the city, starting uni, leaving my family and friends, etc etc. (And my mother has suffered depression/bi polar so apparently I am more susceptible to mental illness).

My panic attacks involve nausea, sweating, light-headedness, shaking and tension headaches. I saw a clinical psychologist a few times at the start of the year, and she helped me to identify what I was going through and taught me adapted relaxation techniques and positive thinking. She didn't put me on any medication because she said I was only a mild case and my best chance would be with other forms of treatment.

I have been improving and have managed to get out and about more; going to more classes at uni, going back home to see family and friends, shopping, the pub etc. The problem is that if I'm out somewhere often I'm not really 'there', and I'm avoiding doing anything for fear of aggravating my anxiety and causing an attack (for example I won't eat anything, even though I know it will line my stomach, for fear of feeling ill). I’ve always been a shy person but I used to love a crowd, love going out and doing things.

And every now and then I'll fall in a hole like the one I'm in now, and I'm just sick to death of the whole business and want it to go away. I’m sick of feeling sick! I want to be able to go out with my boyfriend and have a drink and a dance without feeling ill and wanting to go home. I’m frustrated by my inability to really * do * anything because of my anxiety. I know relaxation and changing your way of thinking can help, but I don’t think it’s working for me. In a matter of months I’ve gone from being a fun, easy going person who loved ute shows and b&s balls and musters to a bloody anxious wreck who struggles to do anything.

So what I was really after was some advice from other people who have anxiety. Should I ask my doctor about medication? I was wanting to know what sort of medications there are, and what risks are associated with them. I know there is a risk of dependence on medication but honestly as far as I’m concerned anything’s better than this. I feel like I’m not going to be able to ever really do anything again.
So if you can offer any suggestions or advice or anecdotes please do…

Cheers
Curly

Curly,

I too have the same, but thankfully my pyschiatrist prescribed me a drug called Xanax and it works wonders!

www.xanax.com or go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alprazolam

Alprazolam, also known under the trade names Xanax and Niravam, is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat severe anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with clinical depression.

Dont be afraid to ask for help, mention the above drug to your doctor ... it works for me!

You only use it when you feel a panic attack coming on and in a few minutes you will be fine.

It can also be addictive ... I hardly take it now, but comes in handy when I need it!

Keep us up to date!

[Curly]

Well I tried to make an appointment with my psychologist today but she's booked out 'til the end of November must be a lot of pre-exam issues at uni! So I've made an appointment with a normal doctor instead, since I have to go anyway.
This doctor should be able to help in some way since she knows my "post-moving to Melbourne-history" and I didn't think psychologists were able to prescribe medication anyway.
We'll see how I go...

[Blue]

They cant only pyschiatrists and doctors can ... how'd you go?

[Curly]

She prescribed me some Ducene (benzodiazepenes) and told me to take half a tablet (1mg) at night before bed - that is the smallest dose. I took it for a few days but was getting dizzy and tired so just gave up. As you do. I'm not risking feeling like that when I have exams to do!
I'm doing alright though, and if I start to struggle again after the exams I'll try taking it for a longer course

[Blue]

Good luck with your exams Curly!