problems with Anxiety Attacks.?

Question

I have suffered from manic depression my entire life. About five years ago I was also diagnosed with severe agoraphobia with severe panic attacks. Which basically means I can't be around people and when I am I feel like I am going to die. It got so bad that when I was pregnant with my son I could not leave my bedroom. I am better now( kinda) I have learned ways to cope with the anxiety and I take medications to deal with it. What I want to know from you is will this ever go away where I can feel normal and not have to COPE? or will I be like this for the rest of my life. I know that it is a TREATABLE thing but is it CURABLE??? I don't want to deal with this any more.

Answer 1

You've probably already talked to some professionals about it, but maybe a support group will help. Just as soon as you think you have it bad --trust me-- there are others who have it alot worse.

Answer 2

Social anxiety can cause these feelings, which can also lead to severe depression,
http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ds...

if not you could be suffering from Generalized Anxiety
Disorder..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/general_anx...

There is hope; I've been there, and still am there, it is a long, hard struggle. I recommend
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cognitive_b... worked best for me, with mild anti-anxiety meds. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I've tried individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp.... and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

I recommend a mild anti-anxiety med in addition to CBT therapy.

Any questions, let me know ... I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Answer 3

Hello Gantz. You are not going to live with this the rest of your life. It is treatable. I also suffered from panic attacks and agoraphobia. I also felt uncomfortable around people. Could not go to a concert. Felt really bad in a Mall. Panic attacks are caused by an imbalance in brain neurotrasmiters. This is treatable with medicines. You and your doctor should find the medicine that is right for you. I took prozac and rivotril for a year and the panic attacks were gone. The other day I went to a mall which I could not stand when I had the panic attacks and felt that I had accomplished somethings. The solution is a mix between medicines and exercises for example yoga and acupuncture. Also rehearsing, trying to be with people, even though you feel like dying you are not going to die if you are around people. Make and effort. There is hope! [e-mail]

Answer 4

The good news is it's treatable. After all, if you can be normal most of the time, that would be a worth goal, wouldn't it? Even better news, of course, would be that it could be cured. That's possible, too, but the critical thing is that you can be normal most of the time. You should never back off the meds, without the doctor's permission, when you think you are feeling better. You should also make a deal with a good friend that you will rely on his judgment when he says you are in a manic stage. You'll feel so good you won't want to get out of that stage. But, as you know, depressive often follows manic.

Answer 5

I have asked the same question to my Dr and others many times and no one has the answer for me any more than they do for you. My heart goes out to you because I have suffered similiar things as you have and it is a terrible illness. It has put me on disability twice in my life and permanently at the age of 54, almost four years ago I became permanently disabled on Social Security. Looking at me most people have no idea there is anything wrong with me, but most people do not understand depression and how it works, it can come and go for no reason at all, or sometimes things in our lives trigger the episodes. I've had years of psychotherapy, I could probably be a Dr myself. I am not going to say it hasn't helped me but I don't know what more therapy can do for me. Maybe the best thing you can do for yourself is accept your illness as I have because there is nothing you can do about it other than what you are doing at the present and what you have always done in the past. I know it can wear you down, but you have made it this far in life. You are a stronger person than you give credit to yourself. If you believe its curable then it will be curable.
Remember tomorrow will always be brighter.

Answer 6

Hi honey, I am so sorry for you but you can get better, I did! I had almost the same problem, although not as bad-but still devastating. I am on Valium, BuSpar, Lexapro and Inderal, all of them for depression and anxiety. What got me out of the house was a therapist that came to my home(if you don't have the money for a private one the state will usually provide one for you esp. if you have children) and she and I worked on my fears--some were rational ,some were not! I faced my fears, always with her there. It took 2 LONG years but here I am out and about! I volunteer at a Hospice and can go to stores and church and friends houses, it's great! You can do this! You do not have to live in this fear, I am still medicated(not as much) but feel like I am going to live. good luck sweetie! Angel :) e-mail me if you want!

Answer 7

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 8

Yes, it is curable. I suffered for 13 years from acute agoraphobia and panic disorder, unable to even leave my home for a year. Now I am anxiety free for 11 years. I did not take medication for more than about 3 months. I cured myself through detoxification and changing my diet. I gave up all processed food and would only eat what had come out of the ground and from the trees that I prepared myself. I also gave up alcohol and cigarettes.

If you want to cure yourself, you need to confront yourself and your life. See what isn't working and figure out how to make it work. Look at what you do that is self destructive and change it. Curing yourself is all about change.

I think it is very important to stop exposure to synthetic chemicals in food. No colourants, no preservatives etc. In short, no processed food. Good luck.

Answer 9

Hi,
There is this guide by anxiety expert Joe Barry , he has taught thousands of people to be panic free without any medication using a revolutionary new technique, http://www.panicaway.co.nr , its really a great guide , it should help you get rid of panic attacks forever in a few days

Hope this helps you and wish you the best of health

Answer 10

Hi,
There is this guide by anxiety expert Joe Barry , he has taught thousands of people to be panic free without any medication using a revolutionary new technique, http://www.panicaway.co.nr , its really a great guide , it should help you get rid of panic attacks forever in a few days

Hope this helps you and wish you the best of health

Answer 11

I've also suffered from Panic attacks since I was very young. I would rarely leave my home, and found it hard to hold down a job. I went on medication, which has helped, I no longer feel like a prisoner. However, I still can't drive the highway, and I hate it too. Good luck hon. ~~~~~~~~