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Avatar universal

Anxiety?

Hello everyone,

I`m 26, dignosed with anxiety disorder, which is getting really bad at times - heart paltpitations,chest pain, breathing problems, twitching musles, nausea, headaches, chronic fatigue, nonstop frequent infections - sinus, UTI, kindey ect. Till a certain moment I`ve managed to keep the things under control, but now it`s becomeing more and more difficult every single day. I`ve completely lost my sense of reality, I`m worried about every single little thing, have strange thoughts and weird feeling that something terrible will happen in future, can`t concentrate, can`t sleep...Just wanted to ask after all the things read for being on medicines - do they really help? Of course it`s all individual, but yet, I do hope to be relieved a bit. My doc refuses to give me meds, said I should try to relax, think positive and never look back to the past. Well, if I could do that, I wouldn`t be visting him, would I?
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Avatar universal
Dear friends /I believe I can call you so, because you`re my spiritual mates in a world were we are Don Quixotes fighting against scary, althought in most cases imaginary windmills/,

I don`t know how to thank all of you for your care and understanding. I`ve never believed that someone could understand me so well like you do, guys. Thanks God you`re there! Althougth the circumstances under which we "meet" are not one of the most favourable.

Greenlydia, I`m reading your post, and my tears are dropping on the keyboard. It was so moving. The friends around are asking"Why are you crying?" For them I`ve always been perfect- at the english school I went to, at the university, with the short stories and lyrics I`m writing, with the clothes I`m desiging. But I`m the only one ho knows how much pain I`m hiding. And how loud I wanna scream. But screaming is no Panacea...I really hope that you dearwill  Greenlydia taper off succesfully and live the life you deserve. Because everyone of us here is worth it.

JSGeare, I admire your philosophical approach and always clever advice you are giving to all of us. I`m sure you`ve been through a lot, so the way we`re feeling is not unfamiliar to you. Glad that you found peace in your soul and are here to share your experience and help the others. I`ll do my best to search for other doctors and ask for psychoteraphy. I gave blood two days ago, to get my TSH tested. I suspect I might have thyroid issues, since my mother was operated from Hashimoto 15 years ago, and my granny is on life long meds for such a thyroid issues. A friend of mine is also checking a optoins for France and Germany, like you suggested.

Nana, strength to you. I hope the long years of nightmare will be over and you`ll find the proper medicine.

Suzi-q, I`m sure that my anxiety in such a phase can`t go away from itself, so I will require a med.

Effexorfan, there`s alawys hope right there, isn`t it?:)

I`ll keep you posted about the TSH results:)
Greetings from the good old Europe
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How much Paxil are you on?  I was on it before and it worked, but it was a low dosage.  Now I probably need more....but how much are you on?  Nana
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Avatar universal
Getting off of all anti-depressants are horrible.  I am on Paxil and love it.  However, I won't even TRY to come off of it..not now anyway.  I still suffer with some anxiety but I am 100 times better.

GET A DOCTOR AND GET A MEDICATION (if that is what you want).  There are options out there.
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Avatar universal
I also struggle with anxiety and I am 60.  Its good to know that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel..I guess you just have to experiement with your doctor until you find the right one.  But this is frustrating.  I am trying to get of Effexor because I was not happy with it and started with high blood pressure.  Now...getting off is terrible!!   I am going to try Paxil.  I wake up every morning with my stomach turning..loss of appititte..shaky and always nervous for no reason.  I hate this.  It scares me that I will not return to my fun, happy, self.  Just keep me positive people....I need it.  Nana
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Avatar universal
I also struggle with anxiety and I am 60.  Its good to know that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel..I guess you just have to experiement with your doctor until you find the right one.  But this is frustrating.  I am trying to get of Effexor because I was not happy with it and started with high blood pressure.  Now...getting off is terrible!!   I am going to try Paxil.  I wake up every morning with my stomach turning..loss of appititte..shaky and always nervous for no reason.  I hate this.  It scares me that I will not return to my fun, happy, self.  Just keep me positive people....I need it.  Nana
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Avatar universal
I also struggle with anxiety and I am 60.  Its good to know that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel..I guess you just have to experiement with your doctor until you find the right one.  But this is frustrating.  I am trying to get of Effexor because I was not happy with it and started with high blood pressure.  Now...getting off is terrible!!   I am going to try Paxil.  I wake up every morning with my stomach turning..loss of appititte..shaky and always nervous for no reason.  I hate this.  It scares me that I will not return to my fun, happy, self.  Just keep me positive people....I need it.  Nana
Helpful - 0
366811 tn?1217422672
And they ask us why we drink. Good grief!

