Does anyone else have General Anxiety Disorder?

Question

I have just been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. I am taking Lexapro during the day and Trazadone to help me sleep. Lately though I have been suffering panic attacks and have been perscibed Xanax to help with them. Does anyone else suffer from this and what are you doing to help aliviate your anxiety? Also any suggestions for dealing with panic attacks that dont involve taking my Xanax (they knock me out)?
Another question- my boyfriend just doesnt seem to understand that some days I just dont feel good, some days I am down, some days Im grouchy, and some days Im anxious, He seems to think that since Im taking the medicine I should be fine, I am trying hard but he doesnt seem to get that this is a disorder, I cant help it sometimes. Any tips for dealing with this?

Answer 1

I can relate with you dear...I have it too and have been trying various medicines....I tried Zoloft, Prozac, Effexor and others and am still experimenting with other drugs....You never know when or where this will hit you and I have burst into tears without knowing what is the cause...I have "Panic attacks" and "Clinical Depression" and friends and family just don't understand...It may take a while for the medicines to get into your blood stream and you may have to try different ones until you find one that works...If you are going to a Psychiatrist or Therapist, have your boyfriend go with you to one of your sessions and have your doctor talk to him so he will understand more about what you are going through....Good luck

Answer 2

I have had panic attacks and anxiety attacks for 36 years. It started around 16 and slowly just got worse until a breakdown, about 8 years ago. I was put on paxil and ativan. Which for the most part seemed to help, but not totally. Three years ago I went to Mental Health. Here, they help people that come to them for help. I went to a councillor, but it didn't change much of anything. But they had some courses that I did take. They dealt with knowing what anxiety and panic disorders are and how to control them. Learning what my problems are that cause the attack and how to solve them. I also took a course through them on learning to be assertive, not aggressive or passive. It also showed how to have conversations with people to let them know what you really want. They were wonderful. Now, usually when I have an attack, I can control them.

Answer 3

There's nothing wrong with you. Anxiety/panic attacks are not caused by mental or physical illness. Anxiety disorders and panic attacks are caused by a tiny change in the way the brain handles anxiety signals from the sensory organs. Anxiety/panic attacks are not caused by chemical imbalances...they can cause them, but they are not caused by them. This is why anxiety/panic attack medication doesn't work, it may mask the symptoms (if anything) and when they are stopped, it generally all floods back. You can overcome anxiety forever by resetting your brain. This re-set happens through a process called Operant Conditioning - it's the same process that happens when you learn new activities - like driving or playing an instrument - it's learning through repetition.

Answer 4

Hi... I have had anxiety for years. I DO NOT take any medication. I think that when people have any sort of problem, they immediately turn to drugs. You probably have a negative thought pattern that is triggering all this anxiety. When you feel this panic, what are some of the thoughts that are going through your mind? Write them down then focus on one negative thing at a time and try to replace it w/ a positive thought. I think the best thing for you would be some counseling. Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

I have had this for 24 years and it isn't fun. There are places you can look at on the net to see that it is common (google ... the linden method) as for me, it comes and goes. I have bouts, I beat them, then it comes back. Stress triggers it mainly. The symtoms can be terrifying sometimes and life can be tough but the best part is it is treatable and it goes away! I am also on Lexapro and it is a good drug. Give it time and stay on it for a full year no matter what. If you would like to e-mail me feel free I know alot about it. I too lost a great girlfriend over it so I hope you don't lose ur partner but a good partner will help and understand ... write me if you like! Good luck!

Answer 6

Hi, I actually have major anxiety. Rather, I HAD it... I will tell you what to look into. It took my anxiety away. It took my mothers away too. She and I are very similar in our anxiety.

It is called Xango juice. It is amazing!!! Its a super juice that helps with lots of health issues but it helps with anxiety, depression and ADD. All I can say is that it has worked for me. I am not the same person.

Let me know if you would like to order a case. It took about 5 days and I already noticed it had declined. By week 3.. It was gone. NO LIE.

I can let you talk to my mom too if you want. You can email me if you want.

http://www.impact2health.com/chirowife/

good luck.

Answer 7

I had panic attacks at one point. I then read a book entitled "Worry" by Edward Hallowell, M.D. which REALLY REALLY helped me cope with this condition. One thing he recommends is EXERCISE. I started exercising daily for like an hour a day, and my anxiety went away. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with meds. But if you are able to exercise, I'd say do it. Diet might be a factor as well.

Answer 8

first of all, it takes a certain period of time for the lexapro to become therapeutic and work like it should (which is hard when you just want to feel better)...how much xanax have you been prescribed? maybe you could take 1/2 a pill...i would encourage you to also find a credentialed and reputable therapist to see...behavioral therapy is an important part of feeling better too...
as far as your boyfriend goes, that's a hard one, because people who haven't felt that way or who haven't experienced that have no idea what it's like to feel that way...you will never be able to make him understand what you feel...he can learn to understand that you're upset and anxious, but he will never fully understand...he can learn to be supportive and accepting, but you need to accept that he will never "get it"...does that make sense?
maybe if you go to therapy, he can come with you some time after you've been going for a while and your therapist can talk with both of you and maybe help answer his questions about things.
good luck!

Answer 9

Hi, I have been taking Xanax for 25 years now for panic attacks, Maybe yours are to strong, I take the lowest there is and they don't knock me out, Just take the edge off when i feel an attack coming on....I only take them when i need them.....Find some information for your boy friend to read about this, He just don't understand what you go through....Why are you taking 3 different kinds of pills, No wonder your grouchy and tired, I only need the Xanax, Talk to your Dr. about taking so many....Maybe just the Xanax is really all you need......I wish you all the luck, I know what your going through, But try to get off so many pills, If the Xanax makes you tired, Why are you taking a different pill to sleep....Get my point? Good luck

Answer 10

well I have been on lexapro for about a year.Before I was on it I was a pain to live with Iw ould snap at anything anyone said.I was nervous all the time and was not happy.But the lexapro worked great for me I am happy go lucky,I meen sure there's that one time a month I can still get moody but not every day.Good Luck