anxiety

10/26/03 | Joe Brandt

[mirkwood]

I wondered if anyone else has this "problem". I have had panic attacks for 14 years now, and it has not let up. Before you say to use Paxil or Zoloft let me assure you that I have been there..done that.

[cyborg]

I've had them. I tried meds and meds stink. I just got lots of talk therapy, learned to meditate, and eventually they disappeared.

[AppyPappy]

Nope. Never have.

[Momaw Nadon]

I'm coming out of the closet on this one.

I've had anxiety/panic attacks for several years.

I'm sure you know that the condition can be a living hell.

When I exercise on a regular basis, the anxiety seems to go away.

[Petronski]

I'd love to compare notes. Please use private mail, speech is more free.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Why not go to a therapist who treats anxiety, and find out what the cause is? You could probably find one with a sliding-scale fee. 14 years is a long time -- why have you waited so long?

[Lovergirl]

I, too,have had them for years. I get them worse now then I ever have. I am now on medication, but, it doesn't seem to be working.. Yet, anyway.

[Sunshine55]

I feel your pain...I fought with anxiety attacks for years, and after marrying/divorcing OJ Simpson's evil white twin, I now have PTSD on top of it. I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. I just take one day at a time and ask the Lord to carry me through.

[AUH2OY2K]

Exercise everyday-no exceptions. I suggest running. Don't drink alcohol or caffeine. Take st. johns wort and fo-ti. Try to figure out why, 14 years ago this started. Don't dismiss any possibilities. Put life in perspective. Keep a diary to document when these attacks occur. Best of luck.

[i_dont_chat]

I have a best friend who had anxiety attacks in the past. She told me that she received more help from a "support group" than she did anything else. Validating and talking with others and trying techniques which worked for them.

Good luck to you!

[Toespi]

I had panic attacks for about three years, just about every day. This started out of the clear blue but as I became more educated on the subject, I realize that as a younger person, I probably had them but they manifested in a different way. The best book I have ever read on the subject is called "Hope and Help for Your Nerves." Dr. Weeks. She has an amazing approach to the issue and it has helped me over the years. This has been over 13 years ago and the book taught me to quit fighting them and let then happen, in so doing, they lessened and even though I can feel them coming on even now, because I have accepted them as a part of my life they are not nearly as severe and last only moments. Good luck!

[Prime Choice]

I've had panic attacks when I was younger. I found that regular exercise (even walking for at least an hour a day) and avoiding refined foods (refined sugars, refined carbs, high-fat stuff, junk food) really helped bring it down to a dull roar.

It's been around 10 years now and I can't remember the last time I had a panic attack. And I've got a fairly high-demand job.

[Monty22]

I have had this, and to the point where it brought out epilepsy it got so bad.

Only thing that's actually helped has been lexapro+trazodone.

Sorry, that's all I can really offer.

[Lovergirl]

My doctor put me on lexapro and ativan.

[drhogan]

you could check with a good teaching hospital (not just any old hospital, but one that has a good psychiatry residency program) that is either part of or affiliated with a medical school and see if they have an anxiety disorders program. many big cities have these hospitals with these programs.
doctors (psychiatrists and psychologists) at teaching hospitals are likely to be up on the current approaches to treatment.
if you supplement treatment with the approaches suggested above by people on this thread, you will have a good chance of reducing or even eliminating the anxiety attacks. Exercise, diet (espec elimination of caffein and alcohol), meditation, group support can all be used in combination.

[drhogan]

lexapro plus ativan sounds like an effective combination. did it reduce the frequency and intensity of the panic attacks for you?

[Monty22]

ativan was too weak for me, and benzos are addictive and have an unbelievably bad tolerance. They just stop working completely after a few months.

[altura]

ping to think about

[fabian]

I have had quite a bit of anxiety for about 5 years now. I know it's coming from conflict I have with my conscience and me resenting the truth about my failures..ie..unforgivness. The fhu.com has a good Christian meditation that I know has helped many people with really bad anxiety. I do it everyday and it has helped, although my sincerity is lacking or I would be over it by now.

[Lovergirl]

Only been on them for 2 weeks but I am feeling somewhat better. I am still having panic attacks, but I am hoping they will go away soon.