Question:
<snipped for space I hide it well.I
am not looking for sympothy, just a kind word that maybe their is help
and this horrible condition can be cured. P.S The family member was my father
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter Hi, and welcome to asap! Glad you have found us, and I hope that we can be of help to you. (speaking for everyone here again..) This is a great group, and everybody has a different experience…so if you have any questions, or just want to make a comment..jump right on in. Lee *still looking for cures and/or answers herself* hmmmm, my mind is blank. Please leave a message after the beep.
Response:
My name is John and I am new to this group. Here is my story. About three years ago I was going through a break up with my Fiancee (ex now) and was suffering from depression. Some one in my family gave me Prozac thinking they were helping me.My doctor had prescribed Xanax for mild anxiety about two tears proir.My family member told me to stop taking the Xanax and to start taking the Prozac, so I figured that this might help.(No I did not consult my doctor, this family member is some what in the medical field, he is a phsycatric aid for a state mental hospital, so I thought he knew what he was talking about)I began to do as he had told me and about 1 week later I had the most terrible experiance ever. <lon post snipped
Hi John, Welcome to ASAP. The first thing you really need to do is find a good doctor or clinic that specializes in treating anxiety disorders and set up an appointment. Please let us know the general area of the country you’re in and maybe someone can give you a recommendation. A lot of major universities have anxiety disorder clinics, and they are usually quite good. First, this disease is treatable. There are people here on the NG (including myself) who have been living with it for 20 years or more. IMO, a good doctor would get you onto some effective meds and possibly try some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy if that is in order. Personally, I take Xanax and Klonopin and it works wonders for me. "Your Mileage May Vary"! The next thing to do is educate yourself about anxiety and Panic Disorder. Read the FAQ and go to websites. Get to know as much as you can about this disease and how to treat it. You then have a better chance of spotting a "bad" doctor if you run into one. (And there are way too many of them out there…especially the "benzophobic" ones.) Lastly, keep oosting on ASAP. Ask questions. Get to know us and share your stories. You’ll find a lot of really great, caring folks here who know a LOT about this disorder. Best Wishes, Jen
Response:
Hello: I know exactly what you are going through. and trust me, it will get better. My name is Melissa, I am 19 years old, and I have had depression/panic disorder since I was 16. Before that, I was never scared or depressed about anything. It all started when, in my infinite stupidity, I decided to do LSD. Needless to say, it was an awful experience and if I went into detail, there’d be pages upon pages. Anyway, I handled myself well and felt better when I woke up the next morning–I felt better in comparison to the night before, but I still felt like a completely different person. A week later my panic attacks started and for the next year or so, I, although attending school and doing plays, felt as if were in a completely alien world. Nobody understood (not even my depressed friends), no book I read about it completely described how I felt, and I was too scared to even think about suicide. I felt detached from my body most of the time (like if I wanted to stop walking, what if my legs just kept on moving?), my friends faces scared me, I couldn’t go to church because the thought of religion scared me, and most of all I was afraid of the sky because I thought it was too big. Iknow all of this sounds ridiculous but that’s how I felt. When I was prescribed Zoloft a year after the initial incident, it worked but I would have relapses. My major problem was my fear of having an attack, my fear of fear, my fear of going crazy. I feared that I would wake up and find out that my whole life so far had actually been a dream…ok, I’m sure you get the picture by now. I just wanted to reassure you that YOU WILL GET BETTER. You can’t make these thoughts and feelings go away. It takes patience and most of all, time. 3 years later, I am a happier person. I take 200 mgs of Zoloft every day, and see my therapist and psychiatrist once a week. When I do get depressed, its in a more human, emotional way and not an anxious, heart pounding way. I feel like I’m back in the real world. You will, too–with time. In the meantime, take pleasure in stupid, simple things, like watching your favorute shows or eating good food. As long there is some small thing to get you through another day…it’s worth toughing it out. I am concerned and I want Sincerely, Melissa P.S. one traumatic episode like you had can do some weird things to ya-but the pain lessens…
Response:
John, sounds like you have handled this nightmare admirably. I"m so very sorry about what happened. My brother is a cop. I know what your job entails. I’m not big on white-knuckling it, but, if you’re going to keep that kind of work, then you need to take your meds and also do lots of deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Maybe some yoga. no one ever talks about this shit on here. too bad. I’m going to. Because it’s important to use whatever tools are available to improve quality of life. Go to the Dr. Weil site — no, potential trolls, I have no investment in that site. It’s just helped me. — and get some advice on deep breathing. You have a job that is tough for a "normal" person, without the added anxiety about having a Panic Attack. Write to me privately if you want any added tips. But this is just one of those things that is a bitch. Sounds like your family cares but is misinformed. Hey, I would kill for someone to care about me — I’m estranged from all family. So there is always a patch of greener grass. take the best care, WRITER/CATCH MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT "You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?" (Steven Wright)
Response:
Hello, My name is John and I am new to this group. Here is my story. About
<snipped to save space house and work is just about untolrable to the point that I want to take a leave of absence or take disability. I am a 29 year old male who lives alone and does not have alot of contact with my family any more. I can’t even have a relationship with a girl ( who want’s to date someone who is afraid to go out) My life seems like a living hell right now.My line of work demands a clear head(I am a police dispatcher and a loss prevention supervisor). I cant panic when someone else needs help. I hide it well.I am not looking for sympothy, just a kind word that maybe their is help and this horrible condition can be cured.
