Anyone suffer from anxiety/depression/panic disorders?

[Locut0s]

Sorry for the long post. I've posted this in anxiety/depression forums and that's really where it belongs but I was also interested to see how many here have had anxiety/depression problems in their lives. If you don't feel like it don't feel like you have to read the rest, just post about your own problems. i.e there are no cliff notes just post your own experiences if you don't want to read the rest.

I've been battling anxiety and depression for at least 10 of my 22 years and maybe more. For me the focal point has always been a mixture of social phobia and a diffuse anxiety related to school. I've always had trouble getting myself to go to school, when I was young I simply complained a lot about hating school but in hindsight that was most likely also anxiety. It's interesting that I have so much problem with school as I'm actually a very good student when things do not overwhelm me. A large part of the problem probably stems from the fact that I'm a perfectionist. If you looked at my grades in school during the early years you would have seen a strange pattern, lot's of A's and A+'s intermixed with lots of 0's where I simply gave up on some assignment and didn't hand it in. In grade 10 my problem came to a head and I dropped out of high school. A year latter I was back at a different school and what followed was probably 2 of the best years I've had. For the most part I was happy, had friends and didn't worry overly much. The result was that I graduated High School with very good marks and managed to get into a good university. I hope it doesn't sound like I'm trying to brag here, I'm not I'm just trying to set the stage.

From there everything went downhill. Since then I've managed to drop out of university a total of 4 times, thankfully one year I was able to get erased from my record, but my GPA has been shot to hell anyways. This year things didn't look to bad, I'd managed to finish one semester and am just at the tail end of another semester, then a week ago disaster struck. Out of the blue I started getting really bad Panic attacks. Now I've known diffuse anxiety and depression for most of my life but have never suffered panic attacks until a week ago. Since then I've had one or two almost every day. It got so bad that I went to the emergency room twice but thankfully managed to calm myself down enough that I didn't actually ever need their services. I've been feeling like I'm having a heart attack for the past week and in fact went to the local clinic several times to rule out anything physical. All the blood work and the EKG I had done came back negative and the doctors say my heart sounds perfectly normal and I have normal blood pressure. I was not, and am still not completely convinced, that there is not something physically wrong with me but I know for sure that I am also suffering from serious panic attacks no mater what, if anything, is bringing them on. Currently I'm on a beta blocker for the heart palpitations, feels like my heart is going to stop at any minute. Today I went to the doctor and he prescribed Paxil and some Adivan for the immediate symptoms of panic. I've taken Paxil before with some positive effect. I just hope to God that I can manage with this through the next few week, the final exams, and not waste yet ANOTHER year. If that happens I really don't know what the hell I'd do.

After reading posts on other forums I'm starting to wonder if I am suffering from PVC (premature ventricular contraction) as one of the things that often start one of these panic attacks is the feeling that my heart has stopped and I can't get any air. Then I suddenly need to gasp for breath for a second, after that I'm a mess for the next 1-2 hours. The 2 doctors I went to listened to my heart and as I said also gave me an EKG all of which were normal. If I had something seriously wrong you would think that it would have shown up. But if it was PVC it would only show up now and again. Anyways I'm hopping these are panic attacks as that I can at least learn to handle.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Replying to read later, so its saved in my list of recently replied.

 

[Pepsi90919]

yep

 

[Schrodinger]

1. Do 1 hour of cardio and 30 mins of weights per day (after seeing a doctor for that PVC)
2. Eat healthy
3. 8 hours of sleep

there, you're fixed Maybe not but it helps a lot of people.

 

[UncleWai]

I just prove depresssion and good grades can coexist last quarter.
I feel like complete sh!t through out last quarter, yet I manage a 3.82 gpa.
You just have think of school work as slave work. It's not about whether you feel like doing or not, it's something you just have to do. Hopefully you will feel numb about doing school work.
I don't know if it is a optimistic way looking at life, but this is how I am getting by right now.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Schrodinger
1. Do 1 hour of cardio and 30 mins of weights per day (after seeing a doctor for that PVC)
2. Eat healthy
3. 8 hours of sleep

there, you're fixed Maybe not but it helps a lot of people.

Those can indeed help a lot. Although as you alluded to with true clinical depression/anxiety or a panic disorder they merely help out and most people find they also need meds or therapy.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
I just prove depresssion and good grades can coexist last quarter.
I feel like complete sh!t through out last quarter, yet I manage a 3.82 gpa.
You just have think of school work as slave work. It's not about whether you feel like doing or not, it's something you just have to do. Hopefully you will feel numb about doing school work.
I don't know if it is a optimistic way looking at life, but this is how I am getting by right now.

