Long story/quick questions

[michigan07]

I have been dealing with anxiety for the past 15 yrs medically  just before I started high school. I had it pop it's ugly head out a couple times throughout childhood. For the most part everything was stable until 2009 when I experienced massive anxiety, fear, nausea, tiredness, you name it. It lasted about 5 months up until I found a job that kept me busy enough to not worry about anxiety. I attribute the anxiety in 2009 to my parents marital problems, being in grad school, and not working. Moving to now everything was fine until I hurt my shoulder ( possibly caused by stress but there were some muscle and nerve issues my co-workers found. My co-workers are physical therapist as I manage pt clinics). On April 6th I was sick and vomited, thought nothing of it and took the following day off. However, the next 4 days was a living hell of anxiety and trying to work. My boss was understanding as I told him the problem and he said he would work with me and I missed a minimal amount of work. I was ok for a week until fast forward to wed of this week and I throw up again and it all starts over. I noticed before both of these episodes I was taking NSAIDs to help reduce my pain and the vomiting occurred within the time frame of their use. As many might relate I'm afraid this will not go down to a tolerable level to which I can better handle the day. I have a good job, a young 5month old son, and a good wife though her reply is to not be so week sometimes.I figure in part she's right as I need to support my family but it causes me anxiety thinking I can't or won't be able to. I currently take 20 mg of Paxil and 0.5mg of Klonopin a day. My physiatrist reccomended taking half a klonopin mid day and another half before sleep. As many know benzos can make you tired and  that doesn't really help me with my problem. I was wondering 1. What can I do to help better manage me anxiety ( it's not presenting it self as full blown panic but rather a deep rooted  fear, accompanied my nausea, brain fog, and slight dissociation)? 2. What can be done to help overcome the tire and feeling and weakness ? Any help is appreciated.

[Paxiled]

I'd be very leery of taking Xanax and klonopin at the same time.  I don't know that it should never ever be done, but mixing benzos can be a bad idea.  And it's possible to get a withdrawal symptom even from just decreasing your daily dosage, but you might not.  I'd want more info before I did this.  And remember, meds don't cure anything -- no medication has been invented yet that cures this stuff, it just tamps down the feelings.  So they can always creep back up from time to time, or the medication can poop out.  You'll never probably be completely anxiety free, but then who is?

[michigan07]

The doctor had me stop the half klonopin mid day and instead wanted me to take half a Xanax 3x a day as needed( the half klonopin and then the Xanax was advised within the past two wks by doc) In addition, I currently take 20mg of Paxil and 0.5 of Klonopin in the morning. I have been on that dose since 2009 ( 10 mg until end of 2009) and have been taking each since about 1999/2000. I am in therapy trying to address some of the stress I have and I am trying a few breathing techniques and meditation. It just seems that after long periods of time the symptoms I've mentioned come back and bad and honestly I'm not sure if the cause is stress or medication needing to be tweeked or both.

[Paxiled]

I'm confused -- your doc said to take both klonopin and Xanax at the same time?  Or replace the klonopin with the Xanax, in which case you might have to taper slowly off the klonopin first to avoid more side effects.  And if I might add, if you're suffering all this and you're on Paxil, was it worse before?  Because it seems the Paxil isn't working very well otherwise.  How long have you been on it?  It can be sedating, which might explain some of the tiredness.  Finally, are you doing anything in therapy to solve the problem or just covering up the symptoms with medication?  Have you learned any relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, hypnosis?  More info will help people here help you more.

[michigan07]

Instead of the half klonopin mid day my doctor decided to have me take half a Xanax 3x a day as needed. I find that taking half in the morning and maybe a half mid day helps. I find the most difficult time frame for anxiety for me is between 8am and 12pm, is this true for others ?