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| cdg | -- 07-01-2004 @ 12:34 AM |
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Hi everybody I just have to share this. I posted several days ago about up upcoming party (with my husbands company) that I was really anxious about. Well that party was tonight & I am so proud of myself. For the last several days I was noticing myself getting a little anxious so I tried something different. Instead of thinking about it for days in advance I didn't think about it at all. Everytime I'd start to get anxious about it I just told myself I'll handle it when the time comes. So the time finally came & as soon as we got in the car I started feeling my usual "shortness of breath" etc. And then I told myself "look I have 2 options, if this gets bad I can either tough it out & in a few minutes it will pass, (it will not kill me) or I can take a Xanax...those are my options" I dont really know how to explain it but when I started telling myself this it was like I put it in it's place or something & it completely stopped. I had no more anxiety or panic (even through traffic jams in downtown) I was fine the entire night. No symptoms & I didn't even have to rely on my trusted Xanax. I can't believe it because I have been dreading this thing for so long. My husband leaned to me about half way through the night & said "see you're doing great huh?? I knew you would..I'm proud of you". I know I know a little mushy right? But I'm just really proud of myself & sooooooo relieved. Thanks for listening.....again (Sorry about the spelling) Chanda I just still can't believe I didn't even have to take a Xanax!!!!!!!!!!
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| pepsi | -- 07-02-2004 @ 4:44 PM |
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Way to go Chanda!! I have yet to go a morning without my .25mgs of Clonazepam but it will come. Congrats!!
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| -- 07-02-2004 @ 8:25 PM | |
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Hi Chanda and cogratulations! Thanks so much for sharing your story with all of us. It is great to hear everything went well - and all on your own too- you should feel very proud of yourself!!! You are lucky to have a supportive husband. Enjoy this good feeling and find strength from this experience to help you through future endeavors. I am sure that others on this site will be inspired by your success. Thanks again for sharing. Hope to hear more soon. Casey _____________________________ The Panic Center Support Team
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| cdg | -- 07-03-2004 @ 2:59 AM |
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Casey & Rhonnie, thanks again for the replys. Rhonnie, I always look forward to your posts/replys, It seems we have a lot in common. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!! Chanda
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| pepsi | -- 07-04-2004 @ 9:27 PM |
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Hi Chanda, I look forward to reading your posts because we do have so much in common!!
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| seashore | -- 07-04-2004 @ 10:56 PM |
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I hope to join you at another time--=== no one will talk to me---- and I cante make it without my xanax right now---- sorry that I do not have a success story. I am a bit disappointed at this group -- I thouoght that I could talk--when I needed to.
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| seashore | -- 07-04-2004 @ 10:59 PM |
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I am happy to hear a bout your story chandra-- -- that sounds like a huge milestone---summer
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| seashore | -- 07-04-2004 @ 10:59 PM |
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I am happy to hear a bout your story chandra-- -- that sounds like a huge milestone---summer
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| Carmela | -- 07-18-2004 @ 5:39 PM |
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Cool! That's great...It's all about faith, and control. And choosing how you want to feel! Sometimes you get just so sick and tired of living with ANxiety, you get frustrated & mad, right? Retraining your mind to be positive is the only answer! And you have to keep at it. Chandra, how have you been lately? Keep your spirits up & remember to believe.. CArmela
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| cdg | -- 07-18-2004 @ 11:56 PM |
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Hi Carmela & thanks for the post. I am doing really good lately & I still check the site almost every day. I am a cheerleading coach from July thru November so I am really busy this time of year. It feels so good to just be living my life. A few months ago I thought I might not be able to coach my team or do anything else that I want to do. I felt like anxiety was ruining my life. I thank God that I am feeling like myself again!! Thanks so much for asking & I hope that you are doing well!! Chanda
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| Carmela | -- 07-19-2004 @ 12:06 PM |
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Thanks Chanda! So, are you not taking Xanax at all, or what? What's the deal? Are you just back in hte positive real world again? I know what you mean about anxiety taking over you r life. That's how I feel at times. I don't do alot of things I used to do.It's hard for me to take a walk outside without feeling that fear feeling, and my head feeling unbalanced. I'm really glad your doing good. Keep it up! I wouldn't wish anxiety, Panic attacks on my worst enemy! Take care, CArmela
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| Carmela | -- 07-19-2004 @ 12:08 PM |
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Hi Summer! What's wrong? YOu sound very sad. I'll talk to you. WRite a note, and i'll try to help out k? Carmela
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| cdg | -- 07-19-2004 @ 3:22 PM |