That is easier to do if you just suffer from depression. I know when I had really bad depressive episodes I could still slog through work. However bad anxiety makes that much harder, and panic attacks make it almost impossible.

 

[jobuRAVE]

I would try reducing or even stopping your consumption of sodas and carbonated beverages. I have found that the single best thing I ever did to reduce my anxiety and stress level was to reduce my intake of caffeine. At most, I have one caffeine in a 24 hour period.

If you are anything like me, inputing a stimulant to a system that is already wired or has anxiety about some things is a very bad thing.

Schrodinger is right though. Eating healthy and sleeping not 8 hours a day, but at a regular time every night does help. Also, working out helps to stimulate your secretion of endorphins...

 

[troglodytis]

nope

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: troglodytis
nope

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: jobuRAVE
I would try reducing or even stopping your consumption of sodas and carbonated beverages. I have found that the single best thing I ever did to reduce my anxiety and stress level was to reduce my intake of caffeine. At most, I have one caffeine in a 24 hour period.

If you are anything like me, inputing a stimulant to a system that is already wired or has anxiety about some things is a very bad thing.

Schrodinger is right though. Eating healthy and sleeping not 8 hours a day, but at a regular time every night does help. Also, working out helps to stimulate your secretion of endorphins...

I drink a certain amount of diet caffeine free sodas, which don't count. Otherwise I don't eat a lot of sweets and hate the taste of coffee. There is too much sodium in my diet though.

 

[Wallydraigle]

I get depressed when I stop to consider that there are only 6 billion asses to be kicked. In the age that is coming my lord Cthulhu the great will send my brothers and I out into the nameless void with the authority to kick all asses.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Minions of The Triad are not subject to depression or anxiety. They are secure in their fortunes knowing that Cthulhu and his Chosen Ones will watch over them.

 

[AFB]

yes, ever since I can remember.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Minions of The Triad are not subject to depression or anxiety. They are secure in their fortunes knowing that Cthulhu and his Chosen Ones will watch over them.

How can one be sure that Cthulhu and his chosen ones are not simply eyeing you for dinner?

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Minions of The Triad are not subject to depression or anxiety. They are secure in their fortunes knowing that Cthulhu and his Chosen Ones will watch over them.

How can one be sure that Cthulhu and his chosen ones are not simply eyeing you for dinner?

It is only the naysayers and nonbelievers who are selected as delicasies for the table of The Triad. Our minions are secure in their hovels and know that our table scraps will be distributed justly among them.

 

[tami]

ok, to answer the OP more seriously, i've suffered depression (not panic attacks) in the past. my most recent bout of depression sent me to therapy and on meds. they helped, no doubt. if you need that kind of assistance, by all means, go. don't let anyone talk you out of it.

i don't think you have PVC given that you've had depression for several years that led up to panic attacks. having studied psychology at college, your panic attacks sound like normal panic attacks. over time, they become more manageable, but you definitely need to see someone to help you manage them.

i know things work different ways for people, but the therapy and meds approach is an important one just to "set the stage" as you say -- to determine what you can improve upon in life so that you don't have to feel lost and scared. i recommend it, especially since you seem to have little direction as to where you're going to go next.

the meds you're on sound good for the problems you've described. give it some time and i'll bet they make your lifestyle much more enjoyable.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Yes i get depressed at times.

i was on meds for it,for a while.
They did not help much.

I have found,that for me, a better,{try to be happy} attitude is a big help.

I notice that less alcohol is a large help.

Getting to bed early,like by 11pm,also helps,some nights I go to bed at 10 pm.
If I don't get enough sleep I am grumpy.

Oh a Big cup of coffee helps a LOT,for me anyways.



Attitude,Be happy,or at least try to smile,helps,for me, Yrmv.

 

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
Yes i get depressed at times.

i was on meds for it,for a while.
They did not help much.

I have found,that for me, a better,{try to be happy} attitude is a big help.

I notice that less alcohol is a large help.

Getting to bed early,like by 11pm,also helps,some nights I go to bed at 10 pm.
If I don't get enough sleep I am grumpy.

Oh a Big cup of coffee helps a LOT,for me anyways.



Attitude,Be happy,or at least try to smile,helps,for me, Yrmv.

:thumbsup:

 

[DAGTA]

I had problems with panic attacks and anxiety for three years from 2001 to 2004. It came on suddenly and just kept getting worse. I really dislike the idea of taking drugs, since they only cover the symptoms and not solve the problem, so I avoided Paxil and the like. Finally, last year my doctor traced it down to an Iodine deficiency. I started eating kelp suppliments (a good source of Iodine) each day and my panic attacks and anxiety have been reduced to almost nothing... back to the levels pre-2001.

