Hello! My experience with panic/anxiety started 3 years ago and caught me off guard as I had no idea what it
was. It was scary and debilitating! I got through it with the help of Zoloft twice and now it’s back again for the third time. I’m incorporating meditation , mindfulness
and more self care this time which helps but I’m on higher dose than last 2 times and experience break through episodes! Any other experiences with break through episodes? I don’t have a specific trigger really it tends to come out of the blue...
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Tuscan3541
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It’s so crazy how anxiety can just come straight out of the blue! Like I was sitting down one day recently and I couldn’t catch my breath! I did nothing to make myself feel that way but it came on and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s still here though and has caused me many panic attacks too. Ended up going to the ER earlier because I felt like it was serious. They told me it was just anxiety though which is hard to believe honestly because even when i’m not feeling any anxiety the trouble breathing is still there! Anxiety can really catch you off guard and steal away your relaxation. I used to be on zoloft but went cold turkey on my meds which I don’t recommenced but in my case I felt the exact same even when I stopped taking it. I don’t know what my triggers are too but it’s making me think a lot.
I’ve been to the ER over this as well! It feels life threatening...I would not think about triggers as much but rather focus on what you can do to feel better. The more I think and try to figure out the more anxiety I bring onto myself...
I was always told that actually thinking of what caused or triggered it can cause/trigger more. That learning to let it go and accept that there may be no reason also can help reduce them coming back (along with grounding exercises). Just a thought!
Hi, I also had mine 3 years ago, accompanied with depression. I even went to several doctors like cardiologist, but tests went normal.. It's the worst you can ever imagine, but I didn't take any medication, but somehow it faded a bit and slowly able to start again with life. Sad to say, this type of things doesn't really go. And little things can trigger them. But as much as you can, think of the little things that makes you smile. Eat healthy. Be happy. Have time with friends and family. Cook for them. Do some hobbies or things that can be a hobby to you. And, Always remind yourself that thinking about the things that upset you over and over again, wont do anything better to you or even with the situation itself. Just keep fighting, as you survive each day, know that you'll going to be okay.
Hi! I read your post; and, I was curious to find out if Zoloft was of any success for you. I have suffered with panic and anxiety for a long time and I want to find the right medication that would help me with my panic and anxiety disorder. Thank you!
Yes it was/is a life saver! I couldn’t pull through without it. You just need to find the right dose. You have to let it ramp up though, it takes a few weeks and the begging is a bit rough. Once you adjust it’s fine.
Yes, I had to go up to 100mg of Zoloft after being on 25mg for a while. I wish I could stop taking it, bc I’ve gained a lot of weight, but I don’t want my anxiety symptoms to return.
Do you see a therapist or psychiatrist regularly? You say you don’t have a trigger, but I feel like stress is sneaky, and just bc nothing happens in that moment, doesn’t mean there’s not something at the root of your anxiety, a situation with a serious impact in your life. Ideally we would all have a competent therapist to work with— hard to find, I’m still looking for a new one now.
I haven’t had any panic attacks since being on my current dose, which has been for over a year.
Same situation, no rhyme or reason. It's as if a switch turns on and the anxiety and panic escalate, becomes unbearable and your begin to freak out, thinking you're dying. When this happens I pop a .5mg of Xanax and slowly start to relax and become more rational.
Started 5mg of Lexapro 2 weeks ago, and yesterday doc upped it to 10mg. The 10mg gave me an uncomfortable drowsiness and sleepy feeling for most of the day, but it's a normal side effect and I just have to bite the bullet and wait it out.
If it continues, I will ask to be switched to Trintellix, which my son, who is a pharmaceutical rep, says works on 5 different brain receptors and has a better efficacy than Lexapro.
In any case, each day is a crap shoot, never knowing when the panic will hit....
You too! Zoloft worked for me before and it’s the oldest SSRI do I’m sticking with it for now. I think trintellix is recommended if the other meds don’t work.
This homeschooling business may very well throw me into another episode! I work from home and have 2 small ones here...
Was taking 200mg daily of Zoloft many years ago, and it worked very well. I weaned off it and was anxiety and panic free for almost 20 years. However, this June, it all came back with a vengeance. Immediately sought out a Med Specialist and Behavioral Specialist and am now on Xanax and started Lexapro 10mg 2 week ago. The Lexapro makes me quite drowsy and spacey and I use the Xanax to combat the anxiety issues when they hit.
Have had frequent major panic attacks over the past few months, where I thought I was about to die, very frightening...
Bought a weighted blanket to help me sleep at night and it has worked beautifully. Sleep deprivation in combo with anxiety is awful...
Meeting tomorrow with my Med Specialist and may request a change to Trintellix, as I simply cannot abide this drowsy, spacey feeling.
Keep fighting and stay strong, and we will prevail...
Do any of you guys also have a super sensitive system like me? Any sort of over stimulation, whether it’s too much physical exertion, overindulging with wine or just not on normal routine brings on the anxiety for me. I’m not even able to get massages because they trigger awful headaches for days....
I’ve had panic attacks from age 15. It was really bad and seemed to settle down in my late 20’s - it popped back up mid 30s and became A major issue - I had to take a leave of absence from work / my doctor increased by Paxil cr and once it was in mySystem within a few weeks I felt better / I have been on this new high dose - since age 37- now 45. So far so good - sometimes I think medication needs to be adjusted through the years to keep it under control - you will be okay- you may just need to adjust from time to time to keep symptoms under control ....
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