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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In Crisis - New Person

Aerynrox007
Aerynrox007

I'm sorry if I'm supposed to introduce myself elsewhere in this group. I'm having high anxiety, and I can't concentrate enough to look around. I'm afraid I'm going to descend into a full blown panic attack any minute. Either that, or am I afraid I will die. The fear I'm about to die is what is causing my anxiety.


I have a very specific question that maybe someone can help me with. I have recently been transitioning from Lexapro to Zoloft, and my anxiety has spiked, so I'm doing what I can to manage it with benzos and therapy, and I find it helpful up until I have a reall scary symptom. The one I'm talking about might be a brain zap. I'm just not sure if they are even possible since I tapered my SSRI and went on to another SSRI directly. 


The feeling does feel like a shock in my head - not painful just uncomfortable - and it races down my neck and causes me to lose all of my air and kind of gasp. I'm not sure if it's a real brain zap because I don't recall them causing breathlessness whenever I've read about them. Does anyone have any insight?



Many thanks.



As background, I'm a 50 year old woman who has had depression and anxiety since childhood. I'm hitting a bad spell now, but I have had good periods where these were controlled well, too.

Community LeaderMid
Mid
Welcome to the anxiety board and you're in the right place.

Stay hydrated. With zoloft, it's so important to get hydrated and stay hydrated!

Best wishes as you find what works for you!

Keeping a journal is a real help!
Sunshinegirl0228
Sunshinegirl0228
welcome. i use many coping techniques to help my anxiety. With my first therapist, she recommended I buy a book called "Mind Over Mood: Change the way yo feel by changing the way you think" There is a section about thought records which help you rationalize a situation in order to bring down your anxiety. Breathing techniques are also helpful. When I used to work retail and it was hard to take a break or step away due to high traffic, I used to keep a squishy in my pocket and rub it to ground myself. It was a fleece square filled with rice. I made them in all sizes so I had one with me always. Talking things out in therapy was a huge relief to me. I have an rx for ativan and one for Vistaril. The vistaril is great but it makes me sleepy so I only use it as needed at bedtime, i use ativan during the day.
My anxiety used to be out of control but with lots of therapy, a great support system, and awesome coping tools, I am in a better place.
A tip: If you find yourself losing control or very anxious, try holding ice in your hand and squeezing it, the sensation can shift your focus from inside your head, to your physical body
Aerynrox007
Aerynrox007
Thank you both for your replies. It feels so good just to be heard. One thing I used to do when I was going to die alone in my house was to go out to 24 hour supermarkets and walk around for awhile. I figured that way there would be a chance someone could revive me. I also used to park outside of Emergency departments.
Sunshinegirl0228
Sunshinegirl0228
Yikes!! My last od I blacked out and drove myself to the er. I remember telling security I took sleeping pills and moving my leg a lot while the nurse was doing something to me and she kept yelling at me to quit moving. My pdoc was pretty pissed at me and lectured me to take suicide off the table. Now everything’s I get suicidal thoughts I remember that.
I’m afraid to live. But I know I am so loved and that keeps me going.
Suicide is a tough topic. But it’s not the answer. I have God though too and He keeps me strong.
Aerynrox007
Aerynrox007
I'm so scared.
Sunshinegirl0228
Sunshinegirl0228
you can call a crisis hotiline. who do you count in your support system? A pastor, case manager, mental health provider. Call someone
andreanicole686
andreanicole686
Aery remember that’s your anxiety talking not the truth. Could you get Xanax from your doctor to help with the sudden panic? I’d also talk to a therapist as it sounds like you have panic disorder with anxiety. I have the same thing.
TypeC
TypeC
Sorry you or any of us feel the need to be here but welcome! I, too, have GAD with Panic. Only thing is, none of the medications have helped me at all so I'm doomed to live with it.

One thing that does seem to help and I recommend him to everyone is The Anxiety Guy. His youtube videos, podcasts and FB postings are spot on. He has a wealth of information out there. He suffered from anxiety so he knows what he's talking about. He also deals specifically with the fear of dying.
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