tapslap182
02-15-2010, 04:11 PM
Hi, my name is Caitlin. I was diagnosed with GAD (general anxiety disorder) when I was about nine years old. They put me on Zoloft, and I have been taking it for about ten years up until now (I'm 20). I never had any terrible side effects with Zoloft, and for the most part it managed my anxiety pretty well. I still had the occassional panic attack, but they weren't taking over my life anymore.
Fast forward to last week. On Monday night, I had a panic attack, and I ended up going to the ER out of fear. My pulse was 156 bpm, which is out of control. They ended up giving me adovan (spelling?) for relaxing, and sent me back home. I figured, "wow, that was the worst panic attack I have ever had" and went on my way home, expecting to wake up refreshed and able to move on. I have always been able to shake off my panic attacks the next day and continue living life. But when I woke up, I still had that pit in my stomach, and the nervousness was still present. I started obsessing over having another panic attack, and I literally spent all week fretting over having another one.
I felt like I was literally going insane, like I was losing my mind. Has anyone ever felt that way?
So after the ER incident, and still panicking about having another attack, I ended up at the hospital again on Friday night (coincidentally my 20th birthday). I went because I felt hopeless, I was exhausted with constantly worrying about having a panic attack, and I couldn't do it on my own anymore. THEY interpreted that as suicidal thoughts, and committed me to the psych ward for the weekend (happy birthday!!!). I wasn't allowed to leave, and after finally convincing the hospital psychologist I didn't want to kill myself, they said I could leave in twenty four hours (due to legalities and such). So that pretty much freaked me out, not being able to leave, with a room full of very depressed, suicidal people. I was depressed, don't get me wrong, but only because my anxiety seemed to be taking over my life.
Now, if you beared through and read all that, thank you, thank you so much because it's nice to know you're reading my background so you can give me some advice.
The psychologist said that maybe it was time for a new medicaton, and that my Zoloft just might be pooped out after ten years. They started me on Paxil, and I have only been on it for two days.
My questions for you, fellow worriers are:
1- Have you ever felt like you were losing your mind, or losing control with anxiety taking over? Did you get over it?
2- Has your medicine just ever pooped out on you before?
3-Anyone have any reviews for Paxil? I keep hearing terrible things about withdrawl symptoms and such, which is just making my anxiety go up more and more. Also, when does it start to kick in??
I wasn't sure where to post this lengthy article, so if it is in the wrong section I'm sorry.
Any, ANY, advice at all would be appreciated. I'll probably just keep refreshing this page waiting for a response.
Fast forward to last week. On Monday night, I had a panic attack, and I ended up going to the ER out of fear. My pulse was 156 bpm, which is out of control. They ended up giving me adovan (spelling?) for relaxing, and sent me back home. I figured, "wow, that was the worst panic attack I have ever had" and went on my way home, expecting to wake up refreshed and able to move on. I have always been able to shake off my panic attacks the next day and continue living life. But when I woke up, I still had that pit in my stomach, and the nervousness was still present. I started obsessing over having another panic attack, and I literally spent all week fretting over having another one.
I felt like I was literally going insane, like I was losing my mind. Has anyone ever felt that way?
So after the ER incident, and still panicking about having another attack, I ended up at the hospital again on Friday night (coincidentally my 20th birthday). I went because I felt hopeless, I was exhausted with constantly worrying about having a panic attack, and I couldn't do it on my own anymore. THEY interpreted that as suicidal thoughts, and committed me to the psych ward for the weekend (happy birthday!!!). I wasn't allowed to leave, and after finally convincing the hospital psychologist I didn't want to kill myself, they said I could leave in twenty four hours (due to legalities and such). So that pretty much freaked me out, not being able to leave, with a room full of very depressed, suicidal people. I was depressed, don't get me wrong, but only because my anxiety seemed to be taking over my life.
Now, if you beared through and read all that, thank you, thank you so much because it's nice to know you're reading my background so you can give me some advice.
The psychologist said that maybe it was time for a new medicaton, and that my Zoloft just might be pooped out after ten years. They started me on Paxil, and I have only been on it for two days.
My questions for you, fellow worriers are:
1- Have you ever felt like you were losing your mind, or losing control with anxiety taking over? Did you get over it?
2- Has your medicine just ever pooped out on you before?
3-Anyone have any reviews for Paxil? I keep hearing terrible things about withdrawl symptoms and such, which is just making my anxiety go up more and more. Also, when does it start to kick in??
I wasn't sure where to post this lengthy article, so if it is in the wrong section I'm sorry.
Any, ANY, advice at all would be appreciated. I'll probably just keep refreshing this page waiting for a response.