can't control anxiety

[kinz]

I am a 34 year old female who suffers from Anxiety.  My one biggest symptom is that I have severe shortness of breath. I assume that the shortness of breath is from Anxiety because every other test comes back negative.  The doctor decided to put me on Effexor xr and it worked well but it is very expensive and I don't like being on it. I have tried to go off a few times but as soon as I do--I can't breath. How can I get over this?  I can't take this feeling anymore.

[JSGeare]

I hated that, and am glad it is all behind me now. But sometimes, when I'm breathless from exertion, it reminds me of the feeling.  The advice your gettiung is all pretty good in my book, but let let me tell you this:

The drugs may help you deal with symptoms, byt they will not and cannot "get at" the underlying causes; that is to say, whatever emotional and psychological mechanisms, defenses and adjustments you've deployed to cope. THAT'S the job of therapy, so please consider it.

Also, this group will prove to be on enormous support, so I'm inviting you to JOIN:  Its easy -just click the Join Link -enter some profile information about yourself -even a picture if you care to- and anything you think would help us get to know you faster and better, and you can change this material whenever you like. You will also be accessible to receive private messages when other members click the name you've given yourself -sort of a "push to talk" feature. After you've done that, spend some time just using various features of the forum. For example, to see all the posts or responses that someone has made, just click their handle, go to their profile, click Posts, and read to your heart's content. You may also enter search terms -including member names- in the search box at the upper right of your screen and the system will retrun everything matching the term(s) you entered. This INCLUDES a drug database that will give you both user posts about drugs as well as the medical information about the drug. A great way to get quick answers about therapeutic effect, side effects, interactions, etc.

One of the profile categories is your mood, which you may change anytime you like.

Along the right side of your screen is a section of Recent Activity, which not only alerts you to new posts, but new ANYTHING, including journal entries and mood. This is a way to telegraph the community at large without actually creating a separate post. Thus, if you see a friend's mood has changed while you are working on a response or post, it can alert you to send them a private message to learn more or simply let them know you're thinking of them. Likewise, if you are going to be "out," you could enter something like "off line for the night" as your mood, and people would know you're away from the forum for awhile.

If you do this kind of exploring and experimenting right away, you'll be up-to-speed quickly. If you see the message you are reading now as part of a direct response I (or anyone) has made to one of your posts, it was probably copied and pasted from this journal. I hate form letters and auto-responses as much as anyone -but I also hate forgetting to tell people what they need to know, so this is my safety-net. Consider it as part of your "Welcome" kit. So -please join and try things out.

You might also want to read my entries for the "Right Click Trick" and "When in Haste, Use Copy 'n Paste" for some other convenient time-savers.

We're glad you are here!

[moonflower13]

At a moment you are calm, try learning and getting used to breathing with your stomach instead of your chest. Push the air deep down to your stomach, keep it there for a moment, then breathe it out slowly. At first you might have to "force" your stomach a bit since we aren't used to this kind of breathing (we tend to breathe with our chest), but with time, it will come out naturally. When you feel anxiety is striking, focus on breathing this way.

Good luck.

[thykingswife]

I am new but I have that symptom too.       Capturing and reorientating my thoughts to reality while I breath deep as I can and let it out slow to let as much oxygen as I can absorb into my lungs a couple of times gives me the oxygen and the time to get my breathing under control. Hope it helps.

[MrGreen]

You maybe have a looking the net for some breathing exercises? The breathing is all part and parcel of the anxiety. Shortness of breath. We can't seem to take as much air as we would love to. If effects some people moreso than others. I am sure there must be a web site out there that will have full instruction, maybe even images, or sound, for the breathing side of things and how to make it right.

[cj29]

I agree with Jerzeegal whole-heartedly.  I am on meds and sometimes don't particularly like some of the side effects, but I have also learned to control some of it through seeing a really good therapist.  Medication is definately a useful tool for me, but learning why I think the way I do has helped immensly.  

[Kande]

Hi Kinz, Have you seen Kimone's posts? She seems to have her attacks under control. She does'nt want to use medication either. You may want to speak with her. I'm not sure how she gets thru them but I'm sure she would help you. Tell her Kande sent you. She posted tonite...just above your post. Didn't know if you seen it. Oh and she had a very bad day...but made it thru, not just once - 4 times. See what she has to offer.  Kande

[Jerzeegal]

Hi,

What don't you like about being on the effexor? Is it the side effects besides the expense?

Maybe there is something else he can prescribe for the anxiety that is less expensive. You didn't state whether you were also in talk therapy which has helped me immensely so if you haven't tried it you may want to since it may help you understand why you are anxious.