I'm terribly disappointed -angry, really- with that doctor. And I would be cautious about well-intended testimonials regarding the effect of one medication or another. You need to figure out medication with a doctor.

But first, we've got to find the right Doc. You're in the Netherlands, then? (Your English is exquiste -what's THAT about?).

Pretend, if you can, that you are on a mission to find the right doctor not just for you, but for everyone else who is wandering through the tulips looking for the right person. Do you start at a university with a medical program? Consider going to Germany or France? I don't know, I really don't know. But I'll tell you one thing I would try -the US embassy or consulate. Sounds crazy, I know, but these are crazy times!  I doubt that the embassy itSELF will have a doctor on staff there who can  help, but they may well be connected with local resources that are better suited to your needs. Its a thought, anyway.

I would also try connecting with a doctor on THIS website (click the doctor link above) to see if you can get some direction.

And THEN, promise me you'll come back and tell us what you discovered. I'm beggin' you!

Hang in.
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Avatar universal
I have always had anxiety. Could live with it until 2 years ago when it became too much.
Had panic symtoms, thought I would not survive, wanted to retire...needed to take a sleeping aid every night.
My doctor put me on effexor XR with great results. I also went to a sleep clinic to learn relaxation techniques which I now master. No need for sleeping pills any more!!!
I still take effexor once a day, without any nasty side-effects.
I'm doing just fine.
You will too!
Talk with your doctor, follow his advice, be patient, and your anxiety is treatable just like mine.
Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
Hi Maggie........glad you are keeping us updated on your quest for relief. You were given advice to find another doctor, which you did, but it would appear that you've ended up with yet another "quack" who is NOT listening to what you are telling them! Any doctor worth his or her salt, after truly listening to you, would not let you walk out of their office without offering you some sort of medication to get you some much needed relief. That and the name of an excellent mental health care practioner!  I can't believe what you've been told..........well, actually I can since I had been termed a "nervous nellie" and an "anxious annie" by many, many doctors before I finally found one who took my symptoms seriously and treated me for those FIRST so I could calm down, center myself enough to seek professional mental health. He explained to me that I first had to break the cycle of my negative thinking, my horrific anxiety long enough for me to be able to focus clearly on what was happening in my life. The medication he gave me helped me almost instantly and I was advised to write down everything that was bothering me, from the neighbors dog barking to my constant fear of dying of a heart attack. Because of the meds I was on, for the first time in years, I was able to organize my thoughts into a cohesive whole, rather than a chaotic tornado. When I began therapy, I took my journal with me and presented the therapist with a somewhat rational timeline of all my fears. We simply began with the first thing on my list and worked our way down........in the process I learned how so many things were interconnected. It was truly an eye-opener for me. I thought all these things were seperate issues and there was no way we'd ever get to the bottom. I owe this doctor and this therapist my life. But, there is one problem remaining, which is why I am on this forum. The med the doc put me on was Xanax. Six years later, I am STILL on it! I had been diagnosed with severe panic disorder and PTSD. I didn't know at the time that Xanax was not suppose to be used long term. And there are many out there who will say my doc and therapist should be barred from practice for letting me become a Xanax junkie. I have over the years gone off the Xanax with medical supervision and it would be OK for a few weeks, then the panic attacks would come back with a vengence and they'd put me on something else, which unfortunatley, did not work for me. It did not keep the anticipatory anxiety at bay and the panic attacks seemed stronger than before. So, they'd eventually put me back on the Xanax. I have tried three times and each time have ended up back on the Xanax. I fear I am, as usual, digressing into my problems rather than yours. A bad habit of mine and I do apologize. Let me end this by saying I think you need to find yet another doc who specializes in anxiety/panic/OCD and hopefully this one will take you seriously and offer you real solutions to your problems. As an aside, I would question any suggestion of being prescribed Xanax! Short term........OK. Long term.........NO!!!!!!!!!! You made a very wise decision to visit us here. You've taken the first big step towards recovery by sharing your fears with us. Now take the next step and keep seeking the professioanl help you need and which is out there, even if you have to kiss a few frogs in that search as I did. You CAN get better. You WILL get better. This nightmare you are living can be controlled and your life will be yours again. Keep the faith. Fight the good fight. Stand up for yourself and don't let anyone undermind what YOU know is your truth. Keep us posted and know we are always here for you. I have a very wonderful, close friend who lives in The Netherlands and perhaps she can recommend someone for you to see? If you'd like me to ask her, just let me know and I'll be on the phone to her STAT. I wish you the peace you need. Good luck!
Greenlydia
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello guys,

