Aa
Help!
Hi there, I'm new to all this and just wanted to ask a couple of questions!
I'm 18 and have been fairly healthy up until about 1-2 months ago when my partner lost his nan and I moved up North with him and his family leaving all my family behind. I also started a new job and everything was fine. Then one day at work I came over all funny like I was going to pass out so I got sent home, went to doctor and they couldn't find anything wrong! I ended up getting so bad that I had to call my mum to pick me up and take me home. At this point, everyone was saying it seems like anxiety which I could see myself a tiny bit! However, I went back up there after a week or so with my mum(still didn't feel good) and I just kept getting worse! I would look online for every little symptom I felt and, of course, got the worst diagnosis! The one thing that has stuck with me though has been a high pressure feeling in my ears and nose(sinus' clear), strange pains/feelings in my head, this is very hard to explain, and my eyesight in my left eye which is gradually decreasing and quite scary sometimes! My doc prescribed me Propranolol and I have now come back to be with my dad! I did not want to take the tablets first and I don't have the kind of anxiety when I'm about to do a speech or something, but the kind where I am constantly thinking/feeling that something is seriously wrong with me! I plucked up the courage however to take one at 10:30 this morning after a really bad night before bed last night thinking I was dying! I havnt seen any improvements but obviously it is my first ever pill, but as I said the doc has prescribed it for a couple of weeks to take 1x40mg tablet twice a day but I didn't want to decrease my heart rate anymore as it only increases when i am out shopping or something like that!
I have felt a bit dizzy but I generally do in the mornings to be honest, and I feel as though it is a bit harder for me to breathe but I think this is because of the slowing of my heart. Also my eyesight, as I said previously, in my left eye seems to have got a lot blurrier since taking the pill!!
I wanted to ask, I know Propranolol lowers the heart rate so if my heart rate is not high all the time, will propranolol lower my heart rate constantly or just when I would usually start to panic?
Also, what side effects if any, did people have with taking their very first pill, and how long did it take to settle into your body?
Last one, can I smoke whilst on Propranolol for anxiety?
Sorry for the essay but I've been so worried and feel a bit more relaxed if I can talk to someone who has been there themselves!
Xx
I'm 18 and have been fairly healthy up until about 1-2 months ago when my partner lost his nan and I moved up North with him and his family leaving all my family behind. I also started a new job and everything was fine. Then one day at work I came over all funny like I was going to pass out so I got sent home, went to doctor and they couldn't find anything wrong! I ended up getting so bad that I had to call my mum to pick me up and take me home. At this point, everyone was saying it seems like anxiety which I could see myself a tiny bit! However, I went back up there after a week or so with my mum(still didn't feel good) and I just kept getting worse! I would look online for every little symptom I felt and, of course, got the worst diagnosis! The one thing that has stuck with me though has been a high pressure feeling in my ears and nose(sinus' clear), strange pains/feelings in my head, this is very hard to explain, and my eyesight in my left eye which is gradually decreasing and quite scary sometimes! My doc prescribed me Propranolol and I have now come back to be with my dad! I did not want to take the tablets first and I don't have the kind of anxiety when I'm about to do a speech or something, but the kind where I am constantly thinking/feeling that something is seriously wrong with me! I plucked up the courage however to take one at 10:30 this morning after a really bad night before bed last night thinking I was dying! I havnt seen any improvements but obviously it is my first ever pill, but as I said the doc has prescribed it for a couple of weeks to take 1x40mg tablet twice a day but I didn't want to decrease my heart rate anymore as it only increases when i am out shopping or something like that!
I have felt a bit dizzy but I generally do in the mornings to be honest, and I feel as though it is a bit harder for me to breathe but I think this is because of the slowing of my heart. Also my eyesight, as I said previously, in my left eye seems to have got a lot blurrier since taking the pill!!
I wanted to ask, I know Propranolol lowers the heart rate so if my heart rate is not high all the time, will propranolol lower my heart rate constantly or just when I would usually start to panic?
Also, what side effects if any, did people have with taking their very first pill, and how long did it take to settle into your body?
Last one, can I smoke whilst on Propranolol for anxiety?
Sorry for the essay but I've been so worried and feel a bit more relaxed if I can talk to someone who has been there themselves!
