Anxiety is taking over my life.

[MellowMind]

Hello everyone. I'm 19 years old and was diagnosed with GAD, Panic disorder, and Agoraphobia at the age of 12. Lately my life has been in turmoil. I've been very stressed for various reasons and my doctor refuses to prescribe me anything that may even remotely help.....

It's going to be at least another month or so before I can save up the money to see a new doctor... I just really need some coping strategies until then or I am going to go mad. I'm also going to be pissed if this next doc can't at the very least prescribe ativan because I am about to go crazy.

I can't eat, sleep, or concentrate on anything. All I wanna do is curl up in my bed and never come out because I'm so afraid of life in general....

[chris100]

Im sorry to hear what your going through my friend. I also have mood problems and anxitey. Its the worst feeling to have everyday when you wake up in the morning. Try taking B12 when you wake up in the morning. It should give you a little boost to the way you feel. I take Remeron/ seroquil but it doesnt help that much.

[Carter]

@PanickedMind , what med(s) has your Doc prescribed? That would be helpful to know...since you said they aren't really helping your condition.

[jholden40]

@PanickedMind
Sorry to hear you're going through a bad time - but hold on to the fact that it will pass (even if, at times, it feels as things will never get better).
Regarding coping strategies, why not try some CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy)? It's not to everyone's taste, but loads of people do find it incredibly effective/useful.
It's all about challenging the thoughts and beliefs that make you feel tense and anxious. There are loads of good books on it - the most well-known of which is probably David Burns' The Feeling Good Handbook.

Also have a look at these sites ...

Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/15-...e-distortions/

Good luck

[msaok]

It might seem a little tedious at first, but a particular form of meditation appears to work, if one has the patience to learn how to do it. You can probably download mp3s or get dvds from Amazon, but this youtube video is one session led by the "master", himself.

Mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn - YouTube

Persuasive, because real structural changes (that would make sense) were noted in areas of the brains of subjects who practiced mindfulness.

Mindfulness Meditation Is Associated With Structural Changes in the Brain | NCCAM

In the meantime, when you talk with your doctor, you might focus less on pain/anxiety complaints and more on specific ways your pain/anxiety disables you..... specific ways you are missing out on life, etc. Describe what happens when you try to live normally and can't. Doctors just seem more responsive to this kind of reporting, than they are to subjective complaints of pain/anxiety. And I think it could work against you if you ask for a particular medication like ativan.

[TenaciousE]

@PanickedMind , what med(s) has your Doc prescribed? That would be helpful to know...since you said they aren't really helping your condition.

Plus, what kind of doctor has been treating you? Not to insult your intelligence, but see a psychiatrist not a GP. And try to find a therapist who charges via a sliding scale.

Be prepared to tell the doctor every med you have been on, the side effects and explain what hasn't worked.

[mimi]

@PanickedMind - I also have a diagnosis of Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I remember a time in my life when I felt exactly the way you are feeling. It got so bad that I went to urgent care, and a random doctor prescribed me Alprazolam/Xanax. That medication was a lifesaver for me at that time. I then started seeing a psychiatrist, and he added Lexapro to the Alprazolam (I honestly don't feel like the Lexapro did much of anything for me, but the Alprazolam was definitely a lifesaver at that time in my life).

My psychiatrist recommended that I start seeing a psychologist too in order to do some sort of bio-feedback type of therapy, but that unfortunately didn't help me that much either. I hate to say this, but the only thing the helped me when I was at my very worst point of panic attacks and anxiety was the Alprazolam. If things get so bad that you feel like you can't possibly deal with one more second of the panic attacks/anxiety, maybe you could go to urgent care or the ER for help. Sometimes panic and anxiety just can't wait for a doctor's appointment that's a month away. My panic was so bad that I couldn't take one more second of it, and no doctor would see me for at least a month, so urgent care was my only option. The day I went to urgent care and was prescribed Alprazolam basically saved my life (I was at my wits end, and I couldn't handle the panic anymore).

Please keep us updated, and if you can't take the panic and/or anxiety anymore, maybe you could go to urgent care or the ER for help. I wouldn't wish panic attacks and anxiety on my worst enemy, but please know that things will definitely get better. Take care.

[etinin]

Escitalopram (Lexapro) works very well. But it's not an instant effect like benzos. Benefits come after a few days of chronic use. It's working wonders for my anxiety.

[mimi]

Escitalopram (Lexapro) works very well. But it's not an instant effect like benzos. Benefits come after a few days of chronic use. It's working wonders for my anxiety.

@etinin - I'm very happy to hear that Lexapro worked for you, but it didn't seem to do anything at all for my panic disorder or generalized anxiety. I have been on the SSRI's Lexapro, Paxil, and Prozac, and Lexapro was the least effective of the 3 for me. I was also prescribed Buspar, and that made my anxiety worse.