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Carmela, I still take Zoloft(50 mg) daily but I only take Xanax when I need it. A couple weeks ago I was taking my kids to a concert & I was really nervous about it. Before I left my house I took 1/2 Xanax & I was fine through the concert. Thank God I'm doing a lot better lately & I haven't had to take one since then. There are a few activities coming up that I am anxious about & I will most likely take a Xanax to calm me beforehand but it just all depends on how I feel at the time. Sometimes I feel stronger than others. There are times when I think I'll need a Xanax but I get through just fine without one. Then on the other hand there are times when I'm not anxious at all & I have an attack "out of the blue". Anyway there have been times when Xanax has seemed like a LIFESAVER!! Have you taken Xanax yet? Does your Dr. want you to take it on a daily basis or as needed? Thanks & hope to hear from you soon! Chanda
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| Carmela | -- 07-19-2004 @ 3:56 PM |
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Hi Chanda! I don't understand why doctor's prescribe 2 different med's for the same reason. I had a doctor give me a sample pack of Zoloft(never took it)to take every day, and Xanax(never filled it) just in case. I have not taken Xanax yet. Are you supposed to take it for life, or does your doctor have you on it for a certain amount of time. I want to find a different doctor. What kind of dotor do you go to? And how long have you had anxiety? Carmela
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| cdg | -- 07-19-2004 @ 10:42 PM |
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Carmela, I used to also wonder why they perscribed 2 meds for the same thing also.. but really they are not. Zoloft is considered an antidepressant: Although you don't have to have depression to take this because it works for anxiety also. It is to be taken daily over an extenden period of time. It is very slow acting, therefore you may have to take it two to four weeks before it's fully in your system. Xanax is considered an antianxiety: Some people have to take Xanax daily but the way I take it & the way your dr told you to take it is "as needed". Taking Zoloft on a daily basis should help with your overall anxiety & any depression. At anxious times or if you have a panic attack "out of the blue" a Xanax will help you through it by "calming your nerves" & helping you to feel more relaxed. I know that you are afraid to take meds. I WAS TOO!! My husband didn't understand & the only way that I could explain it was by saying "once I swallow a pill I just feel like it's out of my control & it's in my system no matter what". So I truly know how you feel!! The reason I was so scared to take Xanax was because it is supposed to stop a panic attack, but I was afraid that "what if it doesn't work for me then there'll be nothing to help me". Finally one day an attack came up out of nowhere & I took it. Nothing happened except that the attack stopped. I am not a dr but I just want you to know: THE SAME 2 MEDS THAT YOUR DR GAVE YOU ARE THE SAME ONES I RELY ON & THEY HAVE MADE ME FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. I know you've had lots of questions about Xanax but all I can really say is how it works for me. I have never noticed any side effects other that just taking the edge off & stopping a panic attack in it's tracks. You asked what kind of dr I go to.. For the meds I go to a general family dr. The same one I take my kids to for colds & such. He is great & very understanding! I have also been to a therapist but am in the process of trying to find a new one. I have had more help from my medical dr than therapist at this point. I have had anxiety problems since about this time last year. After I started Zoloft it went away, & then like I said when I tried to taper too fast it came back. How often do you have panic attacks?? Have you been diagnosed with panic disorder?? Agoraphobia?? I hope this info has helped. Hope to hear from you soon. Chanda
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| Carmela | -- 07-20-2004 @ 1:05 AM |
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Hi Chanda! Thanks for keeping in touch with me.I'm afraid to take Xanax because I don't know what it's going to do to me. I always search the med on the Internet first, and look for the side effects. That's the problem. I'm afraid of all the side effects listed. I'm doing pretty good w/ no attacks. I just feel heart palpitations once and awhile, a knot in my throat, my head feeling weird, and I get so easily frustrated w/ stupid things. I got diagnosed with Anxiety May st of this year. And I am seeing a counselor. She saw right away that I have Agoraphobia. I think,(from searching) Xanax would be the best med for me. But, I was talking to my cousin today, and she told me to try Homeopathy.Natural stuff. I think I answered everything. take care, Carmela
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| medusa | -- 07-20-2004 @ 7:54 AM |
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Dear Chanda I am also terrified of medication of any kind, the only thing I have no problem taking is aspirin because it will (apparently) stop me from having a heart attack, stroke, anurism as that is what I usually think is happening to me when I have a PA, so it works as a placebo. have made a consious (spelling is terrible) decision to control myself and stop myself from taking them. I am currenly on Aropax, which is the equivalent of Paxil in the States and Xanor which is probably about the same as your other medication (tranquiliser). I felt an attack coming on the other day and resisted the urge to take the aspirin and in place took my Xanor. Worked really well. Pretty much within a minute I started to feel better. Before prescribing the Aropax my GP gave me something called Fluaxnol, which is a great medication from what I have read as it is non addictive and works really well for panic disorder. But at the pharmacy they left the sheet in with all of the side effects etc in. Well I was so stressed out after reading them that I managed to take the tabs for 3 days and then no more. We have just this week had a programme on tv about the side effects of the Aropax I am taking and so that evening really struggled to swallow the tablet. But I have a friend who has been on Aropax for a year and a bit now and he quite simply said to me that I can choose to live with the symptoms of PD or i can get myself well and if the medication is going to help I have nothing to loose.
