Help with Anxiety

[Unlogged]

Sorry to post this as "unlogged", but kind of embarrassed about it. Would appreciate any valuable information from anyone who's familiar with or been through the process of diagnosing / treating anxiety.

Where do you start for a diagnosis? Family doctor or some kind of specialist?

What type of treatments are used?

Been in a very stressful career / job for 14 years. It's changed me as a person. I've taken step one which is removing myself from this job - last day 10/27/06. In fact, changing careers altogether. But it took 14 years to come to these conclusions and I don't want it to take 14 years to be corrected. Realized the hard way that life is too short. I genuinely appreciate any sincere advise.

Thanks

[help]

Start with family doctor. I did

[saugers2]

Lots of meds for that...talk to your doctor...

I am not embarassed to say that I got a prescription for Zanax for a spell I was going thru...worked like a charm....don't need it anymore....but I miss it some days...:)

[Not alone]

Lots of us suffer from it. It can cause major medical problems! Fight or flight response. Delayed stress. Road rage is a example. Get help, work out, and lay off the drnking but meds can help. It can and will take time. Why do you think there are so many bars. Self medication! Just M.H.O. Good luck.

[Box]

Close family member was through the wringer with specialists, etc. My advice is go to family doctor first, and save the psychiatrists for last resort. They just wanted to keep trying new meds, several of which caused some bad experiences.

But the family doc recognized what was going on, and the combination or advice and some meds has worked wonders. Almost miracle I would say.

Good luck!!! I hope you will be power lounging and relaxing soon! :)
-Box

[Dacotah Eye]

I worked a high stress job for 36 years and retiring got rid of the stress. I didn't go to a Dr. because I figured things would slow down. I did find out that when you remove stress, you begin to fall apart in some ways. About 8 months after I retired, I started having some medical problems and I think it was due to the pressure coming off. I think I would start with the family physician and see what he thinks. He can refer you to a specialist if you need one. Good luck with what you are going to do in the future.

[bigfish1965]

Xanax is very good for anxiety. I took it during my cancer treatments. It is very addictive. I can see why. While taking it I felt like the king of the world. My thoughts were crystal clear and incredibly focused. IT was ridiculous how good I felt on it. I only was on it for a month, but it sure made a difference.

[Dr. Phil]

Anxiety is one of if not the largest silent killers in our modern society. Stress has been directly linked to all forms of disease including heart disease, bowel disorders, Immune system disorders, mental illness and cancer. The good news is you're taking steps now to correct the "stessors" that are causing the actual stress to your mind and body.

With today's fast paced society with constant verbal and visual stimulus, our body and mind are not equipped to deal with all the stumulus we receive; everyone has differing thresholds for stress tolerance.

When stressors get to a certain point our body will trigger a "Fight or Flee" response - Heart rate and breathing increase and senses are enhanced (similar to what would occur in a normal person when a Mad Bear is coming at you). Anxiety in most is caused by the brain falsely firing off a "Fight or Flee" response to common daily stressors. In some cases this becomes so chronic it can lead to Anxiety attacks where you feel light headed, can't breath or have chest pains similar to a heart attack.

Most doctors will just medicate patients with Anxiety, but the real answer to reducing stress is to identify the real " stressors" in your life and work to avoid them or at least understand what their "stressors" are?

Work with you family doctor and ask a local stress reduction /meditation clinic or class in your area. To often our medical community resorts to medication Rx solution only. Medication does help, but it comes at a price and often has terrible side effects.

A combination of stress reduction techniques/mediatation, verbal affiramation therapy, and mild RX medication ( if needed) is the best practice for those with mild anxiety disorders.

Those with moderate to severe anxiety and / or depression should seek immediate professional health care intravention.

[Garvin]

Since you are asking for advice, I won't tell you NOT to be treated with drugs but here are some things you might want to google for some natural help. You may find these to be a tool for you or you may not but they just might take the edge off you.

Theanine,..an amino acid that can help w/ anxiety in some people

GABA,..I like GABA Calm from Source Naturals Co.

Holy Basil,... used in parts of Europe for same.

5-HTP ...increases serotonin levels and helps many w/sleep.

Magnesium malate,..Magnesium is considered nature’s tranquilizer. Takes a while to build up if you levels are low. Find a holistic Dr that will take a RBC surface magnesium test. (serum mag is worthless for purposes of measuring Mag for this .)Magnesium is important to the body in many other ways. It been said by many physiologists that most of us are very low in this mineral, in this culture. You might also be checked out for blood sugar swings.

biofeedback/medititation...I have some students that can raise their hands/feet temperatures up or down,..same w/blood pressure and many other things you don't think you have much control over. It takes some time but they find pathways to really relax.
Do you ever have actual panic attacks? these things CAN help. Sometimes a bit, sometimes greatly.

