new member

[Samantha]

Hello all... I'm a new member... I'm somewhere in between the barely
functional and a survivor of anxiety and panic. I was diagnosed with
panic disorder about 5 years ago now, as a freshman in college.

It's been a long road, but I'm finally starting to see the other end,
only the ocassional full blown panic attack sends me into the barely
functional and completely terrified of a repeat of the anxiety I've
experienced.

I am a firm believer of people using medication for anxiety as a good
idea until you're ready or able to go off of medication. I was on
anxiety medicine for about 2-3 years, I have been off of anxiety
medication for about a year or 2. I know how difficult it is to know
that you can only sorta function on medication, and I also know how
terrifying it is to decide to try to go off of medication. The reason
why I went off of medication was because I did not feel like myself on
the medicine, I felt almost disconnected from myself.

I hope I haven't bored anyone...

~Samantha

[georgiehopper]

HI,
Welcome to the group. You know what's interesting about anxious
people? They are all self critical ... your last line "i hope I
havent bored anyone" indicates this.

What medication were you on? I developed anxiety/panic when I was your
age and back then they only had stuff like xanax and other
tranquilizers. Now 20 years later, they have the SSRIs like zoloft,
paxil, etc...and I can honestly say that this is what made me
functional again. I take zoloft and its never made me feel zoned out or
not myself... have you tried anything like this?

For me, xanax is only good for break through anxiety and is not
something I would take often at all... its not a maintenance drug and
only seems to cover the symptoms whereas the zoloft corrects whats
wrong in your brain.

I used to be barely functional until I started the zoloft.

Good luck to you..

[Calgarymike]

Hello,   I'm Mike and I've had anxiety all my life.   Good to be here,     Calgarymike   MSN= calgary...@hotmail.com Yahoo=  michael092956 AIM=  calgarymike ICQ=  155206951

[jake altin]

Thanks for writing back
I am doing a little better now that i know i'm not going to jail

I am in recovery from heroin addiction too and i go to AA.

i am on pamelor and straterra.

w/b

where are you from ? how old ?

jake

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[J McPherson]

Samantha,

Many people have found relief (and have used fewer meds) by simply learning
how to breathe correctly. I know it works for me - and its free!

I started a web site to discuss the things I have learned and invite you to
check it out - especially the parts dealing with breathing technique.

www.stop-anxiety-attack-symptoms.com
www.breathminder.com

Janice

[J McPherson]

Georgie,

Many people have found relief (and have used fewer meds) by simply learning
how to breathe correctly. I know it works for me - and its free!

I started a web site to discuss the things I have learned and invite you to
check it out - especially the parts dealing with breathing technique.

www.stop-anxiety-attack-symptoms.com
www.breathminder.com

Janice
----- Original Message -----
From: "georgiehopper" <georgi...@comcast.net>
To: <Anxiety-...@googlegroups.com>

[J McPherson]

Mike,

 

Many people have found relief (and have used fewer meds) by simply learning how to breathe correctly.  I know it works for me - and its free!

 

I started a web site to discuss the things I have learned and invite you to check it out - especially the parts dealing with breathing technique.

 

www.stop-anxiety-attack-symptoms.com

www.breathminder.com

 

Janice

----- Original Message -----

From: Calgarymike

To: Anxiety-...@googlegroups.com

[Samantha]

Hi, thanks. Oh I am definitally sel critical.... lol.

I was on all of the medications on the market as of 2001 except for
xanax, I refused to try xanax because my sister was addicted to it and
in denial about being addicted.

I have tried: zoloft, paxil, klonopin (that's the one I stuck with for
a while), wellbutrin, some red pill i wasn't even on it long enough to
catch the name, lexapro... you name it, I've been on it... I just can't
remember any other names of the meds I tried, but I do have the list
somewhere.

I can't seem to take any of the medications because my body is really
too sensitive to them or something... I always had the side effects
that only 1 in 100 or 1 in 1000 people would experience, yup that's
me... the ONE!

I am now pretty functional, except for the anxiety attack here and
there through the week to even maybe only a few during the month. I
definitally cannot complain about the amount of times I have a full
blown anxiety or panic attack... definitally getting much better...

It's definitally a challenge though. The thing that I'm struggling
with right now is during those occasional full blown panic attacks
keeping myself calm because my mind first goes to saying "what if this
panic attack doesn't stop like they used to when I was in college (the
first time)?" but once the panic attack ends I'm fine and just kinda
hum along until the next anxiety or panic attack.

~Samantha

[Samantha]

Hi Mike, I'm Samantha

[Calgarymike]

Hi Samantha,

Calgarymike   MSN= calgary...@hotmail.com Yahoo=  michael092956 AIM=  calgarymike ICQ=  155206951

Hi Mike, I'm Samantha