Trauma – PTSD

Question:

: Hi all.   Hi SmithEight, Welcome to ASAP! : I have been reading for a while and appreciate all the support : just knowing there is someone somewhere who understands.  I am going to : Dr. tomorrow to be put on some kind of medication so that I can care for : my children and try to live a "normal" life.   Which medication and at what dosage? : I have panic attacks and no one seems to understand. A situation familiar to many of us. (sigh) : I have been told (by : well meaning friends) to take "natural" medications–melatonin for sleep, : iron, vitamins, etc. As the saying goes, a little knowledge can be dangerous. It’s always a good idea to research something before you try it, or at least post a question to the group here. The lot of us have many years of experience. : And I was even told I need to start praying for my : children against demon possession.   Oh yuck! Just ignore such infantile nonsense. : What in the heck does that have to do with panic attacks?   Nothing. Zippo. Nada. Nil. : I am afraid to let anyone know I will be taking medication.  I didn’t even : want anyone to know I was having panic attacks. Many people are uncomfortable talking about such things, mainly because of the many misunderstandings and stigmas associated with anxiety and panic disorders. It’s really up to you to judge when or when not to discuss it. : Besides all that stress, : no wonder I don’t want to go anywhere or talk to anyone. Might be a touch of agoraphobia setting in. You see, with anxiety and panic disorders it’s easy for a person to start avoiding more and more situations for fear of a panic (that’s agoraphobia). Try to get out a little bit anyway, despite it. : Does anyone have : any encouragement about dealing with well meaning, but never-the-less : obnoxious people? Learn as much as you can about panic disorder. That way, if you need to educate an obnoxious person, you’ll have some idea of what to tell them. : Or suggestions on what medication the doctor might : recommend and what you think is the best? This can be a complicated question. Can you tell us a little more about the nature of your attacks? : Trying to suffer silently No need to be silent here. We understand what you’re going through. Feel free to post or e-mail us anytime. Once again, welcome to ASAP!                                         Best Wishes,                                         Arthur

Response:

Hang in with the people who have walked in your shoes, and remember, opionions are like assholes. Everybody has one! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – just knowing there is someone somewhere who understands.  I am going to Dr. tomorrow to be put on some kind of medication so that I can care for my children and try to live a "normal" life.   I have panic attacks and no one seems to understand.  I have been told (by well meaning friends) to take "natural" medications–melatonin for sleep, iron, vitamins, etc.  And I was even told I need to start praying for my children against demon possession.  What in the heck does that have to do with panic attacks?   I am afraid to let anyone know I will be taking medication.  I didn’t even want anyone to know I was having panic attacks.  Besides all that stress, no wonder I don’t want to go anywhere or talk to anyone.  Does anyone have any encouragement about dealing with well meaning, but never-the-less obnoxious people? Or suggestions on what medication the doctor might recommend and what you think is the best? Trying to suffer silently

Response:

~some snipped~ <I am afraid to let anyone know I will be taking medication.  I didn’t even <want anyone to know I was having panic attacks.  Besides all that stress, <no wonder I don’t want to go anywhere or talk to anyone.  Does anyone have <any encouragement about dealing with well meaning, but never-the-less <obnoxious people? Or suggestions on what medication the doctor might <recommend and what you think is the best? My rule of thumb is to let everyone know up front what’s going on.  Keep a sign in your car….."I’m Having A Panic Attack"……and you can drive very fast and everyone usually lets you go ahead.  Wear a T-shirt with "I’m A Panic Sufferer-Do Not Trigger Panic Attacks", and you can go ahead in the check-out line, tell your family your are having a panic attack if they want to watch the ice skating finals and you want to watch X-Files, you;ll get to watch X-files. Ofcourse I’m just kidding……but you shouldn’t be bothered by what other’s think, but I know it’s a condition of the PD’ers problems.  Work past it.  You didn’t ask for this thing to happen, you don’t want it, and you probably wouldn’t wish it on anyone.  So you take meds, so what.  I bet if you look at  a crowd of people, most of them are taking meds for something.  Even birthcontrol is a medication!  I tell people up a panic attack."  Then I laugh, they laugh and it defuses my worries. Cindy

Response:

Hi all.  I have been reading for a while and appreciate all the support just knowing there is someone somewhere who understands.  I am going to Dr. tomorrow to be put on some kind of medication so that I can care for my children and try to live a "normal" life.

Hi, and welcome to the group! I have panic attacks and no one seems to understand.  I have been told (by well meaning friends) to take "natural" medications–melatonin for sleep, iron, vitamins, etc.

You’re on the right track by seeing a doctor.  Friends mean well but aren’t in your shoes.   And I was even told I need to start praying for my children against demon possession.  What in the heck does that have to do with panic attacks?

Both mental and physical disabilities were considered to be caused by demon possession due to sin (possibly inherited) during biblical times.   This is still taken literally by some people.  As for your children, some would still have it that PD is a mental illness (I don’t even like the term mental illness because it has little basis in science as opposed to   simply the term, illness).  These people would have it that your children could inherit your sins, therefore PD.  I disagree strongly.   This is about as far as I will go in a public post concerning religion.  I do have an interest in the history of life sciences and Judeo-Christian beliefs and will be glad to discuss it through e-mail.   I am afraid to let anyone know I will be taking medication.

Just one word of advice, you may be given long term medication that should not be discontinued suddenly.  It is important to carry emergency instructions, such as medic alert.  This would be much the same for any maintenence medication. I didn’t even want anyone to know I was having panic attacks.  Besides all that stress, no wonder I don’t want to go anywhere or talk to anyone.  Does anyone have any encouragement about dealing with well meaning, but never-the-less obnoxious people?

I try to graciously accept advice (then ignore it).  Sometimes a good suggestion comes along.  (for me it was Earl Grey tea ((decaf)) and music by Enya) Or suggestions on what medication the doctor might recommend and what you think is the best? Trying to suffer silently

You don’t have to suffer and you don’t have to be silent. Best wishes for your visit to the doc.  Tommy

Response:

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