Hi, I just came across this site and have decided to try the program. I am 40 years old, started having panic at 22. I'm diagnosed with panic disorder with agoraphobia. I've had times that I've went months, even years without an attack, but everyday I have an overall high level of anxiety. This year has been tough and in the past two months, I've had several full blown attacks. I want to get it under control, before it gets out of control as it has in my past.
Your experiences sound a lot like mine. I have went from nervous breakdown to being perfectly fine over the years. I too have high hope that this program will help. It's hard fitting in going to counseling with working full time and having kids and responsibilities.
I take lexapro 20mg daily and a .5 mg Xanax at bedtime for sleep. I absolutely refuse to take any new medicines for fear that they will react badly with my current meds. I have been wanting to try chamomile tea to help me relax in the evening, has anyone used this tea while taking anti anxiety, anti depressants and is it safe?
I am. I see my PCP for my medicines and I have a therapist who I saw on a regular basis until a couple years ago, now on an as needed basis. I left a message for her today to get in to see her soon. I really think I've built a tolerance to the Xanax I take at bedtime, then as it wears off toward morning, I get that all day mid to high level of anxiety. My goal is really to get off the Xanax and get back to sleeping without meds.
My problem is, as long as I'm busy with work, kids etc., I tolerate the anxiety better. As soon as I slow down in the evening and try to relax, bam, that's when the panic hits. I feel tired from running full speed constantly trying to stay busy and then tired from the constant high level of tension that I hold in my body. I think it is just nearly impossible for me to be fully relaxed ever again lol. I've even had massages and still leave their knotted up. It's exhausting.
Don't ever be embarrassed about having this disorder. I used to keep mine a secret, but now, I tell whoever I have in my life. I try to explain to them what I've went through and how they can help. It's very settling knowing that you have support from friends or significant others.
I Google everything I take for interactions. I'm so bad, that each month that I fill the same two prescriptions that I've take for several years, I go on drug identifier.com and make sure the pharmacy didn't accidentally give me the wrong pills. It's crazy. I think it stems from a time almost twenty years ago when I took a vitamin with ginseng and for some reason, it made me very anxious. It's an awful phobia to have, because I suffer longer from colds and such simply because u will not take medicines. I know every person reacts different with meds, but I'd love any advice from members on meds that they've tried and that didn't cause the jitters or other uncomfortable side effects.
