My friend anxiety

So my name is anthony im twenty three years old and I have been fighting anxiety a good five years now. It comes in the most inconvenient times ands is mostly crippling it makes me feel as if im dying . My first anxiety attack struck me so hard and randomly my body was numb and my heart was beating so fast it felt like my chest was going to explode. I remember pinching my arm so hard I had bruises the next day. I'm treated now with klonopin and recently my doctor prescribed me zoloft which I will admit I'm afraid to take because of suicidal side effects or self harm ( I don't feel that way now but I just don't want that thought to come to mind). Both sides of my family suffer from this I feel like I got the worst out of the batch. Ive researched what causes it, in my case genetics and also a life changing experience in high school. Ive tried Marijuana to help in most cases it does and ive definitely boozed it up to dull it but that makes it worse. I hate that my mind and others are crippled by this terrible sickness, I've become more of a hermit as i usually feel like crap even with meds and i dont like to go out like that. I work out I eat healthy when I can I take vitamins a multi, b, and folic. Im not asking for everyone to share some people like to keep this type of thing to themselves but i think its something that should be recognized not laughed at or mocked. I might have anxiety but im still a tough dude (imo haha). Anyway I encourage any of you that have these feelings to talk to somebody get help I cant guarantee you a 100% fix but I will say after the years I've learned to deal with especially after educating myself about it more. This is my first post please take it easy on me and please if anyone wants to talk I think we have a private message option. Thank you and peace to all.
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Sorry to hear that, i did have similar issues in my past, no medication was able to help me, in the end weekly therapy and a healthier lifestyle made it less of an anchor.

I trully hope you find peace in your life.

Ps: you can always pm me if you need to get stuff off your chest.

a reply to: dukeofjive696969

Thank you i think therapy is my next option down the line but right now i feel like my meds keep me somewhat balanced but id love to kick them to curb eventually.

I understand perfectly what you are going through; I myself have/had crippling anxiety since I was a preteen, along with a couple of other nasties.

I'm not going to go into a long explanation, nor am I going to say natural this or that, just a short post.

If you're just suffering from severe anxiety, and the anxiety itself is a cause of other nasties like depression and SAD (Social anietxy disorder) etc, you may want to skip taking an anti-depressant and that of your klonopine; any benzodiazepines really, once you gain a tolerance, it can cause you to have rebound symptoms 10fold, and the withdrawals caused by a longterm benzo such as klonopin can affect you for years, and some times permanently on your mental and physical faculty s...you DO NOT want to go through it, oh hell no.

Try a beta blocker like Propranolol or one of its family members, it's for general anxiety, lowering your blood pressure via lowering your noradrenaline/adrenaline levels preventing your anxiety levels from going into over by preventing it at the chemical level, social anxiety, stage fright, and many other uses.

They are generally safe and non addictive, in some people abdominal cramps, a little constipation,slight reduction in strengh and it is also a great medication to help you in withdrawal from opiates, benzos etc (I mention in case you want to get off the klonopin), and it works immediately on the first pill without you having to wait for a gradual build up of the drug in your system to take effect.

This is coming from a person who worked in medical for quite some time, and also personally suffered from your very condition, and much more, including drug addiction, it saves lives.

Keep the fight going

a reply to: MuonToGluon

Thank very much that is all great information im actually heading to my doctor pretty soon here maybe ill bring that up in my visit today i do not wish to go through withdrawal especially from a medication that just makes me feel meh

a reply to: Antwonzilla

I think it's brave of you to post this and I agree that it is complicated and too often mocked or laughed at, in my opinion, due to lack of understanding or desire to understand anything that may be going on with other folks and people are all too often preoccupied with themselves and their tiny little bubble. Not saying that is a bad thing, necessarily, just saying that is how some of the world appears to me today. I am fortunate in that I have wonderful co workers and friends and a good support system at this time.

Someone I know who struggles with a list of mental health issues including agoraphobia has been offered a job yesterday. It is only for two days a week, to start as the folks involved know of her issues. She seems excited and i haven't seen that spark in her eyes for a long time. I hope Monday morning, when it is time to go interview, she will be able to actually get in the vehicle with me and ride across town.. It may sound silly to folks who have no experience with mental illness but if she makes it to even the interview, it would be an amazing accomplishment.

I think it's very wise of you to research your issues on your own and weigh the risks and benefits of the medication prescribed and I hope that you discuss those concerns with your Doctor and perhaps they can try different medications/doses until they find the right 'cocktail' so to speak. That can be a long and frustrating process but with my loved one I believe the process is still worth it although there has not been great success as of yet. Little milestones to celebrated. Like, even thinking about a trying to get a job! It's a beautiful thing.

I feel for you when you say

I've become more of a hermit as i usually feel like crap even with meds and i dont like to go out like that.

I hope that with therapy (?) and treatment that you can overcome this.

Good luck to you!
Thanks for sharing your story and I wish you the best, truly.

I also had panic attacks and night terrors (the same thing in the middle of the night, in your sleep) for over 35 years. I did see a counselor and got some good help (including relaxation therapy (hypnosis) and "mantras" to help.)

It can be overcome. You do have to find the RIGHT counselor (licensed psychiatrist in my case) and you don't have to be in treatment for the rest of your life particularly if your family helps you (as my husband helped me.)

a reply to: Antwonzilla

Ive researched what causes it, in my case genetics and also a life changing experience in high school.

