I think i have anxiety..how do you test for it?

[renee7117]

I think i suffer from anxiety but am too embaressed to go to the doctor. I worry constantly about things that are stupid but still i worry. Sometimes i cant sleep because i worry. I always think of stupid things i have done in the past and worry about that also. I dont really feel depressed just worry A LOT! This in turn makes me shy and i hate being a round people i dont know. Even going down the street makes me nervous. How do they test for anxiety and if on medication how will it make me feel. I dont want to feel anymore tired than i do. Im constantly lethargic. I have been like this for a few years now. Any advice would be good.
Thanks

[caregiver222]

The good news is that anxiety doesn't always last forever. I am against medications, but on a short term basis a bit of valium is very helpful, with few contradindications, for an anxiety atack. Valium is a wonderful medication that unfortunately got involved as an issue in the "war on drugs". When you see that commercial with the drying pan with the sizzling egg in itstating "this is your brain on drugs", it actually is the brain of the head of the drug enforcement administration. I fell very strongly that the federal government has no business interfering with the rights of M.D.'s to make clinical decisions and prescribe medications as they see fit (within reason) for their patients. Electromagnetic fields have an influence on anxiety. I was involved with a study with a psychiatrist in which we measured Gausian fields to try to correlate their effects on anxiety. Psychologist Dr. Kurt Salzinger performed experiments on fish, exposing them to various gausian fields, and the results were disturbing. So the advice to "goto the country and the trees anmd get some fresh air "may not be simply"feel good mother earth advice". Some people are far more susceptible to these gausian fields than others. Diet has an effect too, as does hydration. Regular exercise and a daily dose of sunlight is often all that is necessary to do the trick. Try to get exposure to sunlight for 45 minutes each day. And cheer up. This is a good time to be alive.

[jencullen]

Anxiety is actually a healthy response.  It is our bodies way of telling us that something is wrong.  It is when anxiety begins to cause problems with everyday functioning that it begins to become a problem.  No one can diagnose you but a qualified therapist/doctor.  I have been taking Zoloft for the treatment of anxiety for six years.  Most likely your doctor will perscribe an SSRI for you, but talk to your doctor if you have concerns about the medication.  Be careful there are a lot of mis-information on the internet and in these talk forums.  Make sure you are getting your information from qualified people and/or internet sites (WebMD is a good one).  Good luck.

[ruken]

hwey, i know what your going through.
dont worry about anything, i mean of course your gonna worry becasue you have anxety in you, but when it gets down to the real thing, nothing is wrong with you.
its just that uve gone through a big stress some time and thats how it started.
when i get anxiety in me, panic attacks, i have thoughts that im not good enough and i feel REALLY ******..
its normal..
anxiety is like my enemy.
but i hope youll get through it fine,
my doctor gave me Imipramine, a drug that doesnt have too many side effects and it stops the anxiety in 70% of the people who use it.
it works for me.

as for you being embarraseed to go to the doctor. you shouldnt have to worry about that..lol..
i used to be embarrassed too. the doctor isnt there to judge you on what your going through. if he cant do his job then thats his problem.
just go to a doctor, preferably a psychiatrist, and he or she can give you medication.
i also prefer psychotherapy. its really helpful.
but the thing is, you have to actually reallly WANT this to be over, and you have to be strong and keep your head up, or youll just be sufferring

i hope you make out good.
have a good day
peace

[ruken]

ps
buy DONT PANIC
by Doctor R. Wilson
its a book, and it is perfect, and its only 15 dollars.

BUY IT!!!

and i would post stuff on here, but why do i have to pay to post
thats bullshhiiiiitttttt

i hope everyone reads this.
bbyee

[Pum]

I found Paxil to be brilliant but everyone is different and I was more specific anxiety rather than GAD.  It can take a few weeks to start working and yes it does have side affects and yes I suffered some withdrawal symptoms (actually the first week going on the medication was worse than the withdrawal).  But it made me back into my old self when I was at a point of not functioning so in my view was worth the bad affects.

Try all the non medication things first though like meditation, eating small and regular, excercising, listen to upbeat music.  Keep busy and do things for others.

Good luck.

