Aa
I Need a cure without medication
Since August 7 2016, I went through my first panick attack and haven't been the same since. My anxiety had been up and down, severe some days and ok on other days. I was prescribed lorazepam on the 7 and distributed on the 20 (two weeks) and notice a few withdrawal system like shakes and tremors, feeling light headed and out of it. It started to subside aft a couple days but then on the 24th I woke at 2:44 am and haven't been able to sleep since. I was up for 3days/3nights until I have into the lorazepam and some Advil pm but still only got 4 hours of sleep out of the (beats 0) but now my fear is that I'm going to have to rely on that every night now. I want to get back to my life, my kids, and my husband, but I feel so lost.
Just know that seeing a psychiatrist won't get you where you want to go, which is to get better without medication. Very few psychiatrists today do therapy, they just do medication. When they do therapy, they charge a lot more for it than a psychologist. Given this problem is new to you and that there might be a trigger somewhere, I'd personally start with a therapist, as anxiousnomore wisely counseled. As for withdrawal, while it's not common to get it after such a short time on a drug, individuals vary quite a bit and what you describe is pretty classic withdrawal symptoms from a benzo. A way to try to avoid this is to taper off slowly instead of quitting abruptly. Anxiousnomore also wisely suggested you not to rely on Advil regularly, because it is also a dangerous drug when taken regularly. Most drugs are. So are sleeping pills, because if you rely on them you become dependent on them to sleep, they interfere with REM sleep, and cause something called rebound insomnia when you try to stop taking them. Drugs are when we can't fix things without them, in which case they can be a life-saver. But when I started out on this anxiety ride generally therapy was the first choice. These days, docs hand out drugs like candy. Give therapy a try; if it doesn't work, then it might be time to see a psychiatrist. If your life becomes so disrupted you can't live it at all comfortably that's also a sign that medication has become necessary. Good luck.
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Thank u so much for the advice
I wasn't feeling well 2 days prior the episode( it was probably anxiety and didn't know) I went to the ER and they found nothing. The day of my episode I felt my heart racing and pounding and I didn't know what it was so instead of calming down I freaked out and wound up sitting done trying to breath. My husband call 911 and when the paramedics came my arms and face were cramping up real bad and that when they told me I just need to relax because I was having a panic attack. All my vitals were good though
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Your vitals were good because your health is fine, but your fears make you over-analyze your body looking for clues that there is something wrong. That makes you think you are cramping up, but fear can't really make that happen so it is all in your head - probably you just tense up and it hurt your muscles after a while.
They told you it was just a panic attack, so you need to relax. That isn't easy for everyone and some can never get over it, but the whole problem you have is your own fears taking over your imagination.
Try therapy if you can't afford therapy,just do some reading about panic attacks or join a support group if possible because there are ways to settle down that work for many people so well that the attacks go away. If all the cheap methods don't do the trick it is worth it to see a therapist to try to end it, because the pain of anxiety you describe is seriously affecting your life.
They told you it was just a panic attack, so you need to relax. That isn't easy for everyone and some can never get over it, but the whole problem you have is your own fears taking over your imagination.
Try therapy if you can't afford therapy,just do some reading about panic attacks or join a support group if possible because there are ways to settle down that work for many people so well that the attacks go away. If all the cheap methods don't do the trick it is worth it to see a therapist to try to end it, because the pain of anxiety you describe is seriously affecting your life.
Yea I know, think u for the help. thankfully I haven't had another episode yet. I I will be seeing a phychiatrist tursday. In the mean time I need to find a way to sleep because being without sleep isn't good for me either
Avoiding sleep deprivation will help with your anxiety.
Try to focus on your strengths, things that make you happy etc. until Thursday. I would do some reading on the subject as well, to help you think about it and prepare for some new concepts that he discusses. Perhaps a quote in a book will stand out and you can focus on that. Not always easy, but sometimes it helps.
Try to focus on your strengths, things that make you happy etc. until Thursday. I would do some reading on the subject as well, to help you think about it and prepare for some new concepts that he discusses. Perhaps a quote in a book will stand out and you can focus on that. Not always easy, but sometimes it helps.
Thank you for your advice I hope I find some resolution soon
No I hadn't had a sleeping problem before. I've never went that long without sleep and when I was on the pill it was twice a day at .5mg for 2 weeks. I took the Advil pm to me me even more frost so I can rest and that when I rested for 4 hours. I have an a pppintment with a Phsyciatrist Tuesday to see what she says. But my biggest fear is not be able to sleep on my own now
2 Comments
" I took the Advil pm to me me even more frost so I can rest and that when I rested for 4 hours"
What does that mean?
What does that mean?
Sorry typo.. I took the Advil pm with the lorazepam to help me become more drowsy( that's what the pharmacist told me) and that's when I finally got 4hrs of sleep
I presume distributed is the day you finished taking it.
Withdrawal symptoms usually only occur in long term users. Not sure that you would get those withdrawal symptoms after 2 weeks, but you didn't say how many you took and if it was your first script probably the doc didn't give you many and since you are taking them still are they leftovers from the first script?
Lorezapam can make you drowsy but you need sleeping pills for sleeping if it is a long term issue. Have you discussed this insomnia and updated how you are feeling with your doc?
Also please discuss your panic problem. What caused it and what are you worried about? Some people just get them with no reason, but if there is a reason that needs to be addressed to either end the attacks or at least cut them down if possible.
Withdrawal symptoms usually only occur in long term users. Not sure that you would get those withdrawal symptoms after 2 weeks, but you didn't say how many you took and if it was your first script probably the doc didn't give you many and since you are taking them still are they leftovers from the first script?
Lorezapam can make you drowsy but you need sleeping pills for sleeping if it is a long term issue. Have you discussed this insomnia and updated how you are feeling with your doc?
Also please discuss your panic problem. What caused it and what are you worried about? Some people just get them with no reason, but if there is a reason that needs to be addressed to either end the attacks or at least cut them down if possible.
2 Comments
Do you suffer from pain, otherwise why the Advil PM? If I didn't have pain, it would not be my first choice for a sleeping aid because your pharmacist can show you something OTC that will help instead. Was insomnia a problem before the panic attacks?
I wrote it at the bottom
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