I don't have panic attacks my sypmtoms are even worse I have developed agoraphobia as a result of GAD my leg muscles will stiffen and I am unable to move.I know this sounds crazy but open spaces cause this. My psych Dr.just looks at me like it is the strangest thing she has ever heard. Am I the only person so affected? meds don't work I had this once before but not this bad Effexor really worked. Now however I get terrible side effects from it. Has anyone else experienced this? any reply is greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately, too many medical people just don't get it with anxiety. All of us here in this forum are dealing with it. Just in the US, as of a few years ago, over 20,000,000 people were diagnosed. God knows how many more are undiagnosed and untreated. In the world, it is pandemic. If this were a physical disease the cdc would be working overtime. As it is, it is often ignored, misdiagnosed, non diagnosed or just plain laughed at.
The first thing I would tell anyone who wrote what you wrote, is to get yourself to another doctor who will treat you properly, and get you on an anti anxiety med, so you can get calm enough to begin to help yourself.
When I finally staggered into urgent care, terrified and traumatized by what was going on in my mind and body, I was fortunate to get a doctor who looked at me, asked me a few qestions and prescribed a med that within a couple of days began to calm me, and by the end of a week and a dose increase, brought me to a place where I was able to start to help myself.
I didn't know that I had anxiety disorder, or how to help myself until I found this forum. What a wonderful, caring , helpful group. But....it started with the right medication.
We have all been, and are still traveling down the same road as you, so we all understand and believe you.
I do want to address the stiff muscles. Anxiety drains the body of minerals. ((as well as all the other stuff it does, like scare you half to death with thoughts of dire problems that aren't real. But later for that). The mineral deficiency that seems to most affect the muscles is magnesium. When my muscles tighten or spasm, or burn, I spray topical magnesium on any part of my body and rub it in, and within seconds or minutes....pain gone!! I just asked my doctor to order a blood panel including minerals. and to specifically look at magnesium and potassium levels. He did so, and I will go in next week to get it done. In the meantime, I have my mag.spray.
Dear heart, your first step to taking your life back from this beast we call anxiety is to get on the right medication so you can think more calmly.
You will find a great deal of help here, Carol. These people have all been there, and are here for help and support, and to be of help and support. You are in the right place.
Oh thank you for your reply I now feel so isolated because of this monster. I have tried just about every med out there all with side effects. I am extremely sensitive to meds.At this point I am willing to try anything.I have never had a problem with depression but it has made it's appearance since this isolation began. I can deal with the anxiety much better than the depression. just feeling down it is like a roller coaster of emotion.
I, too, am sensitive to meds. I have frustrated many a doctor. I don't even know how many blood pressure meds I've tried .I got so that just lookig at a blood preddure cuff raised my pressure. Fortunately, with the anxiety med...first time was the charm...imagine my surprise. I do have one side effect slightly swolled ankles, but compared to the great effect of the med,.. that I can deal with. I'm glad I can help. You can post here anytime and as often as you need or want to, dear Carol.
Thank you having someone who "gets" it neans the world to me bless you Cia
You are very welcome, darling Carol. When I first came to this forum that was the thing that helped me the most....someone who "gets"it. Here there are an amazing lot of people who do. Aren't we all fortunate to have found each other!!
Yes Cia we are bless you all
Aw, what would we do without you? I could cry, I really could! You are the rock many of us are clinging to!
Bless you a million times.
My dearest Helen, that is extremely humbling, and fulfilling to me. Thank you for the kind words. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to be of some help, Now I have tears in my eyes.....see what you did?
One thing my GAD has taught me is not to bottle things up. As a result I've turned into a "Let it all hang out" kinda girl. Naturally I mean emotionally not physically. Between knee and neck everything is firmly covered. Dignity above all else after all.
I look and there you are, despite your own burdens, helping here, there, everywhere and everyone. Generating reassurance, giving hope to those who fear there is none and sharing sound and sensible advice from your own experiences.
Where do you find the energy? The will? I'm exhausted just reading, lol.
But know this, your " Angel Wings" protect us one and all! Damn, we're lucky to have you !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Helen, I truly have (for once) NO WORDS to express how I feel reading your post. Really, I'm speechless. Thank you dear girl, for the encouragement it gives me. That's all I need. That's where I get the will and energy...from all of you. So, I feel lucky to have you!! You all have changed my life...I love it!
I want to add to my remarks. My test for magnesium deficiency came back normal. That suggests to me that unless one has TESTED low, to use the topical only, and only when needed.You can overdo mag. I perceive that the mag. level goes down when anxiety spikes enough to cause the muscles to act up. After topical application of mag. it returns to normal.
I really would not self medicate on mag. pills (unless doctor says you are low and need them) just use the topical liquid...when muscles scream, "HELP ME" at you.
Just telling it like it is. People in this life are swift to judge, are swift in their unkindness through idle cruel gossip.. People appear to be embarrassed to say nice things, God knows why. A kind word, a compliment, here and there lifts our spirits. One of the perks of growing older is the ability to say what I truly feel without feeling a fool. Now I'm way past the dreaded "Moustache and menopause " stage I am able to value the good in people to scorn the bad in them. Ah, the freedom that brings! Beyond price!
You, my dear girl, are awesome. So why should I merely think it and not verbalise it?
Okay, I accept awesome, and right back atcha. We were taught to accept a compliment gracefully, but sometimes, I admit a compliment can be overwhelming. I am overwhelmed....and am able to thouroughly enjoy the feeling. Thank you so much for overwhelming me....
Hi Cia I take a magnesium supplement and a multi vitamin thank you for your kindness
Whatever makes your life better, and keeps you calm, girl. Most people dont take magnesium tablet every day or very high dose for very long. There are a fair amount of drugs that deplete magnesium .And, too much magnesium in a supplement form can cause problems. Might want to check.
I'm so glad you are supplementing your diet where you know you are not getting the minerals you need in food.
I have also taken L- lysine and L argenine these two taken together help with anxiety, As it was explained to me many years ago when I broke out in a rash my Dr said was shingles a friend suggested L lysine saying that when you body is under extreme stress you use up the lysine you have. Your body does not make it's own so you are in a deficit situation I took it and It cleared right up. My husband had been bothered with a similar problem he took it with the same results. It is inexpensive and worth a try, also it can't hurt you.
Many people dont properly metabolize medicines. Some slow some fast. The dosage and time frame is based on the average person. Thats the best they can do with regulating approval of drugs. There is a test cyp450 to determine how you personally metabolize anxiety meds, not freely given but you can ask. Unless you have cancer its probably going to be a private immunologist that can run this test for you. Your answers will lie there in therms of medications you can or cant handle. This whole garbage of "sensitive" is ignorant and disgusting it is scientifically based on how you as a human metabolize a drug. Personalized medication should already exist in this day and age they have all they need to do it. Its all about money and production. It wont be able to be massed produced and theyll loose money and thats what this dumb medical world now cares about. Anyway, i would suggest seeing a provate doctor who specializes in fibromylegia and see how that plays out. I would also say rid your oych. Shes lazy and you need a more pro active therapist who will teach you skills and tolls and work with you on a more humane basis then sit there taking uo time and soace barely caring. Thats the energy i get from this discussion you posted. You deserve proper care, everyone does. Do not settle for less. Its a fight at times but this fight is for your health. There will always be professiinals who care but you have to seek them out. They do not seem to be the average doctors. I know the uk you have no choices or options it ran like a factory for humans like a mechanis and a car which is how they can have a system that provides healthcare for everyone. The problem with it is your trapped when you gp stinks, isnt bright or you have poor chemistry with that gp. Theirs always the private option but its expensive. That just cause a lot of anxiety on too of the initial anxiety. I have switched doctors on a few occasions i have learned its my life and i need good chemistry with the medical professiin i use. I got very lucky with my regular family doctor, hes great but some specialist are more knowledgable and up to date then others. And with therapist the chemistry must be there and if anyone sat there starring at me and i got the bibe they were there to take up space id walk out. I have once hinestly one decieded to talk about himself and his heart attack whilst i was there to learn cbt..what a fool he has since left the profession thankfully. I have also come across great ones! I went for biofeedback training iver twenty years ago and met a physcologist who was outstanding took me driving through airport to help ease my anxiety and taught me biofeedback and cbt (although i dont think it was called cbt then) bottom line is when a ohych is good you know it and healing begins. When a doctor is good you know it and can trust them its calming. Woth or without anxiety disorder issues a oerson knows when someone cares and has compassion and intelligence. I dont know this word became the patient or client is the pee on and we should bow to the dr or buisnesses but it has all changed. Maybe this has a ton to do with 26% of the world now having anxiety disorder related issues. The entire medical field became a buisness and shame on them
Lisa I am in the U.S. so i have freedom of choice my Dr did the genesight test on me and we are working on finding something suitable for my needs we tried BusPar but that caused depression I think I am on the mend from that.She is thinking of another med for me but it is very expensive so she is trying to get it for me for free so she is pro active and I really like her.
Thats great! Im glad you like her it was based on what you wrote that she just stared at you whilst you spoke. Struck my nerve lol. Yea sometimes some of these medicines are very costly. You can try a complimentary doctor as well. One who is an md and has full knowledge of alternative meds. They might be extremely helpful for you. Just check their ratings before you see them. Some insurances do cover them because they are medical doctors they just know both world worlds. They might have answers for you.