I`m quite disappointed. I really don`t know how to explain this. You`re trying to fight daily with your anxiety and get some professional help to relieve the suffering, but the docs look at you, as though you`ve come for a chat or a cup of coffee.

I had an appointment this friday with a new doc, explained everything to her, just like I`d written it above to you, guys. She seemed to be listenig carefully, taking notes, so I thought "That`s it, finally an expert". After I finished explaining how tense, scared and anxious I was feeling 7 days a week, she took off her glasses and concluded "I`ll make appointment for you with a physiotherapist ".

Well, guys, honestly, at that very moment I thought she was the person with the mental disorder. Physiotheraphy? I`m having massive panic attacks, unable to go to work, sleep 3-4 hours a day since weeks, I`m afraid to go out of the house, wash my hands nonstop, have time consuming useless little rituals, currently look like a zombie, feel depressed, useless and guilty, and nobody mentions anything about Cognitive Theraphy, psychotheraphy or medications. And to make it clearer - my bf went to the same brilliant physiotherapist three months ago , because he had pain in his back. What they did was give him a tramboline to jump on while throwing a ball at him, he was supposed to catch. Needless to say, he gave it up after the second "session". So, I`m just curious, will they make me dance into circles, or bring the same ball?
Don`t know how it`s in USA, but here Europe /The Netherlands/ they don`t seem to care that much...
Helpful - 0
308787 tn?1201681348
Im pleased you found things in the forum helpful and I am so pleased your seeking help from another doctor, good luck and let us know how you get on.
Helpful - 0
366811 tn?1217422672
You GO, girl!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for all the support guys! I`m really so glad I`ve joined this forum. I can find lots of understanding and good advice here.

The result is: I made an appoinment with a new doc, I will explain everything to him next friday and will keep you posted.

Thanks a lot again.
Helpful - 0
366811 tn?1217422672
First off: Welcome to the Forum, I'm glad you're here!

Second off: The doc said what?!

No doctor who understand the gravity of panic and anxiety just tells you to brush it off and have a nice day. If that's the case, then fire him/her. Get another. Now this assumes you've laid out your symptoms and explained everything. If all you do is ask for medicines and/or have any history of abuse, I'm changing my story. If you really haven't presented your situation so he/she "gets it," print out all these posts and take THAT in next time.

In general, and subject to adjustments for your particular circumstances, here's the drill:

Medication is prescribed to help with the discomfort, so you can function better. Exactly WHAT is prescribed depends on the doctor's impression of what will work best for you. But, no matter what it is, the meds are highly unlikely to make the causes and sources of panic go away on their own, the panic is there for a reason.

To get at the root causes and prime movers, therapy is usually indicated, which involves talking with a qualified counselor to find out what's gumming up your thinking and feeling and doing something about it. This is work YOU do, to change your view of yourself and the world around you, to be active in actually providing your own treatment.

