Anxiety/panic disorder

[Ive40]

How long does panic/anxiety disorder last...I wake up feeling out of it and it last alllll day long....I was off my lexapro for 7 months...I was feeling good until a week ago where I got the flu really bad and got my period at the same time...ever since I started feeling out of it with the anxiety and panic attacks
...could the flu trigger my disorder?

[Ive40]

OMG!!! you have been such help...I can't Thank you enough for posting back to me...I feel at times sooooo alone because unless you have this no one could understand how it feels...they look at me as if I were going crazy and fed up of hearing complain about how I feel ... I don't want to depend on the meds...the lexapro was affecting my bed room life annnnd I was gaining unwanted wieght...off the lexapro I am ok with my wieght but when my anxiety kicks in I lose lbs on a daily basis...I went from a size 7 to a double 00 in a matter of 3 months...now I'm almost a 2 which for me is a big improvement..I don't even take the xanax they give me...I hate the feeling...again Thank for posting back...I know I'm not alone but it sure dose feel like it... : )

[nursegirl6572]

Oh boy can I relate....you've just described my life when my anxiety is at its peak.  I KNOW its so hard.  You have tokeep reinforcing to yourself that as scary and awful as it is...it's ONLY an emotion...that everything is okay, there is nothing more than daily life to worry about.  Distraction is a huge help.    As hard as it is, try to stay as busy as you can...

I'm thinking of you...I know how awful it is!!!  Keep posting!

[Ive40]

Thank you for your information..I’ve  been battling this horrible monster for 2 years…it all started with my mother’s death…I was alone when she all of a sudden got ill and died…ever since I’ve been to 4 different therapist and countless ER visits…the visits to the ER have been completely close to nothing…I have been on Lexpro 10mg for 8 months then got off…felt better then they started up again went back on and it’s been 4 to 5 months that I have been off…I got the flu and BAM out of the blue it is kicking my butt!!! I wake up feeling woozy…head in the clouds…bad headaches….the runs…no appetite but have to force myself to eat a little something…feeling scared…worried…not wanting to be alone…body feeling not normal…feeling very light…crying spells…hands get cold…face and lips get pale…I force myself to do the daily things that have to get done….I’m a mother of 3…17…15 and 4 and I try my best to keep it from the kids that way I don’t have to worry them with it….this is from the moment I wake up til the moment I go to bed…plus my sleep is bonkers…I will be exhausted go to sleep and I do fall asleep but my mind feels like it’s wide awake…just running and weird dreams…so is this feeling that goes on allllllllll day something normal…does it happen to others????

[nursegirl6572]

Panic disorder (or other anxiety disorder), for most of us is usually a "forever" thing.  I know for me, I have my ups and downs.  I'll go years without a panic attack, then all of a sudden, start having issues again.  Each "exacerbation" of anxiety will last different lengths of time, and can be triggered by anything.,..sometimes the trigger is very obvious, sometimes it isn't.

The best thing to do is learn as much as you can about YOUR anxiety, and learn coping mechanisms through therapy, like CBT.  That way, any time your anxiety rears its ugly head, you'll be equipped to deal with it, and hopefully minimize the period of exacerbation.

Truly though, I've never met anyone or known anyone with an anxiety disorder where it just disappeared, never to come back.  It's best to be knowledgeable, and prepared!  And, a simple answer to your question...yes!  ANYTHING can trigger anxiety for those of us with chronic anxiety.

Take care!