fear of my anxiety

[ativan]

Hi my name is Janis from England,
I have suffrerd anxiety bad for the last 7 years but my most feared syptom is the queer feeling in my head, I have no pain it just feels awlful, I feel worse when I have to go anywhere I do try and make myself go to the shops but I feel as if Im going to fall over and its all due to the feelings in my head, I have been on benzos for over 30years and I feel its the meds thats making me feel this way, but I have tried to wean of them and felt worse, but its the daily fear of my anxiety syptoms. does anyone feel the same?
yours Janis

[ativan]

thanks your answers do help and i will take on board all what been said, but I have trid so hard to control the feeling in my head, its there when i wake and made worse on doing everything i should be enjoying. but my doctor says its just my anxiety and I do somtimes wonder where and what I will do if it dosent ease. thanking you all.
take care.
Janis.

[barfer]

I agree with the others who have commented, after 30 years, with daily use, it would be extremely difficult to go off meds.  I also agree with the others that your syptoms sound more like anxiety/agoraphobia.  My suggestion to you would be to try and push through them.  Eventually, you will be able to cope.  I've got an example that I will share with you (out of many).  I was involved in a car accident approx six years ago.  After that I was unable to drive for almost a year because of panic/anxiety.  Eventually I got fed up with myself and started driving just down the street and back.  I'm sure my neighbours thought I was nuts, but I did this every day until I was able to go a block and a half, then two blocks and eventually everywhere in my neighbourhood.  My daughter lives about 20 minutes away by highway.  I knew I would never be able to drive on the highway again but, I was determined to try and drive to her place by going the back routes (45 minutes).  I got one quarter of the way there the first day and turn back.  The next day I got almost half way there before retreating.  On the third day, I got all the way there.  I was a nervous wreck, but I did it.  Interestingly, I had no trouble going back home after our visit.  It is important to get out and do everything you can so that you don't give in to the agoraphobia.  Everyday is a struggle in one way or another for all of us, especially those of us who have had to deal with this disorder for many years or all our lives.  We just get tired of it and that is why we should look at everything we do as an accomplishment.  Even if it is just walking out the front door for 10 minutes to breathe in the air.  That is an accomplishment.  Our lives aren't easy, no life is, but ours has this added struggle.  All the more reason to try and grab every moment you can and don't let your anxiety get in the way of living the life you want.      

[OneScaredBuckeye]

I agree with your doctor.  After thirty years, it's possible to get off bezodiazepines, but it wouldn't be a good idea.  Your brain is used to having them now.  And some people truly need them.  It's nothing to be ashamed about or worry about. Some people need them just like diabetics need insulin.  It's a chemical imbalance in the brain or a hormonal imbalance, etc.

I agree with suzi-q, it sounds like an anxiety/agoraphobia manifestation to me and something not related to medication use.  It's not the medication.  It's agoraphobia.  What you need to do is go to the shops, just for a minute in the beginning, if you need to keep it to that, and desensitize, as suzi said.  In time, you'll be able to go anywhere without that strange feeling.  Good luck.  I hope you feel better.

[suzi-q]

It seems to me that you suffer from Agoraphobia. (fear of going outside).  I have had and still continue getting those same "head" symptoms.  When it gets worse, it is usually because I am about to do something that I relate to anxiety...I know that mall shopping is a big one for lots of us.  I remember a time it got so bad, that I walked into the mall and out of it in a matter of 2 seconds.  I thought I was going to pass out.  The head symptom is triggered by your anxiety..and your anxiety comes from the fear of your head which makes you afraid to come out! (Terrible cycle!).  My suggestion is this.  First remember that anxiety cannot hurt you, no matter how bad it makes you feel.  You have to start doing the things that make you feel this way...slowly at first until you desensitize yourself from these situations.  I hope that I made sense and I hope that I helped you.

[ativan]

thanks for your reply, ive been on benzos every day for over 30years and I know that they shouldent have left me on them my doctor says I have been on them to long to think of getting of them. I have tried but the withdrawel was dreadful, so hear I am stuck on them, 4 ativan daily 1mg and 5mgs of valium in the morning, I now call it my benzo head but I hate the way I feel because Im almost to scared to go anywere has my head feels so bad.
take care
Janis.

[barfer]

That feeling of falling over is something I have experienced most of my adult life.  I've learned to live with it for the most part.  Some days are worse than others and at certain times of the year, it is worse.  I'm the only person I know of who looks forward to the first frost because in the winter I don't feel as dizzy.  The summer is my worst season followed closely by spring and fall...seasonal alergies.  This is a definite symptom of anxiety but it can also be exaserbated by alergies.  When you say that you have been on benzos for over 30 years, does that mean every day or just as needed?  

[mrworryguts]

Yes i get the woozy head feeling every now and again and i hate it. Nearly everyone who suffers from anxiety seems to get it. Myanxiety started about a year ago and i had the strange head feeling for about the first four months every day, then it went completely for about four months, but then i started to get it again onn and off.