Hi Everyone! The anxiety has returned

[ada]

Hi everyone:) This is my first post.
When I was about 7 years old, I was diagnosed with both obsessive compulsive disorder, and clinical depression. I was treated with Prozac and cognitive behavioral therapy. As my mother says, this combination worked wonders. Both proved effective until the Prozac began severely disturbing my sleep. I was taken off of it, and put on Zoloft, which proved to be more effective. About 5 years later, I was taken off medication completely, for I felt I had taken control of my OCD, depression, and anxiety. When I began the 9th grade, I noticed my anxiety began to return, and by the 10th grade, I had again developed full blown anxiety, as well as hypochondria. As I entered the 11th grade, I again felt as if everything was returning to normal. Now, in the 12th grade, the anxiety and OCD has returned full force, possibly worse than ever before. I have been on Zoloft 50mg daily for nearly a week now, and I have noticed no difference. I know I have not given it enough time, but I am just worried wondering how much longer I can live the way I am living. The anxiety has caused a severe decrease in my appetite, which is not helping me in my determination to gain weight. (I am underweight, not due to anorexia, but to a slim build inherited from my father)
I am looking for support, words of wisdom, anything will help. Thank you :)

[ada]

Also, to add, I experienced my first panic attack very recently. At the time, I did not know that it was a panic attack. At first, my heart began to beat very fast, I had rushes of cold throughout my body, my hearing was off, I was experiencing head rushes while sitting down, I was sweating, and it was hard to breathe. My mother called the paramedics, who surprisingly did not entertain the idea of a panic attack.

[ImJace]

Ada: This sounds all too familiar. I had my first panic attack when I was in the 11th grade as well. I have had anxiety all my life, but the first panic attack didn't hit until I was 17. I am now 27 and have managed over the last 10 years. I've also had the obsessive thoughts about my health (hypochondria) and of course that just feeds the anxiety. The problem is that anxiety manifests itself physically, such as dizziness, sweating, heart beating a million miles an hour or skipping altogether, etc. This leads to us worrying further that we have other health issues causing these symptoms. So weeks and months go by and we are subconsciously and consciously worrying about all these things and pretty soon we notice that we are tired all the time and again this just adds more worry.

It's really hard to just tell your brain and body to chill out, when you have a panic attack just remember that no matter what, you will be okay. Nobody has ever died from a panic attack and nobody ever will.

I was always very anti medication my whole life. However, I did get a prescription to Xanax and only used it when having panic attacks, but it's been years of coping and i'm ready to try a daily medication, because there is no use in being stubborn if there is something out there that can help me. So I have started taking Pristiq, i'm on week 4 and I think I am starting to see some improvement :)

I've just grown to accept my anxiety for what it is. Just like someone who has diabetes, we can still live very normal lives, and sometimes it feels so scary, but we are far from being alone and we will be okay! haha.