[notimelikenow]

Hi There,

I'm new here... I'm in my late twenties and have spent much of my life with anxiety, but have only recently started tackling it to try to better manage the daily battle.

I've always been a worrier. I've always been panicky. I grew up with an alcoholic parent and haven't had much stability and have found it easier to blame most of my problems on that. While it definitely hasn't made it easy... it doesn't make it okay to be unhappy and it doesn't make it okay to live around the clock with severe anxiety.

It became evident that it was time to do something about this when the symptoms became very physical... I've experienced nausea, headaches, shaking, sweats, tightness in chest, difficulty breathing, difficulty focusing, concentrating, and remembering things, lack of sleep, and more. I've learned that being on edge around the clock is unbearable, and its time to take care of myself and get better.

This in itself has been a battle though... I'm currently starting on my third anti-depressant (trying Zoloft this time... but I've been on Effexor XR and Cipralex/Lexapro), and am taking Ativan twice a day to manage in the meantime. I realize that this is a short term solution and do not have concerns of a long-term addiction. I'm also finding that despite taking some time for myself, I'm having many more bad days than good and its nearly impossible to relax or focus. I'm also seeing a psychologist to help with this.

While its been difficult to deal with all of this, it's become apparent that I'm also struggling with depression.

Although I'm struggling with all of the above, I'm optimistic that I'm moving in the right direction and that things will become more manageable. I look forward to meeting the great folks on these forums.

[Skeezyks]

Hello notimelikenow: Welcome to PsychCentral... from the Skeezyks! May you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

From what you wrote, it sounds like you're doing everything right. So... good luck with your efforts!

[Dont_Follow]

ACOA with severe GAD here. It really can be debilitating. I have to recommend the med gabapentin because it worked as well as benzos for me without the addiction risk. That said, it could also not work for you. Such is the nature of these drugs.

Either way, hopefully the sertraline stabilizes you. I was on it for a good while before it quit working. Definitely a step in the right direction.

[notimelikenow]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Dont_Follow, I'm interested in knowing a bit more about Gabapentin... It looks like it's an anti-seizure drug? Would it be good for both anxiety and depression? My anxiety has been increasingly debilitating, but its evident that severe depression is at play as well. I'm currently off work and will need to get off the Ativan and stabilize on some regular medication before I'm able to go back, as I know Ativan is not a long-term solution.

I'm trying everything to get better... The meds are challenging and it's hard to know what to do next... I'm feeling discouraged given it's my third anti-depressant and it's next to impossible to see a Psychiatrist in my area... I continue to work on trying to see someone.

[Nike007]

Welcome to PC . Many parts of your story are as if I was looking in the mirror. Sorry, I was trying to find something I can say mirror in... But I'm glad you are seeking treatment. It should help you in the long run.

One thing I recommend is to get 7-8 hours of sleep. My goal is to get 8, because teen recommended hours are 8-9, but for adults, it's 7-8. This will help reduce physical and mental problems and help your body "regenerate" itself. There is so much good about sleeping as there is to exercising.

I suffer from anxiety also, so if you need any advice, just message me and I'll reply as soon as possible .

Welcome to PC Forums.. tc

[Dont_Follow]

Originally Posted by notimelikenow

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Dont_Follow, I'm interested in knowing a bit more about Gabapentin... It looks like it's an anti-seizure drug? Would it be good for both anxiety and depression? My anxiety has been increasingly debilitating, but its evident that severe depression is at play as well. I'm currently off work and will need to get off the Ativan and stabilize on some regular medication before I'm able to go back, as I know Ativan is not a long-term solution.

I'm trying everything to get better... The meds are challenging and it's hard to know what to do next... I'm feeling discouraged given it's my third anti-depressant and it's next to impossible to see a Psychiatrist in my area... I continue to work on trying to see someone.

I don't believe gabapentin will reduce depression, however it very well could indirectly if it gets rid of your anxiety. It is an anti-epileptic drug that is prescribed off-label for anxiety. Lyrica is very similar and supposedly better, but it is far too expensive in the US at the moment.

