I don't think i can get through this! PLEASE HELP!

Hi thank you guys for your suggestions. I've been on the same med mix for a while now...they were adjusted earlier this year. Currently I am on Xanax XR 3mg 2 times a day, and then also neuortin one in the morning and as needed every 4 hours. Also Xanax (fast acting to help reduce the symptoms of panic). And also benedryl and/or risperidol to help me sleep or to take in case they start to get real bad. My doctor wants to put me on a med called Gabitril and usually I am more than willing to take and do whatever I have to not to suffer from such severe daily panic attacks-but one of the side effects is vomiting and as strange as this may sound I have been terrified and i do mean terrified of throwing up that it usually what causes my panic attacks the fear of that or the fear of another one coming. Also the past two mornings(including this one) that I've been here at college, I've been like gagging b/c i feel like my throat is closing up but i gag like over and over and my throat and tounge are killing me...its horrible....i dont know why it happens but needless to say it freaks me out even more. if it happens to anyone else and /or they've learned ways to not have it happen please tell me! i can't take much more of this!!
As far as living off campus- I really want to give the on-campus thing a try-I'm going to go home every weekend-but i dont think you get the whole experience w/o living on campus especially at my college because there are only 400 residents. One of my roomates is pretty sympethetic but its hard for her to relate to what is happening to me. I tried to get in touch with the health center and left a message but no one got back to me and i tried talking to my freshman advisor who is incredibly nice and said she would do her best to get me through this. but that she wouldnt be able to get me into counseling until sometime next week-i just need someone on-campus that i can talk to if im having one someone who will understand and help me through it. and i have been paging my doctor nonstop and he will not call me back-if this continues im afraid i'll end up in the hospital its that bad!! does anyone have any ideas that could make me feel more comfortable? and maybe answer some of the questions i've listed above. it just makes me so sad because i want to be here and i dont want anxiety to beat me i want to beat it but its lso hard. Please help you guys! and for those who have already extended their suggestions i appreciate it very much its nice to know im not so alone
-Ashley

I responded to you other post but I will also respond here. School Health Centers can be almost impossible to get into. At UConn we were only allowed eight sessions a semester with someone (less then once a week) because there was such a waiting list for help. I learned that taking walks around campus released so much of my anxiety when I felt it build up. For awhile it was the only way that I could sleep. Being around people helps even though it may sound awful....college can be a very very lonely place without any friends. If it is any help the first semester is the worse and I think so so many freshman go through a period of having a really hard time when they first come too.

Jessica

"Take these chances. Place them in a box until a quieter time..." ~DMB

Here's some breathing exercises I found on the Mind/Body Institute website: (They've worked for me.)

" 'Mini' Relaxation Exercises

Mini relaxation exercises are focused breathing techniques which help reduce anxiety and tension immediately!

You can do them with your eyes open or closed (but make sure that your eyes are open when you are driving!).

You can do them any place, at any time, no one will know that you are doing them.

Ways to "do a mini"...
Switch over to diaphragmatic breathing; if you are having trouble, try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, or take a deep breath. You should feel your stomach rising about an inch as you breathe in, and falling about an inch as your breathe out. If this is still difficult for you, lie on your back or on your stomach; you will be more aware of your breathing pattern. Remember, it is impossible to breathe diaphragmatically if you are holding your stomach in! So... relax your stomach muscles.

Mini Version 1
Count very slowly to yourself from ten down to zero, one number for each breath. Thus, with the first diaphragmatic breath, you say "ten" to yourself, with the next breath, you say "nine", etc. If you start feeling light-headed or dizzy, slow down the counting. When you get to "zero", see how you are feeling. If you are feeling better, great! If not, try doing it again.

Mini Version 2
As you inhale, count very slowly up to four; as you exhale, count slowly back down to one. Thus, as you inhale, you say to yourself "one, two, three, four," (right here, I try to hold my breath for a count of four) as you exhale, you say to yourself "four, three, two, one." Do this several times. (The purpose is to slow your breathing down or to stop breathing too shallow.)

Mini Version 3
After each inhalation, pause for a few seconds, after your exhale, pause again for a few seconds. Do this for several breaths.

Good times to "do a mini"...
While being stuck in traffic... when put on "hold" during an important phone call... while waiting in your doctor's waiting room... when someone says something which bothers you... at all red lights... when waiting for a phone call... in the dentist's chair... when you feel overwhelmed by what you need to accomplish in the near future... while standing in line... when in pain... etc., etc.

The only time that mini's do not work is when you forget to do them!!! so go do a mini... "




<font color=blue>"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" --Shakespeare</font color=blue>

Sis Tomi,
Those are awesome. I am going to use those for myself.

Jessica

"Take these chances. Place them in a box until a quieter time..." ~DMB