Hello - New here

I already posted in another thread, but after reading a few other threads, I thought I should at least introduce myself since this seems to be a pretty close community. (:

I'm pretty new to anxiety/panic attacks, very new actually, and I'm hating every moment of it.

A little background:

A couple of months ago, I started feeling "unwell," for lack of a better word. Just a little off, not quite right, but not enough to go see a doctor. A couple of weeks later, I was working out - very lightly because I was a bit worried about not being completely healthy - and BAM! suddenly my heart rate shot up and scared the hell out of me.

I stopped, went home, paced around, drank a bunch of water, and eventually calmed down, and everything seemed more or less ok.

Another 2 weeks later and it returned. It was early in the morning, I was getting ready to go to a meeting, and slowly started feeling unwell. I took a shower and there went my heart rate again. Everything returned more or less to normal other "waves" of this unwell feeling coming back throughout the day. Next morning I started feeling sick again, and decided it was time to go the doctor.

He did some tests to rule out a heart attack/stroke and asked if I was having a lot of stress recently. The answer was a definite yes unfortunately. I had been having a lot of stress with my SO since November. His diagnosis: panic attack. He prescribed lexapro 10mg and also wrote a prescription for Xanax to take if I started feeling horrible again.

I took the Lexapro for a week but discontinued because the side effects were awful. I felt worse than I before - and I felt really bad then! I constantly felt like I was about to have a panic attack, well, I felt that way when I wasn't sleeping anyway, which was most of the day. On the bright side, during that week of taking it, I did get a LOT of sleep, and I slept well! (;

No more panic attacks or even feeling close to one after I stopped taking the lexapro. That has been almost 3 weeks now. Then my SO and I got into it again this past Sunday and Monday, and sure enough, Tuesday I felt like I needed to take a Xanax for the first time. Wednesday was still a little off, but better. Thursday was fine, but yesterday it started again and was the worst it had been since I went to the doctor. I've been feeling off all day today and taking Xanax.

I was debating whether I should take another Xanax before I went to bed but, like I said in the other thread, I'm now feeling better after reading some of the threads in this forum.

Phew. That was a bit long. Sorry!


I have to admit, it feels really good to be able to talk about this, or write, as it were, knowing that others understand what I'm trying to explain (hopefully anyway!). It is really difficult for me to explain just what this feels like to others and that is frustrating. I have to say that I honestly would rather have a broken leg than this. I absolutely hate feeling this way, and I so wish it would just go away. ):

welcome

lexapro is an antidepressant and these often are a big help for anxiety and panic attacks, but they usually do make you feel worse at first, I would have started on 5 or less then worked up to 10 or more gradually

xanax as needed will always help so carry a few tablets with you when out, fastest help if disolved under the tongue, also it helps to relax, dont tense up or fight back and do breathe deep and slow

there are many self help books on overcoming panic disorder and agoraphobia, get some and follow their advice

stay with us

Thank you all very much for the welcome! (:

Regarding Lexapro: I knew about the possible side effects, especially in the beginning, but they simply didn't let up at all. After a full week on it, I still felt absolutely terrible. I felt physically sick, extremely anxious, and dead tired all the time. Maybe the dosage was too high, or maybe this particular medication just wasn't for me.

I was hoping that just taking the Xanax when needed would be enough, and I still hope so. I was doing pretty well for the last few weeks until it started up again the last few days, but if it continues, I will go back and talk to the doctor about some other ways of dealing with this.

I will look around for some books. Just reading these forums relieved a lot of the anxiety I had so knowing and understanding more of what's going on should help as well.

Again, thanks very much. (:

Hi Kikii,

Before you try another SSRI you may want to focus on the self-help books or see a therapist. Learning relaxation and Cognitive behavior therapy may work very well for you since the panic started with a specific stressfull event. Taking the xanax as needed will give you relief as you learn these tools. When I first stated with panic attacks I found after a while that just knowing the xanax was there if I needed it helped alot.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Karen

I was wondering about something. Just what is considered anxiety? I keep reading that it is constantly worrying about things, being afraid something will happen... being anxious all the time.

None of those really apply to me. I just don't feel quite 'right.' Something is just a little off. It's a general unwell feeling, I'm a little dizzy at times, nothing major, it's more a feeling of slight disequilibrium, and sometimes nauseous in the morning (to varying degrees).

Does that sound about right for anxiety?


And thank you for the advice so far. I was really hoping I could work through this without going on regular medication. Knowing that I have the Xanax if I need it does indeed help. The only problem I have with it is that it makes me feel sort of "druggy" and generally drowsy so when I know I have to drive somewhere later and do something, I don't want to take it.

Hi and welcome.

My anxiety also comes out in my body feeling funny, out of whack, nervous and then leads to the mental mind games.