[almostangela]

I've been on Celexa for 5 years and I've tried to get off of it a few times but wind up having panic attacks. My doctor told me to take half a dose on day, and full dose the next day for two weeks and then cut back again. I can't seem to get past the first week without getting all worried and dramatic about every little thing. Any suggestions? Anyone been on it for many many years?

[jennie]

Maybe consider changing your attitude about the panic attacks???

I have no idea how debiliating your panic attacks are for you. Only you can know how much suffering you are able to manage without a psych med to lean on as a crutch.

I think about people who are in extreme physical pain and manage pain without pain meds. How do they do it? What about people who undergo surgery without anesthesia? How do they do it?

I think a little positive self-talk or self-hypnosis would benefit. Try grounding techniques first, to help you realize you are safe. Next, try to accept the feelings your body is feeling. It's not wrong to feel your heart race if it needs to. Try relaxing your breathing. Hyperventilation perpetuates panic attacks. Focus your breathing on longer exhales and shorter inhales.

If any of this works for you then you'll have your own evidence to keep up the good work.

I still have panic attacks. They don't control my life anymore. I go with it and when it's over I realize it wasn't that bad. The more power I give them, the worse they are. So . . . heart, if you wanna race, go ahead . . . chest, if you wanna hurt with stabbing pains, go ahead . . . lungs, if you wanna catch your breath, go ahead for a little while, i'll help you breathe . . . head, if you wanna spinn, freak, zoom, and faintish, go ahead, i'll recover, i'm not dying . . . etc etc etc.

[Rhapsody]

Maybe you are not ready to be with out the medicine just quit yet.... if the reason for the attacks were fully healed the you would be fine.... I say this for I have done the on the medicine off the medicine thing many times over and what I found is that I am better on the medicine.

Good Luck....

LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

[almostangela]

The doctor did mention that some people need never to be off of it. Some people have naturally low seritonin and when I look back before the pills, I thought life was supposed to be so miserable. However......like most people......I don't want to be dependant on anything.

[Rhapsody]

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almostangela said:
However......like most people......I don't want to be dependant on anything.

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Some times we need to be.... and this medicine just might be one of those times, for me personally I would not be here if I went off the Celexa - I would be six feet under.

BTW - I do not look at my medicine as being dependant on them, but rather as a means of giving me my life back (that which another took).... I want to enjoy all that I can with the limited life we all are granted.

LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

[darkeyes]

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