new here looking for help

[cleodog]

hi,

I am new on here... I have been suffering from various levels of anxiety for years... now i am 25 years old. male.

about a year and a half ago my daughter was stillborn. While I was not with her mother at the time. I was ready to be a father.

Since that happened I have not spoken to the mother.

I have been going to therapy and on lexapro and wellbutrin.

recently My anxiety attacks have gotten worse to the point where I almost cant function and is also causing extreme depression

my therapst says chances are I have post-traumatic stress disorder and that it has finally caught up with me.

then my insurance company no longer covered lexapro and they put me on the generic celexa. that seemed to not work at all driving me even further into anxiety attacks.

I can't really go to a restaurant without having an anxiety attack, I can't go to work without having an anxiety attack. they are pretty much crippling my life.

And they are making me have depression.

figured if i use forums for cars , bikes, powersports, etc; why not try it for anxiety.

[alankay]

Cleo, at some point it's time to try a benzo(klonopin, etc) as you are experiencing an acute high state right now. If you've given the AD's a good trial even at higher doses, ask about a benzo.
Celexa is very similar to lexapro(I've am on lexapro now and was on celexa). I found I sleep better on lexapro and that was the only difference for me.
At some point you need to get your anxiety under control to benefit fully from therapy so ask about a benzo and don't be afraid of them. I prefer a medium to long acting meds like diazepam or klonopin(long acters) or ativan(intermediate acter). Your doc might or might not resist this. Many do the right thing and try the AD's first as they are so safe and non habit forming(won't be if used sparingly except for the initial period in which you need to get out of the viscous cycle of anxiety, more anxiety, even more anxiety, etc). I think you know what I mean.
Some docs like to try buspar so be prepared for that. Your doc might be very willing to try a benzo of his choosing in your case since you are or seem to be very anxious. When the patient says "they(attacks) are pretty much crippling my life", it's time to try a benzo(IMHO).
As for PTSD, what would have caused that? Does the therapist think the still birth of is there something else? I think it's more straight anxiety more than PTSD but that just my take from what you wrote. PM me any time. Alankay

[cleodog]

he thinks its the trauma from the loss of my daughter. I will find out about benzo. I have taken xanax in the past it has not helped much other htan made me feel zoned out

[alankay]

Cleo, Xanax is a potent short acter. Ask about ativan(medium acter) or klonopin. The nice thing about either is that you can hold off on using it until needed and dissolve either under your tongue(works faster, will taste like sugar). I found that helped me hold off from using them so much. Or use it via mouth as usual.
If your anxiety is more situationally bound ask for ativan. If it a bit more generalized try klonopin. Start low and slowly raise the dose until you feel it reduce anxiety to where you are more comfy(a little bit of anxiety is OK). Either are fairly potent. If you feel fairly drowsy, it was a bit too much. A little drowsiness often clears up anyway.
If you get an RX just use these first to get calmed down from being very anxious then "as needed" when you cannot calm yourself down. You doc might have other ideas/instructions.
I am very sorry about your Daughter. I hope you continue to pursue treatment and do some reading(self help books on anxiety), learn some deep breathing exercises, practice some progressive relaxation and positive self dialog. Get enough aerobic exercise and limit caffeine and alcohol for now. PM me ANY time. Alankay.

[cleodog]

I wrote a whole huge response and it didnt post ... idk why ugh . When I get my 10 posts I will PM you

[alankay]

Can you receive PM's? I can give you an e-mail addy to use until you can PM. Alankay

[cleodog]

it said not active till 10 posts but this is 6 right now so no worries it will be there soon