Don't worry about going around the anti-depressant carousel, it is very common to have to try many until one clicks with you. I have tried all of them except for Prozac. That one is next on the list if Paxil quits working.

[notimelikenow]

Thanks, all!

I still have a ton to learn about the medications... it's comforting that it's not all that strange to try multiple anti-depressants. I guess my frustration around it has mostly been that I haven't been able to get into a Psychiatrist, and also the length of time it takes to taper down and build up to a therapeutic dose on a new medication. It's a bit of a journey each time.

In any event... I'm going to research gabapentin a bit more. In the meantime, I'm working on therapy, getting enough rest (this is something that I always strive for, but I don't sleep well), and treating myself better (eating healthy, working to get some exercise in, etc.).

[handheart]

Seing your post i think you should fix problem from your head and not with medication ,medication are good also but not definetively .I see you was had a bad childhood and this afects you a lot .I think the most qualified to help you its a good menatl dosctor like psiholog .I think you must find a solution to heal trauma from your past .Good luck

[notimelikenow]

Thanks Handheart... I'm definitely working on both and not just focusing on medication... although things definitely do get worse when my medication isn't working well (like now).

I've been working through EMDR with my psychologist and that has been helping a bit. I'm also working on taking better care of myself (exercising, eating well, sleeping well when I can) to help too.

[RachelLyn915]

Hello and Welcome NoTimeLikeNow!

I'm Rachel and your situation sounds somewhat similar to mine. I have always been an anxious person. My dad was an alcoholic -- I loved him very much and spent most nights scared to death that he would go to prison, kill himself or kill someone else. (He loved to drink and drive.) The only reason he stopped drinking was because he got cancer which brought a lot of medical issues. Four months after his diagnosis, my 26 year old fiance was diagnosed with cancer. From 2010 until 2014, I lived with constant anxiety, but it was justified. I have always been afraid to leave my hometown -- even 45 minutes away -- that got much worse when they got sick. I didn't want them more than 5 minutes away from me.

When they passed away, I felt so much better - anxiety wise. I felt like there wasn't anything else to worry about because they were no longer suffering and the worst had already happened... I lost them. I was in shock, but I was free for the first time in my life. I had sadness and anger but I wasn't anxious. I could travel and enjoy it. It lasted until I lost my house, which was a year and a half after they had both passed and happened to be 2 weeks after I turned 26.

It was like my anxiety was encased in stone and someone broke it open. It was like someone opened Pandora's Box. I haven't ever had so much anxiety in my life -- the funny thing is that I do not have anything to be anxious about. I have a new, great boyfriend and a beautiful house that I remodeled the kitchen in, everyone is healthy to my knowledge, we don't have any money troubles... no real threats to be anxious about. Also, I've developed health anxiety (hypochondria). Everyday brings a new symptom or even worse the same symptom will keep dragging on convincing me that I am dying.

Over the last 6 months I have been getting better and better at dealing with my health anxiety and panic attacks by realizing what I am feeling is anxiety and not some serious illness. I have also started eating better and exercising, which I know helps because I hurt my foot last week so I haven't been on the treadmill or up cooking dinner and I have felt terrible for the last 3 days. I'm still failing at the anxiety though. For three days, my head, face, neck and shoulders have all been tense and hurting, my stomach is upset, I have heartburn, acid re-flux and bloating. My mind is racing, my chest is tight, my heart rate is on the high end of normal and breathing feels difficult but its really not. I just keep telling myself it is anxiety and I can get through it. If I pay it no mind, it will go away. It hasn't worked yet, but I am getting back on that treadmill tomorrow.

I got on here tonight to express my feelings and read some posts. Reading that others are dealing with and/or beating the same thing that I am going through helps. I like reassuring myself that I am not alone in this. I also like getting feedback from others even if I know a lot of it already. It's nice to connect with people who understand. So that's why I yammered on in this post. I hope it helps.

My only other advice is to do things that you love and spend time with people that you love. Even if its hard to enjoy them now due to depression, it will get better and more normal.