Tell me how your Anxiety all started. Here is my Story...

[princessren88]

This is my Anxiety story

I started gettting anxiety at 18 after being diagnosed with an eating disorder and abusing alcohol for 2 years. That one day changed my life forever.. I remember feeling my heart pounding and I could barely breath. At the time it happend I was forcing myself to eat a banana... I felt like I was dying. I remember telling my mom something is very wrong and that I need to go to the hospital and she told me to relax and gave me a Gravol.. and it worked. I soon calmed down. After that day I felt foggy and wierd (zoned out is the best word to describe the feeling). A strange feeling that never went away. I then started experiences sharp pains in my head and thought I had a brain tumour or something, I really started to get paranoid. After researching online my symptoms I came across Anxiety.. something I never knew anything about. It all made sense I had Anxiety.. So I went to my family doctor and he put me on Anti-Depressents called Effexor... and also went to see a Psycologist. Who kept upping my dosage until I was at 150mg a day. After starting Effexor I slept alot, I slept 12-16 hours a day possibly more.. I could never stay up for long period of time I always took naps and still felt tired. A real zombie I became.. Yes my symptoms went away and I started gaining weight and being careless about what I was eating. A year after starting Effexor I met my Fiance, he changed my life. I felt like I had a reason to live and to better myself. I had dropped out of highschool right after my anxiety attack and never returned. He helped me finish my schooling and even attend College. Although I gaint a whooping 60 pounds after 2 years of dating him my life was completly different (for the better). And I was determined to deal with my Anxiety the Natural way... So I slowly went from 150mg to 75mg... Took me a whole year to do! Everytime I went down a dosage I got sick for over a week. Then in September 2009 After being on Effexor for almost 4 years with the permission of my Doctor ofcourse I stopped taking Effexor. It was the BEST decision of my life... But was the most challenging one of all. I was sick, dizzy you name it... I felt like I was dying for a whole 3-4 weeks... I slept for almost 3 weeks straight. Many days I felt I couldnt do it anymore and wanted to go back on. But I stuck to it and I am happy I did. After a month off I started feeling clear and better I also could stay up for a full day without having to nap something I couldn't do on the medication I felt alive and awake again. Although I did have a few anxiety attacks and stilll do.. but learnt to deal with them by breathing and trying to relax. I still get attacks here and there and sometimes I have to take Adavans (To calm me down).. But I really try hard to not take anything especially Adavans since its addicting. I come to realize that my Anxiety will never go away its something that I will always have to deal with. Symptoms I get when I get an attack is, blurry vision, shaking, fatigue, foggy memory, zoned out, trouble breathing and chest pains. What Helps me is..walking and eating, I eat all the time when I start to get hungry I feel like I am going to have an attack... I also eat to help me sleep. Eating has become an obsession I went from not wanting to eat to wanting to eat constantly! I know its not getting off the Medication thats doing this because I started this eating obsession right after my Anxiety started 4 years ago. But I hope I can help anyone who is thinking about possibly trying a new method to controlling Anxiety other then medications.. As long as you talk to your Doctor first thats what I did. I would have never gotten off if I did not get the OK from my Doctor.

Thank you for reading

I just really wanted to share my story...

Renee

4 whole years of Anxiety has really changed me and my views on life.

[remar]

Please don't worry about being judged, especially here at Medhelp. We're here to help each other and we know what the other is going through. Take care. Remar

[princessren88]

Thank you so much for your responce. I was hesitant about posting my story I was worried I would be judged or get a negative responce (I am not good with negativity!).. But it's my story and I felt it would make me feel better to talk about it and maybe see if anyone else could relate to me.. Thanks again.

[remar]

I had my first panic attack at 18 also. I had no idea what was going on and did'nt even get a name for it until 5 years later when I first saw a Psychiatrist. My family Dr did'nt know what was going on except that I was under a lot of stress.
I'm so glad to hear that your doing much better. I was on Effexor myself for five years and when I decided to get off of it boy was it hard.
Thanks for sharing your story. Take care. Remar
Kathy, I wish I could help you with this. I think it would be a good idea to post your own question because everyone will be able to see it. I know there are many people here that have went through childhood trauma like you did. Take care. Remar

[kathy515]

i need answeres of the feelings i have after surviving a long insestual childhood, anyone to connect with me on this