Also REGULAR aerobic exercise has been shown to greatly reduce stress chemicals (it takes about 6 weeks to really do this) You hAVE to be consistant to huff and puff w/some activity for 35-40 minutes at a time. A good BRISK walk will do.
Some people say if I take all five of these things how will I know what works? I would say try to effect a good change, you have the rest of your life to play with what works best for you. None show much negatives in the literature.
That’s IF you elect to go the route.

[RANGER]

I would start with your family doctor! Outside of that, I'm not qualified to give you direction. Switching jobs/fields might be the only "ticket" you need. I know that I had an extremely high pressure job and retiring has been the best remedy I could have found!!!

[larrym]

Been there! Start with your family Doctor as Anxiety or depression is common enough most doctors now recognize it and know how to treat.

[Luveyes]

I am an ER nurse and deal with people with anxiety everyday (by no means am I an expert). There is nothing to be ashamed of. Generally I would say that a visit with a primary physician and some counseling sessions should help out tremendously.

The reason for starting with the primary is many. One in particular is if you feel the assistance you are receiving at the specialist isnt effective where do you go then. Just having a backup plan in itself may alleviate your anxiety. Start with a primary and if they are worth their weight in mud they will recognize when the specialist should be involved.

Secondly, try to find specific triggers for your anxiety. Role play with family or friends that you can share the info with. Deal with the emotions and scenarios before they can cause you more stress and anxiety. Often having a plan and an understanding of your fears can help you to respond in a proactive way when the stressors come about.

One note about the med that have been discussed already. There are many options that can be used for anxiety. Some addictive and quick/short acting (Xanax, etc) and some not habit forming, but take 2-4 weeks to feel the positive effects (kind of like a fog lifting- you look back after 3-4 wks and say geez I am feeling better, not like a light switch). Be careful and patient with both. I, personally, would start with the non-addictive meds. I have seen too many that end up burnt like an old drunk because they never dealt with the anxiety in an appropriate manner and ended up an addict- which in some cases has led to further addictions.

Anyway, good luck and God Bless.

[Dacotah Eye]

>Anxiety is one of if not the largest silent killers in our
>modern society. Stress has been directly linked to all forms
>of disease including heart disease, bowel disorders, Immune
>system disorders, mental illness and cancer. The good news is
>you're taking steps now to correct the "stessors" that are
>causing the actual stress to your mind and body.
>
>With today's fast paced society with constant verbal and
>visual stimulus, our body and mind are not equipped to deal
>with all the stumulus we receive; everyone has differing
>thresholds for stress tolerance.
>
>When stressors get to a certain point our body will trigger a
>"Fight or Flee" response - Heart rate and breathing increase
>and senses are enhanced (similar to what would occur in a
>normal person when a Mad Bear is coming at you). Anxiety in
>most is caused by the brain falsely firing off a "Fight or
>Flee" response to common daily stressors. In some cases this
>becomes so chronic it can lead to Anxiety attacks where you
>feel light headed, can't breath or have chest pains similar to
>a heart attack.
>
>Most doctors will just medicate patients with Anxiety, but the
>real answer to reducing stress is to identify the real "
>stressors" in your life and work to avoid them or at least
>understand what their "stressors" are?
>
>Work with you family doctor and ask a local stress reduction
>/meditation clinic or class in your area. To often our
>medical community resorts to medication Rx solution only.
>Medication does help, but it comes at a price and often has
>terrible side effects.
>
>A combination of stress reduction techniques/mediatation,
>verbal affiramation therapy, and mild RX medication ( if
>needed) is the best practice for those with mild anxiety
>disorders.
>
>Those with moderate to severe anxiety and / or depression
>should seek immediate professional health care intravention.
>
>


I had heart surgery in March of 06 because my pulse rate was double what it should have been and I had my Prostrate removed a month ago due to cancer which I think was stress related also. I worked one of those cushy, do nothing, cake eating union jobs, so I really shouldn't have had any stress. According to the company that I worked for, pack mules don't have stress problems.
:cheers:

[Apple Guy]

I would think leaving your job will help a lot. You can try the herb route 1st, and if nothing helps you there, then go through the hit and miss of pharmaceuticals. If you try the herb route, if you go into the Dr. tell then what you are taking. There are many interactions that herbs can give with the most simplest of medications that you may even use for an infection. Be conservative on dosing and research extensively the herb and it's dosing.