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| Carmela | -- 07-20-2004 @ 11:53 AM |
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Hi Medussa! SO, med's do make you feel better? Are you saying Xanax, or is there a med called Xanor? Just wondering. CArmela
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| cdg | -- 07-20-2004 @ 9:54 PM |
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Medusa, I agree with your friend! I didn't want to take meds in the past but I thought if I have a shot that it will make me feel better then why not?? I'm glad they are working for you. I am not formiliar with the meds that you named, however. My heart goes out to the ones who have medicine to take for the problem but are afraid to take it. I dont believe that meds will cure anxiety completely, but I definately believe that they can make you feel better. Some people have meds right at their fingertips that could make all the difference in the world & they wont take it. I was like that for a very short time. My dr once told me that people take meds for thousands of different things. He said "if you had high blood pressure you'd take pills for it wouldn't you"? "Then don't think twice about taking these if this is what'll make you feel better". That made sence to me!! Anyway thanks for writing! Just curious, where are you from? Hi Carmela & thanks for writing again. I hope you are doing good. If you have any more questions please write me!! Hope to hear from you soon. Chanda
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| medusa | -- 07-21-2004 @ 3:26 AM |
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Hi Carmela and Chanda Thanks for writing back. Meds are definately making me feel better, Carmela. Just suffering from insomnia at the moment but I am sure will get better within the next few days. Xanor is a tranqualiser and so I think is the same as your Xanax not sure though. I have to say that making the decision to take my Xanor has helped when I have felt a PA coming on and it works almost instantly. It stops that feeling of wanting to run away or climb out of my skin, and I therefore no hysteria. You should try just one time and see if it makes a difference for you. Thanks for your advice Chanda, it makes perfect sense doesn't it and yet sometimes I think logic flies out of the window when I have a PA. I also don't think that meds help on their own, and as I really don't want to spend the rest of my life sedated and on Anti depressants I need to do the work myself. Have downloaded the panic program and am going to be seeing a psychologist. I think that my PD becomes worse when I am depressed. It has helped hearing everyone's story. It is a relief to know that I am not the only person with this problem. For a long time I felt ashamed and weak because of the PD and also that I in some way was seeking attention. I feel guilty at making the people in my life worry about me or stress over me when I have an attack. I have had a friend ask me if I am a hypocondriac. I don't know. Does PD make you a hypocondriac? Anyway guys have a great day. It was good to hear from you. Take care. Michelle
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| Carmela | -- 07-21-2004 @ 12:16 PM |
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Hi Michelle, Your little notes are tempting me more and more to take med's. How can I talk myself into doing it though? Hi Chanda! You have been great help for me. I still don't know what to tell myself to take the med's. Hey have you guys ever gotten a dizzy spell just out of the blue? Last night I was eating dinner, reading something from a box and all of a sudden I got a dizzy spell. Is that from anxiety? talk 2 u soon. Carmela
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| medusa | -- 07-22-2004 @ 2:54 AM |
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Hi Carmela You know how you feel when you have a PA right? You have to decide if you want to feel better or not? And your answer is definately. If this one little tablet can make you feel better then you have not lost anything. You need to trust and have faith. It is not easy for me to say this as I have felt the same as you but I did not have a choice. I want to have a full life and so I need to be strong and do what I need to do. You can do this. Just try one time and that way you will have that uncertainty out of the way. Have a great day. Take care Michelle
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