I thought I overdosed on cocaine in 2001 and went to the ER. They put some IVs on me and released me a few hours later. Ever since then I have had what they tell me is severe anxiety. Somewhere along the line I started to feel a little better but didn't realize until I'd have another spell. Prior to when I thought I overdosed, I lived a fun and fulfilling life.
I did cocaine a few times after I thought I had overdosed in 2001 and felt extreme anxiety for a couple weeks. Haven't done cocaine since 2003.
I also felt this same way when my girlfriend broke up with me until we got back together, a little over a month.
I also felt this way after taking one 10mg pill of adderall. When I took this pill my body felt way over stimulated through out the day. Not in a good way. The day after I had extreme anxiety. This time the extreme anxiety lasted about a month again. When I was younger I was on Ritalin and never got overly stimulated like that.
Never has the anxiety come on by itself for no apparent reason until about a week ago. I could actually feel it getting worse by the day. So for whatever reason I am freakin out day in and day out now.
My symtoms include pounding heart, lots of crying, whole body feels like it is trembling, very cold w/ occassional hot flashes, dizzy, extreme night sweats, difficulty sleeping and eating, can feel my heart beat throughout my body, I feel over-stimulated, but not in a good way, (eyes feel like they are buggin out, body is buzzing and get more talkative, and this is when I seem to get the heart palpitations), fidgety, lingering headache, chest pains other than the sinking heart feeling from anxiety, and feeling like I am going to die any second.
It is all I can think about and when I force myself to come into work I am surfing the internet trying to find answers.
I am currently taking 10mg of Paxil and 50mg of Attenolol once a day. The reason I am on such a low dose of Paxil is because if I take more than that it seems that I get that overstimulated feeling. I am also taking .5 of xanax every four hours until I can get through this. The xanax seems to help, but very little. I smoke marijuana daily and normally calms me down but when I get this extreme anxiety, it actually makes it worse.
I don't know what to do. My psyciatrist has tried every ssri made, along with Buspirone, Neurontin, and Welbutrin. I've had heart tests, brain scans, and everything seems to be normal there.
So I guess my main question is what can I do to make myself feel better?? Any other insight is much appreciated. My doctor says it's panic attacks but I have never heard of a panic attack lasting for a month or longer. I do have every symtom of a panic attack except for the hyperventilating. I don't know how much longer I can go on feeling like this. Something has to give. Thanks in advance for your help.