Hi all! I'm new on this forum and am hoping to find some support and advice from others who also experience severe anxiety and panic disorders. Mine is safety related as I live in Zimbabwe. My fears are to do with physical safety for myself and my family (I have a husband and 3yr old son). We've been through a lot in the past 12 months politically in our country and my anxiety has spiraled out of control. I'm suffering from agoraphobia and am having panic attacks almost on a daily basis. I'm on propranolol twice daily and take Alprazolam only when absolutely necessary or when I feel an panic setting in. Looking for friendly advice and support!
Looking for support & advice
- Thread starter Beige
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Hi Beige,
My anxiety is probably as strong as yours but triggered by much lesser stressors. My advice would be to utilize the alprazolam more often. My psychiatrist was involved with two of the studies on alprazolam and has assured me that taking 1mg or less per day will not be physically addicting or produce any serious withdrawal problems.
My anxiety is probably as strong as yours but triggered by much lesser stressors. My advice would be to utilize the alprazolam more often. My psychiatrist was involved with two of the studies on alprazolam and has assured me that taking 1mg or less per day will not be physically addicting or produce any serious withdrawal problems.
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Welcome to the forum. I can imagine that having lived through the downfall of Mugabe, must have left a lot of fear and uncertainty. I have some friends around there from the Indian community, and they informed me how crazy it was and that they were scared about a military solution or even a civil war. That all is a really good reason for your current condition.
I always think that sharing is caring and healing. Share your thoughts and fears with us and you will see that you will feel better soon.
I always think that sharing is caring and healing. Share your thoughts and fears with us and you will see that you will feel better soon.
He Man
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Beige, Any way to relocate.., or is that not an option (?) Is there any international aid/options available to escape ?
I really don't see Zimbabwe & South Africa getting any better soon.. I'm praying for the peace & people of both those collapsing societies. Keep us posted..
I really don't see Zimbabwe & South Africa getting any better soon.. I'm praying for the peace & people of both those collapsing societies. Keep us posted..
Hurt&Hopeful
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Hi and welcome. I can't imagine what you're going through - so much trauma for so many people. I also take propanolol occasionally for panic attacks and have found it to be really helpful. Please let us know how you are doing!
Hi He Man - thanks for your message. When I'm having a panic attack the first thing I want to do is get on a plane and fly to Switzerland or Denmark or some safe haven of a country! BUT...there are a few things prohibiting us from relocating. First being we've just relocated here having gotten so confident that things were going to change. Secondly - our entire families and support networks are here. It hasn't really helped all that much to be honest as everyone is going through the same thing and everyone has their problems to deal with. And lastly, our passports. God bless the good ol' "green mambas" as we call them. Apart from some Southern African countries, we're pretty limited on where we could move to. Especially on short notice without going through weeks or months of visa applications etc etc.
We've had to learn to become economists overnight, but I have to keep faith that our new finance minister (who has no political attachment and has a PhD from Harvard) knows what he's doing. It all sounds doom and gloom, but I also keep having to remind myself that we have to all go through a fair bit of pain to help dig this country out of the bottomless abyss the previous lot managed to create. But, the population are scared and angry and that in itself scares me. It's so odd that in the 8+ years we lived in Cape Town with all the violence going on around us all the time, I never really felt too scared or threatened. South Africa is a MUCH more violent nation than Zimbabwe, but for some reason, I feel a much bigger threat here. A threat you can't necessarily see, but you can hear it and feel it in the air (unless it's all in my head). I'm not sure if that makes sense....
Thanks @triceps for the advice on Alprazolam. And thanks @Rinka & @Hurt&Hopeful for your support. All much appreciated