Hello all - New to the site

[ladybj]

I am happy to have found this site. I find that reaching out to others that understand what you are going through can help a great deal. I have been an anxious person as long as I can remember. My anxiety was under control for a long time. But it resurfaced when I was facing financial hardship about 10 years ago. My husband and I lost our home to foreclosure and we end up separating. A few years prior, I was going through pre-menopause and if that was not enough, I was told I have MS, which I do not believe I have. I had a head nurse tell me my prognosis was good. Another doctor told me he is not sure why Neurologist is quick to give people MS diagnosis. If you look up post menopause symptoms, some of them are the same as MS.

Long story short.. my husband and I were headed for divorce but end up getting back together and we purchased a home. I am post menopausal...which is not fun. I do not have a lot of hot flashes but I do have muscle tension (hard for me to relax), tension knots in neck, shoulders, legs, small panic attacks and anxeity. I went to so many doctors in the past no one could help with my muscle tension. I was prescribed Ativan about 10 years ago for panic attacks. The attacks got better. I went from Ativan to valium.. I now take 1/4 pill when needed at night to help me sleep. I try not to depend on it too much. I have horrible early morning health anxiety when I try to go back to sleep. I have allergies and it affects my face and head and being tensed up makes it worst. A glass of wine or two... lol does help. Bottom line, I am MUCH better than I was years ago. I don't go to the doctor for any little pain or panic attack any more. I have learned to ride out the panic attack when it comes because I know it will pass.

Wanted to share my story for all that can relate. We can and will make it through this. Anxiety is very real. No one can understand unless they are faced with it.

 

[Cuchculan]

Welcome to the forum. You have come a long way with your anxiety. But as you rightly said ' attacks always pass '. That is the important thing that everybody should try and remember. I know it is harder for some people. Panic attacks are never nice. The frighten so many people. Then it depends where they have them. No fun if it is outdoors. But they will always pass. Hard to believe that what happens during a panic attack happens to protect us from what the mind sees as danger. First time I heard that one said to me I laughed. But it is true. Any roads, hope you enjoy your time here on the forum. By the way Valium are meant to be more muscle relaxants. But the higher the dose you take the harder the come down effect. I stick to half a .5mg tablet in the afternoon. Doctor told me to take up to 20mg. Never. Even if I miss taken what I take it doesn't bother me because it is such a low dose. Am on a lot of other stuff though that would be missed if I forgot to take it. Enjoy your wine.

 

[ladybj]

Welcome to the forum. You have come a long way with your anxiety. But as you rightly said ' attacks always pass '. That is the important thing that everybody should try and remember. I know it is harder for some people. Panic attacks are never nice. The frighten so many people. Then it depends where they have them. No fun if it is outdoors. But they will always pass. Hard to believe that what happens during a panic attack happens to protect us from what the mind sees as danger. First time I heard that one said to me I laughed. But it is true. Any roads, hope you enjoy your time here on the forum. By the way Valium are meant to be more muscle relaxants. But the higher the dose you take the harder the come down effect. I stick to half a .5mg tablet in the afternoon. Doctor told me to take up to 20mg. Never. Even if I miss taken what I take it doesn't bother me because it is such a low dose. Am on a lot of other stuff though that would be missed if I forgot to take it. Enjoy your wine.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I have come a LOOONNNGGG way..lol. Sometimes I can be in a store and panic comes over me but I finish my shopping. I do not rely too much on the Valium but they do help. I mainly take 1/4 at night if need be. Thought I was going to need one last night around 5am..but I manged to get back to sleep without it. To help my tension/tight muscles during the day, I have a couple glasses of wine. I space them out most of the time...it does help me to relax just a bit. If I don't take Valium it does not bother me either because it's such a low dose. Massages helps my muscle tightness a lot but shortly after..back to the drawing board. Hopefully, my body will remember how to fully relax. Yes, I take Valium to help relax my muscles. Thanks, I will enjoy my wine. Getting ready for a glass now..lol.

 

[Cuchculan]

 

[ladybj]

View attachment 729

LMBO!!!! ROFL... Love the pic but wayyyyyy to much for me. HA HA HA HA!!!

 

[mikes373]

I have felt that panic in the store dozens of times through my life. It is such a humbling and scary time in the moment. I have dealt with my anxiety for over 20 years, and know my life would be so different now if I didn't keep myself at a distance from people most of my life from this crippling feeling. I am in between being weaned off paroxatine and onto lexapro, which has not worked its magic yet. Everyday I have hope but I get impatient and frustrated along with it. The elevated heart rate and pulse, sweat palms and feet, overall uneasy and unsettling feeling. Also just got diagnosed with ADHD and started adderall xr. Been on lexapro for a week and a half and counting the hours down for it to start working.

 

[ladybj]

I have felt that panic in the store dozens of times through my life. It is such a humbling and scary time in the moment. I have dealt with my anxiety for over 20 years, and know my life would be so different now if I didn't keep myself at a distance from people most of my life from this crippling feeling. I am in between being weaned off paroxatine and onto lexapro, which has not worked its magic yet. Everyday I have hope but I get impatient and frustrated along with it. The elevated heart rate and pulse, sweat palms and feet, overall uneasy and unsettling feeling. Also just got diagnosed with ADHD and started adderall xr. Been on lexapro for a week and a half and counting the hours down for it to start working.

Hi Mike,
I pray you find relief. Panic/Anxiety is no picnic. Years ago when my panic/Anxiety was over the top, I tried a lot of different meds but nothing really helped except Ativan. That was my best friends for a few years.. I never took a whole one, always half. I got off of that and started valium to help with tightness/muscle tension. My body could not tolerate the anti-depressant meds. I guess because I was not depressed..more so anxious/tensed up.

 

[ladybj]

I have felt that panic in the store dozens of times through my life. It is such a humbling and scary time in the moment. I have dealt with my anxiety for over 20 years, and know my life would be so different now if I didn't keep myself at a distance from people most of my life from this crippling feeling. I am in between being weaned off paroxatine and onto lexapro, which has not worked its magic yet. Everyday I have hope but I get impatient and frustrated along with it. The elevated heart rate and pulse, sweat palms and feet, overall uneasy and unsettling feeling. Also just got diagnosed with ADHD and started adderall xr. Been on lexapro for a week and a half and counting the hours down for it to start working.

Hi Mike,
Checking on you to see how you are doing. Hope this was a good day for you. You will get better...its a long journey but you will get there.