34 suffering from what I assume to be GAD

[jamesc]

34, in the construction business. Having a real tough year at work and a newborn son on top of that.

As a result have felt many of the symptoms on the list.

I have thought I have had every disease in the book, heart disease, cancer, low thyroid, lyme, whatever....Since January I have been CT Scanned (twice), Had an Endoscopy, About 19 different blood tests, etc....you probably know the drill.

Everything checks out A'OK.

Problem is I am struggling to function. Everyday I feel like I'm super short with my kids, cant focus at work, tightness in chest all the time, sweat alot, get hot flashes, feel like Im not getting full breaths, always irritable, grind my teeth, pace alot, etc....

My doctor said Anxiety and prescribed me Ativan and Effexor.

I have been using the Ativan (.5mg in the morning, .5mg after work) but after reading about effexor on the web I am loathe to start it.

Been trying to get back into running as a means to increase serotonin and fight anxiety but it seems to be a double edged sword. Works some days, other days after the run I feel like Im going to have some heart issues.

Anyway, glad to see others meeting to work this stuff out.

Signed,

A very Frustrated JamesC

[gingerroot]

Hey, it's hard to exercise when you have heart palpitations. I have the same problem sometimes. You might want to step down your workout when your chest is tight or your heart is racing because the exercise is still good for your heart, but you don't want to give yourself panic attacks at the same time.

Did you go to your regular doctor or a psychiatrist? Psychiatrists undestand the medications better, so they're sometimes the best source for the right medication. I also recommend a good therapist. I went to a therapist for about a year over 6 years ago, and had been maintaining really well on my own (until now - sort of having trouble again). A good therapist will help you come up with strategies for dealing with your stress and anxiety.

Having a newborn is a big enough life change to trigger anxiety...I think my anxiety was triggered again just because we were THINKING about having kids...good luck.

[Lulu]

Hey James

I'm 33 and also suffer from anxiety. Only difference is i've been like this on and off since I was 18. Thankfully I now realise I don't have any health issues apart from anxiety, not that it makes it go away.

I have all the usual symptoms, tight chest, like i'm having to force myself to breath etc. At the moment I'm having full blown panic attacks once or twice aweek but usually they happen very rarely, just the daily anxiety symptoms. I know how hard it is to function on a daily basis and it can make you short tempered when all your energy is going into trying to keep yourself at a balance.

I've been on medications for this in the past, I've tried Propanolol which is a beta-blocker and i've also tried Seroxat an anti depressant. They worked for sure in the short term but had side effects. I've now come to realise I'm stuck with this disorder and am self managing without medications. Now when I feel these feelings come on I try to tell myself it's ok I can cope and let them wash over me. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

You sound like you're in a high stress situation, and stuck in a cycle. I've been there before myself with work and kids, insomnia, the teeth grinding. One horrible symptom i get in bed at night is that when I start to fall asleep I must be holding my breath, and i'll suddenly realise and gasp in and my heart will beat really quickly and it sends me off on one. All I can tell you is, this will get better gradually. You need to 100% accept it's anxiety first. Take a holiday for goodness sake, sit in the sun, if you can't excercise at the gym go for long walks, which is what I do.

It's not a cure, but it may help you cope better wth the symptoms.

Lulu xx