I have a question about medicine for anxiety..plz read help wanted?

Question

hi I'm a 22 year old guy and i have had generalized anxiety disorder for 8 years now.

this as led into agoraphobia and a mild personality disorder.

i was on meds a few years ago for depression but stoped taking them..

I'm at the point where I'm getting help but **** needs to change its driving me crazy.

has anyone been on meds for any of these things and have they helped?

i know what i want to do in live but my problems are holding me back to the point where i couldn't be bothered doing anything.

ive stopped doing everything like hanging out with my friends going surfing and camping with y girlfriend which i loved doing the most.

thanks

Answer 1

il buy your anxiety pills from you, they are great to abuse!

and yes, i usually get mine from sombody that THEY HAVE helped and they still take them. but you need to stay on them for life.

Answer 2

Don't stop anything too suddenly...it's only a habit!!! I hope that you can realize you can overcome medications overtime...but only if you can believe your strong enough...I've been on med's and sometimes they help and other times they don't...But I always believe just in myself...I'll do what's right for me!

Answer 3

I am female, but have been right where you're at. The two things that helped me the most, med. wise, was Effexor XR for depression, and a med. called Ativan for anxiety. Both are mild enough, but greatly helped improve my mood and helped me get back into doing the things I was so missing out on. Hold onto that support system, tell them what's happening with you, they will want to help, trust me! I am always willing to chat as well. It helps to talk to someone who "really" knows and understands. Hang in there!!!

Answer 4

Agoraphobia often results from having had a panic attack in a public place, associating such places with panic, and wanting to avoid having another attack, away from a place where you can't get immediate help, or where you feel safe, which is usually at home. The idea is to learn, and become proficient in the techniques for coping with panic, then, little by little, and with support from a friend, family member, or therapist, (at first) start going out again, confident in the knowledge that you can cope with any attack. Section 27 on phobia, at ezy build, below, refers.

                

PANIC ATTACKS: View the techniques for control of anxiety/panic attacks, in section 8, at ezy build, below. Begin, on this first occasion, only, by holding your breath for 5, or 10 seconds: this will give you the confidence to realise that YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR BREATHING, but not pass out, or die (your autonomic nervous system resumes breathing, if you become unconscious). Understand panic attacks, and what triggers them, in your life (if it is unresolved anxiety, or stress, see sections 6, or 42, respectively). The paper bag method works for most people: try it.  

   If you are fairly suggestible, the following are reliable: http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/

Your last alternative is psychotherapy, to address its fundamental cause: read section 1, and examine the http://1-800-therapist.com/  website, and use the locators, and phone book. I used to suffer from panic attacks, until I questioned what had changed in my life, at, or just before that time, to trigger them. For some people, this is enough. These days, I have instilled the habit of, whenever a situation occurs where panic is likely, I visualise a large, "STOP!" sign, as vividly as possible, followed by repeating to myself: "stay calm" in my mind. You could try the same method. It usually takes 30 - 40 repetitions, for most people, to establish a new habit. I also suggest that you learn, then practise the controlled breathing technique, until competent, then employ it, at the very first sign of a panic attack.  

   Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed. Also, give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. There is also a version for use in public places, (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris also refer: "Even though I sometimes suffer from panic attacks, I deeply and completely accept myself." Note: the controlled breathing only helps with the symptoms (as do medications/herbal remedies): you need to address the underlying cause, and this requires some form of therapy, and Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy has proved effective.

   Advice from a published psychiatrist on controlled breathing. (1.) Get a clock, or watch with a second timer. (2.) Practise for 5 minutes, 4 times daily, until proficient. (3.) Take a small breath in, and hold it, for 6 seconds. (4.) Think to yourself: "RELAX", just before breathing out. (5.) Try to feel a sense of releasing tension, as you breathe out. (6.) Breathe in for 3 seconds, then out, for 3 seconds. Try to make your breathing very smooth, and light, as you breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth, or nose. (7.) For the next minute, continue to breathe in, and out, every 3 seconds. (8.) Go back to step 3, at the end of the minute, and proceed through to step 7, doing this for 5 minutes. Use this at the very first sign of a panic attack starting, or any time you feel anxious, or tense.  

   Because many people can't access/afford professional therapy, I include the EFT, and EMDR variant for them to try, free of charge. Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy is generally available in most areas, but EMDR (see section 33) may well be worth trying, and is becoming more widespread.

It may also help to minimise, or eliminate caffeine products from your life (coffee can be a trigger) and sugar. Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey. Minimise/eliminate consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grain products, such as white bread, donuts, cake, cookies/biscuits, or anything with sugar. Opt for more wholefoods, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit.