Anxiety medications

[Toshanicole]

What are some good anxiety medicines that have worked best for you? I have bad panic attacks and need to be able to take something when I have one to calm me back down. I’ll get them driving and will have to pull over and it scares me because I have 2 little children. They get bad where I feel like I’m going to pass out and my legs and arms will go numb and I feel like I’m suffocating. Needless to say it’s dagerous driving! I’ve told my doctors all of this and they’ve gave me vistiral which I couldn’t take it knocked me out! And they’ve gave me buspar which does not help. I’m at a lost and just curious on what has worked for others or if there’s anything over the counter or natural I could take I’m desperate!

[Agora1]

Hi Toshanicole, there are a lot of good medications out there, unfortunately it's a trial and error process with you and your doctor finding what works best for you. There's the Benzos (Xanax, Ativan etc) then there are SSRIs (Antidepressants) that can help. The thing is the answer is not just in the meds but also in using therapy with it as well as other tools.

Looking into Meditation, Deep Breathing, Self Hypnosis, Biofeedback, Imagery, Affirmations, Accupuncture, Reiki, Massage and so forth. These are all complimentary working with meds. Unless you address the root of the problem, it will still be there and make meds difficult in ridding you of your anxiety.

Wishing you peace and calm. Breathe xx

[Toshanicole in reply to Agora1]

Thank you for all of your information! Although some of the things are easier said than done. But the one thing I do do that helps me if anything is taking deep breaths while im having a panic attack but it’s such an awful feeling when I have my panic attacks. Almost an indescribable feeling. I get this electrical wave that starts from my head and goes to my toes like a wave and every time I feel it I feel like I’m going to pass out and I have to have someone hold my hand if someone is with me because I get afraid to be alone afraid something will happen to me. But breathing and trying to talk or coach myself through it is what I’ve done that seems to do a little bit of anything at all to help. The deep breaths like I’m having a baby helps more than anything and just keep breathing til the episode passes. The scariest is when it happens while I’m driving with my kids in the car and I have to pull over. I just try to breath it out but it doesn’t always work! And yes I went to my doctors a month ago and they gave me vistiral for my anxiety but I can’t even take it because it puts me to sleep and I told them that but they didn’t try anything else. Just irritates me. Like what does someone have to do to get help anymore and the proper help or just a doctor who cares. I feel like none of the doctors or physicians I’ve seen about all my mental health has cared or taken me seriously or just think my anxiety isn’t as bad as I’m claiming , when it is! Feel like I’m dying every time.

[Agora1 in reply to Toshanicole]

I so understand Toshanicole in that some doctors just don't seem to get the gravity of it all. The word "anxious" is used so frivolously that our meaning of the word doesn't make an impact.

Deep breathing and meditation have to be used daily until it becomes a learned practice. Using it before an attack can help ward off even having one. I use my deep breathing while I'm typing on the forum, driving, shopping in a store and have not had an anxiety attack for years now. That in itself, calms down the thought when going out of our safety zone.

I use meditation at least 3 times a day. Upon awakening, mid afternoon (I'm about due now) and before bed at night. My mind and body are so well trained that my reaction to stress or anxiety is comfortably ready to interact.

I weaned off my Benzos 5 years ago and I'm only on Lexapro (SSRI) which eventually I will wean off of. The meditation and deep breathing are carrying me through. Don't give up. It will all come together as soon as you find what is best for you. Having a therapist can play a big part in getting better because they understand and know what you are going through.

We are here for you to support and comfort you. xx

[Toshanicole]

I don’t know where you live but around here the doctors think everyone is just seeming drugs so it makes it hard for those of us who really do need something to get it because of the drug problem around my area. So it’s hard for me to get a doctor to take me serious without them thinking I’m just seeking drugs like majority of the people who they probably do see but I cry and everything when I tell the doctors all the details and how bad it is because just talking about it makes me emotional and because my panic disorder really does scare me and all I want is to be normal again!! I’m starting to get anxious now when I go to the grocery store or when I’m around a lot of people or in a crowd. I feel like I’m suffocating especially in places that have no windows or anything I’m even worse because I’ll look around and see nothing buts and feel like it’s closing in on me and I start panicking. Honestly most of my mental has gotten worse since I’ve had my children. Idk if that’s from the hormones but I was never this bad with depression or anxiety or anything before I had my kids. The only two medications I’ve bern given for my anxiety or my panic attacks is vistiral and buspar and neither work for me. The vistiral knocks me out cold and will make me groggy for a couple days after! And the buspar doesn’t help when I’m having a panic attack k, that’s a medication that u have to take everyday to build up in ur system. So I have nothing for when I’m hsbing my horrible panic attacks where I get this icy cold wave all through my body starting from my head going to my toes and after each wave I feel like I’m going to faint and my arms and legs will go numb and sometimes my eyesight will Black in and out. Breathing has been my only thing to help bipass them but they are getting worse and more frequent but I can’t find a doctor who will listen to me or who cares enough to really try to help me get better. Idk what to do.