How can i stop panic and agorophobia from ruining my life?

Question

I am 18 and I have suffered from depression and anxiety since childhood. I thought the anxiety was bad before but since i developed panoc disorder i pray for the old anxiety. My first panic attack came from nowhere in school, this quickly led to attacks every time i was in school and forced me to drop out senior year. I thought that eliminating that trigger would help or even cure the attacks, i was wrong. the terror of attacks led me to alienate myself from my friends, fear the idea of a job and eventually confine me to my home because the panic spread to any outside contact. I am growing more and more depressed because this is ruining my future and present. Even more frustrating is the fact that my family cant understand that something like this can cripple me with so much terror that i cant do normalthingsI have tried ssri's, antidepressants like remeron and trycyclinsbut my doctoris hesitant togive benzos cuz i have a drug history.isthereany lessabuseabledrugsto help,iam in therapy

Answer 1

First of all, maybe you need to see a new doctor. A lot of doctors won't prescribe benzo's.

I had the exact same problem, but with the help of Xanax and Zoloft and therapy, I have conquered my severe anxiety and panic problems.

Try and find a psychiatrist who is willing to find the right combination for you. Different things work for different people. And a doctor who does not want to examine all options, in my opinion, is completely unethical.

Most of it is political anyways, the drug companies try to dictate what meds doctors should prescribe. Once a drug goes generic, don't be expected to get a prescription of it as easily from a doctor who bows down to the drug companies.

Answer 2

Ive been through it all, and the worst thing you can do is let someone talk you into taking drugs to fix this.
The Anxiety, panic attacks and depression are usually magnified 10 fold after drinking alcohol or taking depressing drugs. You feel great while you are taking them but when their effects wear off, you are left feeling vulnerable, a sense of doom, health concerns, social fears, everything.
My advice is to get a job working nights, it lets you sleep in as late as you want. That is a huge boost....folks like us tend to be loners and thrive at night when everyone else is in bed and minding their own damn business.
Its a hard lifestyle to keep a marriage going, but if you have a committed relationship, your improved behavior will really impress those around you.
If you drink at night after you get off work, drink under control, set your limits. If you go beyond your boundaries, you will wake up feeling scared again. Keep it under control. YOU control it, nobody else does.
When I said get a job working nights, I dont mean over night I mean a job that lets you get home before midnight.
Good luck,
D@N

Answer 3

My husband has panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder & agorophobia (fear of open places) He is on Zanax 1mg 3x a day, alone with Paxil CR 37.7 everyday. He only goes out if he has no choice. I suggest that you find another doctor who might be able to give you another medication that might work for you! Talk to your therypist they might be able to help you as well!! Good Luck!! I support my husband he has only started having the attacks 2 years ago & we have only been together 3 yrs! It is a strain on our marriage but we are in therapy as well!!!!

Answer 4

I have family members who are on Lexapro and the other big name anti-depressants; I did Zoloft for awhile myself to counter my depressions. I tried it for like a year, and besides the wild hallucinations I was having in the first month on, I didn't like it much. I just didn't feel anything, and I think that is a hundred times worse than feeling too much. I can't say that the agoraphobia I suffer from is equivalent to yours, but there are times when the hardest thing on earth seems to be getting out of bed and showering up and going to work; but the thing of it is, that is exactly true, the hardest thing is just getting up and getting your butt out of the door, after that, things don't always flow, but they do proceed. Life is heartbreak and struggle, there are people out there who really want to mess up your life; but there are also people out there who wish to help you, get to know you, be your friend. If everything in life was beautiful and kind, how would you know how to really appreciate it? We need the ugly and evil to remind us just how beautiful life and this world can be.

Answer 5

I know a good program that helped me alot I am not kidding did you ever hear of luncinda basset she is the founder of the midwest center for anxiety she is a wonderful lady that made tapes for people to listen and a anxiety work book I know what your going through trust I use to be agrophoic I kind of still am srry cant spell. I am on effexor and prozac, and xanax it has helped me through the tough times but medication arent the answer go to this website. www.attackinganxiety.com good luck I hope you feel better I know how it is I still struggle.

Answer 6

Tru Lexapro & Neurontin.