[SingDanceRunLife]

I have had some anxiety issues for a couple years now, and though for awhile I was doing okay, over the summer, things got worse, so I went back to counseling before coming back to school. Last semester was a disaster, and though break was awesome and helped me some, I am not doing well right now at all.

When it came to coming back to school, I was freaking out. I cried about having to go back, something I have never done before (I think I may have cried when I was a freshman, in the weeks before going, but that would be the only time ever), I haven't been sleeping much in the past couple of weeks, I've been getting really itchy (something that happens to me often when my anxiety levels are up), and my stomach is killing me! I either have knots or feel nauseous, and half the time, I'm not hungry, and the other half the time, I'm starving, but the thought of eating makes me want to hurl.

I don't know what to do!

[cameron949]

SingDanceRunLife,

Are you seeing a therapist? These are all typical symptoms of Anxiety and the only way to get through it is with some help. You try and read books on the subject and try breathing and relaxation exercises - they may help as well to at least understand you and get you to calm down. But the real help will come from seeing a therapist or mental professional.

I have experienced everything you have and more over last couple of months, and I have seen my GP and a therapist for help. Though I am not an advocate of meds, each person is different and may need different types of help, I am taking meds to help me focus on the therapy.

We all know what you are going through and are here for support!

[SingDanceRunLife]

I know those are all typical symptoms. As I said, I've had some of these problems for awhile now.

I'm not currently seeing anyone.

Towards the end of last semester, I started seeing one of the counselors at my school, and it helped some...but I don't think right now they have people at the counseling center -- I'm back at school 2 weeks early.

I'm definitely thinking that maybe I want to go back on meds...I was super wary at first, but they helped immensely and honestly, I could use all the help I can get right now.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I'm thinking of calling my school's counseling center and seeing if anyone is around right now...and if there's not, I'll definitely try and get back in when the semester actually starts up...and I'm thinking that I might try and see the psychiatrist and possibly get back on some meds. Towards the end of last semester I thought that maybe I should go back on them so...

[sundog]

That sounds like a good plan ((((SDRL)))). It's great that medication helped you before. What did you take?

Really hope you can get some appointments set up very soon and find some relief

[SingDanceRunLife]

I was on Prozac, and it was great...but I think I might want to try something else maybe.

[sundog]

I take Zoloft and it used to help a lot with my anxiety, but now not so much. If you had success with Prozac before then it might be worth trying it again? Good luck! I really hope it helps!

[SingDanceRunLife]

The startup with Prozac was brutal, and I don't really want to go through that again...and even more than that, I don't think that I would be able to deal with it right now. I was in such a fog, had the worst headaches, always wanted to sleep, and had an even lower appetite than before (low, since when I'm stressed/anxious I don't like to eat)...and that lasted for a good 2 or 3 weeks...and I'm in school right now, in a super rigorous nursing program that I absolutely cannot miss things in or be out of it when it class/clinical.

[sundog]

I found Prozac really difficult at first too and I had similar problems to the ones you describe here when I started it. I guess one thing to try would be starting out at a super low dose. I think there is even "liquid Prozac" which is supposed to be better tolerated. Perhaps you could ask your pdoc about that?

[SingDanceRunLife]

Liquid? That sounds so incredibly undesirable...

[sundog]

LOL!! True!! I think the official name is "Prozac Oral"......I can't imagine what it tastes like!!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Yeah...

But anyway, that's why I'm wary of doing the whole Prozac thing again.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I honestly don't know how I can do this semester...I don't even want to be at school this semester...

[sundog]

Hi SDRL. Were you able to put a call in to your school's counseling center?

[SingDanceRunLife]

Not yet.

[valfor]

Hi sorry to hear you are having a tough time, I have dealt with anxiety for a few years now and when I had a panic attack I thought I was going to die or go crazy. Well I survived both and have been to hell and back. The one thing I have found that helped me was exercise and eating healthy..it was so simple but yet not the easiest thing to do. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has helped me big time..I know my anxiety is real and I have accepted it and when I feel a panic attack coming on I just say to myself "ok, you know what this is so bring it on, this will pass so watch it happen" that believe it or not has helped me deal with this anxiety. I to was on Zoloft at first for 9 months and it helped while I was learning all about my disorder. But know I will never go back on meds because I have found a way to help me deal with it. I still have anxiety and it's no fun I know but I am ok with it. Hope you can find some relief, sending you peace and serenity.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I told my mom everything yesterday and she is being extremely supportive. She even said that she or my dad could come pick me up at school and bring me home for the weekend. I told her that I would love to go home, but was pretty sure that if I did, it would be pretty much impossible for me to come back up to school today/this week...and we can't have that. So after that, we decided that she would come up here with my sister and go shopping. It was good, but having her leave was hard, and I would still love to go home and not be here.

[sundog]

I'm so glad your family are being so supportive

[SingDanceRunLife]

My mom's really good about that

I wish there were an instant fix to this though...

[kittychanel]

I feel the same way about school! I go online and wonder if I'll make it. Something like Xanax or Klonopin may help. It helps me alot. Much luck to you hon!

[SingDanceRunLife]

I went in to the doctor yesterday and came out with an Rx for Celexa (in the generic form) and Xanax (also in the generic form).

We talked about Prozac and how the side effects upon startup were just awful, so even though it worked fine when I got through that, we came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be a bad idea to try something else. And then of course, the Xanax is for the interim.

[sundog]

Good job. I really hope the Celexa helps. I have also been considering switching from Zoloft to Celexa......Let us know how you get on!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Will do.

[asmucker]

I've used Lexapro and it's very good. I get annoyed at people who poo-poo medications. We're talking about conditions that affect our brains' ability to produce the chemicals necessary for coping. Stress and trauma may be related to the onset of these problems, but there's still the chemical aspect of it. Diabetics don't stop taking their meds when they're feeling well. For me, the meds don't completely solve the problem but they enable us to work toward a permanent resolution. Let me know if you think I'm totally wrong.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by asmucker

I've used Lexapro and it's very good. I get annoyed at people who poo-poo medications. We're talking about conditions that affect our brains' ability to produce the chemicals necessary for coping. Stress and trauma may be related to the onset of these problems, but there's still the chemical aspect of it. Diabetics don't stop taking their meds when they're feeling well. For me, the meds don't completely solve the problem but they enable us to work toward a permanent resolution. Let me know if you think I'm totally wrong.

I don't think you're wrong at all. Some people, like me, just don't really like taking meds. Some people, like me, don't like the idea of needing something in order to function like a normal person, they just want to be normal or do whatever without anything else.