Anxiety won't go away. What do I do?

[Kasmut]

I had my first intense panic attack/disorder episode about a year ago. It came on randomly and I was sent to the ER as a result. I wasn't able to sleep for about five days in a row and began hallucinating at the worst of it. I'm not sure if it was an average panic attack as the anxiety lasted nonstop for around 10 days. It was more the fear of fear than anything else. Along with the fear that the feeling would never end and that I was going crazy and would end up in the psych ward. It was the worst feeling in my life.

I eventually came to after my GP told me that the medicines the ER and another nurse practitioner I had seen were way too strong (seroquel) . It had actually made my attacks worse. So he said I should be on xanax instead and that it was made specifically for what I was going through. Just hearing him say that snapped me out of my anxiety and I was more or less "cured".
Ever since then however I'd occasionally get nighttime anxiety. Never as bad but it was always a struggle to sleep. I think I was traumatized from not being able to sleep for days and whenever I'd be dozing off I'd get a surge of adrenaline like I was about to be attacked or something and was wide awake afterward.

I didn't even had to take the xanax back then. Just hearing my GP say that was like the thing I needed to hear. Fast forward a year and I had another semi-attack last night. I was stressed out and got that same horrible anxious knot in my stomach that still hasn't gone away. I took xanax to help me sleep and it made me tired as hell but as I tried to doze off I just felt that rush of adrenaline trying to wake me up even though the xanax was slightly dulling the feelings.

Needless to say I didn't get any sleep. I took more xanax and it doesn't seem to be having any effect. I'm afraid of trying to sleep tonight. I can't go to a Dr anytime soon as we just moved cities and I'm on medicaid and it'll take a while to find a GP or med clinic that takes medicaid nearby. I also live alone all day as my mother has to work and can't get time off since she just started a new job. I am a social recluse with no friends to take comfort in. stuck in a city I don't know with no vehicle and no way to see a new GP. I am at a loss.

I should also mention last night I vomited about 4 times and had other symptoms mimicking the flu, but no fever. Could this all be from anxiety? I also have a condition called PCOS which messes up my hormones horribly to begin with.

I just want this feeling to end and I'm dreading not being able to sleep again tonight.

[abbyabbyrojas]

I can't seem to deal my anxiety attacks, they started about a week ago and they have gotten in between my and my life. I constantly feel dizzy, and it feels like someone is crushing my head and my breaths shorten. I feel like my whole body is hot and sometimes it goes to completely cold. I also start to tremble, and my heart feels like it's gonna stop at any minute. I especially feel my head loosing control everyday 24/7. Does anyone know what I can do as well? I can't stand living like this, it's not going away and it just seems to get worse..

[ToriLynn1992]

I am going through the same thing... It's been a couple of months did it ever go away? how are you now? I am going through this now. Maybe you can tell me what you've done to help it. anything?

Tori

[Henrykevin9]

I understand how you feel.  I have never  looked online for these things before but I am glad I did.  For the past few days I have not been able to eat or think about anything else.  It is completely consuming and paralyzing.  This has happened to me before.  And it I does pass, but I don't know when.  I want to tell someone but can't, I believe saying what is causing it will make it worse.  It started when I was a child, and seems to come in waves.  I I can go years without it even coming to mind, then suddenly it happens.  I try to stay occupied with TV, crosswords, games etc. I hope we both are better soon.

[JazzyLorene]

I feel the same way wen it comes to sleeping. When i strted hving panic attacks they happened in the middle of me sleeping so i nvr can sleep till like 5am and get like 2 hrs of sleep. Ill b tired all day bt right wen i try to sleep i am wide awake and cnt sleep at all. I feel anxious and my hearrt pounds. My doctore perscribed me ambien to sleep bt i rele honestly am afraid to fall asleep. I want to sleep bt im afraid to and im guessing its cuz i remember i panic at night. Its a struggle...

[Jerry_NJ]

I agree, post a new thread with a subject line that really point to your question, call for help.

