Anxiety, Panic and Depression disorders
I am 76 and have been suffering from anxiety and panic disorders almost all of my life. I am seeing a Psychiatrist at the moment and he has me on Prozac 60 mg per day, Clonazepam 3.5 mg at night and 30 mg of Remeron at night. With the Clonazepam, I find my legs are very restless and I rub the sheets when I am sleeping. I don't believe either Clonazepam or Remeron are really helping me. Although I must say my depression is much better now. I am trying to get off both of these drugs with the Dr's. help. I will continue to take the Prozac at this dosage until I am told otherwise. I tried to get off it also., but the panic and anxiety came back like a dragon. My depression is pretty good at the moment, although I do have days when I am really down and feel like I no one understands me. My anxiety is my biggest problem. I panic or get anxious about almost everything. I feel faint, light-headed, get heart palpitations and just want to get outside in the fresh air and run around. I am really bad with this and have gotten worse over the years. Does anyone have this same problem? I am alone a lot which doesn't help the situation. I am happily married, but my husband does not understand me at all. He says I am always anticipating stuff to happen that never does. I am also afraid of the dark and suffer terribly from claustrophobia, which causes me great stress sometimes. I would appreciate any comments from anyone about this. I gave myself the name happyat76 because I love to think of myself this way, but it is not the truth.
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Just another note to say that my husband has gone to a therapist with me and he tries hard to understand but finally acknowledges he can't. The best thing another person can do is to just say, I don't understand but I am here for you. That's my humble opinion from experience.
Acceptance is the key for the person with the disorder and those in their lives as well. Those in my life cannot accept it.