For anyone with anxiety issues. And for those that don't, an

I've heard from a lot of people that anxiety isn't a "real" issue, or that it's not a physical issue, only a psychiatric one. While technically it is true that it's not purely physical, it can damn sure cause a lot of physical problems. I personally suffer from very severe anxiety, and for a long time it stopped me from doing things because I couldn't. For almost the entire month of July starting July 1st, of this year, I couldn't even go to work, walk up stairs to my apartment, or go to class without nearly passing out. I was hospitalized for 4 days because of it after I fainted at work, and it started to effect the way my heart was functioning (it was beating erratically, and going from dangerously low heart rate, to dangerously high--just when I was sleeping!) I now take Paxil every day(yes, I am aware of the controversy about it, but I am happy with it) and I feel so much better. I am finally able to do things I wasn't able to do for a while. Does anyone else suffer from anxiety, medicated or not? Has anyone ever told you it's not a "real" problem? This is just kind of a support group for the ones of us that have to deal with it, and if anyone that doesn't have a problem with it, feel free to comment anyway

I was diagnosed with anxiety 9 years ago and have probably suffered from it for most of my life. It very much is a "real" issue. I was also hospitalized because of it for nearly 2 weeks. I take clonazepam and it is pretty well controlled most of the time except when I am really stressed. Sometimes it is hard to be in large crowds, sometimes just walking into Walmart. My physical symptoms can range from tense muscles to heart palpitations to stomach problems, etc. I don't tell most people that I meet about it so I've never had anyone tell me it's not a "real" problem. To help me calm down I find deep breathing, listening to music (especially ocean/trickling water sounds), going outside and walking to be very helpful. If you are starting up a support group I would love to be part of it!!

I also have a fear of throwing up. I have a drawerful of antibacterial stuff!!

I have severe anxiety issues, am manic depressive and suffer from bipolar disorder, all of which I was diagnosed with when I was 8. I too was put on paxil and was on it for about 6 years until I decided to stop taking it. I suffered such horrible withdrawl symptoms I actually won a lawsuit against the company. Be careful with that one. It works amazingly but its hard to quit. I am no longer taking any medication for my "issues" although I do believe I should be on something for my anxiety. It seems to have gotten really bad lately. Anxiety is definitely a physical issue. I've suffered from it for most of my life. From having panic attacks over what seems to be nothing, to getting F's in school because I was too freaked out to give presentations or book reports. People who think its not a physical condition, ovbiously don't suffer from it. Idiots!

I have an anxiety disorder - diagnosed 9 months ago.

I can't go to a bank, use a credit card, go to a customer service desk, hairdresser, dentist...anything. I won't talk on the phone. I have no real friends, and haven't done since I was 15 because I freak out at social interaction. I've never been invited to parties or out with friends since I was a teenager. I can't drive because I get panic attacks at just the thought of being behind the wheel.

Physically, my heart races really fast, and I get very nauseous and dizzy with hot flushes. Right now, I'm sitting at my desk, with a new bicycle I want to ride - but I'm terrified of riding outside. I'm convinced everyone is going to stop and laugh at me. I wish I could just snap out of it. I did manage one ride this week, but I was so paranoid that I hated every minute of it.

Diagnosed with anxiety and depression, medicated, years of musical meds until we finally found something that works for me and stays working. These days my major attacks are phobia related, but I do get minor attacks still on a weekly basis, but those I simply work through. I've never been hospitalised for either anxiety or depression, but I have had two breakdowns that kept me homebound for weeks.

Skimming the reading, I noticed someone suggesting St. John's Wort. There's a possible side effect with SJW that I think is worth noting. Usually it's listed a 'vivid dreams'. Of people I've spoken to who've experienced this side effect, and my psych, they should add in the word 'violent'.

I was diagnosed with panic disorder about 12 years or so ago.. it's actually very common in premenopausal women - especially if there is any history (personal or family) of depression or other mental diseases. I used to worry about having a heart attack and when I should have it so I could be sure someone would find me - or how to make sure that if I had a heart attack while I was driving could I get to side of road safely.. very real fears.. very extreme. I kept all these emotions to myself until one day I was convinced I was having a heart attachk and convinced my hubby to take me to dr office (without telling him why - just said I wasn't feeling well). The minute I saw my doctor I started crying and said I am having a heart attack and I wasn't sure what to do.. he was great.. he just looked at me, listened to me and smiled.. described panic disorder and said that is what I had.. it has become a standing joke now at my physical every year- he says "ready to come off the Paxil" and I say "nope, too scared".. we aren't really going to take me off yet anyway though.. in fact, after several years of downgrading the dose, we just increased because it turns out Paxil is also effective against hot flashes/night sweats.. yep, got those too..

I thought i was just crazy! Didnt realize so many ppl had this problem! Sometimes i feel like its just a copout & i dont feel like i can talk about how i feel! I feel like a tightly wound spool of thread & my body stays tense nearly 24/7 & i get panic attacks just watching tv. We lost our insurance about 6 months ago & cant afford the trip to the dr, which suck, but i try my hardest to control it. like to notice when im tense & to relax, just to find myself tense again. lol! Just breath when my heart is palipitating from a panic attack.