If you go the pharma route I would first try Buspar, it is a more lightweight drug and "clean" drug that has fewer side effects. As far as I know, this is the safest and cleanest anti- anxiety out there. I have been out of the loop so to speech for 6 years in using anti-anxiety drugs so you will need to call your Dr or call 4-6 different Pharmacists and get their opinions.

As far as being "clean" here is what I mean, Take a 1 inch round dot sticker past it on the wall, now through a shot glass of paint on the wall aiming at the dot. The paint is the drug trying to cover the dot. Everything around the dot are the side effects. Now a dirty drug is like throwing an open pint of paint at the dot. Lots of side effects.

Spend some time reading anxiety/depression internet boards to get opinions on what works and the side effects. "Google" will be your friend on this one. Really, spend some time educating yourself before you talk to your Dr. You should know what MAOI's, Tricyclic drugs (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) are and what are their side effects to make a decision on what you want to take.

PLEASE BE FOREWARNED! Some Dr's are paid by the pharma companies to push their drugs and get kickbacks. That is why you need to educate yourself before you go in and get a couple of drugs YOU feel may work for you and bounce them off your Dr.

My wife was on Zoloft and now is on Lexapro and is far happier with Lexapro ( I am too!!! Less negative sexual side effects)


Good luck with your quest on feeling better.

[Apple Guy]

Just an opinion, stay away from Paxil and Prozac. There are cleaner drugs out there now in the same drug class.

[biggeorge50]

I started and finished with my family doctor. He put me on Xanax, problem pretty much solved.

[SUPERTROLLER]

My wife went to our Family Dr. and has been on Paxil for many many years. She is quite sensitive to many other drugs but has had no problems with Paxil. Every person has their own chemistry and a drug that works great for you might not be the right one for the next person. To just out of hand dismiss a drug because you or someone else had a bad outcome with it doesn't sound right. I'd hate to close out an option before it was discussed with the Dr. (Just my opinion and you can take it for what it's worth.)

[anxiety]

I have been on paxil for a few years. I am about to lose my job to a plant closing. Hope it does not hurt me when i go to buy insurance. Employees had a meeting with blue cross blue shield and they said the same thing as this article.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourHealth/ProzacHazardToYourHealthInsurance.aspx?GT1=8691

[Fishing Junky]

Just wondering if the person that posted this has taken any steps forward to help with anxiety, and what he has done? Hope all is better. Junky..............

[iMac Guy]

'

[Burr]

Exactly Supertroller. My wife was on Prozac for a number of years. It worked better for her than anything else, and we've been through quite a few others. She just recently switched to another med as Prozac does acclimate as time goes on.

[lund03]

I know exactly how you feel. Was diagnosed by my family doctor 15 years ago with anxiety (panic) attacks. One night when the pancake stuck to the griddle made me a wreck, I new it was time for help. I used Xanax for a short time, then he put me on paxil(paraxatine) and for the last 14 years, I don't remember a feeling of anxiety strong enough to bother me! Maybe I'm just lucky. When you get that feeling of doom and gloom, and physically feel sick, it is time to get help.. Be open to any solutions. Life is too short, and believe me your family will appreciate it too>

[reelman1]

It is nothing to be ashamed of, sometimes just talking to someone you love or are close to will help a lot.

As for drugs there are several different ones out there and if you get perscribed one and it is giving you side effects that you don't like tell your doctor and try a different one.

I was gien Zoloft and at first it was great until I started to not care about anything! It was actually a little dangerous as I didn't care about other peoples feelings at all, as I always felt in a great mood regardless of what I did. I told my Dr. and she gave me Lexapro and it was great. I was on it for over a year till she took me off of it. I still hade ups and downs but that is what life is about!

Don't take to much advice from us on the internet, go get the help you need! I think you were really looking for conformation that it's alright to get help about this and as you can see it is perfectly fine, in fact you owe it to yourself to get help.

[SVET]

Well, here is my story... ever since I can remember, I have felt off. About two years ago, I finally got the courage to talk to my family Dr. about the way I was feeling. Much to my surprise, I found out that there are many people out there that suffer from anxiety/depression. He also told me that there is nothing to be ashamed of. My symptoms are as follows: mood swings, lots of sleep, my mind goes a million miles an hour where I jump from one thought to another, obsessive behaviors and the list goes on. Anyways, after I had met with my Dr. he put me on meds. He explained the everyones chemistry is different and some meds work better for some than others. He told me that it is unfortunate, but a person just has to try the different meds to see which one works best for them.

