Hi there,
I am having panic disorders since my first panic attack back in July 2002. I started then taking a medication Clonazepam 0.5mg a day but I rapidly went to 2.0mg/day that seemed to work fine all the time. I always wanted to withdraw the medication but it is quite difficult.
So, any advice for anyone with panic disorders, depression, etc., try with your doctor that these medications are for a short period of time only!. So many times, the doctor just leave you on medications if you feel well, not caring for how long you are taking them.
Now, going back to my case. I had a major event in life last year, along with economic problems and my controlled PD came back in full swing. I have paid dozens of accupuncture sessions, reflexology, therapeutic massages. I have also bought any sort of relaxing medication that you get over the counter in a pharmacy. My primary doctor wants me to have an anti-depressant, on top of the Clonazepam. But this time, I told him that I would look for a different approach.
The things that I think are helping me the most are:
1.- Exercise
2.- Breathing and meditation
3.- Therapy
I am meeting with a life coach and a clinic psychologist. The latter is working with me on CBT. It's too early to call for a success but at least, I see a light in the horizon. In the meantime, I am taking supplements such as:
- Inositol
- Cortisol Manager
- Calmazon
And I have not seen any improvement using:
- Accupuncture (yes, it's relaxing, but this is it)
- Accupressure (idem)
- Therapeutic Massages (idem)
- Gua Sha (idem)
- Tui Na (idem)
- Chinese Herbs (think about taking 20 pills a day!)
- 5HTTP (this one actually helps with the mood)
- Natrol's Stress Manager (this is quite good)
- Melatonin (yes, it helps falling sleep, but what about waking up in the middle of the night?)
But I believe that unless I learn on how to deal with the behavior and the thought part of it, these supplements are only paliative.
I will keep you posted on my development.
Thanks for reading