Those drugs aren't going to help with that. Covering it up only worsens it. You have to go into and through that experience to resolve it.

Hopefully with someone qualified you can trust as a guide.

a reply to: Antwonzilla

I used to have anxiety very bad and had two attacks in a day that made me pass out standing up. The battle is treturous.

I've never been on any meds, instead I changed my way of thinking. I now view anxiety as the brain signaling it is hungry if you will, hungry for change. Whether it be your environment, people you surround yourself with, or your job.

In the end the only cure is you, you must find the answers to what you need, and seeking help is a good first step. Many of us have experienced this.

Good luck in your battle, you are not the first and won't be the last. Stay strong and count the positives not the negative.

Thank you all for the support and great advice each comment has been thoroughly read i appreciate the help especially as new comer i would very much one day live my life without stuffing pills down my throat! I feel like for some people that dont have anxiety (like my boss ) give me a hard time twlling me to get over it, if only he knew the true feeling especially when he tells me to get over it! I have been more open about especially at my job with certain people my foreman understands at least sometimes i just need a breath a fresh air and back to work

a reply to: Antwonzilla

Yeah skip the pills, it's a mistake to take any pills, alcohol or pot etc... drugs for anxiety is like a security blanket, without it your going to freak out. You need to get out of your safety zone to defeat anxiety, no pill will ever do that for you.

To wean yourself from anxiety you have to take huge steps, not baby steps. Go out of your comfort zone until it's no big deal, it will naturally reset any chemical imbalance you have. Anxiety will level off the further you go.

Reschedule everything you do, change your sleep patterns, change food, change people you know etc... Change locations, take long trips and take mini vacations. Change everything.

You can defeat anxiety yourself, no doctor needed, you must believe in yourself to defeat anxiety. I think doctors also become a security blanket.... so yeah wean off the doctors.

Most people with lower anxiety will never understand what your going through, they think it's easy to defeat, or that it's something wrong with you, just ignore their ignorance.

a reply to: imitator

Good thing i got a vacation next week driving to Tennessee for the week Gatlinburg here i come! Thank you for the advice !

originally posted by: imitator
a reply to: Antwonzilla

Most people with lower anxiety will never understand what your going through, they think it's easy to defeat, or that it's something wrong with you, just ignore their ignorance.

Love it im sorry i over looked this part ! You are spot on with this!

I also suffered from crippling Anxiety..

At my lowest point I couldn't even leave the house except to go to the doctor or hospital.

It took 2 doctors , 4 CAT scans, a colonoscopy , 4 female exams and a chance run in with an old teacher before I was even diagnosed..

I was then put on Prozac, it changed my life...for the better.I never knew all the negative stories about it at the time.

Now I've heard so many horrible stories about Prozac but, for me it was a life saver..Maybe, because I wasn't taking it for depression.

A lot of my problems that I thought were problems, I realized weren't problems after all.And, things that were actually problems were no longer overwhelming me to the point I thought I would have a breakdown.I can't even explain just how significant the change was..

Unfortunately, my insurance was cancelled and we moved away for my husband to change jobs and eventually a new insurance..But,by then I had quit Prozac cold turkey (yes I knew that was supposed to be bad).I had no side effects of quitting like that and for the most part still have my anxiety under control..Every now and then I suffer an attack. Sometimes, I think of going back on it but, then I remember all the negative things I read about it..

Good luck to you! It's a horrible thing to suffer from and unless you have it it's hard for people to understand..My husband never understood it....To his credit he stuck with me thoughout my issues..

a reply to: misfit312

Its very hard to diagnose at first i feel especially your first one. My first anxiety attack was when i was 17 or 18 i thought i was having a heart attack until i woke everyone in my house up at 4am haha but stay strong we all need to it helps to talk i can honestly say i feel better talking with all of you and hearing other experiences besides my familys. Not everyone in my family is as easy to talk to my dad kinda shrugs it off and my moms always working annnnd grandma smokes to much wacky tobaccy

I think i may try my zoloft this weekend fingers crossed i really want off the klonopin but need to ween off it

a reply to: TNMockingbird

A support team is always great to have and i wish you and your friend the best of luck as well !

You're not alone. I'm in the same boat you are. Except I've never taken meds. Usually if I'm forced into situations I just self medicate with alcohol. Like you I'm scared about the meds that treat our issues because they bring debilitating long term effects. I've had generalized anxiety and social anxiety for almost 10 yrs now and am about ready to go to a dr to get it taken care of.

originally posted by: MuonToGluon

Try a beta blocker like Propranolol or one of its family members, it's for general anxiety, lowering your blood pressure via lowering your noradrenaline/adrenaline levels preventing your anxiety levels from going into over by preventing it at the chemical level, social anxiety, stage fright, and many other uses.

Yep, exactly. I too had once suffered from anxiety. Then many years ago I got a bad case of pneumonia, long story short, it led to an episode of a-fib. I was in the hospital for a week as they adjusted doses of meds, one of which is a beta blocker. It turned out to be the best thing that happened to me as the beta blocker has pretty much eliminated any physical manifestations of anxiety. Sure, I still get nervous in some situations, but I no longer get a racing heart, or sweats, or feel like I'm going to pass out, etc.

a reply to: avgguy

I feel you guy ive been there and can say at the age of 23 i was on the verge of being a alcoholic waking up drunk or feeling even worse having no recollection of the night before. You have to say ive had enough i want my life back. Dont push people away let them in, some wont understand others will stay strong friend.