Xx
I have been to doctors and told them, one checked into my eye and said my optic nerve was fine no pressure on it!! And yes the eyesight loss seems to be gradual and the head pains are on and off every day!!
Thanks
Thanks
Go to your Dr, not a shrink, but a Medical Dr, MD. Tell them about the head pain and left eye issues. Is the pain and eye issues happening at the same time. Tell them about this, and get tests done. When you have head pain and vision loss in one eye it can be serious. never play around with that. If its just vision loss still see the dr could be a number of things.
good luck
good luck
Hello,
I had a few panic attacks over my life during the years of dancing and competitions but I started to learn how to handle them and then this pops up! I thought it was situational anxiety however it happens if I am just sitting at home with my dad and feel a twinge or just start thinking things! I actually lost my job to it and don't want to go it, it seems to ruining my life!
When it first all started, I went home for a week but then went back because I thought no I've got to fight this and I will be okay, but when everyone is working all day and I'm left there to think..it gets worse again! But as I said it's not just when I'm on my own, even when I'm with my closest family it can happen!!
I didn't want to take the propranolol which is why I refrained from it for a few days but after my episode last night I thought I've got to try something!! I think it has started to wear off now but not due another one yet otherwise I won't end up sleeping if it wears off too quickly! I would have liked one that I could take when I know I've got a stressful event or know I've got to go shopping and I could take it just to calm myself, but my doctor have me these!
Yes I will not be going online anymore, unless it is on here to speak to people as I scared myself!! And I am looking into therapy at the moment just don't know if I would be able to afford it, or do the NHS run some aswell?
You also said about reporting any dizziness to the doctor, but should I report that while it's settling in to my body or give it time to settle in first?
I know about the smoking but seems to calm me in times of despair lol!
No, I do not plan on being home for good as I have my life up there, but I said I think I am going to stay with my family until I start feeling better within myself first and I feel like I can go back to work otherwise I am at home on my own and the vicious circle starts again!
Thankyou for your time xx
I had a few panic attacks over my life during the years of dancing and competitions but I started to learn how to handle them and then this pops up! I thought it was situational anxiety however it happens if I am just sitting at home with my dad and feel a twinge or just start thinking things! I actually lost my job to it and don't want to go it, it seems to ruining my life!
When it first all started, I went home for a week but then went back because I thought no I've got to fight this and I will be okay, but when everyone is working all day and I'm left there to think..it gets worse again! But as I said it's not just when I'm on my own, even when I'm with my closest family it can happen!!
I didn't want to take the propranolol which is why I refrained from it for a few days but after my episode last night I thought I've got to try something!! I think it has started to wear off now but not due another one yet otherwise I won't end up sleeping if it wears off too quickly! I would have liked one that I could take when I know I've got a stressful event or know I've got to go shopping and I could take it just to calm myself, but my doctor have me these!
Yes I will not be going online anymore, unless it is on here to speak to people as I scared myself!! And I am looking into therapy at the moment just don't know if I would be able to afford it, or do the NHS run some aswell?
You also said about reporting any dizziness to the doctor, but should I report that while it's settling in to my body or give it time to settle in first?
I know about the smoking but seems to calm me in times of despair lol!
No, I do not plan on being home for good as I have my life up there, but I said I think I am going to stay with my family until I start feeling better within myself first and I feel like I can go back to work otherwise I am at home on my own and the vicious circle starts again!
Thankyou for your time xx
Hello there! Welcome!
It sounds very much like you're experiencing situational anxiety. It's not uncommon at all for a person to experience new anxiety when dealing with big life changes, which you've definitely had a few. If you have not been an anxious person prior to this, that would be my bet.
Just how you describe your "what if" thinking makes me suspicious of acute anxiety.
As for what to DO about it? The difference between chronic anxiety (ie an anxiety disorder) and situational anxiety is that the situational anxiety is a reasonable response to stressors. Anxiety is actually a helpful, appropriate emotional response in certain situations. Yours seemed to become a little on the severe side, but that's not surprising considering that you've had to make some big changes in your life in a very short amount of time, including moving away from your support system.
Chronic anxiety is USUALLY not accompanied by any obvious stressor, which is what makes it so perplexing. It can be, but one of the diagnostic criteria of an anxiety disorder is the presence of anxiety related symptoms in the absence of obvious triggers.
