Does Panic disorder and agoraphobia rule your life?
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Hi,
Panic disorder and agoraphobia USED TO rule my life and I didn't even know it! Like paranoia - it's hard to even know it's happening until you'ver had some "Normal life" as a reference. You obviously can recognise it (And have admitted to yourself you have some kind of real problem) so are half way to solving it.
I asked my doc for beta blockers (Which are nothing like anti-depressants) because someone I know had been prescribed them.
My first day on them was SPECTACULAR! All of a sudden I could think in a straight line, do 2 things at once without questioning which one I should be doing. I even thought I could SEE better! Lost some OCD symptoms, felt a whole lot more capable - Now I run my own sales business which I had started on ebay already but was having difficulty making it bigger. Constant worry does that.
My symptoms were basically - Too much adrenaline all the time, sometimes, causing my heart to beat so hard I could feel it in my chest. That amounts to panic, indecision, fear (Inc Agarophobia), constant worry, very variable enthusiasm, obsessive bahaviour, obsessive thinking (Writing lists all the time), social discomfort, the list goes on.
I'm sure your problem is not exactly the same but beta blockers might just do the trick - ask your Doc. They don't stop you driving or working machinery like some medicines do. Can also drink alcohol with them too, yippee :)
It all came to a head when I stopped smoking pot - I was addicted for about 13 years. Now I have control of my life! I'm still a weirdo but am not bothered, lol.
Hope you get better, it does happen - and 21 is a great time to "Sort your life out" :)
it used to, but then I got over it. I took Paxil, which I hated, and after I finally got off that poison, I found out what was causing my anxiety, got to the root of the problem, and worked to correct it. It wasn't easy, but I didn't want to be on dangerous drugs all my life due to the side effects I was experiences.
I never went to counseling because I didn't believe I had a mental issue, and I didn't.
Ironically, I was diagnosed with that at the same age as you. It got so bad that I refused to go anywhere by myself. I was scared of going to the grocery store and even driving to work. What I did to help myself is actually make myself go to the grocery store and every place I was afraid to go and I kept telling myself that it was okay to be afraid and that I was not dying and neither was I having a heart attack. I did this everyday until the fears subsided. I do occassionally take Xanax for severe panic attacks but I am no longer afraid to go anywhere by myself. Exercise helped me a great deal also and I kept myself hydrated.
It only rules your life if you let it! I am also 21 years old and have felt this way before.but you have to get out and enjoy life. You are young ..take a deep breath when you feel the panic attack coming on..sit there for a minute and then jump back into the situation. DON'T LET FEAR CONTROL YOUR LIFE!
I have panic disorder and agoraphobia. Yes, they rule my life. I spend every moment thinking of the next time I will be alone or what will cause me to panic. It's a nightmare. I'm currently in outpatient treatment seeing someone to work on my fears but I don't really think it works. I, like you, have tried many meds and don't find that they work. They only cause anxiety knowing that I may "need" them and will run out. If you find a solution to your fears, please message me and let me know. I'm not the type of person that can just force myself to get over it. I think this will be a lifelong struggle, unfortunately.
Know the feeling so very well. I have panic disorder. I don't know how many times I was rushed to the hospital feeling like a possible heart attack. Therapy worked some, but did find a combination of medication that worked, but it took a long time to find the right kind combination., Now and then I'll have a very slight attack usually triggered if I exercise. One time I was backpacking in Canada and had a major attack. I didn't think I would ever make it back down. That was before I found the proper medication. I have read books on the subject, seen I don't know how many doctors that even understood what I was talking about, a lot of stress tests, etc, etc. I am sure you know the routine. I wish I could give you some concrete advice. Have you tried seeing a doctor/shrink that understands the nature of panic attacks.? A lot of doctors I went to just sort of laughed it off. Sorry I can't tell you what I use over the Internet. I have depression also which really helped a lot (LOL). Has drastically changed my life and not for the best either. I didn't start getting them until I was 30, going thru a lot of stress at the time. The doctor that helped me the most couldn't believe how I was so successful in my life without medication or something.
Good luck-there has to be help out there somewhere for you. I hope you find it. I really feel for you.
i used to get very mild attacks from when i was 16 however after my pregnancies in my late twenties they have become extremely bad i take xanax which helps ...anti depressants have never helped and counselling did nothing for me ... they usually come on when driving or going to the dentist is really bad ... i can't really handle confrontational situations and sometimes i just want to stay asleep to avoid the world...
I don
t have any answers for you ... but I wish you and everyone else that suffers from this nightmare luck in your journey to recovery
i feel your pain as i have been going through the same thing..have you tried hypnotherapy?like you i would not go on anti depressants as i want to get through this on my own and not have to try come off tablets too down the line..i was a mess before i started the hypnotherapy,there were only certain times of the day that i would go out and then it was only to the local shop..i was too worried to go anywhere else..i was also using 'rescue remedy' which i found a great help and twice had to go on Xanax when i had too much to deal with..i didn't expect miracles when i started the hypnotherapy,any of the books i had read said to expect a minimum of five sessions..it has been at least ten sessions and i find it working brilliant,i am not cured but i have regained a lot of my life..i would recommend it..best of luck to you..
It is all in one word - ACCEPT. Do this and the fear will leave you. Fighting it makes it worse.
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