Anxiety,panic,depression, mild agoraphobia.

[Johny0687]

Anyone have experience all this? Have been on medicine 2 years felt ok, stopped the medicine and been ok also for 6 month.. Now everything is back... Have some way out from this without having to be the rest of the life on medicines...?

[sheila1kerry]

Hi Johny, i suffer from all you have mentioned. I have been dealing with them for thirty years on and off. Like you stated they can come and go. I found it usually depended on how well things were going generally. If something went wrong in my life, my issues would be there waiting for me.

One thing that has been proven to be successful it CBT sadly when i had the opportunity i was not strong enough in myself to stick with it. Try asking your doctors if there is any way they can get you a course.

Do you know what set you on this path? Once i understood why i felt the way i did things did start to improve. I also learnt that my big problem was strangers. That is when i would go into panic mode. A strange place with strangers in was my nightmare scenario. Once you know what triggers you it is easier to make sure it does not happen.

There is hope, plenty of people have made a full recovery. You have to want it for yourself.

I hope you get the help you need.

Stay strong, stay well.

[Johny0687 in reply to sheila1kerry]

Thank you for the coment sheila ! I want so much to go out of this becouse destroyed my life but have had a lot of traumas for some years ago and missed a loved one... And we all are little extra sensitive...hope one day can go off of this medicines...a lot of side effects..

[sheila1kerry in reply to Johny0687]

I stopped all the anti-depressants because of the side effects. I have recently started on high doses of vitamins and to be honest i feel better than i have in ages. This came about because someone told me how good juicing ( where you crush fruits and vegetables and drink it instead of eating food) could be but i hate vegetables so i adapted it to vitamins. It certainly helped my mood. If you have been hurt by people it is natural that you would want to avoid them. The thing is not to let it take over your life. Fight back, even if it is a little each day. The first day so many steps, the second day try to add a few more. You did not get these phobias in one day, it took time. It will take time to heal as well, but you can do it.

Stay strong.

[smithd7 in reply to sheila1kerry]

Thank you for your reply in regards to who's post this was. I also have struggled on & off with these & other issues. I tried for a brief period, counseling & then meds. I just recently seeked a counselor, I have yet to return however Im still considering. Meds are a big help but i as well dont want to be on these for the rest of my life. Your responses brings light to my issues & a starting point. Thanks again

[sheila1kerry in reply to smithd7]

Try and do a bit of research on natural remedies. There is a lot on the internet about juicing and healthy options. The anti-depressants made me feel as if i was in cotton wool. The high doses of vitamins have given me my energy back and that is huge as i always felt too tired to try and get better.

Wishing you well.

[one-love]

I know your pain I have my good days and my bad days a lot of my anxiety attacks I thought were heart attacks in the beginning because of the physical symptoms I was always having (heart pounding, dizzy, impending doom feeling, breathing difficulty) but after years of having them and talking to doctors and therapists I realize now when I have them they are just anxiety attacks but they can be very scary for sure if you don't know what it is in the beginning. I hate taking RX meds too so it's a double edge sword, I feel like I trade one problem for another when I take the pills the doctors give me and all the side effects that come with them. To be honest I have been using medical marijuana for the last few years and I feel it really helps me and doesn't have near as many bad side effects. I know it might sound crazy but look into it and try a sativa strain it really helps with mood, anxiety and depression. But use a low does if you never tried it before

[sheila1kerry in reply to one-love]

I have heard of others getting really good results from medical marijuana, the problem is in the UK it is still a problem. It has to be so much better than the chemicals the doctors give out. There is a lot of info on the internet about how much it has helped people. Spain is doing a lot of research into the benefits of it for various problems.

Stay well, it is good to share positive information.

Sheila

[Agora1]

Hi Johny0687, Once off medication it takes time for the brain to heal and adjust making the chemicals necessary naturally. I was on benzos 30 years, it took 2 years to slowly wean off and another 2 years for my brain to heal and to go forward with life. In place of medication, I substituted daily meditation as well as deep breathing. It's now been 3,000 days w/o a pill and I feel amazing. So your answer is, no you will not have to be on medication for the rest of your life. However, you do need to use some form of technique or methods to lower your stress and anxiety level. We are Type A Personalities and that will always be who we are but w/o the symptoms. Using Acceptance by the great Dr. Claire Weekes will teach you how to not fear anxiety. I accept that anxiety cannot hurt me, I continue with what I'm doing and I deep breathe my stress away. You will find what works for you. Be Patient, Stay Positive and Never give up. Good Luck

[Moliska1 in reply to Agora1]

How did you wean off? I have been on them 30 years too. They are no longer working for me. Docs just want to increase. Or add more. Splitting pills is not working very well for me. I had to retire from my job prematurely, and am barely able to go out of the house. I am trying to reduce very slowly, but it’s agony!

