Hello,
Today is
Valentine's Day. Since Valentine's Day has to do with the heart, it's a good day to start the CBT program. Actually, I started yesterday. I had to take the test twice because I made some mistakes in the first one. I do not have long up/down episodes lasting for days, but I do have my share of panic attacks, PTSD, depression, you know, all those gifts that keep giving
My worst panic attacks occur in the middle of the night. I am not sure how this program is set up to help that, but it's worth a try. When they started spilling over into the day, and became all of the day, I realized my Doctors and medications were not enough. I had to give up SSRis and SNRIs because, after 9+ years of using them, they were having a reverse effect on me, making my anxiety and panic worse. It got to be so bad, I thought I would have to check myself into an institution, sometimes I still think that- or a sleep disorder center). But then I remembered Lyrica. Now I am taking that for daytime panic. It works wonders for me (but not everyone of course). The come-down is a little jittery but that's better than panic. My attacks include the feeling that I am being 'tazered' inside. It's awful. But since Lyrica came along, things are settling down. I am also going through withdrawal of Seroquel, which I now consider a very nasty drug. If you are considering taking it, look it up first!
I was abused as a child, neglected, denied, lost my sister to an untimely death, raped as a young woman, and generally mistreated for many years. The panic attacks are fairly recent, but their cause I am sure lay in my past.
Anyway, my heart goes out to all of us who must struggle daily (and nightly) with panic, anxiety, ptsd, depression, sleep distruption. God bless. I hope to make new friends here.