Horrible night

[jqq]

I couldn't sleep all night. I would try to go to sleep and then I would get this energy surges. Also I would get this tightness in the head and chest at the same time every few minutes. I felt like I couldn't breath .I was afraid to go to sleep. I was going to go the the ER but i calmed myself instead .I have anxiety/panic disorder. Also I havent stopped crying for the past 3 days and I dont know why except that I am extremely depressed. I can't live like this anymore. I don't take any medicine for it because I am afraid. I am also afraid of dying. I can't eat, I can't sleep, this is horrible and ruining my life and I am only 18 years old.

[morbidlyeuphoric]

Agreed about the importance of therapy. Took me 3 different psychologists before I found one that I loved. And if insurance or money is an issue, you could try going through your local hospitals. Sometimes they have programs set up for people who are in need. I had to do that at one point.

[Skelly88]

Yes, therapy is VERY important.  I cant stress that enough, I know psychologists can be expensive though :( sooo try to do what you can.

and if you DO get a psychologist, make sure you're comfortable with him / her. One time I had one psychologist...and he was amazing.  Really helped me a lot. Then he moved offices so I tried out this other one, and he was terrible, all he did was talk about himself. didnt even help at all.  So just be 'choosy' when you go look for a therapist.

[toejam_muncher]

well i hope you eventually got some sleep. i think everyone who's replied to you has experienced one of 'those' nights and they certainly do a number on you mentally. the worst part for me was that i wouldn't get any sleep and then that would make all my other problems that much worse. just the memories alone are horrible. but anyway...as others said, meds might help. infact, even if they only reduced your anxiety by 50%...wouldn't even that little relief be worth it? you need to really weigh your options. anxiety tends to be self sustaining...so it's very difficult to break the cycle without at least SOME help. if you absolutely won't do meds, therapy can also help. infact meds, in my opinion, are kinda pointless without therapy to go along with them. anyway...hope tonight is going better for you.

[morbidlyeuphoric]

I was also very resistant to medication, but then I had a full blown anxiety attack that lasted for 7 straight days/nights. I had to be admitted into the hospital. The idea of meds can be a little scary, I agree, but there's no need to suffer so badly when there is so much help out there for you. Take care of yourself:)

[Skelly88]

I've had anxiety for a while, however, I wasn't really afraid of meds but I didnt get on any till I truly had to. My thoughts on it were....I'd rather have a med with a few side effects that last for a little while, than have full blown anxiety that makes you feel absolutely terrible ALL the time.  

I hope things work out :) dont be scared, we all experience things like you're experiencing.

[remar]

I completely agree with Mr Green. I was afraid to try meds for many years and suffered needlessly. Once I did try them it really helped my anxiety and depression.
Take that step and try counseling. If you need more then try meds along with counseling.
I hope your feeling better. We're here to listen. Take care. Remar

[MrGreen]

You sure sound like you are in a bad way. What if they had medication with no bad side effects at all. Would you still be afraid of them? If you knew they could help you out. We fear the fear. Sounds stupid I know. But it is true. You have no idea what the medication might do. But yet you fear it. So no medication. Have you tried theraphy? Talking things out. Getting a few ideas back. That's how it works. You are just stuck in a rut. Feeling like there is nowhere to go. But yet there is answers out there. But you fear those answers as well. At some point you are going to have to put one toe in the water. Just to test the waters out. Then you will see that not all medication is bad for you. Not all therapists are useless. Doctors are there to help you. Not to hinder your life. But you have to want to take that step. Want to take it for you. Other than that you will be always stuck in that rut. When there is a whole life out there waiting for you.