[Johny0687 in reply to Moliska1]

Hej moliska,I just went of in 2 weeks gradually... Then feelt normal for 6 months after that...then it comed back everything slowly till the starting point again... I have no problem to feel normal when i go to medicines yet... But the problem are the side effects...

[Moliska1 in reply to Johny0687]

Thanks Johny. It will probably take me years to get off after long term high dose usage. Terrible situation. It really changes your brain functioning...

[Agora1 in reply to Moliska1]

Hi Moliska1, Getting off Benzos after 30 years is not an easy task. But when nothing no longer works and symptoms are out of control, something had to be done. My decision along with the support of my psychiatrist allowed me to start weaning off years of Xanax and then Ativan that I had been left on. The method used for weaning was Dr. Heather Ashton's safe way off benzos. A highly respected doctor from the UK who had done extensive research and was proven to be successful as well as safe.

Her method includes a substitute medication as you wean off the long term drug. It does involve a long steady progress of cuts in a 2 week period, never going back up on the medication you were originally on. It is not a fast, easy method but does work.

PM me if you have questions regarding the method. Determination, positivity and always going forward are what will get you through. Having support is important (although I didn't). It gets tough, but the outcome is like finding a rainbow at the end of the road. I wish you well in traveling on one of the most worthy paths you'll ever take. My best, Agora1 xx

[Moliska1 in reply to Agora1]

Thanks, Agora1

Unfortunately, I am unable to take Valium (I'm allergic- I tried!), so I can't use the Ashton method directly. I have been trying to cut little pieces off the Ativan, and over a period of almost three month, I have gone down .75 from 4.25 to 3.50. I am sort of stumped right now. I'm thinking of the liquid taper if I can find a compounding pharmacist and my psychiatrist agrees. And then of course there is the insurance issue... I am really finding this difficult.

If it wasnt for the fact that I was getting severe interdose withdrawals while on my regular dose, I probably would have stayed on the med - as it is so hard to go off. I also had a couple of bad expericences with both antibiotics and GI medicine - both threw me into severre withdrawal - something about the GABBA interference.

I am also older than most of the people on this forum. I wonder if it's harder if you are older. Anyone in their 60's out there?

[Moliska1 in reply to Agora1]

Agora

How did you do it?

[Agora1 in reply to Moliska1]

Moliska1, with the guidance of a good psychiatrist who just happens to be an expert in Benzo withdrawal, I got through it. Warning....it is not easy by any means. The fears did surface big time. The cuts were 1/4 mg every 2 weeks no longer than 3 weeks on the new cut. NEVER go back up under any circumstances. Once you make that commitment in order to go forward you must follow the schedule.

As you get down to 1/8mg of your tablet, it starts turning to powder almost. Wet you finger and pick up the power of the dose (this is towards the very end) or if you can get the liquid that will work as well. The whole idea is keeping it consistent in cutting every 2 weeks. Support around you is highly recommended but I didn't have that option. Any support I may have had was so negative and toxic that it would make it 10 times harder to follow through.

It's about pulling all your inner strength together to achieve a goal that is unbelievable. Clear minded, a free feeling of being the person you once were. PM me anytime, I will help support you through this. Always work under the guidance of your psychiatrist. Life is good once again xx

[Moliska1 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. I will Pm you if that’s ok.

M

[Johny0687]

Thank you to everyone, feel that im not alone when talk with you guys...

[Johny0687]

But have been diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety, panic, seems to be to much honestly... And another problem that almost no one can understand how hard im having...

[TAPNewEngland]

I swallowed my pride years ago and resigned to the fact that I will be on meds for the rest of my life. Get back on them and don't stop.

[Johny0687 in reply to TAPNewEngland]

TAP New England As long as we didnt had this illness from when we were born or when we were children its a reason to fight, maybe it can go away like it have come..of course with big work..,i suffer from 4 years now but im never going to give up my whole life ill fight it everyday...even the doctors dont know perfect what happens to our brains and we can understand it... The medicines dont fix anything i use them just to get ready for the next fight to go out...after i stopped tge medicines i have been drug free for 7 months and felt like every other person no anxiety, no depression, no panic, after it comed everything back after a stressful situation in the family... Maybe this time take a little more care of myself knowing my limits and fighting everyday a little...i really dont believe so much the psychiatrist honestly...i think is just the person who need to find the way out by fighting everyday with the demons...

