ribeena Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Not sure if this is in the right place...but hey! I've been suffering from depression for a few years now and have, over the last few months, developed a generalised anxiety disorder and now started to suffer from panic attacks which has scared me. It seams to be affecting my life, I have pills from the doctor to calm the effects of the attacks and am seeing a counsellor regards the depression & anxiety I guess. I've also become quite obsessive recently ie. over washing my hands & over washing cutlery etc. I just wondered if theres anyone going through the same? And how to deal with it? And does it get any better? Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 husband has gone through something similar, twice that I know of: once after his dad died 20+ years ago, and I think he had counselling, and more recently, over the past 4-5 years, when he messed up his back really bad and lost his job. Doctor told him that his form of depression is because the body gets "stressed" from healing, so it manifested itself as anxiety attacks and bad funks. He was on an anti-depressant for about a year, which really helped; his being active, like going down to our farm and tinkering also helped, because it took his mind off his ailment. talk to both counsellor and doctor about getting on a good diet and exercise regimen to complement the medications you're taking – that might help reduce the stress or anxiety, and also ask about meditation or relaxation techniques (you know, the old trick of deep breaths or counting slowly to 10 to calm yourself). Having a kind of safety valve like the exercise surely can help, especially if you look into something that's meditative like yoga or tai chi, or even swimming or jogging ... yes, it does get better, but it's about making a lifestyle change to help combat those feelings of anxiety (i.e., the exercise) -- Richard started panicking in WalMart one night thinking he was having a heart attack, but it turned out to be a severe panic attack, it was that scary for him (this was when the doctor put him on the anti-depressant -- I think they had to try two or three different pills to find one that worked best, so ask your doctor about that, too). don't listen to idiots like Tom Cruise, who say psychiatry/psychology as a tool to help cure what ails you is a crock, because obviously, he doesn't have the real-life experience to base his observations on. hugs to you, ribeena (is that like the stuff you spread on bread, I think sold in the UK?) quank Link to post Share on other sites
caring guy Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Hi Ribeena Anx/Dep is the worst, you can't see it, like a broken leg, or understand it like a heart prob, but it's hell. All i can say from my experience, is get the correct medication, i still don't know if i'm on it, but it's called Cipralex! I also take Valium as & when needed, more now as i'm going through relationship probs, due to the ancxiety & my partner sees me as a 3rd child (she has 2). It makes me needy, sometimes overbearing & i catastrophise about everything. Exercise helps a lot, a strong supportive background & i've just started to detox myself of alcohol, as my psychiatic doc says this is something that increases anx/dep, even though can temporarily help. Good luck cg Link to post Share on other sites
april Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Originally posted by quankanne don't listen to idiots like Tom Cruise, who say psychiatry/psychology as a tool to help cure what ails you is a crock, because obviously, he doesn't have the real-life experience to base his observations on. Tom Cruise and his views Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Not sure if this is in the right place...but hey! I've been suffering from depression for a few years now and have, over the last few months, developed a generalised anxiety disorder and now started to suffer from panic attacks which has scared me. It seams to be affecting my life, I have pills from the doctor to calm the effects of the attacks and am seeing a counsellor regards the depression & anxiety I guess. I've also become quite obsessive recently ie. over washing my hands & over washing cutlery etc. I just wondered if theres anyone going through the same? And how to deal with it? And does it get any better I suffer from an anxiety disorder and have had some mild depression with it as well. I know how you are feeling. I don't have OCD (Obessive Compulsive Disorder) but I know afew people who do. All these are tied into anxiety. Whether it be social, agrophobia, depression, PTDS (post traumatic stress disorder) etc... Each of these can get out of control and take over your life. Talk to your doctor about CBT, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I am currently seeing a Therapist who specializes in this kind of therapy and it has helped me SOOOOO MUCH! I can promise you, with the right therapist you can beat this anxiety problem and all the crap that goes with it. IT is scary, but what you have to remember about the actual panic attack is it won't really hurt you...Just feels like it. You won't pass out, you won't die, you won't have a heart attack...Again, just feels like it! It's terrifying and the only way to take back the control is to learn how to cope and fight back. It isn't easy but it can be done. My saying which a friend told me a long time ago, "what you put into CBT is what you get out of it." It is true. Try doing yoga, deep breathing and in your mind, find a safe place - Somewhere that makes you feel secure. Visualize this place when you start to feel the anxiety come on...Start breathing slow and deep, talking to yourself (yes, outloud!!) and TELL yourself that you're going to be okay...This feeling will pass and I will be okay...There is nothing to be scared of...I will be fine. Cut out caffeine completely, drink lots of water, eat snacks throughout the day, don't let your sugar levels drop as that can mimick an anxiety attack and set you off into one. Trust me on this one!! I know how alone this can make you feel, so when you start to feel bad, call a friend. Reach out to somebody and let them help you through it. Try not to feel embarressed or ashamed by this disorder. I used to be and now I'm not. Many people do suffer from it and are understanding. Hope this helps and feel free to ask me anything, I'm an open book now when it comes to this part of my life. Take care and keep posting! Link to post Share on other sites
Jayhawks Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Panic attacks are the worst. When I have them sometimes I feel like I'm dying. I have some medication but it makes me so sleepy I try to avoid it unless I get really nervous. You sound like you need medication and it also sounds like you have a compulsive disorder ( excessive washing, cleaning ). You need to talk to a professional because it can get worse without treatment. Don't just let it go and think you are nuts or crazy. You just need to seek some professional help so they can get you on the right medication and therapy. There are many more like you so you are not alone. Here at LS we are all a strange, emotionally deprived group. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ribeena Posted August 18, 2005 Author Share Posted August 18, 2005 Thanks guys for all your advice. Its comforting knowing I'm not just the only one, not that i thought i was, but when you try to talk to people about it you just feel so alone & freakish!!! Anyway I've been to the doc and am now being referred to a psychtriatic (cant spell sorry!) person as the next step. I've been given beta blockers too. My lifestyle has changed dramatically - i was out of the country for 4 months and returned and moved place straight away, so i guess that could have stirred things up. Obviously the problem is not just that but I think that may have triggered the panic attacks or something?! on the OCD front I dunno where its all come from, its so odd i never thought I'd be the kind of person to act/feel this way! Its not too bad, i'm not in the stage of it becoming a routine just sometimes if i think too much & work myself up into a paranoid state, I'm controlling it but i will talk to someone about it. Thanks for all your help and suggestions! Link to post Share on other sites
PYT Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 Hi Ribeena, I can sympathize with the panic attacks as I suffered horrible episodes of them as well as general anxiety for several years before joining a cbt group. All the stuff in that note above about cbt echoes how I feel about it so I won't bore you with all my details but if you work at the tools they can change your life. I was in a great group with a great therapist and that really helps. We used two really good books Been there, done that? do this! By Sam Obitz and Mastery of your Anxiety and Panic-Third Edition by Michelle Craske and David Barlow so you may want to go to the library and check them out, they do good job of describing the tools you need to practice using to get better. Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites
New_Wife Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 Are you taking buproprion (brand name welbutrin)? Or Lexapro? Both have the potential to increase panic attacks in folks suffering from BiPolar2. I had to be switched to a different medication that works a million times better. Talk to your psychiatrist about your meds and symptoms. A lot of times they see an answer we wouldn't have known. Link to post Share on other sites
PYT Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Just wanted to say hello again and see if you have made any progress? Hugs Link to post Share on other sites
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