Question:
I would like to know by people who have general anxiety disorder, what
medicines are WORKING for them? What are some things you do in your day that
make you feel more comfortable? Also, please explain your physical symptoms of this disorder!
Answer:
General anxiety has many symptoms. Irritability, depression, sleepiness,
sleeplessness, eating problems, distracting thoughts, panic attacks and
more. I take Paxil and nortryptlyne use Klonopin on occasion.
Exercise and planned activities help me. high pitch like a smoke alarm or some telephones, store announcements,
McDonalds fryer alarms and cars with bass boxes. I'm sensitive to
sudden and strobing light situations, television, a computer screen
scrolling fast, cars coming toward me, and any thing that looks like a
near miss accident. Those situations produce severe upper torso spasms
like geting ice water poured on me or hit by a cattle prod, agiation,
derealization or depersonalization, inability to concentrate,
dizziness, speach problems especially during a bad attack the words
won't come out, situations to where my body refuses to obey my commands
such as writting my name, an extreme sudden lack of energy, tingling
sensations in my head like it's asleep, sudden sharp stabbing ear
pains, tinnitus constantly for two years and other assorted goodies. The spasms are the worse part of it. After the attacks my mind is shot
for the day usually. I can head some of them off chemically as I do
away from home. Weather changes bring on attacks especially sudden
storm fronts and drop in barometric pressure.
My relaxiation is a six string gituar which offers the only thing I can
do that calms me and actually stops attacks. I have never spasmed while
playing. And I can play without any concentration...I'm beginning to realize that none of these combination of problems will
ever be "fixed" or abate without meds, am I right?
I did very poorly on two SSRI's so far, haven't tried any other class of
drugs yet. I have a four year old son and I nanny me niece who two months
old, I can't take anything that will wig me out or slow me down. I'll be
seeing my doc,{PCP}, this week to check into the "vestibular" part{s} of my
combo of problems. I did tell him that in the past I've been diagnosed with
P/A, and they're so quick to just start throwing you the meds and assume
that they will work! They never ask what you do for a living, or if you have
young children to care for, etc.............And getting back to the
emergency room issue, {sorry}, they never took me seriously there! Never
even referred me to anyone, or suggested I needed meds or what
kind..........! It's all so pathetic sometimes. All I want to do is be able
to function in my everyday life without being dizzy, wobbly, sick, can't
breathe, type of day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's just been so bad for over a year
now, sorry to vent! With a Vestibular history Benzos offer the best hope. You need a
sedative to tone down your sensory system not speed it up. Xanax in the
Benzo's is fast acting and offers the fewest side effects. I took
Libruim about 12 years ago the differece between the two is great.
Xanax will probably work best alone. I'd try it that way first. If you
are Vestibular mixing the drugs together can make matters worse. In
this case you don't need your sensory system enhanced as it is already
being over worked. If a second medication is needed an anti-histamine
may help such as Vistaril commonly used in anxiety treatment and would
not work against the Xanax. I will be more open to these meds if my doc and I decide it's
finally "time!" {Which it probably is!} I think I mentioned before, I did
drugs,{street}, many years ago, and I was trying to avoid drugs if at all
possible. But, the interesting thing, the more I think about it, is that I
always used to use stimulants or "speedy" drugs. I know these anti-anxiety
drugs are on the relaxing end of the spectrum, and LEGAL!! Anti-depressants
made me feel like I had no emotions at all, {not to say this is how they
affect everyone, or that they're bad}. While the benzodiazepines and many of the antidepressants can be
sedating, especially at the beginning, some ADs like Wellbutrin and
Prozac are usually stimulating. I have found that getting out in the sun really helps reduce my anxiety and
depression. I am taking Zoloft and Ativan but the sun works better than any
drug. The effect is quite pronounced and makes me feel strong enough to
cope. My concentration and energy level improve dramatically. I am aware of
a disorder called seasonal acquired disorder (SAD). I must have it but I
thought I would share this with the group that perhaps getting sunlight and
being exposed to brighter environment might help some of you.
