Stress Center Peer Support

I'm new to the forums here, and who's to say if I'll even remember to come back and read this thread, but I wanted to post this for others. I began having panic attacks in 1999. I had some OSTs, lots of body symptoms, ocd, etc. I went thru it alone for about 6 years. I should point out that I was one of those people who couldn't go into Walmart or any major public gathering. I couldn't leave my house the first month or two when I started having attacks. Then I heard about Stress. I got the program, and spent a couple months really, thoroughly following it. After awhile I pretty much just put it away and spent sometime doing some real introspection and self therapy. I stepped my meds down just a touch. I had some turbulent times in my life, and when I realized I made it thru them I decided to try harder. I took up bike riding (DAILY) and used the time with the trails and my mp3 player to focus on my thoughts, my life, and my problems. Over the course of a couple months I got myself completely off my meds. I found that using physical activity, I could decrease the likelihood of anxiety. I substituted thrill endorphines for fear endorphines. Long story short, here I am, approx. one year off my meds. I very occasionally have a 'moment' as I like to call them, during extreme stress times (work issues) and around peak times (mealtime). In the last 6 months I have had ZERO full scale panic attacks. I've probably had 3 moments of abnormally high anxiety, and I talked (and fed) my way out of them. I think mealtime is especially an issue for me because I'm one of those people with ultra-high metabolism, you know, I can't miss a meal but I don't gain an ounce. Anyway, my mother passed away just before christmas - it was the hardest thing I've gone thru. The point is, I got thru it, without medication, without paying a therapist, just myself and the comfort of my loving wife and child. I'll try to check this thread later, I'll try to be here when I can for support.

Congratulations! It is always encouraging to hear these stories. What meds where you on and what doses? Was weaning off them difficult?

Wyn, Please do come back. Please answer the ques. about meds from LBM. I have decided I want to wean off my meds that I've been on forever. I've been on Lamictal for 8 yrs. and all kinds of others before that.

I looked up your profile. No info. So if you finished the program about a year ago and went off meds didn't you ever come on here till now? It says todays date and date registered as the same. Will check later to hear your response.

1)Over the years I was always on various versions of the -zodone meds. We tried Welbutrin once, but found that it actually increased my anxiety. Anyway, the first year or so I was pretty much a walking vegetable, taking 500mg a day. Eventually once it leveled out I spent years taking 300mg. When I started weaning I started dropping 50mg at a time until I hit 50mg, then I just halved it. Also, originally I took one large dose daily, and when I decided to reduce it I split it up into multiple doses each day. That way it was really somewhat of A)placebo effect, and B)making sure the dose really did spread out thru the day (and night actually) instead of having one burst of meds and then nothing later on.
2)It just never occurred to me to bother with the *actual* Stress centers community. My anxiety was always MY problem, and I've never been willing to discuss it with anyone outside of very immediate family.

Wyn

I truly believe that exercise is the key!
I went off my meds. that i was on for ten years and I got depressed and after about 6 mos. started having terrible attacks again so i went back on meds. I am once again 3 mos. off my meds. but i feel fantastic this time. The only thing that I am doing different is working out every other day.I try to walk everyday. I swear it has made all the differnce in the world.

Yes, I agree, exercise and diet are the keys to controlling anxiety/depression related issues.
Lucenda knew this and wisely put those topics up front in her course.
I can tell you from personal experience that if you exercise enough you will drain every ounce of anxiety and depression right out of your body! Also, getting off caffine and sugar makes a HUGE difference. Good Luck to all of you and God Bless.