[renee7117]

I totally understand where you are coming from. I will try exercising more before i try anything since that apparently helps. I think the reason i dont is because i dont need to lose any weight. I know exercise is good but im one of those people that only do it to drop some pounds. Running around after my kids seems like enough exercise for the day.I agree drugs arent the best choice but when you suffer with anxiety dont you think it feels like your punishing yourself enough with constant stressing and worrying? I really dont want to get addicted to anything like that but i looked at www.askapatient.com and read comments about people who have taken Zoloft (the good and bad) and really i think it depends on the person to know what good or bad it can do. I will take you advice into consideration and try some natural ways of fixing this problem. Thanks for your thoughts.

[renee7117]

Well meds is the only option really, i live four hours drive from any city and live in a tiny town. Nor would i have the time to go to see someone for therapy. To be honest i wouldnt want to talk to anyone anyway, im too shy for that.

[rosetoes]

While I hate to say this,whether you take out the time now or later, you will have to see about your anxiety/panic.  Meds are good for now but after you take them for a month or so you will get hooked/addicted...and make no mistake YOU WILL, it will be soo much harder to get off of them. Know that for the meds to stop anxiety and panic in its tracks, it is powerful and changes the chemicals in your brain.  You should read about the effects of antidepressants and benzos.  

I know this first hand and while I am off of them now, I wish I knew the addictiveness and withdrawls that you go through getting off of them...tinnitus (ringing in your ears), rapid heart rate, stromach pain (tenseness), lack of sleep are just a few.  And I was only on them 3 months.  Imagine those souls that have been on them for months or even a year.  The withdrawl must be worse.

Im not trying to scare you, I just have been there and no it is ugly, butt ugly.  Benzos like xanax are meant to be taken as needed....not daily.  That is the only way to prevent addiction.  I have never been addicted to anything and it was hard to deal with.

Good Luck!

[rosetoes]

Before you try Zoloft, go to Benzo.org.uk and sign up to their website.  You will find thousands that have tried Zoloft and you will be amazed of the addiction.  The problem is that U.S. doctors don't nearly have enough data to support saying Zoloft is not addictive....now do you think that the manufacture will say its addictive?

I tried Zoloft once ....one pill and I prayed all night that if it ever left my system, I would never do it again.  I took it at 10pm and I didn't sleep one minute during the night and ended up in the rest room 12 times and was physically sick.  

I say these things because I wish like hell that I had someone telling me of the nastiness of these drugs.  I live in Chicago and there was an article in the Sun-Times and on MSN Monday that discussed anti-depressants (which Zoloft is) and how this woman had severe brain zaps when trying to get off of them.She resign herself that she'd be on them for the rest of her life.  It was too hard to stop.  This is a real problem and should be given every consideration before taking them.

Good luck!

[renee7117]

Obviously i have done some research and know that benzos are addictive and i wouldnt go near them anyway. A friend of mine takes Zoloft for the same thing which is an SSRI.
SSRIs are not tranquillisers, and are not thought to be addictive. (This is disputed by some people, and so this is a controversial issue. If addiction does occur, it is only in a minority of cases.)
Most people can stop an SSRI without any problem. At the end of a course of treatment you should reduce the dose gradually over about four weeks before finally stopping.
I just think i would like to try it. If there is a chance it can make me feel like me again why not?

[rosetoes]

While medication is an option,please make it the last one.  Meds will help, but your issues will get worse when you try to stop taking them.  Meds mask anxiety and panic and it comes back 10 fold once you get off.  Read up on anxiety and natural ways to help yourself.

[rosetoes]

While medication is an option,please make it the last one.  Meds will help, but your issues will get worse when you try to stop taking them.  Meds mask anxiety and panic and it comes back 10 fold once you get off.  Read up on anxiety and natural ways to help yourself.

[renee7117]

Thanks for your advice. I just think it is about time i did something about it instead of worrying constantly, i hate it! I have been doing some research and i read about GAD. Sounds exactly like me! Now from experience do you know what medication is helpful or is it different for everyone? There are so many! Will it make me feel happy and confident or like a zombie? Sorry i ask a lot of questions....

[rdh412]

First let me say I'm very sorry you are going through this. It is awful, speaking from experiance, Go to your Dr. he can prescribe something to help you, it sounds like classic anxiety to me. The good news is it can be fixed. Sometimes you will have to try a couple different meds, but it will help. I wish you peace and happiness. Also exercise really does help. I know no one wants to hear that but it is true. Be good to yourself ! R

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

There is no specific test, but a good therapist can make the diagnosis.  I suggest you have a consultation with a therapist, and secondarily address whether medication or therapy is best for you....good therapy can help you get out of this cycle.