Every person is different, but a lot of our problems stem from diet and lifestyle. For me, it was the lack of Iodine. Iodine was added to salt (Iodized Salt) by industrialized countries about a hundred years ago because of the realization that most people not living on farms are lacking enough Iodine in their diets. Unfortunately for me, I never eat salt.

I hope you get the problem fixed.

-DAGTA

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: tami
ok, to answer the OP more seriously, i've suffered depression (not panic attacks) in the past. my most recent bout of depression sent me to therapy and on meds. they helped, no doubt. if you need that kind of assistance, by all means, go. don't let anyone talk you out of it.

i don't think you have PVC given that you've had depression for several years that led up to panic attacks. having studied psychology at college, your panic attacks sound like normal panic attacks. over time, they become more manageable, but you definitely need to see someone to help you manage them.

i know things work different ways for people, but the therapy and meds approach is an important one just to "set the stage" as you say -- to determine what you can improve upon in life so that you don't have to feel lost and scared. i recommend it, especially since you seem to have little direction as to where you're going to go next.

the meds you're on sound good for the problems you've described. give it some time and i'll be they make your lifestyle much more enjoyable.

Thanks. To be certain that I am suffering from panic attacks and not something physical I am still going to run to ground other possibilities. I'm to see my doctor in another 2 weeks, if I feel no different then I'm going to ask him to give me a more thorough cardiac exam and to take a look at my respirator system to rule out asthma and the like. I'm not unwilling to accept this is panic related but given the physical symptoms I want to be as sure as I can be that I don't have something seriously physically wrong first.

 

[PHiuR]

mild id say...

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
Yes i get depressed at times.

i was on meds for it,for a while.
They did not help much.

I have found,that for me, a better,{try to be happy} attitude is a big help.

I notice that less alcohol is a large help.

Getting to bed early,like by 11pm,also helps,some nights I go to bed at 10 pm.
If I don't get enough sleep I am grumpy.

Oh a Big cup of coffee helps a LOT,for me anyways.



Attitude,Be happy,or at least try to smile,helps,for me, Yrmv.

While I respect your opinion anyone who has suffered genuine clinical depression will tell you that simply "perking up" isn't going to help. What this is is the difference between having suffered headaches and head splitting vomit inducing migraines. For those who have only suffered normal headaches taking an aspirin and trying to take your mind off of it will work. Those who have suffered bad migraines know that they have something completely different.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: DAGTA
I had problems with panic attacks and anxiety for three years from 2001 to 2004. It came on suddenly and just kept getting worse. I really dislike the idea of taking drugs, since they only cover the symptoms and not solve the problem, so I avoided Paxil and the like. Finally, last year my doctor traced it down to an Iodine deficiency. I started eating kelp suppliments (a good source of Iodine) each day and my panic attacks and anxiety have been reduced to almost nothing... back to the levels pre-2001.

Every person is different, but a lot of our problems stem from diet and lifestyle. For me, it was the lack of Iodine. Iodine was added to salt (Iodized Salt) by industrialized countries about a hundred years ago because of the realization that most people not living on farms are lacking enough Iodine in their diets. Unfortunately for me, I never eat salt.

I hope you get the problem fixed.

Thanks. Indeed diet and exercise are things I'm looking into changing. I lost over 100 lbs about a year back, and almost become anorexic, but have since gained most of it back. As for the iodine you mentioned I believe they started to add iodine when they discovered that goiter was caused by a lack of it in peoples diet.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
Yes i get depressed at times.

i was on meds for it,for a while.
They did not help much.

I have found,that for me, a better,{try to be happy} attitude is a big help.

I notice that less alcohol is a large help.

Getting to bed early,like by 11pm,also helps,some nights I go to bed at 10 pm.
If I don't get enough sleep I am grumpy.

Oh a Big cup of coffee helps a LOT,for me anyways.



Attitude,Be happy,or at least try to smile,helps,for me, Yrmv.

While I respect your opinion anyone who has suffered genuine clinical depression will tell you that simply "perking up" isn't going to help. What this is is the difference between having suffered headaches and head splitting vomit inducing migraines. For those who have only suffered normal headaches taking an aspirin and trying to take your mind off of it will work. Those who have suffered bad migraines know that they have something completely different.

yes, very true. one of the main consequences of depression is the INABILITY to have a happy attitude, no matter how hard you try. (and serious depression causes people to not even want to go out of bed, even if happier things await them outside.)