I have anxiety/depression/panic attacks.. i need some suggestions.?
Answer:
Prozac has done wonders for so many people that its hard to think it wont help you for the time being...the first step you did in the right direction is to get on a medication its true it might not help u but give it a chance..you can always change the med you r on.your prescription is not written on stone ..you can always experiment with other anti depressants too..and if your problem is anxiety you can always go for the meds that deal with anxiety..like xanax..monitor your feelings see how you feel when you r on it and when you are off it...clonex is a good drug it calms the nerves and wont promote weight gain..the main thing is to feel with the help of a med "good , happy you dont always have to feel depressed or anxious the meds are out there to help you and not otherwise...most drugs take effect immediately...try to work with a couple of doctors so you can feel like you r getting a second opinion and then compare results..try to get a restful sleep even if it means prescribing for a sleeping pill...if you feel anxious in the morning try an anti anxiety pill ..perhaps youll need more than one med to help you...experiment ...and be patient
Try changing your diet, and exercising on a regular basis.
You can also have your primary prescribe a medication to slow down your heartbeat. This may help a great deal as rapid heartbeat seems to exacerbate the attack.
I have all these thing too but manage to lead a worthwhile and interesting life. Try the Prozac, it might make you feel better. Spend time with the people you love. Read some self help books. Try cognitive therapy with a counsellor. Get plenty of sleep. Get a cat (that does it for me). Take gentle exercise, especially walking. When you panic, breath deeply, it will calm you. More than anything, don't fight the feelings, just let them come with acceptance and they will stop seeming so terrifying. Finally, good luck.
I'm not a big believer in medicine, unless it is a life-saving incident. What happened 5 years ago that made you have attacks?
Join a group where you can interact with people and doing physical activity at the same time. Like a martial arts class, a dance class, a soccer team, etc. Or just finding a hobby that you really like will calm your nerves. Take care.
Get to a psychiatrist they are better able to deal with those things than a primary care doctor. If you are already going to one tell them the concerns or problems you are having. Communication is the key.
I have an answer and it's based on experience. I combat my problems on depression and anxiety on several levels. Yes, I take medications and I'm not ashamed of it. Medication can be very useful in combating depression and anxiety, but it takes time to find the right medication or combination of medications.
Secondly, I went through therapy with a qualified psychologist. The psychiatrist worked with my psychologist, so they worked as a team. I learned through one year of intensive therapy to change the way I feel by changing the way I think. I learned to gradually control my physical reaction to panic attacks to help me in ways that medication could not and one of my medications, Cyproheptadine, removes the emotional attachment to a memory helping me further. I learned to forgive the ones who did me harm, which brought a measure of peace to my life, and much more.
I've been where you are with depression and anxiety. It's not just a matter of positive thinking. If it were, you'd be better, right? No, it is a matter of specific steps to take to change the way you feel by changing the way you think. I wish you the best of luck and e-mail or IM me if I can help.
Obviously if you are having panic attacks, something is wrong. You have a chemical imbalance which is what causes panic attacks. Your doctors should know this. I'm surprised they have not given you Xanax to calm you and ease you out of the attack. Yes, anti-depressants can work, but it can take trial and error to get the best one in the best dose. It also takes about 6 weeks to get into your system before you see much results.
I would ask the doctor about something in the meantime, like Xanax, to ease the symptoms.
It gets better, but you have to have knowledgeable doctors and the right medication to treat it.
Most regular doctors have no clue about anxiety and panic attacks. They don't know what else to do so they give you pills, which do not really address the root of the problem. I am not a fan of pills, unless your symptoms are so extreme that they interfere with yor normal life. The problem comes from within, and has to be addressed from within. You have the power to get better (maybe not completely free of some anxiety) on your own. I read a book years ago that has helped me tremendously. It is called Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Claire Weekes. It is an old book but it will help you to understand anxiety and panic attacks and help you deal with them. I have not had a panic in many years (15?) because I now know how to keep my anxiety from getting that far. I still feel anxious sometimes, but I can manage it. I have never taken medication.
i have all the same stuff but its only been 4 years and i never got any actual test done. talk to your doctor about lexapro thats what im on and i think it works extreamly well
Exercise is a really good way to stop anxiety/panic attacks along with helping your depression. I had the same kind of symptoms and even took lexapro for my anxiety/depression. Finally I said "enough is enough"...i started running/walking everyday (my doc mentioned doing this at an earlier visit).
Now I'm up to 4.5 miles per day and I very rarely feel anxious or depressed. I stopped taking my meds the day I began working out and I felt better than ever. For me it was as if the meds made things worse.
It has been a great release for all that built up energy and emotion. Plus it makes me feel really healthy. So working out and eating right make MAJOR differences. Just my advice :)
Hey! Sorry to hear you’re suffering from panic attacks. I used to have them too (for about 15 years). They stopped after I took a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks It takes a bit of work, but I found it to be really effective.
You can go to a doctor and get referred to a psychologist. Otherwise, you can take a course for free online at: http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elear... It has been funded by NHS Scotland and has had great results thus far. A ‘prettier’ version of this type of programme can be bought at www.thewellnessshop.co.uk. If you don’t like computers, the best book is Dr Robert Burns, The Feeling Good Handbook. It is brilliant and used by many psychologists. Also see http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resource... for good anxiety work sheets and information.
All I can say is CBT changed my life. You might find yourself thinking “this won’t work”, (like I did), but stick with it! I had to put in a lot of work, but my panic attacks have been virtually eliminated. (I also did relaxation exercise tapes 2 or 3 times every day for a year and would recommend this).
Esseentially though, if you control your breathing, you control panic. Breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out. Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). Remember that it is always within your power to stop a panic attack!
Good luck!
p.s. Also indycolts79 has some really good advice about exercise – most doctors would recommend exercise for mental well being.
why are you having physical tests done for mental issues --- have you thought about seeing a pyschologist for testing
they can test for all of the things you have mentioned -- the testing is so on the dot now-a-days that they know what is going on and how to attack the issues -- along with whick RX's to treat you with
good luck
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