[Tsalagi]

Hi. Here is a little info about myself. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety around 10 years ago. I take my meds as needed bc I don't like the idea of taken a lot of meds. I struggle with big crowds and unfamiliar surroundings. I have days when I don't want to go out in public and want to stay in doors and not be bothered by anyone. I feel guilty bc this interferes with me taking my kids places. I have to be in the mood to do so. I have to take my anxiety meds whenever I am working or else I will not function right. I often get sharp chest pains or have issues with my stomach. I catch myself thinking about violent and graphic things happening to my children and it wont stop. I am hear to learn better ways to cope and it is a relief to be around others that suffer from what I have.

Tsalagi

[FrayedEnds]

Hi Tsalagi
It does help a lot to read and post with others who can relate. I hope you can pick up some info that will help you to cope better. Welcome!

Hi, welcome to the boards. You're not alone in the way that you feel. I used to have really bad anxiety and panic attacks too! A few times it happened at work, ugh! Meds do help, but you sometimes have to figure out what works for you best which might take awhile. I used to avoid most people and places like crazy, but I'm a lot better now w/o any therapy. I just take my meds.

I find that being around supportive people help. I just try not to think of the worst case scenario and just tune other people out or avoid them if I have to. Perhaps one day you'll get better too. I still struggle with anxiety and social phobia, but it's great that I can relax a LOT more in public usually!

[RoseInterrupted]

Hello Tsalagi.
I suffered from both general anxiety as well as a strong social anxiety much of my life. In the past I've taken various benzos when required, but they can only ever be a short term fix due to their serious addictive qualities, something of which I was well aware. Benzo's, in general, are not the answer.
I also tried therapy and probably didn't have a very good therapist. Therapy worked for a few hours, but then the old thought train would return and undo all the work we'd done in an hour session. It works really well for some, but for me it was a waste of good money and lots of time!
More recently, I went to a newish doctor and asked for a script of Xanax. He hit the roof saying he was on a committee to have the stuff banned from being prescribed by general practitioners and of how addictive and dangerous it was. I wished I hadn't asked

Finally, he started me on Effexor 37.5mg which will increase to 75mg tomorrow. I've only been on the lower dose for 28 days, but I think it is actually beginning to help. I feel much brighter and have stopped dwelling on all the bad things that happen in the outside world. I hope it gets even better on the higher dose. The side affects were minimal and short lasting, but like any psych drug, different drugs affect people differently. What works for some, doesn't work for others and you may have to experiment with your doctor's help to find the right one or combo.

Like yourself, I hate to take drugs, but I've spent all my life living in a mostly solitary cocoon and I simply decided to take control and do something, even if it meant a long time spent on drugs.

Not sure if this helps your current situation, but please talk to your doctor about long term medication. Ask her/him about possible complications and side affects. You may just find out that it's not as bad as you think and could even give you and you kids a decent quality of life.