So here goes about me [Archive] - Anxiety Forum - A Home for Those with Anxiety, Fear, or Panic Attacks

jessed03

12-18-2013, 08:08 AM

Just a little tip, use paragraphs ;) that was really hard to read, and anxious people have pretty low concentration levels as it is.

That being said, you have every reason to be anxious, don't you! Parts of that were quite harrowing to read, especially the hallucinations.

It sounds like over the course of your life, a culture of fear or hesitancy has developed, and that's completely understandable.

I grew up with some health issues from a car crash as a kid, much less serious than yours actually, and 20years later, things seemed to snap. I guess I put it down to work stress, but it had been building up for decades.

The amygdala in the brain, responsible for anxiety and the like, is actually pretty substandard as a survival mechanism. It will only take so much, then reach a point of hyperactivity, where it can appear to set off for no reason.

I can see issues of perfectionism in your early life, I can see the inevitable health worries that accompany epilepsy, the harrowing experience of the hallucinations... Those things cannot possibly pass through without having life changing effects on your brain

It seems a hard problem to solve though, and even a hard problem to offer advice on, especially through an anonymous Internet forum.

Are the flashbacks part of a PTSD thing you have? That could cause some nasty things to happen until that's dealt with.

Do you have any coping strategies to deal with the anxiety? Do you use some CBT methods to try and minimalise the anxiety, or is it free to just turn up and wreak havoc.

As far as the Xanax goes, within reason you can kinda take as much as you need to help your issue. If anxiety is unbearable, then taking a little more is usually what people do. It can stop the snowballing of anxiety. Anxiety compounds, it's helpful to stop that compounding for a few days. It can make it so much easier to hold. I don't know how that ties in with epilepsy though, so talk to your doc first about it if you wanna take a little more.

Out of interest, have you ever had a proper psychological assessment? If so, what were you diagnosed with?

jkb

12-18-2013, 08:18 AM

Hi jack. I care.
Don't decide to change your prescription. Consult with your doctor if you feel you aren't getting anywhere with current medication.

Make sure also you are completely honest with your doctor, about hallucinations, anxiety, all of it!
I don't know anything about Xanax. If you have given it enough time to start working and still aren't getting anywhere, definitely speak to the doc see what recommendations they have.

Your past fears that keep haunting you would suggest to me you need therapy, ask your doc for a referral, or look online for local numbers and services.