anxiety/ depression/medicatians/please help

[Dara]

Dr. Gould,
I have come to you in the past regarding anxiety questions, I have always found you to be straight forward, but at the same time give options to treatment that doesn't leave us anxiety sufferers feeling so trapped.
My primary problem is with anxiety.  I had a full blown panic attack 4 years ago(which lasted a 4 month period, I refused meds at that time) and have had anxiety daily ever since.
Each morning I wake up feeling my body tingle and shake inside, there are times when the tremors move the bed.  My head is full feeling, and I feel not-quite-in the moment, I walk with my arms crossed around my waist part for protective reasons and part for the nausea.  My legs have that restless energy through them which makes it uncomfortable to sit down for periods of time.  I have 3 children and my husband and I run our own business and I seem to get more overwhelmed with each passing day, the constant anxiety surmounts the situation.
I have been med-free for 5 months.  I have tried to read and think myself well, also while attending christian counceling.  I'm certain this all helped, but it never relieved any physical symptoms such as the ever present dizziness.
I returned to my phsyc dr.  and he said along with the anxiety he noticed an increase in my depresion.  I had to agree, I was sobbing in his office, and had crying spells up and before my visit.  I am just so frustrated that I could not make a difference in my anxiety for 4 years.  I'm one of those people who do what there told, so I did my best to follow the advice of my drs.
All the books I have read, say I just need to think right and I will be cured.  So here I feel like the failure.  I did the workbooks, tried to catch the negative thoughts, but still my recovery seems to be out of my reach.
So I took my drs. advice to try a med.  I took Zoloft, I had the same reaction I had once before-I paniced non-stop for the few days I took it.  I then tried Buspar.  I didn't know it contained a stimulant, I was surprised to find that I freaked out on this med as well.

Questions:
At this point, is medication my best option?
Can thinking yourself well, but at a lower anxiety level than were I am at?
Are there any meds including ssri's that work best for people who suffer first from anxiety, second from depression?

Dr. Gould, I have tried Paxil twice.  Each time it was able to calm me down, but both times I became a zombie and depressed.  Is this something that sometimes happens on it, I felt the best on 10 or less mg, the worst on 12.5mg CR.

I will print this out and take it to my dr., I know you are uncomfortable giving certain advice on the internet, (I do understand why), but I hope you can guide me, give some solid advice and maybe a sunnyside to this horrible anxiety that I hope to conquer-I just need the tools and wisdom from the experts.

God's blessings,
Caring

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I would ask your doctor about Effexor, which is effective for both anxiety and depression, and  I would think of starting with 25 mg. tablets, two or three times a day.  That way you can monitor the side effects yourself, and play with the dosage between 50mg and 100mg. per day range.

In addition, I would recommend, if I did not the last time, that you look into my online therapy program at masteringstress as a supplement to your christian counseling.  It will get you to the source of your anxiety, and in the long run, that is what will be best for you.

[DeeV]

I understand what you're going through.  I have been a worrier my whole life--runs in the family.  But now, at age 38, I have frequent periods of numbness in different parts of my body.  I've had the MRI's, NCT's, and EGM's and everything has come back normal.  I've tried anti-depressants, which make me feel weird, and I really don't think I'm depressed.  Valium helped a lot, and I'm currently on Xanax, but that runs out in a week.  Both drugs, I've read, are not for long-term use and can be addictive, so I'm afraid of what will happen in a week.  The worst is that creepy crawly feeling down my spine, hands, feet, legs, arms, you name it.  I am easily startled--I jump when the alarm goes off, and I can't explain why.  I am in a stressful job--teaching middle school--and am in a 2nd marriage with 4 kids between us, but am really not any more stressed than anyone else my age who work and run around to kids' events all week.  Why all this now? (It'll be a year in July)  Is it possible to "fry" one's nerves after long-term stress on the body? One doctor made me feel like it was "all in my head," which only makes this more difficult.  My darling husband decided to get us a hot tub (any day now)so I can de-stress and hopefully sleep better at night, but what else can I do?  I don't think psychotherapy will help much, although I do read a lot of Christian books and books on relaxation.  Does anyone know what caused this and what I can do?  People are supportive but just don't understand.  It's not like there's a switch where one can turn it on and off.  Thanks, Dee

[Caring]

