Stop Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Currently, I have been so unhappy. I’ve always suffered OCD in a major way (so bad I’ve battled both bulemia and anorexia) and I’m a major control freak, who always has to have a plan, and if it doesn’t work out I go crazy. In fact, my boyfriend- who I was ENGAGED to- called it quits because he thinks I’m not fun to be around, and he says there’s always something distracting me in a negative way.

Just this last Wednesday I accidentally overdosed on aspirin. I had a terrible migrane, and I took the amount I normally do, but nothing worked. I took another one, and nothing happened. I took ANOTHER one, and nothing. Finally, after taking 6 pills (and I am 5′7" and just 110lbs btw) I noticed that the walls were wiggling, and suddenly spinning. I passed out, and woke up later feeling disoriented and scared. I completly regret having done that, it was horrifying.

I know I have my issues, and I’m really trying to change my ways, but I don’t know how to ask for help (which I really need). I work in the medical field, so if I ask someone I work with I’m worried they won’t look at me the same way again. What should I do? Does anyone else know how I feel?

Thanks in advance,
Mary
Oh and thank you so much, all of you, these answers are full of the support I need. Thanks! Blessings!

Hi Mary Isabella.. Yes dear I know exactly how you feel .I’m not there any more because For 14 years I have been on Paxil. Its a wonderful drug if its the right one for you. Have you ever asked your Dr. if you could try this, first tell him what you are feeling and see what he says. Paxil for me is calming, I don’t get out of control in anger anymore,I stop and think more before I talk. I use good judgment in regards to my health and I’m careful not to mess up. You Need to find a Dr, you like and trust.If you do not have insurance there are health facilities that take people without insurance. Just try them, its better than nothing. You will be able to fix this , I know you can. You need to Pray first, you will need to get all the help you can so ask God to help you in this situation and really mean it. You can trust Him, He will help you..just ask!God Bless you love in Christ missleslie

im now going on my 8 day taking it it starting to help when i take it i get energy then after a few hours i dont i take one once also at night time im hoping this weird feeling goes away after a while. i have a doc app in a week just want to see how other people feel when taking this. im taking 75mg twice a day

I take generic Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) with dinner, for depression and anxiety. I’ve been taking that for over two years, and it’s working very well for me.

The Wellbutrin SR seems to help me to be more alert and active – and wanting to do things – while the Lexapro makes me more mellow, and it helps me sleep better, too. They are relatively low doses of each medication, which keeps side effects at a minimum. I really can’t tell I’m taking any medication at all.

There are a lot of people that take Wellbutrin with their SSRI’s, it helps to counteract some of the possible side effects – such as drowsiness, weight gain, and the sexual side effects. It really does make a difference!!

I’ve done some e-searching but i’m skeptical to try a few different ones as i’m a broke college student. I cannot afford health insurance and I do not qualify for any government programs so this is my last hope. Has anybody tried buying herbal supplements, and if so, did any of them have any sort of significance?

Ask yourself: "Why do I feel depressed, and when did I first start to feel this way: can I associate this with any recent change in my life?" (if so, it is probably reactive [situational] depression: counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may be indicated, but most of life’s adverse situations are resolved within 16 weeks, yet the medical criteria for depression, and the prescription of antidepressants is only 2 weeks!). Or, was it a more gradual thing, with no apparent cause? (a nutritional deficiency, hypothyroidism, environmental toxicity, or reactions to some medications, etc., becomes more likely as the cause). Antidepressants work quicker than the following; 2 – 6 weeks, but you may have to adjust dosage, or types. St. John’s wort helps most people; tolerance doesn’t develop, and the few side effects don’t occur often, and even then are normally not severe (neither should be relied on as a sole treatment).

It doesn’t cause sleeping problems, or weight change, but usually takes at least 2, and generally 4 – 6 weeks to become effective, but can work quicker than antidepressants, sometimes. A recent, independent German double blind study showed it to be as effective as a commonly prescribed antidepressant, in cases of major depression, with far fewer side effects, and those were generally better tolerated, with a lower rate of discontinuation. Unlike antidepressants, where sexual dysfunction is a common side effect, it happens much more rarely with St. John’s wort (I have noticed no effect in this area). A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John’s wort, because of interactions, and it’s sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.

(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. In the winter months, if not getting sufficient daily exposure to strong light, see http://www.mercola.com/ SEARCHBAR: enter: "vitamin D3", & Go to a doctor and ask for a 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, blood test. When you get the results, don’t follow the typical “normal” reference range, as these are too low. The OPTIMAL value that you’re looking for is 45-52 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l)". The company which tests your levels has to be one of those using the correct form of test, and this topic is addressed via the searchbar at mercola.com – "vitamin D3; testing". Also take a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin; a deficiency in vitamin B9 (folic acid, or folate) is known to cause depression. Around 30% – 40% of depressed people have low vitamin B12 levels. Depressed females using the contraceptive pill may benefit from vitamin B6 supplements.

