Hello there, I'm Effie. I have been diagnosed with generalized and social anxiety disorder. I take anti depressants (supposed to help with depression as with my anxiety). I've seen a social worker on and off since I was first diagnosed. The thing is, I have never spoken to anyone who's anxiety seemed to be at the same severity as mine, in a way. I go through depersonalization, often. I am extremely irritable. I rarely leave home because it's too much for me. I have an anxiety attack whenever there is "too much going on" (e.i. loud noises and bright lights). I cannot sleep because I panic that something will happen so I just check everything around the house. At one point, it made me want to end my life (no longer, it was when I was much younger, I'm in no risk to myself) My anxiety is all I know. Is there any chance that this will some day become not a problem for me or is it hard wired in to me? Is there any sort of solution that I may have no tried yet? (I have avoided any form of psychiatric hospital since I do not think I am "bad" enough to be admitted but have done therapy and medication as stated before) Any information would be appreciated.
HI effie
I'm sorry to hear of your problems with gad and sa, my personal experience is slightly different, coming from the bipolar affective disorder dircetion, however, I get gad with it soemtimes. I'm on Citalopram 40mg and risperidone 3mg, neither of which helped with my anxiety, although are brilliant for the bipolar. I only started to recover from my anxiety when I staretd HUman Givens counselling, and later, was prescribed diazepam. The counselling was brilliant and taught me to deal with situations I found most anxious like crowded trains and nosiy places, but I still used to get just scared and trembling for no reason. It took a while before they would prescribe me diazepam as its very addictive but when they di I found it a mirtacle. I can take 5mg a day but tend to skip days so as not to get too dependent on it. I'm also taking hydroxyzine, a sedating anti histamine with anxiolitic properties. I was actually givden it fcor itching and an urticari ra`sh but found that it also reall helped my anxiety, though beware, its very sedating, for me at least, so I take it at night and get a solid 8 houps kip. I was once ina psychiatric unit for 5 weeks and it weokred well for me, just that sense of not having to care for myself and having all the nurses do everything for me. I know its not for everyone, but that was my experience.
I hoipe you feel much better soon and find a way out of this horrible illness
xxxx
Hello effie
Your post is very typical of so many others on this site. I write on here because I am a lifetime sufferer (now 75 years old), but in spite of it all I have led a very full life. I have always worked in responsible positions, had a good education, raised four children etc. There have been some bad patches, when agoraphobia/DP/DR have set in, but the various doctors have said that I have to work things through with the help of meds and an understanding of what anxiety is all about. There IS much more understanding nowadays. Most of my anxiety has been caused by "outside influences."..too numerous to mention here). You do not say how old you are, but your situation is making you miss out on life. Do you live alone....have children? You need all the support and help you can get, and it is possible to get through it. People who are this way "wired" do have relapses, but once you know how to handle it, you can overcome it. I am not an "old fuddy duddy..just the opposite....I love fashion, clothes, travel, writing, gardening...and other things too! So it can be overcome! Not easy, but think positive. Good Luck.
Hello Effie.
I'm sorry to hear about your problems, however as someone who suffers with Aysbergers and Anixtey I will do the best I can to help you with this, I am currently on Propanlol 10mg(daily) and danzipam for stressfull situtions. However I have booked an appoitment to see a herbalist as my mother belives a natural rememdy could help.