Help with anxiety?

Question

I keep having panic attacks at school and they are completely killing me. Ive been on anti-depressents for 4 years switching from one to one because I havent found one that helps me yet. I have been to therapy and I pratice the techniques everyday and it seems as if I have mastered them but when I use them when im anxious and they dont seem to help me very much. I exercise virgiously just to hopefully get some peace of mind but doesnt do a whole lot. I need help fast please.

Answer 1

That sucks, man. Sounds to me like you're stuck in a vicious circle - your fear and anticipation of the panic attacks probably drain you as much of energy as the attacks themselves.

You don't tell what kind of therapy you've been to, how long ago since you finished or which techniques you use. There may be alternatives. I also think you should see a therapist regularily for as long as you still have the attacks. As for med's, if they don't help, don't take them. If you're really unlucky, you just get the side-effects and some of these med's can actually worsen anxiety, which is pretty weird IMO.

Anger can be used pretty effectively to block out a panic attack, but it's no long term solution. After 4 years of anxiety, you know it won't kill you and that an attack doesn't last for very long, so if you can't get on top of the attacks, try to fight the fear in between for starters. Go on exercising. Still, you need professional help ASAP. Try cognitive behavioural therapy if you haven't already. Just DON'T give up.

Answer 2

Panic attacks is your minds way of telling you something is wrong. You can medicate for panic but I doubt it will do you any good until you figure out what is the underlying cause for your attacks. Look within yourself for the answer. What's bothering you? Many area's of life can cause a lot of stress, school, parents, boyfriends, etc. What goes through your mind right before you have an attack? Figure that out, and you have the key to stop the attacks by addressing what really is the problem.
What worked for me was the knowledge that I was having a panic attack, not a heart attack or a stroke or anything life threatening to get me through it. Sometimes all you can do is ride it out until it's over. After it is done, reflect and ask yourself what brought it on? Unfortunately there is no quick fix for this kind of problem, and to this day I still cope with my attacks, although with insight and understanding of myself, they come a lot less frequently now.

Answer 3

Panic attacks and anxiety disorders are not to be taken lightly, as they can make you lose out on life. I take a prescribed calming medicine. The antidepressants aren't going to help with your panic attacks. Talk to your Dr and tell him you need something for panic attacks. Let him know how serious they are and how they are affecting your life. Get help A.S.A.P. I lived for 20 years without help and am now practically house bound.

Answer 4

The only thing that helps me is xanax or valium, but I try soooo hard not to take it because I am trying to learn to manage my anxiety myself. Distraction helps, and so does mild to moderate cardiovascular exercise. Actually, the exercise tip was something a Yahoo user suggested to me, I tried it and it worked. My anxiety is bad. I can function through it, but it really triggers my fight or flight response. My BP is normally low, but once I start an attack, it can easily go from 118/70 to 156/100. It's that bad. I have to take blood pressure meds because of it. Since the exercise isn't cutting it for you, try deep meditation or breathing in a small paper bag. I know how it is, every day is different. But panic attacks just suck. You need to tell your psychaiatrist that your meds aren't working properly, or get the dose adjusted.

Answer 5

Lexapro- it's specifically for anxiety and depression, and has extremely low side-affects.
I think anxiety might be caused by a need to be perfect.When your at school, are you worried about your grades?
You know what works for me when I am being a Major Perfectionist? Music....... sounds silly? It just helps me adjust my mood. If I am too serious, turn on something silly. If your too hyper, then put on jazz, or something slow, or a song that makes you really happy. When your about to have a panic attack-play that soothing song in your mind, over and over until you calm down.

Answer 6

have you been on an anti depressant geared towards treating OCD, such as zoloft? also, anti depressants such as cymbalta and effexor can help to reduce anxiety when taken in combination with an anti depressant. there are many medications out there for treating anxiety, such as buspar (which is taken 2-3 times a day and is very mild, non addictive) and there are drugs such as ativan, valium, or xanax, which are taken as needed and may be more addictive. your doctor may use them cautiously with you. exercise usually takes some anxiety away, but it also may revv you up because exercise releases endorphins, which make you feel more buzzed. have you tried meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises? you may need to go visit a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders or anxiety disorders...you may find that a specialist can really help you much more than a general doctor.

Answer 7

the next time you see your dr ask him/her for a script for an anti-anxiety drug like adivan,clonazapam or xanax explain your in school and you will need a low dose, in the mean time if you experience a panic attack and can get to a bathroom splash cold water on your face to refresh it and breathe in and out for a min. or two this should help temp.

Answer 8

Try "Ten Days to Self-Esteem" by David D. Burns. I know it doesn't sound like it's about anxiety, but it is. It'll get you to react rationally to irrational fears, through cognitive training.

Answer 9

I get them too....it's mostly from internal fear......you think of things too much that affects our body. I tell myself not to think of stuff that are fearful in my life....and once I get them........I try to remain calm........you need physical contact.....to where a nice soft rub on the back can ease the tension or a massage.......those really help to ease your mind. I do that my my bf when he seems to be getting one. Touch by someone really helps to calm you and your mind down. A nice soft rub or soothing massage. Try it.

Answer 10

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