That said, it is good you did a search and found this old thread.  That suggests you are reaching out for information and I consider that a healthy sigh.

If I read correctly you are getting some relief from a medication Xanaz, while I do not know that dug specifically I know many people continue to use prescription meds to control (I think not cure) your type of problem.  The only "cure" I am aware of is treatment by a therapist in your area of concern. In my experience that is likely a PhD in Psychology or similar field, not an MD or Psychiatrist.  My wife has been treated by both and the Psychiatrist focuses on drug treatment, the Psychologist focused on how her mind works and how she reacts to external and internally generated stimulus and what those stimulus are, and hopeful then how to control and limit the negative affects.  The medicine in my view is nothing more than a trade-off between a fully active mind a a drug calmed mind, this can go too far I fear.

[nursegirl6572]

Hello and welcome!  I'm glad you found us!

You've posted on a really old thread, so you won't get too many replies.  Do me a favor, and copy/paste your post into a new thread.  You can do so by clicking on this link:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=71

It's also better to have your own thread instead of tacking your post/questions onto someone elses post.  I'll keep my eye out for your thread!

[bellamafia1019]

Hi everyone! I hope someone out there can help me. I am not sure what I have but it is becoming a major pain in my life. I have been for like almost everyday having panic attacks or high anxiety. I keep thinking there is something wrong with me. I have been to the ER several times and had EKG's, blood tests, and even a CAT SCAN and everything comes back normal. I am still convinenced there is something wrong and I am so scared. It is starting to effect my job and my life. I am on .25MG xanax so when these feelings come over me I take one and I calm down so I am sure it is my anxiety and nothing else. But I still want to make it go away for good. It came in out of no where and i am ready to have it leave now. These "breathing exercises" do not do much for me either. I need something else. Please help anyone. I am scared and no one seems to understand me at all. My fiance says it is all in my head and only I can control that but i do not feel that way.

[Gulfstream2]

LOL! I I think you replied to me instead of Kasmut, and I replied - whoops...

[Gulfstream2]

Its always good to hear from others who have the same problems, but the great news is that they go away, but it simply takes a while.

Thank you for your sympathy, very kind of you.

I don't know about you but I have done a lot of reading on psychology and the brain and how it is related to anxiety, and how those viscious cycles occur and what sustains them and I honestly think that sometimes educating yourself can be an excellent "therapy" so to speak in that you are now finally coming out of the dark and knowing what is going on, how it happens, how it can be controlled and eventually how it stopped for good.

Sometimes a psychiatrist is the best type of doctor to go see, as they deal with the mental component of it entirely. Anxiety is kind of quirky since it can get some worked up thinking something is physically wrong with them when it is nothing but our marvelous sympathetic nervous system that generates all those dreadful feelings.

I have pretty much overcome my anxiety fully, still working on it and will be for a while but I am no longer feeling like I used to, so just know that everything will get back to the norm.

Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.

[jackiefoxybrown]

I feel for you..last year I suffered a nervous breakdown,felt trapped in my own body,stomach was so screwed up I didn't know if I had to move my bowel or vomit...and I like you I could not sleep.the only thing that helped me was time..it took me about 2 weeks to recover completly..and I knew I was back to normal when I dreadfully layed down expexting not to get a wink,and I slept all the way until 10 the next morning..and woke upwith a smile on my face,cuz I finally felt somewhat like my normal.you will be alright..just do a lot of deep breathing and you are able too and can stay put take a hot long bath.onne thing I realsised throughout that ordeal was that some doctors aren't worth sh**. I went to the ER twice and they just did not have empathy and I left the hospital feeling worse than I came in.it took intense research for me to finally realise that I was having a nervous breakdown cuz the docs never told me anything.they just gave me a valium and sent me on my way.