[TAPNewEngland in reply to Johny0687]

Johny0687: I think my condition is hereditary and didn't come to the surface until 14 years ago when I had kids. Unfortunately, my wife and two children are triggers for me so I do have my share of tough days. Working is therapeutic though so try to stay busy with whatever you do, whether on the job or around the house. I gave in to the fact I'll be on meds for the rest of my life so I swallowed my pride and resigned myself to that. These are demons (well said!) and make sure you have someone to talk to whether it's a loved one, friend, or a shrink.

[Sadat50]

Hi Johny

I suffer all of these too and have done for over thirty years. The agoraphobia has only manifested itself in the last two years though and it has got to the point where I fear going on holiday, going way for works training, anywhere that is more than 20 miles from home actually. I even cancelled a training day just the other week, made some excuse about family commitment to get out of it!!

I have been on meds for over ten years, first on sertraline now on venlafaxine. They do work for me for my depression and general anxiety but nothing stops my agoraphobia. My wife is now talking about going to Prague for New Year this year so you can guess where my thoughts are at the moment. I also fear flying. I have flown in light aircraft and helicopters and didn't mind that but the thought of flying on a Jumbo terrifies me, even to the point of having nightmares about it.

As agora mentioned, Dr. Claire Weeks' book - Self Help For Your Nerves is my goto book when things get too bad. I recommend you read it - I have it on my kindle so I get read it whenever I feel bad.

Also, like Sheila, I have just stared taking vitamins at high dosage levels. Vit B12 & B6, omega 3, Vit D3, Vit C, Magnesium and zinc. Hoping these will all make me feel more stable with life in general. Don't know about the fear of the agoraphobia though?

Keep safe.

[Johny0687]

Thank you for the coment, i just feel unsecure to go to another city alone... When i go to a shoping center feel dizzy and not concetrated... In the worst case of panic 2 years ago i couldnt leave the house and i needed someone to stay with me...but when im on medicine i dont feel anything like that.. I forget everything and i wonder how is possible that i have feelt like that...,but one time that i stopped i could.stay normal for 7 months and then everything comed back...but the meds have also sexual side effects i dont wish to have the impotence im 29 and it feels terrible to be on medicine...

[Sadat50]

Yes the sexual side effects are the worst for me, I don't get the impotence just a total lack of interest so the frequency of the act is few and far between. Being almost 50 maybe it is an age thing for me as well. I guess being as young as you I wouldn't want those side effects.

When I am in a bad episode, when the anxiety gets overwhelming I hate being alone too and I sometimes feel like a little puppy following the wife around the house or the shops. Crowded areas are particularly bad for me too, but as long as someone is with me I can struggle through until I get home. I feel so stupid sometimes, that at 50 I can't be alone. Sad, eh? Another reason for my username lol.

Like you I hate being on meds, but if I come off them or start lowering the dose I can't function, my anxiety hits the roof and then my depression kicks in and I just want to lie in bed all day doing nothing but worrying and wanting it all to go away. At the moment I would say I am stable but on edge, as if something bad is going to happen but as I am coming out of a dark spell I am hoping it will ease over the next few weeks and this is what I am focussing on - or at least trying to focus on.

All the best to you.

[Johny0687]

Anyways youre blessed that have the wife and childrens, but i have been studying the most of my life and now cant even do my job becouse of this hell im in... And im not married and no children...have been in many relationships before but since this happened destroyed totally my life in every meaning

[Carlyd91]

I am suffering from the same symptoms. I am on week 3 of prosac and buspar. I just had the gastric sleeve surgery 7 weeks ago. So people been telling me my hormones have been all messed up. I am going to a endocrinologist appointment to really see whats going on. I need answers because i feel like im going crazy.

[Keith73]

I'm in the boat with most these comments. 24 years with panic attacks and a high degree of agoraphobia. I stopped ssri for first time in 20 years about 6 months ago and the good is great, but the anxiety is certainly fighting to take center stage. I am trying to make radical change for the sake of my young kids. I want to be completely here for them. I am currently taking 50 mg CBD, seems to take the edge off a bit and I still have a regular Benzo dose every 6 hours. Have you looked into psychedelics? You can PM me if you are interested. I have tried one session.

[Storm000]

Has ANYONE EVER OVERCOME AGORAPHOBIA? IF SO, HOW? I WANT TO GO PLACES & SEE THINGS! I TAKE PAXIL CR, & KLONOPIN & DOING SPRAVATO TREATMENTS, NOTHING HAS EVER WORKED. ILL PACK MY CAR FOR A ROAD TRIP, & NEVER GO! I CANT GO TO THERAPIST BECAUSE I GET SICK TRYING TO GET THERE. ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO STOP AGORAPHOBIA, IT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE!