Question:
Hi CP! Sorry to hear you’ve had a setback. I’m on my 2nd setback and I know how you feel. I’ve felt anywhere from lethargic to going crazy in the past few weeks. If you need to talk, please don’t hesitate to post or email. Take care! Di
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -x-no-archive:yes Hey all – I hope everyone is doing well…I just wanted to ask all those here who’ve recovered to various degrees a question or two…Basically, I am at a year now – about where I spiraled into my worst period…Zoloft has worked great for me (it’s been 9-10 months now) and I have been much better, but of late I have experienced days where I have felt pretty crappy…Seems like I bounce back rather quickly, but still, I am a little frightened by the prospect of a return to the worst…Is a setback common this late in the game (I have been told before that a 9 month setback is not at all uncommon, but I am not sure)? I have reverted to a bit of a roller coaster, and I would rather the coaster stop at this point…I think the biggest problem is that I have begun feeling so good for the most part, that setbacks feel a little worse than normal because I am not used to them anymore…In a lot of ways this is good, but during a setback saying that doesn’t help! Best all,
Response:
I’ve had panic attacks for 10 years now. I tried xanax and lorazepam but they irritate the panic disorder more. I just started prozac but I have a hard time with it. I started it 2 1/2 weeks ago. Doc says I just have to keep with it for at least a month. My son has panic too. He’s 14. His doc says he also has depression, add and bipolar. He takes ritalin and lithium. How old is your daughter and how old are you? I’m 38. I have a lot of setbacks. I’ll be fine for a couple weeks and then go into a spin of a month or 2. You got any recommendations for techniques to de-stress and get the anxiety at its root? I’m curious to see what you do since you’ve apparently battled it for 30 years. If you want to discuss outside of the group setting. I’d love to discuss. Thanks. I hope to discuss with you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve had this stuff for over 30 years now and I get setbacks every now and then. They seem to go in cycles. I’ll be fine for months and then for about a week or two I find I have to start taking the Xanax again at least once a day (I take 30-45 mgs of Buspar/day as a maintenance med), it isn’t fun but I guess I’ve gotten used to it. It is better than it was though and I have learned pretty much what to expect when the breakthrough PA hits…and out comes the xanax. My daughter has much the same problem but she is on klonopin for the breakthrough attacks. She doesn’t take it as well as I do yet, but then she is young. I rather hope that in her lifetime they will come up with a one-a-day pill that will really kill this stuff. Rick (MrWalker)
Response:
I’ve had this stuff for over 30 years now and I get setbacks every now and then. They seem to go in cycles. I’ll be fine for months and then for about a week or two I find I have to start taking the Xanax again at least once a day (I take 30-45 mgs of Buspar/day as a maintenance med), it isn’t fun but I guess I’ve gotten used to it. It is better than it was though and I have learned pretty much what to expect when the breakthrough PA hits…and out comes the xanax. My daughter has much the same problem but she is on klonopin for the breakthrough attacks. She doesn’t take it as well as I do yet, but then she is young. I rather hope that in her lifetime they will come up with a one-a-day pill that will really kill this stuff. Rick (MrWalker)
Response:
Hi CP, Yeah you can get them at most stages. Trick is to be able to thwart the advances off by recognizing the triggers. This seems to be best done by documentation, and cognitive tricks to stop the cycle before it starts a full blown. :)J — "Just when you think life sucks, someone hands you a vacuum cleaner; it is at this time you start cleaning some house". 
J Visit me at: http://members.ync.net/jdgalvin/index.html
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive:yes Hey all – I hope everyone is doing well…I just wanted to ask all those here who’ve recovered to various degrees a question or two…Basically, I am at a year now – about where I spiraled into my worst period…Zoloft has worked great for me (it’s been 9-10 months now) and I have been much better, but of late I have experienced days where I have felt pretty crappy…Seems like I bounce back rather quickly, but still, I am a little frightened by the prospect of a return to the worst…Is a setback common this late in the game (I have been told before that a 9 month setback is not at all uncommon, but I am not sure)? I have reverted to a bit of a roller coaster, and I would rather the coaster stop at this point…I think the biggest problem is that I have begun feeling so good for the most part, that setbacks feel a little worse than normal because I am not used to them anymore…In a lot of ways this is good, but during a setback saying that doesn’t help! Best all,
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive:yes Hey all – I hope everyone is doing well…I just wanted to ask all those here who’ve recovered to various degrees a question or two…Basically, I am at a year now – about where I spiraled into my worst period…Zoloft has worked great for me (it’s been 9-10 months now) and I have been much better, but of late I have experienced days where I have felt pretty crappy…Seems like I bounce back rather quickly, but still, I am a little frightened by the prospect of a return to the worst…Is a setback common this late in the game (I have been told before that a 9 month setback is not at all uncommon, but I am not sure)? I have reverted to a bit of a roller coaster, and I would rather the coaster stop at this point…I think the biggest problem is that I have begun feeling so good for the most part, that setbacks feel a little worse than normal because I am not used to them anymore…In a lot of ways this is good, but during a setback saying that doesn’t help! Best all,
Unfortunately there is no wonder med for PD. So we all will have good days and bad days, setbacks and progress. PD is a chronic disorder which cannot be cured in most cases but *can* be *managed*. It might be a good idea to do some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to correct *catastrophic thoughts* while having (and surrounding) a PA. If you feel you’d be better off with more meds, it’s common to augment an SSRI with a benzo (like Xanax) *as needed* for breakthrough attacks. Philip
Response:
You’re very wise, Julie, and I don’t mean the "Xanman" way of wise! Xan, are you there? (LOL) Di – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh, I think it is quite normal to have a set back and have a very hard time dealing with it. I think we assume that once the medication and therapy kick in that we should be free from anxiety. Alas, that is not the case and I feel that having a setback puts all our emotions and coping skills to the test. I am sure that everyone has setbacks. Some come right back, others take awhile. I am going through a setback now. It is the same time each year, which seems unusual but for me, it is the time of my annual physical and mammogram. I get myself worked up prior to the exam and then extremely anxious waiting for the results. I have not been able to stay completely calm but I am doing much better than last year. I am awaiting some extra tests on my anemic tests and I pray that it is just a nutritional deficiancy and nothing serious. I have had to rely on my Ativan a bit more the last few days, but I also can go weeks with out it. I have done so much better since diagnosed with anxiety and panic and depression, that even this setback isn’t as hard on me as it would have been last year. But always, when I wash the car, it rains…and when I plant grass seeds, it doesn’t rain. We can’t control everything and somethings are best to let go. I know it is hard to do, and I still have hard days, but you and I are not alone!!! Julima * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Setbacks are normal. If you just feel crappy somedays, that is to be expected. If you are having full blown panic attacks, then you need to reevaluate. I have been taking the same dosage of meds for the past 2 and a half years. A combination of Xanax and imipramine. I have not needed to increase the dosage or wanted to (after I had slowly increased it over time to the effective level). Over the course of 2 and a half years I have slowly improved month by month – feeling better and better. However, there are still times that I just don’t feel "right". I have found that this is O.K. and I just tell my wife or myself, "I’m not really feeling that good. I think I’ll take a break for awhile." It passes and I’m back to my life. It has been wonderful to recover from an illness that used to be constantly a 24/7 around the clock ordeal and now me, my wife and parents rarely even discuss it [panic disorder]. If you are recovering fairly quickly and not going into full blown panic attacks or anxiety so severe that it causes you to alter your plans, I would stay with your dose and see if you seem to continually get better. Hope that helps! John L
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive:yes Hey all – I hope everyone is doing well…I just wanted to ask all those here who’ve recovered to various degrees a question or two…Basically, I am at a year now – about where I spiraled into my worst period…Zoloft has worked great for me (it’s been 9-10 months now) and I have been much better, but of late I have experienced days where I have felt pretty crappy…Seems like I bounce back rather quickly, but still, I am a little frightened by the prospect of a return to the worst…Is a setback common this late in the game (I have been told before that a 9 month setback is not at all uncommon, but I am not sure)? I have reverted to a bit of a roller coaster, and I would rather the coaster stop at this point…I think the biggest problem is that I have begun feeling so good for the most part, that setbacks feel a little worse than normal because I am not used to them anymore…In a lot of ways this is good, but during a setback saying that doesn’t help! Best all,
Response:
Oh, I think it is quite normal to have a set back and have a very hard time dealing with it. I think we assume that once the medication and therapy kick in that we should be free from anxiety. Alas, that is not the case and I feel that having a setback puts all our emotions and coping skills to the test. I am sure that everyone has setbacks. Some come right back, others take awhile. I am going through a setback now. It is the same time each year, which seems unusual but for me, it is the time of my annual physical and mammogram. I get myself worked up prior to the exam and then extremely anxious waiting for the results. I have not been able to stay completely calm but I am doing much better than last year. I am awaiting some extra tests on my anemic tests and I pray that it is just a nutritional deficiancy and nothing serious. I have had to rely on my Ativan a bit more the last few days, but I also can go weeks with out it. I have done so much better since diagnosed with anxiety and panic and depression, that even this setback isn’t as hard on me as it would have been last year. But always, when I wash the car, it rains…and when I plant grass seeds, it doesn’t rain. We can’t control everything and somethings are best to let go. I know it is hard to do, and I still have hard days, but you and I are not alone!!! Julima * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
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