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Depression and SEVERE PANIC/ANXIETY


10 years ago 0 11210 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Welcome Adelozier80,

I'm sorry to hear all you have been going through. It sounds like you are in a very scary and frustrating place right now. Please know you are not alone. We are here whenever you need us.

This program is intended for individuals with mild to moderate anxiety but it will likely be helpful for you to read inbetween therapy sessions. Be sure to tell your therapist about what you are learning here. You also may want to check out our sister site depressioncenter.net too. But only focus on one program at a time. Both programs are based on CBT principles which is one of the best treatments for anxiety and mood disorders. It does take work but if you are feeling like you would like to put the work in you will likely notice some results within the first few weeks.

There is a way out of this and we can help you find it. The best way to start is learning as much as you can. Davit is a HUGE help to so many members on the boards and I am sure other members will be along shortly to introduce themselves to you. I look forward to reading more from you!
 
 
Ashley, Health Educator
10 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I have Bipolar friends and you do not look bipolar. If you are it is pretty mild. Oh and I have been in the psych ward so met all kinds. Most people will never know just how bad a panic disorder can get. But I do. There are lots of ways to deal with constant anxiety when you can not take meds. I can tell you things that work but more so I can tell you why they work. CBT is different for everyone in practice even though it is the same changing of thought patterns. Your core beliefs make a big difference as do your triggers, personality and tendencies. 
Congratulations, do you know if it is boy or girl. Babies are a gift. Okay so you have four months till the next major hormonal stress in your life. If you are dilligent it is enough time to get you on the road to recovery. Not a cure, it takes longer than that to change thought patterns and get them anchored. No hog wash here, I will never lie to you. I will also spend as much time with you as you want. And I will explain things as often as I have to till they make sense. You have to do the program also. This is their site not mine, I just explain things and talk about experiences, mine and others. CBT works. You won't find proof because people get better and go on with their life I'm afraid. 
You could start by telling us what your triggers are and a bit about you. Are you working, Can you travel etc?

Davit
10 years ago 0 2 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
No, I do not think what your saying is wrong. I have been a wreck since attempting these SSRI's again. They caused panic attacks and anxiety that I am still living with a year later. I still have the depression that is now made worse by the fact that I cant escape this hell. I am agitated for no reason which I want to assume is from the constant adrenalin pumping through my body from the anxiety. I am in tears as I write this. I can not take ANY meds at this time because I am pregnant. YES pregnant. 5 months to be exact. I want so badly to believe that I can get help through this site and move on. The agitation scares me so bad. IS this part of the anxiety/panic? I have soooo many physical symptoms. I am trying desperately to realize they are part of this and that nothing more is wrong. I spent months with a heart rate of 150-180 24/7. It has went down in the last few months. I am just looking for some guidance, any at all. I DO NOT have any MANIC symptoms. I do have insomnia but, I lay awake and cry because I can not sleep. Prior to this all I loved to sleep. I get woke up all night with rushes of anxiety, adrenaline. I do not like to spend money, I do not have a high self esteem or think everyone is wrong, in fact I am the opposite. I do not go out of the house unless I am forced to. I am totally scared I am losing my mind!!
10 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Adelozier

Welcome.

Bipolar is not as bad as it sounds. But if you are you will most likely be on meds for ever only because the Bipolar mind runs at a far faster pace than normal and needs to be controlled so the highs and lows flatten out. My friend "K" is on lithium and for the first year it was hell. Physically that is. A lot of diarhea. That is still better than panic. 
But you may not be bipolar. I'm not even though it was thought I was. 

Mood stabilizers work when SSRIs don't. Trimipramine is probably the most common and there are a lot of people on it. It works on a different part of the brain than SSRIs. I can not take SSRIs. They make me suicidal. They did not stop panic attacks either. 

Ativan has too short of a half life for severe panic. Try one with a longer half life. This is only my opinion based on being an Ativan addict. Four years. Benzos do work on Bipolar anxiety.

It is very common for SSRIs to not work second time round which is why they recommend you never stop.

Statistics being what they are, bipolar people do commit suicide more than other groups. Which doesn't mean anything. But if you are bipolar it is a consideration. Depressed people are all at risk. I'm at risk and I'm neither. But I know when to seek help. There was over a year between being concerned last time.

Two things real common to bipolar are grand plans and no understanding of when to quit spending. and no one knows anything but you. If you are uncontrolled Bipolar you will tell me I'm full of **** and to get lost. Believe me you will. No matter what anyone says you will do it your way.

Here for you if I can help. But I will go away if you want me to.

Davit
10 years ago 0 2 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I am looking for some guidance. I suffered from significant panic and anxiety 12 years ago and was medicated. It went away and I was very well off without medication for some time. Then I decided to attend nursing school. Under super stress and triggers of PTSD I developed severe anxiety and panic again. I decided to seek treatment and went to the doctor. He gave me a SSRI I had taken many times before. BAM I had the worst panic attack of my life. I ended up in the ER. Long story short I was given one ssri after another and they continued to make things worse. I developed severe depression along with the panic and 24/7 anxiety. Because the the terrible anxiety to the SSRI's an the Ativan not working the dr told me I was bipolar. This was months and months ( 12+) of hell. I am trying to dig myself out of this night terror but, the reactions to the medications have caused me to panic more. I feel like there is no way out of this. The thought of bipolar is a huge panic trigger for me. I think about this 24/7 and feel like Im not in control. Does anyone have any advice for me? I see a therapist 3 times a week. I feel like Im hardly hanging on till the next time I see him. As soon as I feel even a little depressed I go into full blown panic mode and cant sleep or eat and pace. Doctors are little to no help. One actually told me that I will need to be on a mood stabilizer the rest of my life or I will kill myself. ONLY INCREASING MY SEVERE PANIC!!!

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