I am new here

[asam123]

Hi everyone. This is my first time ever doing these. I have never been apart of any type of support group, but I am tired of feeling alone. A little bit about me, I am 20 years old and live inside the United States. I am in college and work full-time. I just got diagnosed with panic disorder and high generalized anxiety. I am on a few new medications (Zoloft, Xanax, propranolol) and they seem to be doing okay so far. It's just my anxiety is always in high gear. I keep having constant, sharp-shooting pains in my chest. Sometimes my arm will go numb and I start to get really sweaty. The doctors have ran many tests and I am completely healthy physically. I always assume I am dying or that the world is ending. It's really scary and none of my friends seem to understand. Sometimes I will get really shaky and nauseous. I go to the gym a lot now, which helps but only temporarily. I look forward to turning to this site for support and helping others.

[Agora1]

Hi asam123. Welcome to this amazing support group. You've just taken the

first step in being with people who understand what you are going through.

It's a safe place for you to come to when feeling alone and the need in hearing

from others who care about your feelings. I'm glad you found us. xx

[a_work_in_progress]

Welcome

you are not alone

you will have better days.

I know it seems hard to believe sometimes. There’s a lot of good people here who are going through the same thing. Hope you can find peace today ☮️

[asam123 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

Hello when did you start the meds??

[asam123 in reply to Hidden]

On the 27th of March

[Hidden in reply to asam123]

Oh okay you just started... did you have side affects??

[asam123 in reply to Hidden]

Nausea was the biggest one. I had a headache for the first week. Sometimes I’ll feel lightheaded

[asam123 in reply to Hidden]

Also I had a loss of appetite

[asam123 in reply to asam123]

And a little jittery

[Hidden in reply to asam123]

Well I’m glad you started fast .. not like me prolonging it and it just gets worse .. there still sitting on my dresser for a year now... I have your symptoms and I don’t take meds lol it’s my anxoety

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My dr gave me Xanax as well tonhelp with the side affects of the meds and my anxoety in general until the Zoloft kicks in and I’m afraid of those too.. go figure

[asam123 in reply to Hidden]

That’s totally understandable. I was afraid too! I still have anxiety really bad, but the Xanax helps A LOT. it’s my go to. But only take it at night or when you will just be at home. It makes me really sleepy and a little loopy. But it helps calm me down

[asam123]

That’s totally understandable. I was afraid too. But the side effects are worth the outcome. It’s scary st first, putting a new drug into your body. But after a while you notice a difference. My anxiety is still there a lot, but I have time for them to kick in. I strongly recommend the Xanax. It really really helps calm me down. But only take it at night or when you have nowhere to go and just staying inside. It makes you really sleepy and kinda like your high

[Hidden in reply to asam123]

How many my of Xanax you take

[asam123 in reply to Hidden]

I take .5mg at night before bed

[Hidden in reply to asam123]

Did you ever try half

[asam123 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I actually did last night! I was woken up in the middle of the night from anxiety; so I took half and it wasn’t as strong but helped

[BornWriter]

Welcome. Please know that Xanax and all other benzodiazepines are meant for short-term use only. My doctor ignored this fact, and I'm still weaning off of it. If I could do it over again, I would NEVER have started taking it. Wish I (and of course my doctor) had known about non-addictive alternatives such as hydroxizine and trazodone, etc. for anxiety. They work just as well.

Doctors have been perhaps even more irresponsible in prescribing benzos as they were with opioids, which in many cases are LESS addictive. The next epidemic is around the corner, as doctors are running scared again and dangerously cutting long-term patients off benzos cold turkey.

Please research benzos (brace yourself) and talk with your doctor about non-addictive alternatives for anxiety. I was taking only 1.5-2 mg of Xanax (alprazolam) per day and it will be a year before I am off of them. Never again. God bless.

[asam123 in reply to BornWriter]

My doctor went through this a lot with me, thankfully. I’m on the lowest dose possible, and I only ever take them at night. I try not to take them, but it can be difficult to sleep because my mind is always racing and I will be in constant panic mode

[Hidden in reply to BornWriter]

Benzo are bad for people who abuse them.. I don’t use them but I know people who take benzos when needed and they have saved there lives and allowed them to live

[Dhl5]

I joined this week. The responses to my first post really helped me. I think knowing others felt the same and the fact others understood helped a lot.

[anxiousphd]

Hi asam123. A warm welcome to you. Going to the gym is a constructive approach and so is following doctor's orders. I also recommend meditation or any yoga involving deep breathing exercices.