[SaintTimothy]

I am new here. I am a 55 year old female who has lived with panic and anxiety since I was a teenager. For five years I was completely housebound with agoraphobia. I eventually began Paxil and did very, very well until a few years ago when I stopped taking it. The reason that I stopped was the weight gain issues...I gained 60 pounds and developed type 2 diabetes. When I stopped taking it, the blood sugar issues resolved very quickly and I lost the weight within two months without even trying. This was approximately five years ago. That was the good news.

The bad news is the fear is back, not the way it once was but I can certainly feel it once again. Driving is becoming scary again, the feeling of wanting to stay in my home, stay safe, isolating myself...the depression and what if's...

A new problem however is the dentist. I have been having extensive work done these past few months, a root canal, and extraction, fillings and a bridge. I Have white-knuckled it so far but it has been pure agony...not the pain or the procedures per se but rather the experience of just being there...the heart pounding, sweating, I am going to have a massive panic attack any second kind of feeling. And my treatment isn't finished...in fact I am sitting here with a tootache because I still have more dental work that needs to be completed. I had an appt. for this week but of course I canceled it...fear naturally. They rescheduled for next week. I absolutely have to finish this treatment...I have been wearing a temporary bridge for three months and they need to make the permanent one...plus I have this horrid toothache....ugh. This disorder makes life so hard. Oh and also, I am terrified of doctors too and haven't been in several years because I am just sure that they will find something wrong with me...and then the mind just takes the ball and starts running with it...maybe I have cancer...maybe I am dying...maybe, maybe, maybe. It just never stops.

Guess I am just looking for some support, or reassurance...or just a virtual hug to get me through the day.

Thanks for listening.

[purpleapple]

Virtual hugs to you!!

I so can relate. I am also terrified of the Dentist, and am in the midst of dental work. You really have had a lot of dental trauma in such a short period of time. Have they mentioned any sort of oral sedation options to you? Whenever I go I am prescribed a minor tranquilizer for the visit itself as well as for the night before so I can sleep. Another thing that many dentists offer is Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) which can be used in tandem with the tranquilizers. I think it's $50.00 per session if you an swing it, and between the two, it's really like you're really not even there. Another thing that i didn't know until my last visit is that there is epinephrine in the dental shot, and that can make you jittery. I felt better knowing that because it made sense to me the. In the meantime, for your toothache, I swear by Oragel Max strength personally. Yeah the Dentist totally sucks... and for the whole drama, and then we get to pay big $$$ for it...Hugs to you. You're not alone, believe me...Another hug.

[gma45]

Welcome to PC! This is a good place to learn more about yourself. Glad you found us. There are other medications out there that might help you if you can just get to the doctor. And have you told your dentist this? I was an assistant for a dentist for a long time and we would give our patients something if they were extremely nervous. You have been on medication before so you know it can get better. I suggest you just go for it. We are here for ya.

[Bumblebuzz12]

Okay so about your dentist and doctor ask them what they plan on doing during your appt. that way you know what's going to happen. When your at the dentist close your eyes and try to relax and don't focus on the pain.
Bad things can happen anytime or anywhere, but we are only human and we can't predict what's going to happen in the future. Everything happens for a reason even the bad things. Staying cooped up inside isn't doing anything for you. You are gradually making yourself more afraid.
For Example: your taking yoga and stretching different muscles in your leg. You go continuously for weeks and began making your splits. One day you catch your friend's cold. You start by missing one class, than two, than three and so on. Your muscles in your leg start losing its flexibility and you can know longer touch your toes.
In case you don't get this example I'll explain it. You were taking your meds and you were doing just fine. You stopped taking the medication for necessary reasons. By avoiding your fears your letting them become greater and now all the progress you made with your meds is lost, but that's okay because you can get it all back.