Do you have Anxiety Disorder?

Question

My son, 22, was just diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. He is taking Zanax. Mood swings are better, he is more motivated, doesn't seem so sad most of the time but he still has a ways to go. I would love to hear from people who are also diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. Please tell me what it "feels" like. Also, what do anxiety attacks feel like? What meds do you take? What can I do/say to help him? What is the best thing someone did or said to help you?

Thank you so much:)

Joanna

Answer 1

The best thing you can do for him is to ask him the questions you are asking us.  Only he knows what will help him.  Perhaps his therapist has given him some relaxation techniques that you could help him with.  Most importantly, realize that he is an adult and needs to be able to manage by himself and for that reason may not want a whole lot of help from you.  

I have a mood disorder and cannot stand to be around people when I am not feeling my best, but then my sisters often refer to me as anti-social.  If your son is more social, he may appreciate having someone "be there" for him.

Answer 2

I have anxiety. I hate it. I never really get to meet people because I'm too scared.

Anxiety feels like a panic attack.. to me...

I also take Geodon, Zoloft an Xanax.

I'm fourteen.

Answer 3

it is just a bump in the road, it will end soon :]

Answer 4

I used to feel the same way. Please take this into consideration. It worked for me, although I am not your son.

I had overwhelming anxiety. It turned out to be my use of Splenda. Yup Splenda. How could something that taste so good, be so bad?



I like to say sucralose, not Splenda, because that is what Splenda is. And it is in a lot of stuff. Sadly, the package doesn't have to say Splenda or diet to have sucralose in it. You have to read labels. So, you might be using it and don't even know it!



Sucralose is poison. It ruined five years of my life. I had a laundry list of medical problems while taking it, including overwhelming anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues and more.

Go ahead, google: anxiety splenda or anxiety sucralose or insomnia splenda or insomnia sucralose



The slogan, "Made from sugar..." is very misleading. Splenda might be made from sugar, but it is far from sugar. The resulting chemical is an organochloride (chlorocarbon). Organochlorides are typically poisons.



carbon monoxide - made from oxygen so its like a breath of fresh air

Answer 5

Joanna,

I can tell you from my own experience as a woman and as a mother of 5 children.  

There are some infections that typically go undiagnosed that cause anxiety and other psychological problem.  I searched for 10 yrs.  Please go to www.lymepa.org and download a copy of "The Basics".  I hope you will take your son to a lyme literate doctor and get an Igenex lyme test.  

Lyme is in every part of the USA, but very bad in the northeast area.

Answer 6

I didn't take medicine, but I did improve a lot. I still have trouble going to places by myself. I have social anxiety disorder. (Are they the same?)

When I have an anxiety attack, I start having trouble breathing. I get really stressed and nervous all at once and it becomes really overwhelming. All of a sudden it feels like I have no control over my situation and everyone is looking at me (even if they aren't). It feels like everyone's eyes are piercing into me and I start to panic. I get so emotional and scared and my body starts to shake uncontrollably.

That's how it is for me at least. I haven't had an attack in quite some time. My boyfriend was a huge help with this. He gave me support and let me know how awesome I was and that no one was going to hurt me. He reminds me all the time how important I am to him and that everything is going to be okay.

Answer 7

I am 27 years old and I was diagnosed with agoraphobia with panic disorder and also bipolar disorder at the age of 18. A lot of people say a panic/anxiety attack feels like you are having a heartattack. I think the best way to describe how it feels is to think of a time in your life where you were the most nervous. When you were shaking and there was a lump in your throat and you are sweating, because you are so nervous, now times what you were feeling by 10 and that is what it feels like. Then add in the fact that you can't stop or control it, which in turn makes you more nervous/anxious. A therapist told me that people who suffer from anxiety disorder have the same fight or flight reaction as everyone else. ((if you don't know, the fight or flight reaction is a reaction you have in your brain when you are put into a dangerous situation, your body releases adrenaline, which helps you "control' (for lack of a better word) yourself during that dangerous situation.)) the difference between people with anxiety and others is that our bodies release that adrenaline when there is no danger, and the excess in adrenaline is what causes the panic attack.

      I do take medication, ativan, although I do not take all of the ones I am supposed to take, (mood stabilizer, xanax, ativan and zoloft) I found that when I need to leave the house or have people over my house, if I take the ativan I have less anxiety and sometimes, no anxiety at all. I have been taking it since 2005.

      One thing I found most annoying that people always say to me is that it is in my head and I can control it. Although some people believe this to be fact, it is the last thing I wanted to hear in the middle of an attack or frankly, anytime! Your best bet is to just support him and be there for him to talk to. Never judge him or ask too many questions. The best thing anyone says or does for me, depends on the situation and how bad the attack is, sometimes I don't want to be touched and I want to go through the attack alone, other times I just want to be held. One thing I dislike is when people ask me if I am ok or there is anything they can do while I am having the attack because its easier for me to work things out in my head then to listen to someone talking. Although trying to find something else for me to focus on sometimes helps so if you can think of something that will sway his interest and focus, that could help as well. It is definately a hard disorder to deal with as  an insider, but I am sure it is more difficult as a outsider. I hope this novel I wrote helps some! lol Good Luck!  

Answer 8

I am only self diagnosed anxiety disorder, and let me tell you how annoying it can be. I have this constant chronic feeling that I have to do something, the only problem is, I have no idea what I am supposed to do. I have trouble starting things because I try and figure out what I should start doing first. I also have trouble finishing things because I feel like I should start something else before I run out of time. I waste a lot of time trying to figure all of this out and usually end up doing nothing. Sometimes I feel depressed, and this is why I can't start things, but mediocre things like waiting in traffic and lines and doing activities I don't want to do seem to drive me crazy, to the point where I grind my teeth if I don't catch myself. I don't medicate, but I handle it by getting stuff I want to do before I die done, like writing a book and traveling. I am 23 by the way, so your son and I may be experiencing the same problems.

Answer 9

Hi, I am the author of http://panicattackresearch.blogspot.com

Do not worry, I am not spamming my site - my site don't sell products or anything. My site is solely dedicated to panic-attacks or people whom have anxiety. I give tips on how to sleep even if you have anxiety.

Please do visit and post any questions there or here so that I can help you further.

I have been a sufferer for 12-years and am doing well. My blog is dedicated to help. I will be updating my blog every 5-7 days on new ways to cope anxiety. I have just made few good entries on coping - I hope it will help you.

I started out taking prozac 20mg daily.. then it dropped to 10mg and now I am just taking 5mg and still doing very well. I might be considering taking medication off my life.

And most importantly, I am here to help you because I know how it feels to have anxiety or panic attacks.

There are free tips and free items on relaxation and such for you to download!

All the best,

Seng