[anonymousP_P]

There's generally a reason for my onsets of anxiety and that knot is such a pain. Maybe it's time you start listeningto that knot. From what I've read, sounds like moving and having no-one around from your support network set it off.  Try looking up local clubs and see if one looks good. Although it'll no doubt be scary the first time, it's a great way to meet other's. Remember anxiety is a label, its not you. It's stressful and scary now but you'll get through it.

[Gulfstream2]

Hi Kasmut,

Well I have had a few months of moderate to serious anxiety that just "popped up" but they have been subsiding away now for a couple of weeks and I've been very proactive about getting over it for good.

I had a few panic attacks during this time when I was going through this supposed "anxious phase" or whatever brought it on, but I do know to some extent what brought it on, I came from a bit of rough background and I guess something from back then crept up on me, but they're going away.

I had a bout intense anxiety that was similar to the fear of being fearful like you said for about four days, when my mother was gone on a trip. I was totally shaken up which is not my norm at all, never did I feel like that. I was literally drinking seven to eight cups of calming tea everyday for the first couple of days. It helped, but it was more of damper not a cure for the feelings of the anxiety which I know, can be challenging to deal with.
However after the second day, I began to calm down and by the night she was returning I felt just fine. On the first couple of nights I was a nervous wreck, and only after continually repeating to myself that all the bad feelings I was having were just symptoms of bad anxiety did it finally reside enough for me to sleep. We almost have the same circumstances, I couldn't see a doctor because of no medical insurance. So, I know where you coming from to a pretty fair extent.

Symptomatically speaking, anxiety has a barrage of symptoms of all sorts. I'm sure that has got to be over a hundred or at least close to it. The most predominant (that occur in pretty much anyone) are the shallow breathing, rapid pulse, palpitations, headaches, lightheadedness, dizzyness, sweating, and also digestive disturbances. Usually, anything from nausea, vomiting, stomache ache, flatus and others. Of course, don't forget chronic muscle tension. When anxiety sets you on edge, the adrenaline surge does make you tired as well.

I don't know anyting about PCOS, but it may have influence on your emotions possibly if has to do with your hormones.

There were a couple of instances where I also had that adrenaline surge just before falling asleep, but I was able to let myself relax and drift off afterwards. I am certain that anxiety contributes to this without a doubt.
Also, you can be anxious without being aware of it, as anxiety (as any other emotion) also has an subconcious domain as well.

A lot of people have difficulty with anxiety because whatever type of stimulus sets them off causes them (over time, usually months) to become conditioned to respond to that stimulus - whatever it might be - in the same way: Anxiety, or a state of high-alert, nerve racked and so on. Its what is called a "learned behaviour". You might want to read about it. Basically, it can be undone by unlearning the behaviour or substituting a different behaviour for it.

Being isolated, this has probably added to your anxiety to some degree, socializing is very important and good to do. But you do have people on here who will socialize and be your friend, I will. You may find just talking this out with others and learning about it might rid you of the brunt of it, I say this because it has done that to me, talking it out really, really is a great way to overcome it for good.

In summary, I think you are having some serious anxiety episodes that are frequent and recurrent but choosing to seek help on here will be one step to really get you back on course. I do hope this helps you, and I hope that I can help in any way.

[coconutboy]

Sorry to see you have to go thru this, it is no fun.  Big hug in the mean time, remember this too shall pass.  

Try to do some deep breathing exercise, a few at a time, breathe in deep, hold 2 sec then release deep out like 3 times every hour or two.  

Try to drink some chamomile tea, helps to relax and calm you naturally, good help for sleep.  Play some soft relaxing music in the background.  When my anxiety kicks to high gear while driving to work, I'll play some classical music, boring yea but it always brings my anxiety down a notch.   Try to meditate if you can.   Meditation can help take your mind to a pleasant place of your choosing, believe me IT HELPS.

I know how you feel, my anxiety been up this entire weekend, I hate that horrible anxious knot in the stomack you mentionned above.  You take care hopefully your mom gets home soon to keep you company. Big hug, feel better soon!