Treatment for severe anxiety disorder

Mental health
1

Hi,

I have just turned 21 and have been suffering from anxiety disorder since I was 14. I've gone through phases of it being much worse, and have tried CBT, counselling, Seteraline and Citalopram. I thought I had sorted myself out last year- I was working full time on a busy hospital ward, living away from home, in the city centre and had a place for university. I was unfortunately hospitalised last Augst for a series of unexplained fainting episodes and since then I have been practically unable to leave the house, I have had to move home, I am unable to work, I have had to defer my university place to this September rather than last year. Before August, at it's worse, I would only feel anxious when leaving the house (I know that is still extreme, but at least I had vague reasoning for it) but now I am getting random unexplained episodes of anxiety, even when at home, The panic attacks are so much worse than before, and I don't like being left on my own for too long.

Has anyone had successful anxiety disorder treatment? I would like to try hypnotherapy or CBT again, but at the moment I don't feel like I am ready enough for that to be effective. I have tried two different types of SSRIs, but had severe serotonin syndrome following them and am reluctant (as is my GP) for me to try anymore of them just yet.

Thanks,

Amy

2

Hi

I'm taking fluoxetine and just had first session of hypnotherapy - can honestly say the hynotherapy is the best money I've ever spent - feel like a different person x

3

Hi Amy,

Sorry to hear of your obviously debilitating anxiety.panic attacks/agorophobia etc it is a real shocker,especially for someone as young as yourself and with a good future in prospect.

All I can say is that counselling and CBT work for some people,not all,but some,indeed the same can be said for medications,you just have to hit lucky and find the right one at times.

I've been struck by anxiety/depression/panic attacks etc etc for well over 50 years,not every day,but on and offthese episodes varying in severity,from just feeling a bit down to a full-blown attack where you fear heart attack/stroke and so on.

I've had prescribed to me Valium,phenobarbitone,esatilopram,citalopram,diazepam,amitryptiline,mirtazapine and others over the years,and yes they help,for a while,some react and make you worse,I don't know the answers,nor do the professionals apparently,anxiety is so common now,of course most people suffer it but can deal with it,I and you and many others cannot,so why?

Look I am on 400mg of Pregabilin,it's non-addictive,a good pain reliever and most important of all a mood stabiliser,although my doctor isn't sure about that.But I know that they are a big help to me and I hope that i can remain on them,at age 64 I don't see why not.

In answer to your question CBT and counselling may help but reading your symptoms it might need a little more than text book learning to help you,plus CBT is pretty impersonal,and counselling if the counsellor has endured anxiety and come through it then yes,but how many have? I've had a few and asked them if they had suffered it and none had to any great extent,anxiety is not a science and cannot be taught,so I think you need a medication that fits your needs right now,but really it's up to you,ask if you can try Pregabilin,see what your Doc says,on a month's trial maybe,nothing ventured nothing gained.

Anyway I really do wish you well.

Good luck

4

Many thanks to both of you for your responses. I'm definitely willing to try everything. I am going to see my doctor again about a different type of medication, which will hopefully slow my heart rate down, and then hopefully hypnotherapy will be successful.