Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Thank you.

It has to be just me. Seems I hear about how much help doctors and therapists have been to others. They all say the same things. After all of the advances I would think there would be something else. Mayhap I am too far gone. The only positive thing anyone has to say about me is how I can draw and paint. Excuse me family and friends there is a kind and loving person here that needs to be included at times. Problem is I cannot drive after dark and it is inconvenient for others as they don't want the extra burden. Being old is a burden. Got to keep going as do not want to end of in nursing home to die like so many others who have nothing to leave others. Tried planting happy memories. Not good enough.

My anxiety and panic put me in a state of agoraphobia also. I do my best to get out and suffer my feelings so to get rid of it. I’ve had it since I was 9 years old. But it disappeared for many many years now I am hit with it again. It all started when I came off the prescription drug Lyrica. I’m in therapy do what they tell me to do and it’s all still there. I take a low dose of Ativan upon waking as my anxiety is full blown then along with dry heaves. I’d rather be curled up in a ball and in my thoughts which is not good

@cdcc -- that is challenging having your anxiety and panic attacks put you in a state of agoraphobia.

Here is some Mayo Clinic information you might find useful on agoraphobia:https://mayocl.in/2OizTTa.

Interesting that you had it as a small child and that it's come back. Have you gotten to ask your doctor about the potential connection with coming off the medication?

Lisa, yes the therapist knows I had it as a child which was due to separation anxiety with my father being stationed at a remote site in Alaska. It all came back with the severe withdrawal from Lyrica. It’s been a rough 7 months and I’m still not better. They say it can take up to two years before I may feel myself again.

@lisalucier,I am very interested in reading this information on agoraphobia. "Fear of the marketplace. " When I was a teenager I had it really rough. My mother would insist I accompany her to the grocery store. What a disaster! I refused to get out of the car. Over time, that changed, only to return later. I would force myself to go places when I had my children. I knew they needed to be out playing at the park, or swimming at the pool. I wanted the best for them, because I loved my babies so much. Still do. There are so, so many idiosyncrasies to my being @mamacita. But I am who I am. Grateful that, for the most part, those kinds of things are behind me. I still catch a shadow of that person every now and then. Sometimes I just want to be a hermit and not even go out and get the mail from the mailbox. But I look back and see how far I've come, shake my head, and push through. Is it any wonder why one of my Majors in college was psychology? I wanted to understand myself, my family, and "fix" what was wrong. Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Good to hear from you, Lisa.

For those of you on anti-anxiety meds (I take a low-dose of Lexapro daily), have you found you can enjoy a glass of wine before or with dinner without adverse reaction? And I do mean one drink only.

Hi, @annedodrill44 — that is admirable you are looking into this and also considering a restrained option of one drink. I'm guessing other members also may have this question, as many people like to have a glass of wine or other beverage in the evenings.

Here is some Mayo Clinic information on the drug escitalopram (Lexapro) https://mayocl.in/2lkWOk5. This is the significant portion of this article related to your question, "The use of alcohol is not recommended in patients who are taking escitalopram."

I'm also including here an article from Mayo Clinic Housecall, https://mayocl.in/2Ep10Gu, with some information from a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist. The key sentence in this article for your query may be, "If you're at low risk of addiction to alcohol, it may be OK to have an occasional drink, depending on your particular situation, but talk with your doctor."

Ultimately, discussing use of alcohol and escitalopram (Lexapro) with your personal doctor would be a good way to go, as only he or she can speak to your individual case. Did your doctor by chance have any comments on this when prescribing this medication?

Lisa, thank you for this information and advice. My physician tells me an occasional glass of wine in the evening after taking this drug in the morning should not present a problem. I’ve only been on Lexapro for 1 month and currently take 10 mg. I’m told it takes about 6 weeks to fully take effect. It does seem to be helping. The dreadful waves of anxiety and nausea are subsiding. As much as I enjoy my glass of wine, you can bet I won’t rock this boat!!
Having you always here is so appreciated and comforting!

@mamacita

Just great words! I would like to emphasize one point that you made,

"I had to forgive her. I forgave her for me. Just me. But after that happened, and this took years, I forgave her for her."

I grew up in a similar situation and I also understand that forgiveness is a necessary process. I call it a process because it is never over. @mattie - you can never forget what happened to you. You can never be perfect in your forgiveness for past wrongs, it is a process of remembering the hurts and consciously deciding to forgive - not because your mother deserves it, but because you deserve to be free from the resentment and hurt.

I have a friend who says that holding onto resentments and hurts is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die.

In other words, resentment hurts you more than it hurts the one that hurt you. Make sense?

It is probably important to work through this process with a counselor. We need support to deal with these kinds of issues. Can you find someone to work with?

Teresa