My Panic Disorder

I belive I have always had a panic disorder to some degree, but here in the past five years it has gotten worse. First my mother died from ovarion cancer. She was only 42 and I was 22. Then my step-dad tried to steal the family home that my great grandparents built in WW2. Then for some reason in the past year, my symptoms have gotten 100% worse and I don't leave the house anymore. I have'nt talked to anyone in my family for about a year and a half. And I stay in a constant state of fear. And my nerves are shot. My insurance was cancelled because of my husbands Crohn's. So I have'nt been to see a doctor or had my meds in a year. Which I know has something to do with the worsening of my symptoms. But despite it all I try to stay on the sunny side and push the bad thoughts away.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
thunderbear said:
I belive I have always had a panic disorder to some degree, but here in the past five years it has gotten worse. First my mother died from ovarion cancer. She was only 42 and I was 22. Then my step-dad tried to steal the family home that my great grandparents built in WW2. Then for some reason in the past year, my symptoms have gotten 100% worse and I don't leave the house anymore. I have'nt talked to anyone in my family for about a year and a half. And I stay in a constant state of fear. And my nerves are shot. My insurance was cancelled because of my husbands Crohn's. So I have'nt been to see a doctor or had my meds in a year. Which I know has something to do with the worsening of my symptoms. But despite it all I try to stay on the sunny side and push the bad thoughts away.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I... have Panic Disorder (without Agoraphobia) also. High stress, especially if it's constant---makes me have panic attacks. You certainly have a high stress situation or two.

I think you should go to a community mental health center. They run on a sliding scale. You need to have medication to help you overcome this, and preferably, with psychotherapy in conjunction to medications. If you can't afford therapy due to insurance being canceled, then you definitely need medication. You can get it very cheaply through a CMHS. Usually they are run by the county you live in.

Benzodiazapenes is the class of drugs that have shown the most efficacy in treating Panic Disorder. Anti-depressants are used as a last resort. Sometimes, Seroquil has been used off-label (it's an anti-psychotic) to treat Panic Disorder, but the first line of defense is the Benzodiazapenes. A low dose of Xanax or Ativan is commonly taken daily, and much more effective than taking it only when you have a panic attack.

You should try to talk to someone about this. Don't pack it up inside.

I think thats wonderful that you try to stay on the "sunny side". I hope that you get insurance soon, and even if you don't, maybe there is a certain drug that you could take thats on those $4 dollar perscription plans that they have at Kroger, and Meijer and Walmart.

i guess in a way here in the uk i am lucky because we have the nhs free health service. i have only found out in the last week or so of my on going four month battle against panic attacks that the derealization is what is messing me up the most. i am alot better now than what i was. good luck with getting some help. lots of hugs Syco