uncontrollable thoughts

[shubunkin]

Hello, I was disgnosed with anxiety/panic disorder. I have these thoughts everyday that I have cancer and that I am going to die. If I feel anything that is not normal I immediately think I am going to die of cancer. I take 20mg of paxil and was taking a total of 1.5 mg of xanax. I am weaning myself off of the xanax and I am currently taking .75 mg/day. How gradual should I decrease the xanax. How can I control these thoughts? Thankyou

[ConfuseD 555]

Will you please give me some direction regarding my previous comment made on 8/15/07. I am scared.

[ConfuseD 555]

I do not understand why you told me to look up Gwen Olsen just talks about the drug industry?

[AJC]

Look up "Gwen Olsen" on youtube or google video.

[ConfuseD 555]

Hi, over the last eight months I started having these uncontrollable thoughts. It started out with this odd overwhelming fear of vomitting.  Anytime anyone was sick around me I was start taking vitamins wash my hands all the time, and mentally make myself sick.  Then it turned into having an overwhelming fear of being hurt or killed because there were some killings close to where I live.  Then it progressed and this is the one that I cannot live with, what if I would hurt someone? What the heck is wrong with me. Sometimes I get anxiety soooo bad that my body tingles.  Oh and I had a weird thing with the number 3.

[JustSayNo]

http://www.drugawareness.org

[oh please already]

what r u doing here when im having a breakdown on the other side???just kidding glad to see you out spreading butterfly kisses for all (its 430am day 3 (almost)and im crackin'

[peacetrain]

could be early schizophrenia, don't want to scare u, like everyone else says, see a therapist or phiatrist about these thoughts.Someone very close to me has schizophrenia, and he constantly thought he had cancer etc, ran to emergency room almost twice a week. He is taking zyprexa at nites and zoloft in the mornings doing very very good now.But had to be hospitalized for the thoughts , no other drs could help him, finally a break thru.Sleeping like a baby and peaceful thru out the day now.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Decrease the xanaz by one half each week.  The best way to control the thoughts is by understanding what they really mean..since they mean something other than what they say. that means having a consultation with a therapist.

[angst]

I read a book many years ago. I believe the title was The anxiety disease.  It helped me by letting me know the anxiety will cease and how I could help it cease quicker.  The book is at least 10 or 15 years old, but it applies just as much today as it did then.  I am homebound without the use of benzodiazapines.  I have used them for 22 years now.  I am 36 years old and was diagnosed as a borderline in my early twenties.  I do not fit in all the catagories.  I have learned that I cannot have rational thoughts about irrational feelings.
I can start my day over any time I want.  I found a PhD in psychology helped me as much a psychiatrist.  With the exception that the PhD cannot prescribe meds.  So you need a doctor willing to work with the PhD.  Having uncontrollable thoughts almost sounds like a little OCD?  Just thought I'd put that out there.  Good luck.

[shubunkin]

Thankyou for your comment. I am seeing a doctor. I had my first panic attack and went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attck but everything was normal and they told me I was having an anxiety attack. The ER doc gave me the xanax and I had no idea what it was or I never would have taken it. A week later I went to an internal medicine doctor and she told me to stop taking the xanax and start taking the Paxil. So I did. Little did I know that I would feel like I was going crazy. So I went back to her and could not even talk without bursting into tears.So she agreed to put me back on the xanax at .5 mg 3 times a day. Since then I have weaned myself to a total of .75 a day. Some days are fine and some are not. But my mom is dying of colon cancer and that makes it all so much worse. I am only 28 years old with 2 young children and a wonderful husband but my mom is my best freind and a wonderful grandmother and it breaks my heart to think of her not being here. Well, I have rattled on enough. Thankyou for your concern.

[mibunny]

Decreasing the xanax will increase anxiety, just part of the withdrawal process.  I'm concerned about you self-medicating-- Aare you working with a physician, psychiatrist or even a mental health professional?  If you are -- you need to discuss this plan with them.  If not, it is time to seek professional help.  Have you ever been prescribed Buspar for your anxiety?  Has the doctor perhaps suggested an increase in your Paxil while you get off the xanax?  The thoughts can be worked on through these forums, positive self-talk, group therapy etc.  But I highly recommend getting with some professional help.  I do work in the field of mental health and substance abuse, and I would really like to hear you have success with your plan.  It will be very difficult to do alone.
Concerned, mibunny