Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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aarrigo622
aarrigo622
So, this is my first post. I've been suffering from agoraphobia for about 4 years now. I don't have health insurance but my mom works at the doctors office so I can receive free meds. I take lexapro which seems to be working to an extent because I can't have any attacks but I'm still anxious. I've been reading posts about how the meds don't work for some people and how they wish that they could take a pill and feel "normal". The people that take the meds, for me at least, wish that they could get off them and work through this. In my situation, I can't stand knowing that I have to count on a pill to leave my house or to somewhat function normally. Honestly, I wish I was never given the medication to begin with. The meds are so addictive. I have it in my head that if I don't take the pill I'm gonna have an attack. At this point I am thinking about upping my dose and its only been a year since I've been on them. So basically its just going to get worse and I'm going to have to keep doing that. I have absolutely no support from anyone I know. They all think that I'm reading to much into things and that its all in my head. Granted it is all in my head but I can't find a way to get over it. If anybody has any input I'd appreciate it. Thanks.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am on klonopin .5mg 2x a day for my anxiety. Seems to be helping. But I am also on trazodone and abilify for my bipolar disorder.. different things work for different people. i havent even found my right mix yet.
deleted_user
deleted_user
the solution is a piece of cake. you simply need to learn how to ground yourself. look into the basics of sitting meditation and self-hypnosis. nothing far out or fancy.
you have merely spent too much time alone that's all. you are normal. you need to get resocialized very slowly. but, you are fine. :) write any time. p.s. i'm no doctor but i can relate.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm on klonopin and effexor for my anxiety, the combo, seems to work well for me.
aarrigo622
aarrigo622
Thanks faithful for the advice..I actually just looked up tips on how to ground myself so I'm going to try that tonight. It defintely is nice to know there are other people out there that are going through the same things.
aarrigo622
aarrigo622
yea see my only issue with medication is that I want to get off of them..even though they are helping i just want to be able to not have to count on them, ya know what i mean?
deleted_user
deleted_user
i dont like being on meds either..but look at it this way,,,if you had a physical illness , you would take meds for that. remember it is in your head , but its a chemical imbalance in your brain.....not something you can always breath away, or meditate away......
if you do decide to stop your meds..do it gradually. and with the help of a doc.
deleted_user
deleted_user
With me I had to push myself and face my fears, but it does take time. I was on 2mg of ativan 2-3 times a day but got off them myself. Still take the paxil though. Positive thinking and self talk helps.
aarrigo622
aarrigo622
Thanks to everyone for your help!
deleted_user
deleted_user
another thing that may really help you would be to take a marital arts class or a tai chi class.
mystie
mystie
I honestly don't think you should beat yourself up about needing the medications. I think too many people are anti medication and that isn't necessarily right either. If the medication helps you and gives you some relief why would you not want to take them? As people have mentioned on here before this is a disorder that they believe is a combination of reasons why including chemical imbalance in the brain and as it has been said if you needed heart pills for the rest of your life to live you would take them.
I know I will be on my meds the rest of my life and I honestly don't care. I've tried the no medications and it has always turned out badly. I don't care to go down that road again. I do believe that therapy is an important part with the medications and I have just started DBT.
good luck!