The GOOD news is, in your type of situation, usually once you adjust to your new situation, the anxiety will start to resolve on its own. I can understand the desire to seek out a medication to treat the symptoms as they have been severe for you, however, I don't think you necessarily need a medication on a long term basis IMO.
I personally wouldn't have chosen a beta blocker in this situation. They ARE used sometimes to treat anxiety, but I think for YOUR situation, there are probably better options, like perhaps a short term "as needed" course of an anti-anxiety medication, like Ativan or Xanax. Something that you wouldn't take regularly, just here and there, to get you through the more severe anxious moments.
I also think therapy would be beneficial for you as well, just to help arm you with some coping techniques and learn how to combat that "what if" thinking. That kind of anxious thought cycle only fuels the anxiety. Definitely stay away from searching the internet, as you've found, there's lots of scary info that pops up. You don't need that added stress.
I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist to handle the medication angle of this. Ask about a short term course of a benzodiazepine versus anything long term. You can certainly give the Propanolol a try and see if it works for you, it may. Are you only supposed to take it "as needed", or are you supposed to take it regularly?
You're correct that Propanolol will lower both your heart rate and blood pressure, as it is an antihypertensive medication. You need to check your BP occasionally and report any dizziness to your doctor. Take it easy during position changes too (ie going from sitting to standing, lying to sitting, etc) as it's typical for the BP to drop a bit in those circumstances. Just take your time when changing positions while you're on it.
As for smoking...there's no official contraindication, and I'll spare you the smoking lecture as that would make me a hypocrite. (lol)
I hope you start feeling better soon. Have you moved back home for good? What is your plan?
We're here for you, keep us updated!
It sounds very much like you're experiencing situational anxiety. It's not uncommon at all for a person to experience new anxiety when dealing with big life changes, which you've definitely had a few. If you have not been an anxious person prior to this, that would be my bet.
Just how you describe your "what if" thinking makes me suspicious of acute anxiety.
As for what to DO about it? The difference between chronic anxiety (ie an anxiety disorder) and situational anxiety is that the situational anxiety is a reasonable response to stressors. Anxiety is actually a helpful, appropriate emotional response in certain situations. Yours seemed to become a little on the severe side, but that's not surprising considering that you've had to make some big changes in your life in a very short amount of time, including moving away from your support system.
Chronic anxiety is USUALLY not accompanied by any obvious stressor, which is what makes it so perplexing. It can be, but one of the diagnostic criteria of an anxiety disorder is the presence of anxiety related symptoms in the absence of obvious triggers.
The GOOD news is, in your type of situation, usually once you adjust to your new situation, the anxiety will start to resolve on its own. I can understand the desire to seek out a medication to treat the symptoms as they have been severe for you, however, I don't think you necessarily need a medication on a long term basis IMO.
I personally wouldn't have chosen a beta blocker in this situation. They ARE used sometimes to treat anxiety, but I think for YOUR situation, there are probably better options, like perhaps a short term "as needed" course of an anti-anxiety medication, like Ativan or Xanax. Something that you wouldn't take regularly, just here and there, to get you through the more severe anxious moments.
I also think therapy would be beneficial for you as well, just to help arm you with some coping techniques and learn how to combat that "what if" thinking. That kind of anxious thought cycle only fuels the anxiety. Definitely stay away from searching the internet, as you've found, there's lots of scary info that pops up. You don't need that added stress.
I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist to handle the medication angle of this. Ask about a short term course of a benzodiazepine versus anything long term. You can certainly give the Propanolol a try and see if it works for you, it may. Are you only supposed to take it "as needed", or are you supposed to take it regularly?
You're correct that Propanolol will lower both your heart rate and blood pressure, as it is an antihypertensive medication. You need to check your BP occasionally and report any dizziness to your doctor. Take it easy during position changes too (ie going from sitting to standing, lying to sitting, etc) as it's typical for the BP to drop a bit in those circumstances. Just take your time when changing positions while you're on it.
As for smoking...there's no official contraindication, and I'll spare you the smoking lecture as that would make me a hypocrite. (lol)
I hope you start feeling better soon. Have you moved back home for good? What is your plan?
We're here for you, keep us updated!
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