Anxiety and Fear

[marie]

I am bipolar and have been manic for some time.  But for at least 25 years that I have known of, and probably before that, I suffer from anxiety and fear.  For years it was incredible terror and was constant.  Now with medication and years of therapy, it is periodic and milder, but I am not free from it.  There is nothing in my life that is bad, I have everything in the world to be thankful for, I am happy, but often towards the afternoon I start feeling uneasy and then it becomes fear.  I don't understand this and how I can get rid of it.  Often, if it persists, I begin to attribute it to something that is perfectly OK when I am not feeling the fear.  Is there anything you can say to help me?  Everything would be so perfect if I could get past that.  Like I said, it has been going on most of my life.

[HFHS M.D.-SW]

Dear Marie,

It must be difficult trying to cope with bipolar illnesses along with the increased anxiety.

It is not uncommon for a person to complain of fluctuating anxiety.  The anxiety may be triggered by an external event or simply due to an accumulation of unidentified stressors.
Your anxiety appears to present in the form of worriness.

I recommend you address your concerns with your psychiatrist.

Best Wishes,

HFHS M.D.-SW

[Barbara]

Did something traumatic happen to you in the afternoon or evening time when you were really young? You may not remember it consciously but it seems to be creeping in from your subconscious mind each day as that time approaches. You may want to ask your psychiatrist about regressive hypnosis to see if something bad happened to you or your family in your early childhood.

[Marie to Barbara]

My childhood was very traumatic year after year.  I know of some things that were extremely traumatic, but I don't know what time of day they happened.

I am so much better than I was even a year ago, but it is fear and anxiety that make me think of suicide.  Even depression does not do to me what the anxiety does.

Do you know what I am talking about?  I mean, have you experienced this and maybe overcome it?

If so, could you please tell me how?

[Shawn]

It's possible that your medication is wearing off at that time of day.

My anxiety came in the morning and late afternoons.  My dosage of Depakote, Zoloft and Lamectal had to be increased.  

So far - so good.  I haven't had any anxiety, panic attacks or fearful moments since the increase.

Good Luck.

[Barbara]

Marie,

I am taking Neurontin for anxiety and it seems to be helping a great deal. The reason for my psychiatrist giving me the Neurontin for anxiety is because I am also an alcoholic and have seizures during withdrawal periods. The Neurontin is an anti-convulsant as well as used for anxiety and obsessive/compulsive disorder which she diagnosed as well.

She thinks one of the main reasons I can't completely stop drinking right now is the constant anxiety which builds until I crash and burn again, usually about every two weeks. I have only been on this medication for a few weeks and my thoughts of what she labels as a death wish rather than suicidal thoughts have diminished. I am also on Antivan though for the withdrawal as well so that is playing a role in calming the anxiety. She wants to take me off the Antivan once my sobriety is stabilized for at least 30 days and determin whether the Neurontin will do the entire job. Neurontin has less side effects than Depakote.

She says I may have an underlying depression problem as well and may need to treat that with something else at a leter date.

If you want to talk further email me,  ***@****

[Marie to Shawn]

Thanks!  You may have hit the nail on the head.  Maybe.

My doctor has not given me a mood stabilizer, but has kept me on an antipsychotic which I've been taking for 12 years.  I don't understand that, though.  Anyway, I take it at night.  So by the afternoon I could very well be needing it again.  I'll ask him what I should do.  I might could take 1/2 of it at night and 1/2 during the day.  Thanks.  I'll try it.

Like I said, I am so much better off than I used to be but I can't stand this fear.  It would be a miracle for me if that was all it was!

[Susan to Shawn]

This is the second day that I've tried it and so far so good.  I take half at night, and half at noon.  I have not felt fear since!  I hope it stays like this.  Thanks!

[To Shawn]

OK.  I have tried it about a week and I have not felt fearful since!  I can't thank you enough for your suggestion!

[jan]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME THE SYSTEMS OF WITHDRAWLS FROM MARIJUANA AND CAFFIENE? MY FRIEND IS CURRENTLY SEEING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL FOR ANXIETY AND PANIC DISORDER AND WE WONDER COULD THIS BE WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS FROM STOPPING THE INTAKE OF THC AND CAFFIENE. CAN THIS CAUSE ANXIETY AND PANIC ?  OR IS HE REALLY SUFFERING FROM PANIC DISORDER. HE IS CURRENTLY TAKING BU-SPAR AND CLORAZAPAN? STILL HAVING SEVERE SOCIAL PHOBIA. ALL OF THIS IS VERY SUDDEN. HE WAS NEVER AFRAID TO GO OUT AND WORK, BUT NOW HE IS UNABLE TO WORK (ONLY 43 YEARS YOUNG). CAN ANYONE TELL ME DOES THESE FEELINGS SUBSIDE AND IS THIS POSSIBLE WITHDRAWLS FROM HEAVY THC AND CAFFIENE ABUSE. ALSO HOW LONG IS THE WITHDRAWL PERIOD ?

[johnny]

For a couple of years now, i have been experiencing anxiety with panic attacks.  The anxiety comes out of nowhere and persists for hours.  I worry about everything, panic about the  littlest things.  On most days, i have intense fear.  My family tells me to get over it, but like, i can't.  The last time I had a panic attack, my mom thought I was bluffing and yelled at me.  She has absolutely no idea how fearful life can be for me.  I know it is impossible to asses, but what is the reason most likely?  I have heard about GAD and thats what I think it is.  What do you think?

[Lois]

I am a 40 year old female.  I have suffered with this condition for as long as I can remember.  Every once in a while for unknown reasons, simple events seem to cause me to have panic attacks.  I get anxious and angry at myself because I get in this condition and can't seem to keep from working myself into a panic.  The event usually does not have to even relate to me.  This paticular day, I have a wedding to attend and I am getting very anxious because I am afraid I will not be able to go.  I start shaking, get chills, my stomache gets extreamly upset and  I try to convince myself that I will be fine, and usually am, however, it still makes me mad that this happens.  I do not want my children to see me this way and get scared.  How can I learn to calm myself down?