Panic Disorder

[tiredincali31]

Hi I am 31 years old and have problems with anxiety for years. I have also struggled with depression in the past but not now just the anxiety. I am a little embarassed by this but I constantly worry about stuff like getting sick (especially with stomach ailments), finances, and all kinds of stuff. Sometimes it is so bad that when I eat I feel sick!! It keeps me up all night alot too. I sweat, sometimes get really cold, I shake so bad my fingers cramp up and my heart races. Also I may have a bit of an obsessive disorder but not sure. When I go grocery shopping I absolutely have to check expiration dates on EVERYTHING!! It's horrible!! If something is in my fridge, freezer or cupboards and it expired a day ago I won't eat or drink it!! Help somebody!! What do I do to get this under control it's ruining my life!! I'm scared to go to work because I don't want it to interfere with it but I have to pay my bills!! Any suggestions?? Am I just crazy or am I really suffering from an anxiety disorder? I saw a therapist a couple years ago and she diagnosed me with anxiety, panic disorder and post traumatic stress disorder but didn't put me on any meds. I was able to deal with it for the first year but it seems to be getting worse now!! What do I do?

[tiredincali31]

I stopped the therapy because I was in a horrible marriage and my ex husband refused to take care of the kids to let me continue therapy. My parent's couldn't really help either as they were also going through a divorce! Since then I have moved to another state (I moved from Illinois to California) and am now in a wonderful relationship with a very supportive man. So I am now going to resume therapy once again with a psychiatrist and a therapist. My ex husband just said it was all in my head and an excuse to get away from him an the kids but that was not it!! I did actually believe him for awhile but I didn't want to get away from my kids. Now that him and I are no longer together I realize that this is not "all in my head" and I do have GAD with Panic disorder. So thank you for your replies as I will be resuming therapy next week!!

[Chrissy1972]

I have to agree with Paxiled, therapy takes time and a lot of work on your end. If you find anxiety is consuming your life then you must take charge of it. I had a brief set back last summer where it was an extreme effort to get to work every day and get through the day. Most days I would have constant anxiety or on the verge of an anxiety attack. I went back to talk therapy. It did take a few different Drs to find one I liked but my life has definately improved since I sought help again. Please try to do so yourself. Perhaps try a med there are plenty of safe ones out there that can drastically improve the quality of your life.

Be Well

~Chrissy

[Paxiled]

Why did you stop the therapy?  It takes time to work, sometimes a lot of time.  And unless your therapist was a psychiatrist, which would be unusual these days, they can't prescribe meds.