Someone that has or had panic attacks/anxiety?

Question

Can you please tell me how to make it go away! I'm on zoloft and ativan, I have been for about a week. Except I took the ativan for 2 days and it made me more anxious so I stopped taking it. I cried for like 3 hours today because I also suffer from depression. I never leave my house because when I do I have really bad anxiety and then it turns into a P/A. I've had a headache for the past week straight and I always think of the worst things, like for example an aneurysm or a brain tumor. I asked my doctor and he said its probably because of stress and tonsilitus (which he thinks I have). I just want to be able to leave my house, I want the P/A's, anxiety, and depression to go away. I WANT TO BE BACK TO NORMAL!!! If anyone knows anything they think can help me, PLEASE DO! If you went through the same problem as I am and you have gotten over it, how did you do it? Please no stupid answers, I'm really being serious...

Answer 1

Zoloft is an antidepressant that could very well help the anxiety as well. Ativan is a cool-it med to calm you down. If it's not calming you, you need to call him and ask what to do.

If you're always having headaches, ask your dr. about Neurontin (available in generic). It is a chronic pain medication (blocks pain signals from reaching brain) and an anti-anxiety agent as well. Another possibility might be to piggy-back Cymbalta onto Zoloft because Cymbalta helps physical pain as well as depression.

Your Zoloft needs some time to kick in, maybe even a month or 6 weeks. Just kick back, acknowledging how you feel but not requiring much of yourself until you've given the Zoloft time to kick in.

You don't have a brain tumor or an aneurysm. Know how I know? Ninety percent of depression patients think something's wrong with their brain! I did, too. It's just another symptom. They are all symptoms.

I was first diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder 23 years ago. I've tried every medication on the market and lots of combinations of psychiatric medications. I'm still not an expert. I can only tell you what's worked for me.

Take care, honey, and hang in there. The drugs are on the way, but they've got a lot of road to travel before they get here.

TX Mom
Debbie

Answer 2

Yes, I start thinking something terrible, for example that I'm going crazy and then I start following that idea, almost obsessing over it even though I know it's just anxiety or that it's irrational. I then throw myself into a panic attack. There are some techniques to help you when you're having these problems. Deep breathing, some relaxation techniques and even simply being aware of the anxiety help me. Preventing it is pretty hard if not impossible. I try to just deal with those thoughts as they come. I am able to prevent attacks pretty often these days simply with the techniques above, but sometimes it doesn't work. I still hate going outside and won't go out alone and often get so frustrated with the anxiety because I know it's irrational, that I just find myself rather depressed, but eh. I tried medication, but it just made everything worse and I did see a psychologist for cognitive behavioral therapy, but I stopped going after the first session. The guy wasn't telling me anything I didn't already know, so it was pointless.

Answer 3

To get back to normal will take time just to remove the unbalanced depression chemicals now in your system. It was when you were very depressed that the brain made a new logic patch and dreamed up a fear. Something is triggering the fear and your mind automatically believes the worst . It probably is not true. The panic fears will have to come out slowly as you tell someone about your fears of leaving the house. During your psychotic stage your language degenerated so now your words have some new meanings. Only time will allow you to correct all this. If you don't get depressed it will get better. With a friend who has been through all this you will feel real support. Don't give up... many have been where you are now and are through it . Your body is healthy so start to live again but keep asking for support.

Answer 4

I suffered from panic attacks and depression for most of my life. And I gladly say it's in the past now. I would not have survived without the same meds you are on. I researched for a cure for years and found biofeedback. I researched how it would help and finally tried it and the rest is history. I'm cured and without meds for a year now. No relapse or nothing. You might want to look into it yourself and see if it will help you. I could not be happier and feel normal finally.

Answer 5

I have severe panic disorder. I know just how you feel. For months I felt pain..it was making me sick. Every headache was tumor, just like you. And every panic attack I thought it was a stroke or something. I used to be able to control the attacks. But after a while I couldn't. I was so scared. I even didn't want to watch children anymore because I thought something bad would happen to me and they wouldn't know how to help me. Eventually I went to the dr. which I hate to do. He did blood work on me to prove to me that I was healthy and not dying. Then he prescribed alprazolam for me to take when an attack happened. Then I went to see a psychologist a couple times. It really helped me a lot. To know that I was ok. Stick with the meds if your dr. really thinks they will help..just try not to become addicted.

Answer 6

See panic attack, and anxiety treatments, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on pages 8 and 6. Set yourself a fixed limit for worrying about any particular subject, (say; 15 minutes) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even consider that subject again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life. Use the technique for reprogramming negative thoughts, on page 2, to help you in this, and consider carrying a wide rubber band in your pocket, as a means of reinforcing it. Practise one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 2i, 11, or 2C, daily, and read page 2L, and section 2, and give the EFT a good tryout.

Answer 7

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 8

My sister went through it (and is always depressed)... she only gets the panic attacks from worry or responding to a traumatic episode. Is something serious going on in your life right now? You need to get to the bottom of what is causing this.
ALSO.. this may sound stupid but you need to simply wear yourself out with excercise! It will help with both the depression and the panic attacks.

Answer 9

Zoloft can EITHER relieve anxiety or cause more anxiety. Make sure you have a very good Psychiatrist who is prescribing for you.

Lexapro is the most selective and has the fewest side effects of all of the SSRIs and, personally, would be my first choice for someone with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and depression.

Answer 10

Make sure you have a good Dr. Don't just stop the meds, you need to take it long enough to get into your system. Tell your Dr. what it did, he may prescribe something different. It sounds like you need some help for sure. Good Luck.