Panic Attacks Support Group
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...
I have suffered from anxiety and panic since I was 22 years old, I have drank alcohol since about 18. I am now 33. I have been on and off Prozac for years it realy works for panic attacks the only thing is the month plus of pure hell you have to go through as the medicine re-wire your brain. as of date I am over 2 years with out prozac and was doing ok I went to see a psych. doctor at around the 2 year mark because I was freaking out about what happens when we die and living forever in the after life(yes I Know) but he explained to me that if I indeed made it 2 whole years with out the meds then I realy didnt need them and that my thoughts about the afterlife was normal. eventually I move d on from that and my brain got preoccupied with other thing and I did it with no meds, of course I had days where whwer I felt strange but I was able to just let it pass and then things was all better. after awhile I started exercising eating better lost some weight, I was feeling wonderful I was even drinking ALOT!!! less, got a new guy in my life and everything. me and friends went to new york soo after and for no reaseon me and one of them binged a half gallon of bacardi gold (which is what I normally drink) in a 24 hour period,needless to say the next day DEHYDRATION, FULL BLOWN PANICK ATTACKS,sick for 7 days and for some reason for the last month and a half its been no drinking during the week because Im sick and then drinking way to much over the weekends and not realy meaning to. this last past 4th of july weekend I drank about a 5th of amsterdamn vodka ( i dont even drink clear liquor) I awoke to vomiting dizziness depression i had to stay in bed all weekend I could barely eat anything cying anxiety the whole nine.it has been the same since ( day 7) some days are better than others I also get internal shakes, Im having stomache issues, I feel hungry and full at the same time. I chew but feel like I cant swallow throat feel like pebbles in the right side weak arm and legds feel like they are made of lead headaches (tension) Depression on and off. Im scared I know most of the symptoms are due to withdrawl, but Im scared I may have damaged my brain to the point I will need Prozac again. I have been praying not because I simply cant go back through the hell the meds put you through these 7 days have been enough, is there any one out there who can relate will the panic and axiety leave with the withdrawls, is it normal for withdawls to last 7 days or over that. has any one been through this and was able to beat the anxiety/panic/depression with out meds? ( I will also be posting in the alcoholism group)
During my last pregnancy, I went off the zoloft fearing that my son would be born with defects. After giving birth, I tried waiting as much as I could to see if I could make it without going back on the meds, but after a few months it got to be too much and the desperation to get meds back into my system wasn't anything I ever want to go thru again. I had a violent childhood which left me suffering as an adult. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get past it enough to get off the meds.
I can understand a Dr. telling you that you don't need the meds, perhaps because he doesn't want you to be dependent on it to fix the problem. But during the past few years I've had to accept that I need to keep taking them in order to help me stay focused on being a good mom. I've taken Prozac in the past, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think theres a risk of getting dependent on it as if it were a benzo. Prozac seemed pretty mild to me. I think if you can get away with only taking Prozac for your anxiety, you're lucky. If thats what helps you to feel better and not drink, go for it. This panic and anxiety is something I would never wish on anyone. It affected my schooling, my social life, etc. I would be more concerned for you if you were taking benzos, as those are addicting. When I was a teenager, my dr prescribed me diazapham. They were prescribed to me to take as needed for oncoming panic attacks, but I was constantly watching the clock to see when I could take my next one. I didn't like that I couldn't remember too much about what was going on around me while being on them. They also made me very tired. I stopped taking them because my mom feared I was getting dependent on them.
Everyone's body is different. If you feel that you need the help of prozac to help you during and after your withdrawels, then take it. If you're dr can't understand that, maybe you should get a 2nd opinion. In my experience, prozac is mild and shouldn't be too much to be concerned about taking.
Sorry such a long response. Good luck to you & don't lose your faith :)
don't be too proud to take meds, valium type as needed should help
When Im anxious I dont eat. I feel full and hungry at the same time and i just chew and chew .....never seem to wanna swallow . Then i give up . Ive lost weight and i think not getting enough calories for the day affects me too. Its a vicious cycle. We have to force ourselves to be healthy in that way! It will help our bodies to handle things better. As for the prozac. I was on that too and it was great and i needed it . and then i didnt. and then i did. now im on zoloft and its awful. the headaches the overall feeling of crap and its only 25 mg a day!!! So Im going back to prozac. If you feel you need it , just until you straighten yourself out then THAT IS OK!!!!! I also take ativan when i feel to anxious and it really helps ...but yes can be addicting so I try to limit myself . Here if you need to talk!!