Hi, John, welcome to ASAP. Quite a lot of us here have been down at the bottom of that deep, dark pit and will empathise and sympathise with you. I can absolutely assure you there *is* help, though I do realise that when you are in the grip of this damned thing it’s hard to believe that. To get that relief, my recommendation would be to forget about tapes – at least for now – and go to see an expert in this disorder, who can quickly help you back on your feet again. This disorder can return, sad to say, but what has helped once can usually help again, so that’s why I suggest you see a specialist in anxiety disorders as soon as possible. Please let us know how you get on, won’t you? Good luck! — Gary Cooper
Response:
MSanta2320 schreef: Hello: I know exactly what you are going through. and trust me, it will get better. My name is Melissa, I am 19 years old, and I have had depression/panic disorder since I was 16. Before that, I was never scared or depressed about anything. It all started when, in my infinite stupidity, I decided to do LSD. Needless to say, it was an awful experience and if I went into detail, there’d be pages upon pages
I had the same experience in 1968! . Anyway, I handled myself well and felt better when I woke up the next morning–I felt better in comparison to the night before, but I still felt like a completely different person.
With me I felt quite normal after the bad trip was over after four days and nights (this was on a powerful hallucinogen known as STP). A week later my panic attacks started
Took me a month but then panic returned with a vengeance. and for the next year or so, I, although attending school and doing plays, felt as if were in a completely alien world. Nobody understood (not even my depressed friends), no book I read about it completely described how I felt, and I was too scared to even think about suicide. I felt detached from my body most of the time (like if I wanted to stop walking, what if my legs just kept on moving?), my friends faces scared me, I couldn’t go to church because the thought of religion scared me, and most of all I was afraid of the sky because I thought it was too big. Iknow all of this sounds ridiculous but that’s how I felt.
Everything you describe is recognizable, not only by me but by many, many others with PD who never took LSD or whatever. As things stand now it seems that some of us have a genetical predisposition to develop PD. All it takes is a trigger to become manifest. That can be about anything. When I was prescribed Zoloft a year after the initial incident, it worked but I would have relapses. My major problem was my fear of having an attack, my fear of fear, my fear of going crazy. I feared that I would wake up and find out that my whole life so far had actually been a dream…ok, I’m sure you get the picture by now. I just wanted to reassure you that YOU WILL GET BETTER. You can’t make these thoughts and feelings go away. It takes patience and most of all, time. 3 years later, I am a happier person. I take 200 mgs of Zoloft every day, and see my therapist and psychiatrist once a week. When I do get depressed, its in a more human, emotional way and not an anxious, heart pounding way. I feel like I’m back in the real world. You will, too–with time.
I am very happy to hear that you’re doing so much better. Nowadays meds and therapy are just so much better than they were 30 years ago and it seems that when treated right in the beginning this disorder can actually be treated. Sincerely, Melissa
Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – .
Response:
Hi Melissa, I am concerned and I want to hear how you are doing.
Your post is a good example of why I read this group! You are a wonderful person. And I look forward to reading more posts from you! :) Take care Laurie
Response:
.I am not looking for sympothy, just a kind word that maybe their is help and this horrible condition can be cured.
Hi John, You wrote a good post about WHY to see a someone that KNOWS about panic and anxiety. While these meds are *safe*, they need to be dispensed by someone that has more experience than a *aid* (father or not). Glad you saw someone and got some meds that are making you feel better. You have already found the first step in help by getting proper meds for YOU. There is always therapy to undo/help with some of the twisted thinking that comes along with this disorder. I, unfortunately, know of no cure or we wouldn’t all be here. Wish I could tell you there was one. :) Gwen
Response:
Hello, My name is John and I am new to this group. Here is my story. About three years ago I was going through a break up with my Fiancee (ex now) and was suffering from depression. Some one in my family gave me Prozac thinking they were helping me.My doctor had prescribed Xanax for mild anxiety about two tears proir.My family member told me to stop taking the Xanax and to start taking the Prozac, so I figured that this might help.(No I did not consult my doctor, this family member is some what in the medical field, he is a phsycatric aid for a state mental hospital, so I thought he knew what he was talking about)I began to do as he had told me and about 1 week later I had the most terrible experiance ever. I was driving along and just did not feel right. My fiancee was in the truck with me and told me I was getting pale and red blotches on my face. My mind started to race and mt thoughts were uncontrolable then BOOM a full blown all out PANIC ATTACK. I thought I was dying or going crazy. Now three years later I suffer from cronic anxiety and panic attacks. My doctor prescribed Zoloft, Buspar & Xanax I took about 4 weeks to start to come back into reality. I now realize that panic attacks are caused by my fear of them.(All you need is one and you will never forget it).I purchased Attacking Anxiety from the Midwest Center and seemed to help ALOT. But now I have finished the program and it all seems to be coming back. Cronic anxiety and panic, I hate to leave the house and work is just about untolrable to the point that I want to take a leave of absence or take disability. I am a 29 year old male who lives alone and does not have alot of contact with my family any more. I can’t even have a relationship with a girl ( who want’s to date someone who is afraid to go out) My life seems like a living hell right now.My line of work demands a clear head(I am a police dispatcher and a loss prevention supervisor). I cant panic when someone else needs help. I hide it well.I am not looking for sympothy, just a kind word that maybe their is help and this horrible condition can be cured. P.S The family member was my father Thank you for taking the time to read this letter John
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