I was going through a tuff time, and I talked to a coworker who told me about a program that we have at our office. We have access to counselers who are there to help. So I called the help center and spoke with a guy who told me that he thought that I had been misdiagnosed by my regular Dr. He told my that I should see a specialist and get rediagnosed. I went last June and was put on a different med. actually two of them. I was supposed to go back in July for a follow up appointment, but I never did! In the last couple of months, I have been having a real hard time. I know that I should go in for an appointment, but it seems that I just cant get myself to do it. I am sick and tired of being on the meds due to all of the side effects. make you tired, sexual , diarrea and the list goes on. I just want to feel good.........

After reading the above posts, I am encouraged and I plan to go see the Dr.

Thanks

[drfish]

Xanax (or any other of the drugs related to Valium) can be very helpful, however, they can also be very addictive. It is often hard for people that have been taking Xanax for a while to get off of it again. They should be used, in most cases only as a bridge while waiting for something else like an SSRI (e.g., Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, etc) to help. This usually takes 3-4 weeks.

I would echo what one of the other respondants said about exercise. Regular exercise is probably the single best treatment for stress, burnout, etc. It helps your brain produce natural chemicals that make you feel better. Stay away from alcohol or other street drugs.

There is a lot of good information on the web, but there is also a lot of garbage.

I would also recommend starting with your family doctor.

[MikeBeck]

The problem is with your family Dr. is that in the first 30 seconds of mentioning it to them they will start reaching for the script pad.

There was a study by NASA about exercise and stress chemicals. The talk by a NASA Dr. that came here said the reasons for the astronauts to do exercise in space was to keep muscle mass up, to keep bones calcified, but the main reason was to burn stress chemicals up.
Re read Garvin's response. It does take a while. Good for you in a lot of ways anyway.
Watch out for stimulants like caffeine, and too much sugar. I've heard theanine helps, magnesium too if taken long enough. Interesting that I grew up in one of the highest magnesium water in the country. We moved a few miles away and its wasn't nearly as high.

The people in the first town are known for their calm demeanor. They were also known to have little/no dental cavities. ( My father that lived there most of his life never had one ) the people also kept all of their teeth. (rare just 50 years ago) Also rare to have kidney stones and if you look at the ages of death in the town's cemetery,( goes back to the early 1700's) the people generally lived to be a very old age. This is going by the wayside as people there are all getting water softners but I just visited my 1-3 grade teacher from their (106)

Anyway, I understand if you are in crisis and you need meds. Hopefully though you will find other things to get off that treadmill.

[vetspet.ind]

i think a natural anti anxiety therapy is working in a field you enjoy...my job is very stressful...seems like i leave work after 7pm more days than not, very stressful when someone's loved pet is sick and they want it better no matter what...that definitely puts the burden on my shoulders and i certainly get stressed out...the good thing is i really enjoy trying to figure out these cases and somehow there is a balance created that i'm sure if i really didnt like my job would be out of that balance...another thing i have always relied on when i seem to get very stressed it who is behind the "big picture"...even tho i do not consider myself to be a "good christian"...i pray daily for many people and things...i pray that God will bless my work and that it will reflect Jesus daily....somehow i have been able to just let go..not sure how that came about...when a case gets very stressful, i can know that i prayed about it and that God will take care of the rest..so long as i do my part...the rest is His and i can get back to a lower level of anxiety knowing this is true....steve

[karpbuster]

I would never say exclude medicine for any disorder, but the natural methods, changing jobs, and I agree with praying - give it to God He can handle it a whole lot better than you. This a great place to start.

If that is not enough (because it will help based on your circumstances) then get some medical help to go the rest of the way. You can't always change your job in the future, but you may be able to re-prioritize what is important. It is the whole package not parts of it you need. Which is what you started doing, so I would say you are on the right path and I wish you smooth sailing from here on out.

Where I live there are places (Health foods, and stuff) they will sit down and talk to you about what is available in natural form.

You can e-mail for more information.

karpbuster

[larrym]

What's the deal with the post on watches and the connection with this old thread??

[gonfishn95]

spam

[karpbuster]

Doh!

I need to start reading the dates...LOL

karpbuster

[T Mac]

Watches, huh...
Usually it is Viagra or Cialis Spam that brings up these old threads.
Been lots of spam lately.