Me too. But now my current anxiety--which manifests in a variety of ways--seems to be largely due to the fact that (thanks to finally having found a fantastic therapist and being ready to get to the painful, below-the-surface issues) I've been making so much progress in pretty much all areas of my life and it's scary to see myself as something close to "normal" instead of fat, self-isolating, anxious and depressed. So basically right now I'm anxious because I'm feeling so good.

Don't you just love pervasive thoughts? I have them at night, and I have them constantly when driving, especially highways and freeways, whether I'm driving or someone else. I have tried to explain to my husband that while driving that two way highway, with ever passing car, I can clearly see it crossing the line hitting us head on, or even sometimes us crossing the line. Or other things like going over a cliff. Sometimes I worry that my anxiety is whats going to cause an accident.

I would literally lay awake all night and think about silly things like what would happen if my ceiling caved in, or how would I get out if the first floor caught fire, since I live on the third, worrying about my small puppy somehow managing to climb up to a window, magically open it, fall out and die.

Tried the tapping briefly. I was desperate enough to try anything. Didn't do a thing for me.

Xanex is nice, but getting high is always nice and still left me with panic attacks.

Lexapro took me from panic attacks to panic attacks+routinely contemplating suicide in the course of 4 short weeks.

Effexor removed the anxiety from my life. All of it. So consider that a lot of your motivation to do pretty much anything you decide to do is based upon some form of anxiety - "I should do this or that will happen", "I'd like to do that but I've only got half an hour so it has to be quick", etc, etc. All of that - gone. A year spent caring about nothing at all. All hobbies dropped, years invested in practicing music shelved, etc, etc.

Getting off Effexor was the most painful thing I've ever been through. It's like someone stabbing you in the brain non-stop for two weeks.

Psychologist helped as far as a) explaining what the disorder is about, b) trying to help you find some reason that it started happening (totally out of the blue with nothing bothering me at the age of 36) and c) pointing me in the direction of that Don't Panic book and giving me some simple mental exercises to do in order to get back on top of my thoughts.

Wow, that's a lot you have been through trying to find some relief. For me, not being on any meds now, the worse thing is Caffeine. I have been taking flaxseed oil capsules, and my family went on a beach trip a couple months ago, I drove a long the coast cliff and didn't have any anxiety at all, I climbed up and then down the light house stairs and had no symptoms (Heights is new to me, seems with perimenopause anxiety got worse for the first time in years, and includes heights which has NEVER been an issue) but the thing is, is that I have to stay away from the caffeine. It's very little when I do have it, (a small fountain filled first with ice. one every couple of days lately, but I got through periods of not having it for weeks) If I start struggling with motivation, or if stress hits me, then I turn to caffeine. And then my anxiety goes way way up. I was on Zoloft for 12 years, and that was hard getting off of, was months and I was still having brain zaps, and eye twitches.

My daughter is trying to get off Lexapro now. (I also have a son who was on meds for 16 years, and he's been off successfully for over a year) She wants to see if she can do it too, and frankly I would love for her to embrace doing all she can to be successful, but I know sometimes going off just isn't the best thing. So anyways, we are in that process of it. All this is really like a two edged sword isn't it?

I'm excited about that book, my daughter is in counseling, but her counselor wants to drop her, (due to heavy caseload) it's frustrating. I don't have any insurance or the money for counseling, so I'm opened to anything that would help. My daughter has actually been a great inspiration to her, I have seen her face her anxieties over the years and challenge herself to do things she was always "afraid" of doing. Including getting up in front of youth group and singing with the worship team. But this past school year, she's gone down hill again, and thats when we upped her meds, and she just gained weight. And not much has changed with the anxiety. SO we are looking at any possible tool for her to use.

Tried the tapping briefly. I was desperate enough to try anything. Didn't do a thing for me.

Xanex is nice, but getting high is always nice and still left me with panic attacks.

Lexapro took me from panic attacks to panic attacks+routinely contemplating suicide in the course of 4 short weeks.

Effexor removed the anxiety from my life. All of it. So consider that a lot of your motivation to do pretty much anything you decide to do is based upon some form of anxiety - "I should do this or that will happen", "I'd like to do that but I've only got half an hour so it has to be quick", etc, etc. All of that - gone. A year spent caring about nothing at all. All hobbies dropped, years invested in practicing music shelved, etc, etc.

Getting off Effexor was the most painful thing I've ever been through. It's like someone stabbing you in the brain non-stop for two weeks.

Psychologist helped as far as a) explaining what the disorder is about, b) trying to help you find some reason that it started happening (totally out of the blue with nothing bothering me at the age of 36) and c) pointing me in the direction of that Don't Panic book and giving me some simple mental exercises to do in order to get back on top of my thoughts.