I guess it goes to show that we all have different body chemistries and what works well for one person may not work at all for another person. Alprazolam worked wonders for me when I was experiencing such an extreme state of panic and anxiety that I was literally praying to die. There are some situations in which people can't wait 2-4 weeks for their SSRI's to kick in or for other forms of therapy to start helping. When you are at your breaking point like I was, and when I was literally praying to die due to the panic and anxiety, Alprazolam basically saved my life. If I had waited 2-4 weeks for an SSRI to kick in, who knows if I would even be here posting this.

Lexapro basically didn't help me, but I know it does wonders for a lot of other people. I took it for quite a while along with my Alprazolam, but then my psychiatrist and I decided to dump the Lexapro, and I honestly didn't notice a difference when we stopped the Lexapro. Like I said before, I guess this just goes to show that we all have different body chemistries, and what works for one person may do absolutely nothing for another person. I am very happy to hear that Lexapro works well for you though

[etinin]

@etinin - I'm very happy to hear that Lexapro worked for you, but it didn't seem to do anything at all for my panic disorder or generalized anxiety. I have been on the SSRI's Lexapro, Paxil, and Prozac, and Lexapro was the least effective of the 3 for me. I was also prescribed Buspar, and that made my anxiety worse.

I guess it goes to show that we all have different body chemistries and what works well for one person may not work at all for another person. Alprazolam worked wonders for me when I was experiencing such an extreme state of panic and anxiety that I was literally praying to die. There are some situations in which people can't wait 2-4 weeks for their SSRI's to kick in or for other forms of therapy to start helping. When you are at your breaking point like I was, and when I was literally praying to die due to the panic and anxiety, Alprazolam basically saved my life. If I had waited 2-4 weeks for an SSRI to kick in, who knows if I would even be here posting this.

Lexapro basically didn't help me, but I know it does wonders for a lot of other people. I took it for quite a while along with my Alprazolam, but then my psychiatrist and I decided to dump the Lexapro, and I honestly didn't notice a difference when we stopped the Lexapro. Like I said before, I guess this just goes to show that we all have different body chemistries, and what works for one person may do absolutely nothing for another person. I am very happy to hear that Lexapro works well for you though

That makes perfect sense!
I mean, alprazolam is indicated for short-term or emergency treatment of anxiety, at most 2 months.
Lexapro is better for chronic non-urgent anxiety issues.
Thanks =)
Also happy that you got over your issues. How are you dealing with anxiety now, though? Off the meds? Or still on alprazolam?

[mimi]

@etinin - I'm off all meds except for the Alprazolam. My psychiatrist has been prescribing it PRN for several years though (not just a couple of weeks). He doesn't seem concerned about prescribing it for so long, which kind of confuses me because I've read that it's only supposed to be prescribed for a short period of time Maybe because I have a diagnosis of Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder he has decided that it's ok to prescribe it for a longer period of time? I am thinking about trying a different SSRI or an SNRI though. I'm doing fine right now though, so that's good!

[10 years after]

Darling, what is stressing you out so badly? If you could talk about it, we might be better able to help you? If you need ativan so badly can't you just buy it without a doctor's approval? Isn't that what we all do here. Though meditation has helped me cope with stress beautifully, I'm lots older than you and the stressors are different. Keep us updated as to what happens.

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@etinin - I'm off all meds except for the Alprazolam. My psychiatrist has been prescribing it PRN for several years though (not just a couple of weeks). He doesn't seem concerned about prescribing it for so long, which kind of confuses me because I've read that it's only supposed to be prescribed for a short period of time Maybe because I have a diagnosis of Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder he has decided that it's ok to prescribe it for a longer period of time? I am thinking about trying a different SSRI or an SNRI though. I'm doing fine right now though, so that's good!

Congrats. That's just awesome. I'm off all bezos except for an occasional ativan to sleep. I was on xanax for years and it was tough to kick. Meditation has helped me a lot, but it doesn't do a thing for someone in the throes of a panic attack, does it? How did you recover mimi? Was it just meds and time?

[etinin]

@etinin - I'm off all meds except for the Alprazolam. My psychiatrist has been prescribing it PRN for several years though (not just a couple of weeks). He doesn't seem concerned about prescribing it for so long, which kind of confuses me because I've read that it's only supposed to be prescribed for a short period of time Maybe because I have a diagnosis of Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder he has decided that it's ok to prescribe it for a longer period of time? I am thinking about trying a different SSRI or an SNRI though. I'm doing fine right now though, so that's good!

If you're doing fine, stick with it. Since you're already with it for several years, you've already developed tolerance, so it doesn't matter. Just make sure you never run out of it, else you're in for some big trouble. Non-tapered withdrawal is hell on earth. Psychiatrists are only supposed to do this in a last case scenario (first treatment options are SSRIs and gabapentin/pregabalin but benzos are often prescribed on a long-term basis).

[MellowMind]

I didn't expect to get such a huge response. Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply. As for your questions I've been on Lexapro, Prozac, Effexor, Cymbalta, and a hanful of other SSRI's, none of these drugs worked for me either.
I have also tried a drug called "Buspar" which is a non-narcotic ant-anxiety med that is supposed to work immediately because of a big rush of serotonin. The only thing this drug did was make me very dizzy and weak. My doctor at one time prescribed me a low-dose ativan at .5mgs which worked great if I took two. He said he only wanted me to take them 1-2 times a week, TOPS. I needed at least one a day and at night. Just goes to show that doctors really don't care if the patients are suffering.

I've also tried CBT as another posted pointed out but that was a long time ago. I might decide to give it a shot again.

I don't know whether or not I'm allowed to ask a specific question like this, but here goes. I found other posters talking about a site called airmailchemist and decided to check it out. They seem to have reasonable prices on anxiety meds and once I made an account a guy contacted me this morning to see why I haven't placed an order. I'm assuming this is the "doctor" but I'm not quite sure. The reason I have yet to place an order is because I don't have a credit card only a debit card. He said they take debit cards but only if they are attached to a checking account. Just curious if most places are like this or not? Or are there some places that will take just debit?

(Note, I'm not asking for specific references. Just curious if they are out there.)

[tadpol]

@PanickedMind- I don't clearly understand what you are asking. If you're asking if AMC is reputable, I believe from experience they are. But you have to be able to pay for the medicine in one of their standard formats.

Is this what you're asking?

[MellowMind]

Well I was just wondering if there are other legit pharmacies that take a pre-paid card instead of having to get a voucher.

[mimi]

Darling, what is stressing you out so badly? If you could talk about it, we might be better able to help you? If you need ativan so badly can't you just buy it without a doctor's approval? Isn't that what we all do here. Though meditation has helped me cope with stress beautifully, I'm lots older than you and the stressors are different. Keep us updated as to what happens.

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Congrats. That's just awesome. I'm off all bezos except for an occasional ativan to sleep. I was on xanax for years and it was tough to kick. Meditation has helped me a lot, but it doesn't do a thing for someone in the throes of a panic attack, does it? How did you recover mimi? Was it just meds and time?

@10 years after - I'm definitely not recovered. I still have Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which is why I take the Alprazolam. I still suffer from panic attacks, but fortunately I have my Alprazolam to stop a panic attack in it's tracks. I don't know if I'll ever be totally panic and anxiety free. All I know is that I'm able to function "normally" right now, which is very nice

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If you're doing fine, stick with it. Since you're already with it for several years, you've already developed tolerance, so it doesn't matter. Just make sure you never run out of it, else you're in for some big trouble. Non-tapered withdrawal is hell on earth. Psychiatrists are only supposed to do this in a last case scenario (first treatment options are SSRIs and gabapentin/pregabalin but benzos are often prescribed on a long-term basis).

@etinin - Thank you for the info!! I actually know all about tolerance, tapering, etc. I feel like I'm becoming an expert on benzo tolerance and benzo tapering. I'm fortunate because I only have a mild tolerance, but I am still aware that even a mild tolerance requires tapering. I have read all about benzo withdrawal, and it honestly sounds like absolute hell on earth. Thanks again for the info!!

[the chodesman]

Well I was just wondering if there are other legit pharmacies that take a pre-paid card instead of having to get a voucher.

The Airmail Group is likely your best choice. I'm sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. I've been dealing with anxiety and agoraphobia for a few months, I thought I was going crazy.

There are times where I find myself wondering whether I should just kill myself, rather than have to live like this. Dissociation, headaches, nausea, etc. I just met a girl and it is really hard telling her that I can't do anything social and I'm afraid her patience will eventually wear thin and I'm going to lose her. I'm a couple of years older than you, had to drop out of school, etc.

Be careful with benzodiazepines, try to take them only as needed. I'd advise starting a low dose of klonopin once a day when you wake up, or twice a day with one at night.

[IGoeOn]

I think anxiety management is best approached using a combination of medications and behavior modification. I can get into a particular self state that is entirely anxious - it doesn't happen very often anymore, thank god. What I found to be most effective was a regular stream of something in my body (like kpin and an anti-d) - with something more immediate (Ativan) for emergencies. I also think meditation and guided imagery crap is helpful but you have to be disciplined enough to do it. (FTR I am NOT.) Pills are the easy answer and sometimes the ONLY answer - but not usually.

What you are describing (in the initial post) sounds like it is post-traumatic - sudden onset at 12, etc. I cannot help but wonder what happened around that time - not that you have to share.

I was a total wreck at 19. Someone suggested that you find a sliding-scale therapist. I cannot recommend this enough. Your life is too precious to waste.

Please keep us posted.

[mimi]

@IGogh - I think you are so right when you said that cognitive-behavioral therapy, bio-feedback, and other forms of therapy require a lot of discipline. I have a feeling that therapy with a psychologist could have been helpful for me if I was more disciplined and if I actually "practiced" what I learned in therapy. Therapy definitely does wonders for so many people, but like you said, it requires a lot of practice, discipline, and forcing yourself to do things that you don't want to do - It's hard work! I also agree with you that medication management in combination with some form of "talk therapy" is the best approach to dealing with so many anxiety disorders. Now if I could only get motivated and get my butt back to therapy