I'm a 20 yr old female & I've been dealing with severe health anxiety/ panic disorder & panic attacks for the past 4 months. Everyday I just feel worse. I've felt every symptom in the book: chest pains, chest tightness, dizzy, lightheaded, rapid heart rate, hyperventilating, headaches, weight loss, racing thoughts 24/7, feeling like something is wrong all the time & just general feeling of losing my mind. I was having GI issues & was diagnosed with celiac a few weeks back & I felt better for a little bit, knowing that I wasn't crazy & there was actually something wrong. But now it's been a few weeks & im just back to feeling everything from before & now I've convinced myself that I have some other terminal illness. (Btw I've gone to the doctor about 10-15 times during the last 4 months for various reasons). My anxiety is starting to make me depressed, I just feel like I can't go on like this. My psychiatrist prescribed Zoloft about a month ago, but I don't want to go on antidepressants because of the side effects... I know I need help but I don't want to start taking an SSRI and just feel worse. Do any of you all feel this way? How do you cope with it all?
Hello Haley.
Sorry you are going through this, I know exactly what it's like and yeah it is hell but you will get through it. Anxiety manifests itself in some scary ways and what people don't realise is, just how physical it can be. It is a great deal of stress you are placing on your body.
Antidepressants don't solve the issue. They can however be a very good crutch to use to gain an understanding of what is happening and why as well as give you the ability to tackle it. There must be a root cause as anxiety is driven almost entirely by a vicious circle of thoughts and until you accept and understand that, the anxiety won't fade.
Personally I couldn't take to an SSRI. Tried fluoxetine and that was hell on earth (I ended up in A&E for 3 days due to side effects). I moved onto Sertraline and that was far more tolerable. No side effects what so ever other than a bit of dizziness.
Jumping straight to SSRI's is strange though. You can ask your GP for a medication called Propranolol. It's a beta blocker (I take 10mg as needed) and it works to stop the adrenal response which causes all the anxiety symptoms like racing heart, faint, dizzy etc. It's basically given out for stage fright but has and half got me through some tough times at work.
I got myself into a solid routine as well. Eat healthier, cut out caffeine, exercise properly and rest when needed. Learn how to control the racing thoughts and rationalize them. There are some great mediation apps you can use that teaches this as well. It all sounds simple but it genuinely does work. Over time, your anxiety will reduce.
I didn't last long on SSRI's and opted for herbal remedies which helped a great deal as well. Drink plenty of camomile tea to calm your nerve's and body, take passionflower supplements and valerian root for sleep. Done me the world of good.
Hope this helps.
Hi hayley ive been in the same boat i got really sick from anxiety 4 weeks ago. I was put onto zoloft ive been on it for 3 weeks tomoz. Im having moments of feeling good i can eat again so i think the meds are working just very slowly. My main symptom is i feel very of the planet of balance. Which is so frustrating. But everyone has told me it will go away i just have to give it time.
Sorry that was supposed to be for hayley
First, you are not alone. I went through exactly what you are going through 8 years ago. It does get better. My anxiety disorder has just recently reinserted its ugly head into my life again. Although 8 years ago was much, much worse, the panic attacks are back. I know what it is this time, but doesn't make it any less scary. The feeling of not having control and the fear of being found out, the belittlement by peers who have no clue. See a doctor, see a therapist, you will get through it. There are many of us out there, although many under the radar. A good MD will consider that you may have this disorder and get you help. Through meds and therapy, it's possible to get your life back. Just keep at it. You will have good days and bad. Keep writing on this group, it helps.