Sorry it tok so long to respond, my computer has been down.  But I can certainly relate to your concerns.  I also work full time, have a husband and 3 beautiful children.  I am under a great deal of stress, but I have always handled it with calm grace.  4 years ago my first attack hit like a ton of bricks, and I remember the dr. asking me if I were stressed, and I responded "not really".  Because to me, it was my normal everyday life, nothing different.
My therapist says that all the years of relentless stress, has taxed my system, and has caused havoc in my brain.  Although I believe this is possible, it's an incredibly harsh way to come out.  I also made the comment that other people do what I do and are still happy and care-free.  He said that stress comes out in everyone in different ways, some get high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. That was supposed to make me feel better?!
Anxiety disorders are horrible on the body, mind and soul.  It rocks your world and self-esteem.  I feel I will never look at life the same again.  I am a very joyous person, giving and understanding, but I am floored with my battle with anxiety.  it has robbed me of many good times with my famly and friends, even when I'm with them I'm fighting my inner battles, most of the time I don't even hear what there saying because I'm so consumed with anxiety/fear in my head.  Have you experienced this.
Iam at a rough patch right now.  Just quit after 2 weeks on Paxil, didn't do a thing but send me into a spiral of symptoms.  I'm back to high alert anxiety,vomiting, can't eat can't think.  My dr. prescribed a mood stablizer.  Scared about taking it but I got to stop this runaway train.  I pray to God that this will bring me back to earth.  Anyone use a mood stablizer with success?  Would love to hear from you.
Sorry for rambling on, I was so excited to be able to share my story with someone who mightbe able to relate.

[Stuck]

I have been having pretty severe anxiety and panic and seemingly impossible to stop fears constantly for almost 6 months now...I actually had to quit my job because I didn't know how to deal with it.  I haven't taken any meds because of fear and because of others I know and have talked to about their use and experiences with it.  I've lost a lot of weight over it and feel exactly as you do in the feeling that you've been robbed of your livelyhood and any sort of fun and enjoyment because of the constant "inner demons" nagging at you.  I know exactly what you mean when you're around friends and not even hearing what they say because you're too side tracked with worry, but most of all the "ever present dizziness" is the absolute worst for me, It drives me crazy and nothing around me seems real. I've developed some pretty significant depression over all this and feel I'm never gonna enjoy life again as well...You are not alone!  The only one thing I've tried that seems to have helped a little is something I found on the internet called "Be Calm'd".  It's helped some.  It supposedly helps the neurotransmitters in your brain with amino acids and stuff.  Let me know if you find anything else that helps.  by the way do you ever feel like theres fullness or pressure in your head?

[doxsons4us]

Your disorders sound like my husbands, he is 49. Going on for over 4 months now. We have tried everything. I believe his stem from having to leave his job, and go on disability. He is a workaholic and perfectionist. But after 3 major back surgeries and countless procedures over the last 10 years,leaving him with extreme chronic back pain he can not go on. I worry about his desire to never wake up each morning. The sobbing, pacing and weakness, are terrible. No appetite, lost 50 lbs, and didn't need to.  If you are getting any help, I would love to know. We haven't tried the Be-calm, but have seen it advertised, and thought about ordering. Now he is on Klonepin, Remeron, and will start Neurontin tomorrow. Has tried, Zoloft, Effexor, Ativan, Trazodone,and many others along with the Duragesic patch for pain.  Anyone has any advice, I'm listening. Thanks

[panicky23]

My first panic attack happened when my only daughter was just a few months old and after my husband told me he was addicted to prescription pain medications.  I had them on a daily basis - sometimes many throughout the day - for about three months straight.  At the time I did not want to be put on any medication.  I was afraid to go home for fear my husband might be there, because when he was on anything and drinking on top of that he was very verbally and emotionally abusive.  The panic attacks stopped happening everyday, but the anxiety stayed with me.  It was ten months later that my husband finally went to Rehab for his pill addiction and the panic attacks started happening again.  It is so hard to raise a baby when you are so overwhelmed most of the time.  Right now I am on Paxil CR 12.5 mg., but I have tried Zoloft (made me violently shake, sweat, and sick to my stomach), Celexa (made me unable to sleep, rapid heartbeat non-stop, and blurred vision), and Xanax.  The Xanax worked, but I was afraid I might become dependent upon it over time.  I am only 22 years old with a little 15 month old baby and a husband that is regressing to the adolescent teenager that wants to do his own thing.  I have decided I am going to see a therapist that specializes in anxiety disorders.  I am praying that the combination of therapy, medication, and staying in prayer will help show me what I need to do to kick this awful way of living.  I hope other people read this and feel better knowing they are not alone if they are having the same problem.  I will let you know if the therapy helps in the near future

Thank you for letting me talk about this
If anyone has any feedback for me I would love to hear it.