has anyone here been diagnosed with panic disorder?

MoonlitPlumeria

I haven't gone to a doctor yet, but I think I need to. I can't seem to relax and the smallest things set off huge reactions and I have a hard time calming down. I also don't like the idea of having to go on medication. But it's gotten to the point where I have to admit that I may need to take something. Has anyone else dealt with this?

MrsCodeMonkey

I have some anxiety issues too and I'm hesitant to go on meds because I'm fearing the side effects. I try to take a moment and chill once in a while, but it's tough with a toddler.

Do you think it's seriously affecting your life? If so, it's worth at least talking to someone amd weighing the pros and cons of meds or other options. GL!

KJmashup

EllaHella:

It could be PPA (like PPD but anxiety.)  Talk to your OB.  She may offer temporary medicine.  You could also ask for a therapist referral. 

Yes to all of this. I have a drug/therapist combo that has helped me quite a bit with my PPD and PPA. I hope you start to feel better soon! 

tlcondon

i suffer some anxiety attacks and panic attacks and also depression. The medication I take, which I have been on for 8 years, has seemed to decrease its effect on the anxiety and panic attacks. Ive had to rely alot on Xanax to calm me down quickly at certain times and I dont know what I would do without it. My mothers side of the family has a history of depression and bipolar disorder and at one point I was seeing a psychiatrist, but I felt he was keeping me so doped up, I stopped seeing him. I think I just need to adjust my antidepressant I take that helps with the anxiety and Ill be good. Dont be shamed to have to ask for help. There are times when I just feel like Im going to explode and my heart is going to jump out of my chest. Thats when I take I xanax and within about 10 mintues, Im easing back down. There is not much of a side effect for me. Its one of the lower doses. Sometimes it makes me tired if I am already tired. But it not the drunk, drugged up feeling. And also sometimes it takes a little bit to find a medication that works for you, but you have to stick with it til you find one that does. Good Luck.!!!!

Kitiara5512

One of our friends has something like that. She has panic/anxiety attacks where she cannot do anything and has to be led away and she has trouble breathing (so she has described it, I haven't witnessed an attack). She does take meds for it though, its the only thing that has worked.

MrsJakes

I think I've an anxiety issue for as long as I can remember, but I'd been dealing with it fine without medicine. Recently, though, I had some health issues that caused it to get out of control. I wasn't sleeping well, eating well, and I could feel myself getting really anxious/worked up over normal everyday things that shouldn't bother me. So, I went to the doctor. They put me on an antidepressant - the generic form of Celexa. It made me feel horrible, and my anxiety got worse. I suffered through that for like 3 weeks before I went back to try something else.

The doctor then put me on .25mg of Alprazolam (Xanax) 2 times a day. I take a whole pill before I go to bed. A lot of my anxiety would happen while I was sleeping. I would wake up at like 3:00am and not be able to go back to sleep because I was so anxious. Once I'm up for the day, I take a half a pill (.125mg). I'm supposed to save the other half of the pill for "if I need it" during the day.

It has made a world of difference. Other than my anxiety being greatly reduced and feeling better overall, I don't feel any side effects from taking the medicine. I've even skipped taking it a few times at night when I didn't want to mix it with Nyquil, and I've been fine -- I didn't know if it would react, so I just played it safe. 

MoonlitPlumeria

Thanks for all the input ladies. I started having panic attacks last year around this time, but I had learned to manage them for a long time. But recently, it's been harder to calm myself because Z never stops long enough to give me a chance really. I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes. I am glad to see that I'm not alone in dealing with this. 

And I think my problem with medication is what MrsCodeMonkey. I'm afraid of the side effects of medications. I don't want to feel not like myself and I worry about actual negative side effects of any drugs I take. I worked in a pharmacy and seeing all the drugs that I used to sell with class action lawsuits about bad side effects has made me really nervous about taking something. 

Lotsofloveandkids

I have some anxiety, and most of it's been controlled by medication.