Stress Center Peer Support

I'm sorry if this is long but I am 20 and I have been suffering panic attacks/depression and a little OCD for about 4 years now. I have a 3 year old and im currently 16 weeks pregnant. I am a stay at home mom, I am engaged but I live with my parents for right now. I dont know what to do, I've tryed every medicine under the sun. Right now I am taking xanax .5 i was taking like 4 miligrams of kalonopin until i got pregnant again. So i was pretty heavily medicated. It did work but I cannot take kalonopin pregnant. Every day I get this tight feeling in my chest and My throat closes up. I get really aggravated when this happens because i cant take care of my daughter when im havin panic attacks. They last for HOURS. I cant deal with this anymore. Ive been diagnosed with social anxiety too and I get scared to even go to the doctors, or anywhere period. I don even remember the last time ive been into a gas station or anywhere that I have to be seen by other people. I dont pick up my own medicine, or call and make my own appointments. I dont drive either. I cant do ANYTHING i feel like such a weird and bad person. I DO NOT know anyone my age that is like me. My uncle has anxiety like me but hes alot older...Please help me. I dont kno what to do anymore

Hi there,

Anxiety and panic attacks can happened at any age. I can relate to you as I had my first panic attack when I was 18 attending my first year of university. If I remember back, I think I even had them when I was much younger as I remember not wanting to go to school and making up so many stories to stay home.

Being male, I can't of course relate to what you are going through with pregnancy, but it is difficult in the best of times. To have anxiety disorder and panic attacks along with it must be so stressful for you. And I realize at this time it's hard for you to take any meds for it.

Is there any way at all that you could see a therapist of some sort, perhaps a psychologist, who could help you through this time? Is your family supportive of you and do they understand what you are experiencing? Most people don't understand if they've never been through it before.

Don't let having this at your age get to you. Many, many people your age and younger have the same thing and experience the same feelings. Let me say this... twice in my life I was housebound for a year at a time. I couldn't even look out the windows, but eventually with some therapy I took "baby steps" and got out and now lead mostly a "normal" life. I have stretches where I get anxious and stressed but no more panic attacks. I want to say to you that if I can conquer this anyone can, believe me I was a wreck.

Do you have this program? If not, that would be a great place to start. If you don't have the program there is a free trial... maybe give them a call. Also, try and download some meditation music or guided relaxation sessions from the internet. There are lots free from iTunes and other sites such as:

http://www.meditationoasis.com/

http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/

These are free and I use them, They are wonderful. Also, keep posting here. You have many friends here. Drop into the live chat when you feel up to it. There are many there to help. Also, forum contributor NinjaFrodo has a great series going in the "Program Lessons" section of this forum.

You are NOT alone. Millions have what you are experiencing, from middle schoolers to the elderly and those are just the ones we know about. You made a great first step by posting on here. Good for you! You can do it.... baby steps... take your time and you will conquer this. And try and always think positive and push those ole negative thoughts out of that head.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing!

Rob.