Hi,
I'm new to this site and I am really glad to find others who don't want to take medication. I suffer from GAD and panic attacks and was going through a stressful time about 2 years ago and suffered insomnia. I consulted several doctors who kept on prescribing anti-depressants and benzodiazepines to get me better but I ended up with chronic insomnia and very depressed and in bad shape. Finally, I worked with a counsellor and used a non-drug sleep kit and at least got the chronic insomnia and depression under control. However, the GAD and panic is not under control and I hope this program will be of use as I don't want to go on medications. Doctors here are not too skilled at non-drug methods. Could anyone give me some insight as how helpful The Panic Center program has been . Thanks.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for your reply and I'm pleased to hear that you have managed the anxiety disorder without medications .This is where I think this self-help site and support group is great in that there is of course the anoynomity on one level but terrific support and frankness on the other which gives me a greater level of confidence in this program. Thanks Beth for your support.
Santhi :)
Hi Debbie,
Sorry to hear that you are not well, whilst I am no doctor I read not long ago that the best treatment for anxiety/depression is the treatment you want. I hope you have had a proper blood test etc to be sure it is just chronic anxiety. Perhaps, the next step is to decide whether you wish to take the associated risks and side effects by going on medications. You sound like you obviously don't want to try the medications, so perhaps find a doctor who is skilled in CBT to help you along with the assistance of this programme. And follow some of the great tips by Beth ie breathing, positive thinking etc. Debbie I'm new to this group/program- I know how it feels to fear the side effects of medications and yet somehow feel obliged to listen to our doctors. Again I am no doctor but I recently read in a scientific journal that had mentioned that not everyone benefits from anti-depressants . The ones who don't apparently don't have a certain gene. After reading that article I decided to listen to what treatment I wanted and also practised more positive thinking etc. and recently came to discover this panic centre. I know this is silly, but I have a fear of death as well like you but I rationalised with myself this, there is a risk that if I didn't take medications, I could die from anxiety, but it is a risk I am going to take. Let's face it going on medications would not guarantee us immortality. We have to realise life is full of risks and when our thought processes get out of control, we need to control our thoughts, its our thoughts and the constant what if's that is driving our anxiety levels up. By the way anxiety can cause high blood pressure readings, that is a normal response. I had the same problem and my cardiologist explained this to me and told me not to worry. I hope you will find a doctor who can help you with a treatment that is suitable to your needs. Take care . :)
Hi Joe,
I have had similar problems but without the sharp headaches though. I know that poor posture, clenching under stress and stress generally can tense up the muscles especially of the neck and shoulders. Before you see a chiropractor I think you should see a doctor and perhaps get some X-rays to see that it's not something more sinister. I had seen a chiropractor before but I think that they are all too keen to manipulate which can be dangerous and treatments seem to be long, lengthy and end up being too expensive. After consulting your doctor see whether they can recommend a good physiotherapist. I still suffer from chronic muscle stiffness and once was told that the Feldenkrais technique was good- so perhaps find a physio who specialises in this. I found Feldenkrais to be useful more than yoga. Hope this helps. :)
Hi Angel,
I haven't gone as far as session nine, but I thought your question was interesting as I often get dizzy and feel panicky or anxious as a result. So after reading your post, I tried spinning on a chair today but thought myself as being a young girl and that instantly took the anxiety feeling and replaced it with a "I am having fun feeling". Now I seem to be looking for more opportunities to do this exercise.
Hope this helps :)
Hi Debbie,
So sorry to hear that you are not well. I think you may be very sensitive to certain medications. It may just be that Lexapro is not the right medication for you even if you increased the dose. You really need to find a better doctor than the ones you have - one that really listens to you and doesn't dismiss the symptoms you have whilst on medication. There are many other medications and with the right doctor you will find the right medication for you. And once your anxiety is under control, you can then start on CBT and start feeling better again. Please find a doctor who will listen to your concerns.
Take care :)
Hi everyone including support specialist
I would like to know how some of you have handled anticipation fear. I find that the anticipation fear is worse than the feared activity especially if the feared activity is a few days away. What kind of calming thoughts has anyone used successfully to bring the anxiety levels to more acceptable levels? Challenging anxious thoughts seems to make it even worse. Distracting works for me but I would like to know if anyone else has this kind of anticipation fear and how they have dealt with it (excluding breathing techniques). Hope someone can help. Thanks.
Hi Beth,
" Why does the anxiety just pop up". I know the feeling - in my case as soon as I have had a good day , anxiety seems to pop back. Like today I am going to see my psychologist and I noticed the whole night and early morning I feel anxious with new symptoms. So why does this anxiety pop up- could be biological or perhaps it could be that anxious people may never be able to get rid of the anxiety completely. We could successfully manage our symptoms but anxiety will probably always be part of us. So when it pops up - perhaps we could acknowledge that it is present and then let it go as best as we can and not be too hard on ourself that the anxiety is back. I wish I was at the stage you are in Beth, for me since I had started the program as I had to search out for anxious thoughts and panic situations, I think I have felt worse as my critical self is thinking that I am more panicky than I thought I was and I guess I have to challenge this thought. I think also that it goes to show that when you look for something, you will find it. And I also think that when everything seems to be going well, some part of our subconsious brain must say something like" Hey this is too good to be true, where are you anxiety and anxiety and panic just pop up" So you have nothing to worry Beth. Have a good day :)
Dear everyone and support specialist,
There are two parts to this discussion:
Firstly, the symptoms I mostly find distressing is the tight, stiff muscles and the associated constricted breathing muscle tightness during panic attacks and now during exposure work. I have been to a doctor and physio to deal with the muscle tension problems which it seems are not entirely anxiety driven. I usually consiously try to relax my muscles during stressful times or anticipated stressful times and this helps me cope. But when I am really faced with a high panic situation, this relaxation is harder to do and calm thoughts like I WILL BE OK, etc don't really help and the tight muscles just trigger panic. So what do I do, when I can't relax the muscles as well and the calm thoughts just annoy me because I DON'T FEEL OKAY. I need some better coping skills or realistic thoughts or distraction. Distraction works well at the moment - but has anyone else been in similar situations or can help.
Secondly, I seem to find that having to draw up exposure plans, analyse the anxiety thoughts and describe the panic attacks has actually made my mind somewhat preoccupied by this topic. I had years back worked with a CBT expert who told me to challenge the thoughts and do exposure work etc. My experience was not good as it almost brought on 'thought flooding' and I became preoccupied with anxiety and fear and got really bad. I seem to be getting more and more 'thought flooding' experiences and I don't think this is good. I am aware that there are some experts who are all for 'thought flooding' and some not. I am working with a psychologist at the moment as well and we are exploring other solutions which seem helpful. I just don't want to be too preoccupied with panic attacks. I want to do more exposure work, in fact before this program I was doing more exposure work. However, I don't know why when I see it addressed in a clinical setting even on-line as in this program, it upsets me and triggers painful memories. Hope someone can help. Thanks.
Thanks. :confuse:
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