Now, Maggie, get back in the fight. Its your life. Please keep us advised.
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Avatar universal
You sound exactly like me and initially during my illness last year I spent days upon days searching the internet with my symptoms. Despite numerous diagnostic testing with negative results I am still not happy.  I still have the physical symptoms, yet I know that my heart, my lungs, my digestive system is fine.  
Even this morning after a good night sleep, I am still anxious. I don't even know why.
Our personality traits seem very similar.  I want you to know that you are not alone but you need to get help very quickly before you are afraid to do anything, including leaving your home.
You need to make an appointment with your physician and discuss what you stated in this forum.  You need to be as open and honest to him as you can and tell him you need help.
Both medications and counseling will be beneficial to help you get over this and trust me, you will eventually get better but you cannot do it on your own. Keep me in touch on your progress and promise me you will seek the help you need.
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Avatar universal
I am experiencing chest tightness, heart palpitations, my girlfriend tells me that at times I shake for 30 seconds or so after falling asleep.  I am only 24 years old and I am pretty active.  I have done all the tests (EMG, MRI, CT Scan, Blood work, thyroid test, etc.) all the tests came back normal.  So with no choice the neurologist diagnosed me with Anxiety.  I also have a negative outlook for the future and I feel like something horrible is going to happen to me.  I was taking paxil for the anxiety but it didn't appear to help much so I stopped it after 5 months.  I have other physical symptoms like trembling, weakness in upper arms and calves.  All of those symptoms come and go and they are intermittent.  I don't know what to do about it...but at least know that you are not alone going through this.  Take care
Helpful - 0
308787 tn?1201681348
Hi maggie,
Just read your last post and wondered if you had told your doctor all that you told us? if you have and he still refuses to take your problems seresly the you must see another doctor, but all the problems you write about I quess most of us in the forum can relate to some of them, be strong and good luck.
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Avatar universal
Which med is good in your experience? something that we can take and dont have to worry about drug dependency

Thanks,
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the quick reply and support Kim.

I guess my problems are connected with low self-esteem, living mostly for what-would-other-people-say, certain negative thinking patters I`m "dragging"  from my childhood and late teens, hypersensitivity. But I`m also a perfectionsit, extremely critical to myself and overthinker. And the more I think, the more scared I get. Furthermore, I have quite a vivid imagination /useful for my writing, drawing and designing/ which often drives me crazy, because it always leads me to the most impossible and unthinkable scenarios.
I`m constantly nervious, tensed and stressed, most of the time without a definite reason. But when I do happen to have a reason,I get so pale and get such a terrible chest pain, that I`ve been rushed already 2 times in 1 month to the emergency room. Of course I thought I was having a heart attack?!!. And of course I wasn`t having it.
I `m browsing the net the whole night, searching for symptoms, and somehow I happen to have all the diseases in the universe. MS, oval cancer, AIDS, pulmonary embolism, heart disease, kidney failure, schizoprenia ect...Then when I calm down I just laugh at this nonsense.

Currently my problem is the following: I have repetitive thoughts, which simply can`t go away and I`m struggling with them the whole day, they are simply disrupting my whole life:(  I `m also experiencing strange perceptions and ideas, mild depression, peronality changes, going to the bathroom every hour, without really needing it, having to wash my hands at least 15 times a day, always checking whether doors and windows are closed ...I realise my GAD may be combined with Obssesive-Compulsive disorer, even with Borderline. And to make the situation even more complicated - I`ve suffered from anorexia for 5 years. Now I`m still having strange eating habits. My father is an alcoholic, my mother has emotional problems, my granny psychological.

So I was just thinking - perhaps there is a certain change in my brain chemistry /I really lacked lots of basic nutritional elements during my anorexic period/. My repetitive behaviour and repetitive thoughts have also contributed to this. So shall I change my doc and start meds or  can I just try to work on my personality and "inner" problems? The think is when I try to cope myself with the situation, I realise I can`t help thinking in the good old way, which gives my so much anxiety:(
Please, help!
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Avatar universal
you need to get a new dr.
Helpful - 0
323238 tn?1223753354
take a med...
Helpful - 0
372760 tn?1201475897
Medication does help, I wont deny that, but like with alot of us, we dont like to take meds, because they scare us, when u read the effects.. it just makes it worse... There are alot of herbal supplements you can take, and there are alot of techniques you can do to make yourself feel better as well...
Your doctor obviously doesnt know what you're going through and I would suggest changing doctors asap..
U can always message me we can chat some more...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Welcome to my world... Its aweful feeling so out of control.  The worse is if I have a good day or two, then all of a sudden I am back to square one. I have all the symptoms you may have experienced, including frequent colds. Have had multiple tests all normal with the final diagnosis of anxiety.
I attempted to go on an anti-anxiety medication and tried for 2 days. I was so out of it, aggitated and total loss of control. The side effects could last up to 2 wks and I wasn't willing to try another day.
I have Ativan only as needed and I am so afraid to become addicted to it, I think I have used it 3 times total.
I am talking with a counselor and find that talking with a close friend or family member helps.
Everyone is different, but if you feel that things are totally out of control, get to the doctors quick and ask for help(meds and therapist). Its the only way to get better.
Hope you feel better...
Helpful - 0
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