what the heck!

[purl1]

Again my anxiety is back really bad . I went and got my hair done today and had two panic attacks while I was sitting in the chair. I don't know what the hell is going on. I have been doing ok the last couple of days and now this. I haven't been talking to anyone too much besides this site. I'm really quiet around my family. I think it's the risperidone that I take. Don't know if anyone else has had any meds make them like that. I just feel like I'm floating along and not really participating. I'm afraid to change up my meds, I don't want to feel worse. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm starting to get really frustrated with all of this. thanks for listening.

[Kat63]

It must be frustrating to have your own mind doing this to you. Frustrating and scary. I have panic attacks myself and I hate them. I hate anxiety.

Can you talk to your doctor about your meds and whether they’re helping you?

[purl1 in reply to Kat63]

She is out on maternity leave until may 🤔

[Kat63 in reply to purl1]

Damn. Is anyone covering for her while she’s gone?

[purl1 in reply to Kat63]

unfortunately no

[a_work_in_progress]

I would definitely talk to your Doctor . There might be something else that would work much better for you. Don’t give up.

[purl1 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

trying to stay positive, but it is hard some days. dr is out on maternity leave until May

[a_work_in_progress in reply to purl1]

Do you think there is someone else to stand in for her that you could see? Do you think you should wait that long?

[purl1 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

I don't think she has anyone filling in. I could text her and find out though. I'm afraid to stop the risperidone . I don't want to have suicidal thoughts. I don't know what I should do . I go see my therapist tomorrow I will talk to him about it. maybe I will cut the dose in half and see what that does. maybe I won't feel so doped up.

[a_work_in_progress in reply to purl1]

Oh I’m sorry I can’t give you a better answer on the medication part. Sometimes just being here on this site talking it out really helps

[purl1 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

It really does help. just the interaction with eveyone does wonders for me. it makes me feel so much better. just to know people care and are going through the same things

[JAYnLA]

I get anxious in the barber's chair as well. It's because 'I can't leave'. Just a note though - if you made it all of the way through, it's important to take a moment and realize that YOU DID IT. YOU TOLERATED THE DISCOMFORT AND GOT DONE WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO. This is how we retrain our brain / nervous system. Eventually the salon chair won't set you off... though it may take more practice. I so relate!

[purl1 in reply to JAYnLA]

Hi Jay, I never thought of that. that must've been what it was. I had to get up and head for the bathroom just to get away for a min. it was really rough.

[JAYnLA in reply to purl1]

Ha! I've done the same thing! A couple of years ago when this started, I'd actually NEED the bathroom if you get my drift. But damnit, I got to the end every time and now it's much better. Sometimes I get twitchy, sometimes I don't - but it's not as intense as it was at all.

[Agora1 in reply to JAYnLA]

I do understand. The feeling of being trapped. Dentist chair,

lying back is the worst. My deep breathing gets me through

each and every time.

[CallMeByYourSquid]

Talk to us any time. I constantly have up and down cycles. I’m quiet around my husband because he’s never had anxiety but is supportive as many family members are. I suggest trying different meds. They all have side effects but the meds I take worked immediately despite making me feel sick for a few weeks. It’s a sucky time but finding what works for you is really important.

[Sober2007]

I've had the same issue with being really quiet around my family and not very engaged. My wife and my parents noticed and commented on it after I had been taking Latuda for awhile. My doctor changed up my meds some recently and I've been feeling a little better and a bit more able to interact with people. It's hard for me to discern how much of this was due to the meds themselves and how much of it was due to me getting lost in my own thoughts and distant from people. When I get preoccupied with my own problems, I also become less communicative. So it's probably a combination of both. I'm working on learning some new strategies to stay grounded and not be so self-absorbed. It's a challenge because I used to be very extroverted and outgoing, but the manic side of my bipolar disorder was uncontrolled and I made a lot of poor, impulsive decisions that got me into some trouble. With my meds now, I definitely don't feel manic but instead I feel more depressed and isolated at times. This is all a learning process for me.

[a_work_in_progress]

One of my triggers in my early days was when I would be driving if a cop car came by with the lights and siren on I would get such anxiety I would almost black out. That is not good! I feel it’s from my mother I think she did the same thing. I recall she wouldn’t go faster than 45 miles an hour in the left lane she probably never should’ve been on the road. But I knew I had to work through it so I would just keep telling myself it’s going to be OK. No problem now thank God

[purl1 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

guess I need to learn how to work through this. It just seems like nothing is working.

[a_work_in_progress in reply to a_work_in_progress]

Ha ha that should be “no faster than 45 miles on the highway”

[purl1 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

good you were able to work through the trigger