Hi!! I'm new to this, but I'll tell you what I'm taking. Not that you should go and ask your doctor to change your meds. It takes a long time to find exactly what works for you. I'm on Paxil and have been for about 5 years. Started out at 20mg and was only taking 10 mg when I had my last big attack. I went up to 30mgs a day but found that it was just too much. I'm slowly taking myself back down to 10mg. That seemed to work best for me. But I also use Ativan. It's only 1mg pills and I usually only take half when I'm using it. It's for when nothing seems to relax me and I just can't get out of the fear and panic. But it makes me sleep. Within 30 minutes I'm out cold. But that's what I'm looking for when I take it. I just want to go to sleep and forget everything for awhile.
Not sure if this helps at all, but just wanted to make sure you knew that it will take time till you find the right prescription and dosage.
I'm new to this too. But you can make it through. I slipped and fell back into my old patterns of avoiding so that the immediate "pain" would go away. But it does get better. I've only finished session 1 reading and now have to do the tracking. Not sure what I'll have to track, cause for the last week I feel "normal" again. But I'm sure there's an attack out there waiting for me. I just have to stay and work through it instead of fleeing as fast as I can. Good luck to you!!
Just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about myself. I've been having panic attacks for the last 5 years. When it first started I thought that there was something medically wrong with my stomach. I was feeling nauseous everday and wasn't able to keep anything down. After a "million" medical exams everything got better. For a year!!! Then all over again. That's when I first started seeing a councellor. Made it through that eventually and was doing pretty good for a couple years. Then this summer it all hit me again. My councellor gave me a list of websites to check out and that's when I decided to sign up for Panic Center. I've only finished the first session but plan to finish all of it. I'm really looking for help when everything seems to be OK and then all of sudden all the old fears and feelings come back. That seems to be my cycle!! I think I've gotten my disorder under control and then I lose it all over again. When it first hits, I can't seem to get it under control for a couple weeks. Then slowly things come back into perspective. I just want to learn how to skip the really bad week or 2 and learn to manage each attack as it comes.
Any advice?? How do you change the way your mind looks at situations? When you feel the attack coming on, how do you slow your thoughts down and realize it is "just" another panic attack?
Hi Adrienne. I too was afraid of meds. But I started 5 years ago on Paxil. I started at 20mg a day. The first day was really scary for me. I could feel my heart racing and I couldn't sit still. Just too much energy!! That was really diffent for me as I'd been so lazy and sluggish for 2 years. And the side effects listing my pharmasist gave me also gave me a list of overdose symptoms. Racing heart was an overdose symptom. That really scared me. But I gave it a couple days. It all worked out in the end. I did increase my meds a couple months back to 30mg a day. That didn't seem to work for me. I just didn't feel like "me". So I guess I didn't really answer your questions, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone out there. Try the meds your doctor prescribed. He'll probably tell you you have to give it a month or so before you'll notice any difference. But give it some time. You know yourself, if you don't feel like "you" when taking them, ask for something else. I've never taken Lexapro, but I don't think 10mg a day should cause you much difficulty. Good luck!! And just remember, it eventually does get better. It just might take some time.
Hi!! I don't take Zoloft but having been on meds for nearly 5 years for panic attacks and depression. Not always the same dosages. They increase and decrease along with the frequency of the attacks. But I just wanted to say maybe you should talk to your doctor again. This medication might not be right for you. My doctor always told me it would take a month before I'd notice any real difference with the meds, but I don't think you should have to be suffering through worse headaches and nausea now that you are taking medication. Maybe you should just sit down and talk to your doctor. Let him know how you've been feeling and whether or not he thinks you should try something else. Lots of us on this site have had trouble with medications and finding the right one for each of us. But don't give up!! Stick to it!! :)
Hi faithingod!! I know exactly what you mean. I've been going through this for nearly 5 years. And my biggest trigger for a new serious of panic attacks is stomach problems. I have such a fear of being sick. When I start to feel nauseated a panic attack is sure to hit quickly. I know that's what triggers them for me and no matter what I tell myself, it takes me days to get back to feeling "normal". But you will get over it!! And you will feel better!! They always pass!! Some just take longer than others.
Hi little_star!! Don't feel bad about the exam. Just give yourself a pat on the back for making it to the class in the first place. That's a big step for someone who was afraid to drive or go to work. Beating yourself up will never help. That's what I do all the time too. Never happy with the little steps I do make only angry at myself for "wimping" out on the big ones. You're taking the right steps to get yourself back into your life. Slowing down at work and changing your school schedule. Once your comfortable with that, you'll be ready to take a bigger step. You should look at each little thing you do do as an accomplishment. Getting out of bed in the morning is a big step for me!! Good luck and try to stay positive. Things will get better!!! ;)
Hi Rachel!! My heart goes out to you. I know exactly how you feel. I was doing really good for a couple years too and then all of a sudden this summer it hit me hard. I do take meds though and have been for about 5 years. The dosages have changed but I was always too afraid to stop. You know, as long as things are working, why change?!?! I've been trying the program here and it is helping. The biggest thing for me is to try and calm myself enough during the attack to really think about what's bothering me and what's the worst thing that could happen. Try the program, and if you have questions or just need someone to hear you, post in the support group. Everyone here is really nice and they all know what you're going through.
Here we go again. I cancelled my summer vacation because of an unexpected panic attack. Was a total mess for 2 weeks. Then started to feel a bit better and my August long weekend plans fell apart because I started to panic all over again. Well here we are . . .I've been feeling like "me" for the past week and have plans to go away for a couple days with family. All I can think about is "what if?" My therapist tells me to take it further. What if I do have a panic attack? What's the worst thing that could happen? Could I survive the worst?
It's my family!! So why am I so worried anyway? They've all seen me at my "worst". I just don't want to ruin anyone else's holiday because I'm sitting and crying uncontrollably or can't get off the bed cause I'm afraid I'll be sick. My mom is great about the whole thing. And she's going with me so I should be fine!!! But I'm feeling very anxious right now. I really do want to go away. Is the anxiety maybe more excitement about getting away? Or am I just psyching myself out? HELP!!!!! :quest:
Thanks Josie and Angel!! I did make it. I printed off the steps of Exposure Therapy and took them with me. I should have started a little smaller maybe, but the trip was planned and I didn't want to "chicken" out again. But the trip was great!! It was only a couple days away from home, but I had a great time. A little anxious about the driving part, but I made it without incident. Took an extra pill and was a little disappointed in myself for that. But the rest of the 3-days was perfect!! Thanks for all your well wishes. I've been doing much better ever since I came home from the trip. I think it helped to get away and realize I can still do it. I've even made a couple day trips away from home alone since coming back. No one there to "hold my hand". And I'm very proud of myself. Maybe it seems a little "small" to get excited about that, but it was a big step for me and I think I'm now back to feeling like "ME"!!!!! Thanks!!
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