What should I do about my anxiety?

Question

Ok, I am really in need of some help. I keep having a shaking feeling (even though I'm not cold) my pulse races at times (even when I'm laying down or relaxing), and occasionally although not always I find myself sweating even when its like 70 degrees in my room. I don't know if it is because my mother and I have been fighting alot over stupid stuff and I just can't stand the fighting anymore, but I know when she is around we will end up in another fight. I want to and plan to go to my doctor, and I have checked out medicine information online about Xanax, Paxil, Zoloft and other drugs I could that would help with this anxiety, and Xanax seems to be the best bet; however I dont want to go to my doctor and be like "this is what I am experiencing, I want Xanax" just for the fact that he might think I'm trying to get it for no reason. Should I just go and tell him what I feel and tell him I researched several drugs and think Xanax might be best for me, or do they have tests to do this?

fruitybaby101 - That is exactly what I am worried about is the doctor thinking I'm after a "fix". I have been put on Paxil, Zoloft, Ephexor (spelling?), and none of those worked, Ephexor gave me migrains like they were water, Paxil and Zoloft made me sick to my stomach. I never heard of Lexapro or Colonzapem but if those are also other options I might get then so be it. I'm not pill shoping if i end up with Xanax/Lexapro/Colonzapem then so be it or if I end up with nothing then so be that too, I will just have to find other ways and methods to cope

Answer 1

Sounds like the anxiety has been brought on by the fighting. I to suffer from anxiety I am a nurse and know about Xanax. Xanax is only good for short term use. I am taking an older drug at this time for anxiety and deression. Clonazepam it is in the same family as Xanax but less likely to become addicted. I to take Lexapro. I am currently disabled due to a fall down a flight of stairs i broke my back and being unable to work brought the depression and anxiety on for me. Have you tried just taking a walk to get away from the situation at hand? i would talk to my doctor about this tell him/her everything and please do not tell them that you have read about or think you need Xanax he/she will think that you are just after a "fix". They will know what to do for you. If not satisfied with there treatment plan get a second opinion please.

Answer 2

Benzodiazapines (eg. Xanax) are very effective in treating anxiety but they are very addictive and has a high abuse potential. Do not use it for more than 4 weeks. List of them are here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazapines

Most of the people have to try different meds to know that what they suit best. Consult a good Clinical Psychiatrist (Not a psychologist) and start the meds again. There are a lot of good antidepressants like

Fluoxetine - of the SSRI class (Prozac, Sarafem, Fluctin, Fontex, Prodep, Fludep, Lovan)
Sertraline - of the SSRI class (Zoloft, Lustral, Apo-Sertral, Asentra, Gladem, Serlift, Stimuloton)
Venlafaxine - of the SNRI class (Effexor, Efexor)
Citalopram - of the SSRI class (Celexa, Cipramil, Talohexane)
Paroxetine - of the SSRI class (Paxil, Seroxat, Aropax)
Escitalopram - of the SSRI class (Lexapro, Cipralex)
Fluvoxamine - of the SSRI class (Luvox, Faverin)
Duloxetine - of the SNRI class (Cymbalta)
Bupropion - of the DRI and NRI classes (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
Amitriptyline - of the TCA class (Elavil)
Dothiepin (Dosulepin) - of the TCA class (Prothiaden, Dothapax)
Mirtazapine etc...

I hope one of these may work for you. If you are not getting enough response from a single drug, you can try augmenting or combining different meds together. You have to stay on the maximum recommended dose of a particular drug for 2 to 3 months to know that if it is working or not. The symptoms may get worse in the first month of treatment. You will feel better after the drug adapts to the body. The side effects of antidepressants go away after 3 to 6 weeks. So stick to it.

Start an SSRI+Xanax and stop the xanax after 4 weeks. A sustained release version of Xanax is available and it is much safer than the normal tab.

Answer 3

Cognitive behavioral therapy - ask for it. Don't look for a quick fix here - I did that when I was a teenager, and am I ever sorry now.

SSRIs are very bad drugs (paxil, zoloft, cymbalta, zyprexa). It isn't really known how they work, and they are bad on the internal systems of the body. They cause liver damage, birth defects, sexual problems, weight gain, and chemical changes in the body. They help you think more about suicide. They cause vivid, lucid dreams. They have been linked to many homicides, including the Andrea Yates case and Columbine.

Check out my forum below, and ask questions as to what you should do. Cut and paste this question. We have nurses, doctors, and everyday people who will give you far better ideas of how to get through this, without putting your health at risk. And, you will learn about how they think these drugs work and how horrible the withdrawal can be. They are not long-term drugs. Most have not been tested over 12 weeks. I am suffering badly from tapering off of paxil, and it's hard to even survive. I'm nearly housebound, and all from wanting to feel better faster.

