Anxiety Forum

[anxious15]

For the last 25 years,
since I am 15, I take pills.


those are my day savers, I never go out without my pillbox, I have one in my pocket, one in my car, one in the office, one at my parents.
I have a few spare ones at home, a spare subscription to buy some more if there is a problem with the stacks, if you know what I mean.
Before I was 15, I was just considered a shy guy, a kid you never hear, answers a qustion only if he is asked directly, everybody complimented me for being so polite, you have the best manners in the class, top student.

Only I knew there is a problem.
A big problem.
A huge problem.
I AM SO AFRAID OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY.

Every time somebody looked at me, it could be a friend in the classroom, or worse, it could be a girl or an adult, a teacher. I just started feelling those terrible stress symptoms.

No air, I can't breath, I feel like I'm going to get a heart attack.

Imagine, not every once in a while,
not once a week,
but a few times every day.

One day I couldn't breath and they had to take me the hospital.
At the beginning they thought I have an aspiration problem, but, no medicine or oxygen helped me. I knew what my problem is, but, they didn't. I watched my parents and the doctors talking quietly in the corner, then thy called somebody on the phone, my mother approached me, and told me gently

"The tests don't show anything, they can't see what is the problem, in such cases the procedure is to bring a special specialist who is an expert on dealing with such teenager's problems, he is a psychiatrist, who already dealt with many children who suffer from the same symptoms you have, will you talk to him?"

she was so afraid I will say no, though I felt such a relief, those kind of smart people really know their job, they could tell my parents what I was afraid to say for years that I have a severe Anxiety Problem.

I had so much gratitude to this doctor who explained me that all I need is to take some pills, my life will change in no time,
I secretly promised myself -
never again, I am not going to be a victim of another Anxiety attack, I am going to be like all of my friends, happy, noisy and normal.

I am sure that if you are still reading this you know what I'm talking about,

you know the feeling of getting anxiety attacks on every small occasion. I am sure why psychiatry became my religion, it really changed my life, it really gave me hope, I started dating girls, I started having a life I went to collage and got a job and got married and nobody new I take pills except me, of course and my wife.

After we got married my wife noticed the pills, she asked me, and I told her about my secret voe. She immediately started telling me about her friends who managed to control their anxiety with all kinds of natural "voodoo" stuff, I agreed to try it but the sinking was so fast, she admitted I really need my pills, and I really need my psychiatrist.

No to natural medicine, no to yoga, mediation, healing etc. it can't really help.

A month ago

I was going down the street, to get some lunch, and then I feel I can't breath, it felt like an anxiety attack is starting, I didn't think twice and got my hand into my pocket, and then it hit me, no pillbox!

it is the first time in 25 years I do not have my pills with me,

I am away from the office, or the car, and terrible Anxiety starts building inside my chest.

Imagine a Boeing 747 landing on your chest,
I felt worse, I felt I am going to die right away.

I dropped on a bench, open my tie and tried to breath, I looked around and then I saw this guy.

he had calm kind eyes, and he was walking straight towards me, he sat down by me ,looked into my eyes and said:

"I know what you are going through
I also used to have the same religion you have. don't worry, take this book, and read it, if it will help you buy one for yourself, my name and phone number is on the inside cover, please return the book to me when you can"

He stood up and walked away.

He just made me feel worse, what the hell he thinks of himself, a stupid Guru?

But after sitting there for a few moments, planing my funeral I have opened the book and started reading, slowly I started calming down.
The book was speaking about a way to break the spell of fearing the next anxiety attack.
it was full of tools for relaxing and stop being afraid of the next attack.

In the evening I googled the book and bought it online.
This book changed my life.
I also received a set including
videos
Tapes
and a free coaching voucher

If you know what I'm talking about please, be my guest and try it yourself,


email me for details

[Robbed]

At best, medication is simply a way to control anxiety in the short term. And I say 'at best' because it seldom works very well even under these circumstances (seldom as well as they apparently did for the original poster). Efficacy is hit-and-miss. And side effects are often significant, and are frequently unbearable to the point that the meds are discontinued. Addiction can also be a problem, even with so-called 'non habit forming' SSRIs. Furthermore, medications often 'poop out' over time as your body builds a tolerance, leaving you back at square one (and having to try new meds all over again, only to have them eventually poop out again in the future). And who knows how bad it is for your overall health to be popping these pills for years on end? Not to mention that, as the original poster indicated, there is always going to be the possibility that you might forget your pills. For all of these reasons, I am just not a believer in the psychiatric approach to the treatment of anxiety disorder.

[PamelaB]

Medications for anxiety and panic attacks are helpful in that they provide a period of relief (whether they are anti-depressants or controlled meds like benzos). That period of "relief" would be best used as a time to gather up as many tools, if you will, to learn how to control or at least counteract anxious moments and panic attacks.

I was on several meds for panic disorder but had an amazing doctor who pointed me in the direction of alternative methods such as distraction, relaxation and EFT (emotional freedom technique).

Education in how anxiety affects the body is key. Do I still have "bad" days? Yes. But I am dealing with panic attacks much more effectively.

Gratefully,
Pamela
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What you focus on expands. Focus on the good.