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What is Your Experience with Anxiety?
Many of us experience anxiety and most every day one of us writes something here about anxiety. I thought I would start a discussion on this topic.
Some have experienced anxiety all of our lives and others experienced anxiety when diagnosed with a serious illness. Some people have panic attacks. Some people have anxiety that affects falling asleep or waking up early in the morning and not able to get back to sleep. We can explore what anxiety feels like to you, what goes through your mind and where you think it comes from. It's all up to you. You might want to share what has helped you as a way to support others on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Your turn. What would you like to share?
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@lizziel1 What other things has your doctor suggested to try, addressing your panic attacks? Perhaps looking into something not as strong as a benzodiazepine will be of benefit. What do you do now when you feel a panic attacks coming on? Have you been taught any coping skills to lessen the negatives of a panic attack? I am sure the doctor has your best interest at heart.
Ginger
I’ve tried several medications. Including beta blockers, the last thing they prescribed was a drug similar to Benadryl. Now that’s a laugh! 🙄
Please don’t patronize me by saying they have my best interests at heart. They already admitted it’s because of lawsuits and the DEA cracking down on Benzo scripts.
My health is declining from this severe anxiety. I’ve lost 20 pounds, because it wreaks havoc with my GI tract. I can’t drive, I wake in the middle of the night with panic. And on the verge of ending it because I can’t deal with it.
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1 Reaction@lizziel1, I'm sorry to hear that things have become so dire that your thoughts go to ending it. It must be frustrating to not have found a drug that works for you or that you feel could work or have worked in the past, but cannot get access to it.
It is no one's intent to patronize you. However, I can see how a comment may have made you feel that way. It's important to keep in mind that on Mayo Clinic Connect, we only have words on a page to express ourselves. Without the benefit of body language and tone of voice, one can easily read the wrong tone into a message.
I'd like to echo some of the questions that were kindly asked. What do you do now when you feel a panic attacks coming on? What coping strategies have you learned that work for you?
@lizziel1 I’ve had panic attacks. When I first began having them (early 1990’s) my GP at the time prescribed Elavil (amitriptyline). Not surprisingly, that older antidepressant did not work. When I finally found a psychiatrist he prescribed desipramine. That worked for anxiety and for the panic attacks. Even then he told me that benzos were OK for short term relief but not a good medication for the long term because of their addiction potential and developing a tolerance so that more is needed to maintain the same effect.
There are many antidepressants available now that were not out in the 1990’s when I had panic attacks. These new antidepressants are more effective and have fewer side effects. Some of these specifically target and are approved for anxiety and for panic disorder. It may be trial and error while you work out what’s best for you. It is possible to work with a doctor or nurse practitioner to find the medication that works for panic attacks that is not a benzo.
Are you working with a mental health therapist? What I wrote above still holds for me. It’s a combination of medication, coping skills, mindfulness, and therapy that helps me.
What do you think you will do?
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4 ReactionsHi Bobbie!
I'm sorry to hear about your husband's issues. That's too bad. However, you love him no matter what happens to him. So let him know that and I'm sure you do. Your husband needs you totally now. Forget the kids! Stay home with your husband and your blood pressure will calm down. Let the kids visit but only if they are friendly and polite to him and you. Saying a few prayers will help also. God's always there for you, if you ask.
I wish you both the best. I'll say a prayer for you and your husband.
PML
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3 ReactionsI’m in the same boat! I’ve tried antidepressants, ketamine, TMS and ECT. Now I’m on a cocktail of 3 antidepressants and it’s finally starting to work. I haven’t a clue what brought this depression/anxiety on approximately 5 months ago. Best wishes to you! This is no way to live.
I have anxiety and panic attacks. My childhood had frequent traumatic abuse.
Currently I use mindfulness, wall sitting, Breath Work and brief binaural listening.
I collected all the strategies I have tried in a SmartPatients.com conversation called Resources for Anxiety. Other members of Smart Patients added their strategies. You will have to register with Smart Patients to view the conversation.
https://www.smartpatients.com/conversations/resources-for-anxiety#topThanks so much for sharing. Do you mind listing the names of the meds you were prescribed and are currently working for you? Since posting my comment, I returned to taking the lamotrigine and generic Pristiq. I took a huge dive in my brain functioning after being med free for a couple months....and feeling excellent until late March. So I guess I am resigned to taking meds for the rest of my life. You mentioned ketamine - I was going to pursue that avenue but from what I read, it seems to be more helpful for those with a trauma induced condition. I believe my condition is simply hereditary, going back several generations. While I have been doing everything possible to stay healthy and active, the symptoms became too much to fight. I hope I will start feeling better in another week. This is my third week back on meds. My best to you and all who suffer this awful burden.
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2 ReactionsGo psychiatrist shopping or ask your pcp for a referral. I had anxiety attacks that actually ended up in the er where they gave me a Clonazapan (Klonopin). My attack slowly disappeared and was discharged .
I went to a clinic called “community care Alliance “
They have psych nurses, social workers who take you out for burgers or Walmart or the bank. Most of all they have a caring psychiatrist who surely wasn’t there for money. I told him that I had permanent anxiety. No more panic attacks because of the psychiatric help I was getting and when the conversation turned to medication option, he immediately asked if I ever tried klonopin, (a benzo). When I mentioned my hospital experience he prescribed a half of one milligram in the morning and 1 mg at 4:00 pm.
It does have side effects but I found I could live with them. 6 months later I have had no anxiety attacks. I have GAD (general anxiety disorder) with out those horrible panic attacks anymore and my psychiatrist is not a pill pusher. He told me that getting off them was very difficult and that he would have to do it a little at a time. So I said ok and I don’t have anxiety other than the normal of anxiety before a test. That was considered normal. That’s me today. No abnormal anxiety.
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2 ReactionsThanks for replying. Yes, I’m going to have to shop for a new Psych doctor. I was on .5 Ativan in the past. A very small amount. But when I turned 65, my doctor said they were too dangerous for my age. Hence the lawsuit mention.
I always have low level anxiety, but stopping the med turned it into panic attacks, which I haven’t experienced for 15 years or more.