hello - - new member, seeking help

[PiNKXTiERS]

my names samantha im 20 years old and i've been suffering from anixety/panic attacks for about 8 months now. it's the most confusing thing i've ever had to deal with. at first things were really bad because i didn't know what it was i was feeling .. i felt as if things were unreal around me and i couldn't control my own thoughts. i was constantly worrying myself that something was wrong with me. i'd go on the internet and look up every medical condition possible from heart disease to brain tumors to aneurysms, finding reasons that i had such conditions. i've been to the doctor so many times, i've gotten blood work done, i've had my heart checked out, and everything came back normal. the doctor put me on lexapro and xanex. i never started to take the lexapro because i didn't want to feel as if i had to be on medication in order to be happy and as for the xanex i'd only taken it when i was undergoing an attack. recently when having attacks, i don't take the xanex because of the side effects it presents. the next day i feel like a zombie, it makes me feel very down and lazy. i hate that feeling. one of the biggest problems i have is that when having an attack i make myself worry excessively that something is about to happen to me. i worry that i'm going to have a heartattack, stroke, seizure, anything. i have trouble sleeping at night because i let my mind wander and think about the most bizarre things. i'm terrified of dying. sometimes i let myself think what if i can't handle this anymore, what would i do and how would i cope with it? my mother says i need to go speak to a therapist but is that really a good idea or will they just put me on more medication? i have a lot of stress in my life and i wonder if thats part of the reason i have these attacks. if anyone can help, i'm all ears.

[StevieH]

Hi PiNKXTiERS
If it's any comfort,I am 50 years old and have had the same problem for 17 years (no that cant be a comfort) you are still young, and thats why I could say to you what I have never beleived myself. I have done exactly what you are doing ie: looking on the internet and books and having lots of tests and taking lots of med's. I have alot of physical symptoms, and those have caused all the problems,but the biggest problem has been stress.So before you end up like me,please,please,try to get away from the stress,if you can.My problem started with a job that I hated,and it ruined my life. If you can get rid of the cause (if at all possible THE STRESS) the rest will follow.Before it's too late. Trust Me.(Mine is too late)
StevieH

[joey9]

I totally support what StevieH said. Its not worth trying to cope with a stressful life by being on medication if you can help it. Look at your stressors and try to make changes if AT ALL possible. Even if these changes seem very radical. Unfortunately for most people, using medication to make yourself feel better comes at a price - side effects, dependence etc. so as a long term solution its not ideal. In the short term there are other ways to calm your brain down - supplements, exercise, thought modification etc. However for long term happiness I would recommend self-discovery - find out what really makes you happy and what makes you stressed and make sure you are following the right path in life that is for YOU, not for what others want or what you think you should be doing. Of course there will always be stress in life that you are less able to control but if you can manage what you do have control over and prepare your defenses for times of stress that you can't control then you will be better equipped to cope.

[Robbed]

Look at your stressors and try to make changes if AT ALL possible. Even if these changes seem very radical.

WATCH OUT HERE! Times of extreme anxiety are often not the times to be making extreme changes - unless REALLY necessary, that is (for instance, leaving EXTREMELY abusive situations). But if we are talking about other situations, like maybe starting a new career, then times of extreme anxiety are probably the WORST time to consider doing these things. After all, you DON'T want to lose a new job and spoil your future in a new career because you couldn't concentrate, showed up late or not at all due to lack of sleep, walked out from panic attacks, etc. Furthermore, extreme anxiety often separates you from your stressors. In other words, extreme anxiety typically BECOMES the major stressor. And you barely even think of those things that got you into this mess in the first place. As a result, when anxiety is extreme, you start to think about making changes that are either irrelevant OR even harmful. You are too much in the mindset that you will do ANYTHING you think might make anxiety go away. My recommendation is to wait things out before making HUGE changes like career changes or moving across the country or the world. Concentrate on more manageable changes like perhaps diet and exercise. Also, thinking about such things as what makes you happy and what makes you stressed is fine. But wait until you reduce your anxiety significantly before doing something BIG that you think MIGHT make your anxiety go away (ie career changes, moving thousands of miles away, etc). You could be VERY sorry otherwise.