(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 – 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn’t wanted when dealing with depression. (3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain). (4.) Use daily, a relaxation method* and/or yoga*, and/or Tai Chi*.(5.) Initially, at least, some form of psychotherapy or counselling; later, perhaps either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy for, say, 6 months. (6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule**. (7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John’s wort, (get a German variety, if possible; local ones may vary in effectiveness. Perika, and Kira brands have been recommended as being effective. Take with a meal) or supplements, such as SAMe, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55).

If so, what kind of minerals or vitamins can I take to help this problem?

I’m not recommending anything, although you just might want to do some research into B vitamins. I had really bad problems with nerves and not enough B vitamins were the issue for me. Stress drains your B’s. Overall, excellent nutritional health in every area will ensure that you are as calm and happy as possible. If that doesn’t do it, then you can look for other reasons. Sorry no link but there is a wealth of info on the net telling you which mineral or vitamin helps with which thing. Good luck!

I have a big problem with worrying about my health and getting serious illnesses like aneurysms and stuff and I am only 21. I also worry about going crazy. I worry my g/f is gonna cheat but she busts her ass to prove she won’t and there is no signs AT ALL of it. I always feel depressed b/c of this. I worry about a lot more than that too. What could I do to get over it?

go to emofree.com, there is a free manual to download and start helping yourself.

How to conquer anxiety, depression and inferiority complex?

You don’t necessarily need medication to help you with anxiety, depression, etc. You have to change the way you think… your outlook on life. Of course things happen that can stuff your life up. But really, you have the choice to not let those things make you feel bad and have a negative impact on your life. It’s really hard at first.. it gets easier and if you like… find a friend who won’t think you’re strange.. and tell them whats going on.

Ive been wondering this for a long long time now. I take meds for all of that. Right now I’m going off of the anxiety meds and probabley the depression meds but sometimes at night I feel really anxious and need something to calm me down so I drink teas that are for sleep or relaxation. I’m pretty paranoid about all of this, pills, what mixes with what etc.
So I was wondering. Is it dangerous? Can I over sedate?

To some extent, it depends on the quirks of your personal metabolism. I once had a bad reaction between a drug I was taking and peppermint tea. The combination triggered an episode of vertigo that went on for hours (I was fine with either one alone). I don’t know if that’s happened to anyone else, but it definitely caused me some grief. I also had a very nasty reaction to St. John’s wort and I know others with the same complaint.

"Herbal" does not equal "safe." Some of the nastiest poisons on the planet are derived from plants. There’s no testing requirement, so no one knows for certain how various herbs interact with various drugs, even ignoring the quirks of individual metabolisms.

Be sure to tell your doctor(s) about all the drugs you’re taking, including OTC remedies, herbals and vitamins. Maybe your personal metabolism can handle them and maybe it will have problems. All you can do is keep track of things and monitor yourself for odd symptoms.

I’ve been having trouble with being able to handle things for the past couple years, and i’m wondering if there is really anything wrong with me. I’m having trouble concentrating on things, feel as though everything i have ever worked for and people i love are going to abandon me because i’m not good enough for them. There is a constant fear of them not liking me anymore. I’ve noticed that i feel alot more attatched to inanimate objects. I also have serious self-confidence issues. i don’t know the situation i am in, and if desired i can tell more of how i am feeling.(i feel selfish saying that).if anyone is a phycologist, then i would appreciate your insight.

I’m not a psychologist, but I am a social worker. You do sound like you may have some depression and/or anxiety issues. The good thing is that you have already started the road to recovery by reaching out for help. Both depression and anxiety are very curable. I have had both of these, and counseling really helped me.

Please know that when you are feeling like this is part of being down, and that things can get better. Your fears of not being good enough are very common to people who are depressed and people in general! I don’t think there are many people who have not privately felt that they are not "good enough". Self confidence can be learned. In the meantime, be gentle to yourself – you deserve it.

You sound like you could benefit from going to counseling. There are many ways to do this. You can get a referral from a community information center or 211 if there is a 211 line in your area. If you do not have benefits at work, there are some non-profit agencies if money is an issue. Some faith communities have trained counselors as well. If you have a good relationship with your family doctor, you could also talk to them about this and see if they have some referrals. I benefitted a lot from a book called Feeling Good by David Burns which should be in most major bookstores and libraries. Of course, there are many books that you might find helpful. Best of luck to you!

I’ve been having anxiety issues since August, but lately it seems to be taking it’s toll on my stomach and digestive process.. I’ll get this rumbling in my stomach, not the like hungry kind of rumbling, but this weird thing that leads to gas and feeling like I have to use the bathroom. I didn’t go through any weight changes, but my stomach definitely seems a lot more sensitive to what I eat.

I’m not sure if it’s just a thing triggered from anxiety with the nervous system, or if it could be an entirely different digestive or bowel problem that I should get checked out. All I know is that I CAN’T STAND IT. Please help!
Haha, here I was thinking that the bowel problems were an entirely different thing, which only gave me MORE anxiety. Lmaooo. Thanks so much!

I went through a rough time and had the same problem. If you’re having major anxiety issues, see your doctor so you can get anti-anxiety medication. Your body needs food even if you’re not hungry because of other emotional problems, so don’t jeopardize your health.

If you know, could you let me know if there is a most ‘common’ anti-depressant? I am currently struggling with anxiety attacks, not regularly, but I want to research as much as I can.

If you are actually taking anti-depressants… or suffering from similar things, maybe you could write your experiences with medication, side effects and any most successful meds/therapies.

I would be very grateful, Thankyou.

The most prescribed antidepressant in The US is Lexapro (escitalopram). Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), and Paxil (paroxetine) are among the most used.

But just because one drug is used more than another means very little. When a doctor picks a drug they try to pick the one that will best address your needs. A person with terrible OCD might get Luvox (fluvoxamine) first but people with another problems would almost never be prescribed that. In general Lexapro and Zoloft are the most effective SSRI class antidepressants. Aside from Effexor all the drugs I listed, including Luvox, are SSRI’s. Celexa (citalopram) is the other SSRI but I do not recommend people take it.

Have you been to a doctor (ideally a psychiatrist) for a diagnosis? There are many types of anxiety disorders and knowing which one you have will allow more targeted treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) might respond well to BuSpar (buspirone), a drug similar to antidepressants but it is not approved for treating depression but it can be very good for GAD. Yet panic disorder is not normally treated with BuSpar, certainly not with good success.

By the way panic disorder does not mean having a lot of panic attacks, often people do not understand that. Panic attacks can and typically do occur in all anxiety disorders.

It sounds like you are normally fine and only occasionally have a panic attack, if so them most doctors (and most patients) tend to prefer a benzodiazepine (benzo) like Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin/Rivotril (clonazepam), or Valium (diazepam). These medications work in 20-60 min and are often taken as needed for severe anxiety or for a panic attack. The advantage is that it does not require taking a pill everyday, just if you needed it and you don’t have to wait 4-6 weeks as an antidepressant kicks in. The only risk is that benzo’s can be abused but it is not common and people taking it as needed rarely have any problem. However if you have a history of substance abuse (primarily to alcohol, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates) then they are not really a good option.

I have panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depressive disorder.

I am 23 and in medical school for psychiatry and for the last 10+ years I have battled depression and anxiety. I tried exactly 43 medications, of all classes and subclasses except a MAOI (a rarely used type antidepressant with many very serious food and drug interactions). It was very hard for me because I am one of the few who gets more depressed on antidepressants, and have severe anxiety and I had various other symptoms depending on the drug. I doubt you will be anything like me plusI got worse because of chronic pain and a sleeping disorder.

To figure out the best treatment you need a specific diagnosis.

Generalized anxiety disorder:

People with anxiety and depression typically take an SSRI or SNRI. People with anxiety alone may start with BuSpar or a SSRI. If the anxiety is mild sometimes a drug like hydroxyzine, an antihistamine, is used as needed. Clinical studies typically show hydroxyzine to be no more effective than placebo, at best it might be slightly more effective. After SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and BuSpar the tricyclic antidepressants (TCA’s) are commonly used. Keep in mind that if medications don’t work doctors will do what they feel is best so if SSRI’s fail some doctors instantly do TCA’s.

If all antidepressants fail or only help a little or have severe consequences then atypical antipsychotics like Seroquel (quetiapine) or Geodon (ziprasidone) may be used. The use of these drugs in anxiety disorders is highly controversial because their efficacy is not well known and they can have some very serious side effects. Sometimes doctors use anticonvulsants like Neurontin (gabapentin), which has no real evidence of helping anxiety, or Lyrica (pregabalin), an enhanced version of Neurontin that is approved in Europe for GAD. And then if nothing works often monotherapy with benzodiazepines is used. That is a very basic over view, there are more options and anxiety is normally treated effectively without trying many medications.

Certain types of therapy could help, CBT is good for panic disorder, phobias, and OCD in particular. That really helped my agoraphobia. I also did more simplistic talk therapy which was only moderately helpful. I did support groups, learned meditation which did not help, I become very good at biofeedback but it did not really help, I reduced my school load for a while and that break was nice (this was in high school) and helped me collect myself, and I watched up beat movies. In the end, today, I do take medication for panic disorder with agoraphobia, depression, and a sleeping disorder. I was able to take much less thanks to CBT but I still take 4 mg of Xanax XR, a modest dose (the max is 10 mg/day) but I have been prescribed up to 12 mg/day, a vast dose. And now I have almost no s