Answer 4

Seeing a psychiatrist is your best bet.They will do an evaluation and decide if you need medication and will prescribe what they feel you need.It's a great idea to research medications on your own because then you will be working along with your doctor.Sometimes what is good for one person may not necessarily be right for you. Xanax can be very helpfull, but not in all cases. Xanax used alone for an extended amount of time can cause depression....then you will be opening a door for many other problems...so see your psychiatrist, who may just send you to therapy, which is better than taking any medication.

Answer 5

First of all; Your on the right track in just talking with your doctor. Tell the doctor "exactly" what's going on at home.

Anxiety starts as a "mental" thing, but certainly does not suggest your crazy... It's only been a short time that the medical community has learned the physical damage that mental Stress and Anxiety can cause to the human body, when left untreated.

I don't think I would go as far as prescribing my own medication. I would leave that to the doctor. But I would go talk with him and I would be frank with him... Good Luck

Answer 6

Yes you can tell him you have done the research but
I KNOW you said you did the research but you know Xanaxs are very addictive ..right? Anyhow your anxiety has a cause within control therefore you should try non-medicinal and certainly non-narcotic methods of getting rid of or controling your anxiety!plz listen to me i know i have been on and off several ant-depressants for years now and had the WORSE panic disorder you can complete with hallucinations and thinking for sure i was dying! for real-that is a chemical imbalance!That must have meds.and with the meds comes more probs! tell your doctor you know this anxietys root and think you need short tern medical help,a good doctor truly concerned for you will suggest whats best long and short term probably short-term non-narcotic! BUT.. im no doctor just be honest with him and be very cautious and ask plenty of questions about not being hooked long-term.
PS paxil saved my life..literally but if they tell you it is not addictive they are lying!!!!!If you take it more then 4-6 months your asking for trouble! you are asking that your short term problem become LONG-TERM! watch out.They safest thing you can do is what my great doctor told me to do before my anxiety became a permnament panic /anxiety disorder..and that is..GET AWAY FROM THE SOURCE of your ANXIETY !! IT will only get worse and lead to high blood pressure or another disordert or worse GET AWAY THEN SEE IF YOU NEED MEDS!!good luck

Answer 7

I dont know about the tests but I would be honest and tell the doctor how I feel. If you trust your doctor he or she should trust you. I go to a Veterans administration doctor because of total disabilities i incurred during two wars which include losing 2 thirds of my stomach and anxiety etc. If he doesn't trust me I find another doctor that will. Tell him what you think you need and if he gives you a hard time, walk out the door. Good luck and hang in there.

Answer 8

sounds like you might be experiencing anxiety/panic attacks. i have them too, and have been taking xanax for 5 years. it has helped me so much. i had been to the point of never leaving my house...once for over 6 months. just talk to the dr. honestly...they hate histrionic behavior and might chalk it up to hypochondria...it happens--i'm not in the least suggesting you behave in a histrionic way--some doctors are just very insensitive. your dr might refer you for a psych eval...nothing to be afraid of, they just need to rule things out, and make sure you get the correct meds for your symptoms. you're not a "mental case," many ppl suffer from panic and anxiety disorders. maybe your mom will be able to understand and be supportive, and the fighting between you guys will stop. best of luck with this. i hope you'll be feeling better very soon.
**addendum** yes, xanax can be addictive. you have to be honest with the doc/psychiatrist so they can monitor your use. it's not an awful drug...it has been very effective for me and some other ppl i know who take it. i also take cymbalta. they have made a HUGE difference in my daily functioning. like a lot of psychotropic meds, you can't go off it suddenly, or you'll have withdrawl symptoms. you may only have to take a medication very short term, and the doctor will have you taper off it over a 1-2 week period. please just start with an evaluation at least. maybe counseling is the solution for you, and not meds. again, best of luck to you.

Answer 9

Or you could just take St John's Wort and Bach's rescue remedy. They're completely natural, not addictive and have no side-effects. You sound a bit keen to me to get onto Xanax and I think the doc might think so too. It's a long time since I've been to a doctor, but is it not up to the doctor to decide what medication best suits your symptoms?

Meds just block the symptoms but won't get to the cause. Have you tried just sitting down and having a long conversation with your mother? Or try getting someone you both know well to mediate.

http://www.angelic1healing.com

Answer 10

I don't know much about Xanax, but i do know about anxiety from fighting with my mom... I used to get the same things that you've had, i haven't for some time because i've been on an odd binge of highs and lows. To get over my anxiety, i did simple things.. like talking to my girlfriend, putting schoolwork on the "back burner" of sorts. I'm also going to counseling with my mom, its helping a little bit..