Hello!

[Girlie77]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I have always been an anxious person and I developed panic attacks about 4 years ago out of the blue. I managed to keep them pretty well under control with Celexa and Xanax and positive self talk when I would feel panic bubbling up. However, last Friday I had my first attack in probably 2 years, and it completely knocked me on my a**. I've been panicky off and on since, but not to the point of a full attack. I saw my dr on Monday and he decided to switch me to Ativan instead of Xanax because he thinks I may have developed a tolerance. I am slowly starting to feel better, but def not 100% yet. I'm worried because my mom has severe panic disorder with agoraphobia and I do not want to end up in the same situation. Has anyone else has a setback like this?

[hugosmum]

Hi
Yes, I've recently started getting panic attacks as bad as I did when I first started 17 years ago. I have been taking nothing for quite some time but I can tell u that I've used Xanax before and if I took it regularly it first took longer to work and then I had to take more for it to work.
Hopefully a change in medication will help
Good luck!

[Girlie77]

Thanks for your input. The Ativan seems to be helping. I am gradually starting to feel more like myself, other than a few high stress situations. Still having some lingering general anxiety, but I've only been on it for five days. Trying to be optimistic. I hope you are feeling better too. Have you started any meds again?

[Girlie77]

Thanks for your reply hugosmum! So far, it does seem that the new meds are helping. I am having better days with decreasing anxiety, minus a few incidents triggered by outside stressors. I just want to be back to normal, but I think I am slowly getting there. I see the pain that some of the others on this forum are in and it is heartbreaking, but it also makes me grateful for any improvements I experience. How are you feeling? Are you back on any meds? Having an attack after that many years must have been awful!

[Girlie77]

Hi
Yes, I've recently started getting panic attacks as bad as I did when I first started 17 years ago. I have been taking nothing for quite some time but I can tell u that I've used Xanax before and if I took it regularly it first took longer to work and then I had to take more for it to work.
Hopefully a change in medication will help
Good luck!

Thanks for your reply! I am about 6 days on the new meds now and it does seem they are helping. I am noticing less and less general anxiety, though I have had a few instances of high anxiety or near panic induced by outside stressors. I am feeling cautiously optimistic. I see the pain that so many people on here are in and it is heartbreaking, but it also makes me grateful for any progress I make. How are you feeling? Have you decided to go back on any meds?

[hugosmum]

Hi. So sorry I did not reply. Super bad with anything technological and have also had a little time away helping out my best friend that has terminal cancer.
So glad things seem to have been picking up for you. Hope u are a new person by now :-)
I just got a script for some anti depressants which should help the attacks.
Doc says I'm not depressed but they work for anxiety. Not sure I'm not depressed but think that has to do with my friend. I'm always faking it for her and being upbeat when all I want to do is curl into a ball & cry for her. She just thinks I'm in denial. Haha, maybe she's right.
You take care hey. Not sure I'll be back on this app for a while.