Just looking for similar stories to mine and some praise/success reports!!

jaysonthomaslittle · Post by **jaysonthomaslittle** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:03 pm

Well here it goes. I will try and keep it short. Just started having panicky feelings (not a full-blown panic attack) at work in December 2007. I avoided it by either running to the bathroom or distracting myself. Just came on, mostly around other people. I would get all the symptoms of fear arise in my body. At this point I didn't know what was going on? I just felt like I needed to escape, run away or I was losing my mind. Not in touch with reality. Until it would calm down, I would feel very exhausted after that. Got so bad I quit work and stayed home. Now I felt depressed with major anxiety about the whole thing. Started Lexapro and have been on it for 2 months or so and not fully functional yet. I do go out on my own and challenge myself as much as I can, but not working yet. I can drive and do lots of stuff, but when I get into certain situations like eating at a restaraunt that is busy or sitting where there is no escape, I still get anxious feelings and thoughts arise. I am on week 2 of the program and have been pretty diligent about it. Have not needed the benzos, but are in my pocket if needed. I have avoided taking them for now. Can anyone relate to this and if so please tell your story and include details about meds, symptoms, avoidances, etc. Also want to hear how people were at one point and are now 100% better and how they did it?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:21 pm

i can totally relate! I have my first panic attack about 5 years ago, and from then on it seemed like my life was drifting away. I quit my job and quit goin to school. I could bearly drive. I have been on many antidepressants since then and I haven't really found one that works. I am able to work and go to school most of the time. But all I want is my life back.

honeydew3 · Post by **honeydew3** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:17 pm

I can relate to your situation. I have had panic and axniety for 15 years now. My feelings come and go with the situation I am in. In the past 3 years they have gotten really bad where I am afraid to drive too far away from home. I get panicky about going to the mall, driving on the highway, etc..I don't know if it was because of the birth of my son (hormones) or what. There are times when I feel like I am totally loosing my mind.I feel like I am going to end up in a straight jacket and be taken away from my son. I feel like my life is over and I am only 30. My heart races, my mind races, and I look for the quickest way out. Sometimes I feel like I am just surviving and not living. I have all these feelings and take care of my son everyday. It is really hard sometimes because I can't let him see how I feel. When I am at home I feel in control, but going out of my house feels like the world can just swallow me up. Of course I know these are just thoughts and they can not hurt me, but they seem so real because I make myself believe them. I think having panicky feelings is scary when we don't understand what is going on, but remember those feelings will not hurt you. They are just thoughts and you CAN replace negative thoughts with postive ones because you are in control. I think that it is good that you are not relying on the meds a whole lot. I do not take meds, but I carry them around with me (just in case)

Listening to the program helps me to get through sometimes. Also, just talking to God helps me a great deal. Just remember that God watches over us and loves us very much. Don't be afraid to ask him for help. He answers prayers. Keep moving on and remember that what can't hurt us can only make us stronger!