Anxiety and panic disorder: wondering how others have learned to cope with this? Struggling for years.?

Question

I would love to hear other's experience and advice on coping and dealing with constant anxiety and panic, appreciate it greatly, Thanks!

Answer 1

i tried CBT therapy to help recognize and de-fuse my triggers. it works quite well. i am on meds as well, but if you just use them as a crutch, you will never see results. get the book "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" by Burns, i swear it helped me go from agoraphobia to a somewhat normal functioning state.

Answer 2

First of all, get a blood test. I had anxiety to the point that I would go to the hospital and sit in the waiting room at the E.R. in case I had a heart attack. I had been though the various tests, but they never found anything. I got some xanax, and that helped, but still wasn't normal. I took a look at my diet, found a place online called lab test direct, and had a complete blood test to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. I found a really low potassium level, and that stopped the anxiety, depression and made my heart beat normally again (although an EKG said it was normal) I feel for you. There is no one that will understand unless they go through it. You know something is not right, but the doctors are trained to treat depression and anxiety unless you roll in on a stretcher. You have to find out what is the matter with you. Do research and try everything until you find a solution. You can't live your life in fear. There is also a tape program called CHAANGE that I found through a therapist. It teaches you to deal with the panic attacks through relaxation and explanation of what is going on. But I really don't believe all anxiety is mental, so get started finding the problem. Look up the symptoms of potassium deficiency and see if they don't match what you are going through. Also take a multivitamin. I would have a panic attack after taking a vitamin, but with time you will realize it won't kill you, and may help a lot. Don't give up. You can beat this. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you.

Answer 3

I struggled with it for years also. Finally it crept up on me and I became seriously depressed. I also became suicidal as it had drained all of the energy out of me. My story can be found on the web at Miami New Times under "The Last Temptation of George Petrie". After being involuntarily committed to a mental hospital I started taking Prozac. I refused to take any medication all my life. The doctor put me on Prozac and Xanax CR for anxiety. The xanax CR is a controlled release version and has a much longer half life than the regular xanax. Anyway, I am back to better than ever, have regained my life and am more successful than I ever dreamed I could be. best wishes to you

Answer 4

I get panic attacks and anxiety attacks when I start to get really stressed out. I have learned to stop them before they start now though. If I feel one coming on...I just stop...breath slowly and count to ten a few times. It sounds so trivial but it helps sooo much.

Answer 5

Xanax is a good med to take, but down side is they make you really sleepy. There are many other meds out there. Go to WebMD and do a search for your issue, it will give you a list of meds, side affects, and such. I too have aniexty attacks and have learned how to control them.

Answer 6

Xanax. Good luck. 2D