Will I ever feel "normal" again?

[emc3]

I have had what I have come to the conclusion is anxiety for about two years now. It started out with a few sporadic panic attacks and then I was fine for a while with just small episodes here and there. Just recently, it's gotten incredibly worse. I feel anxious everyday!!! My heart beats irregularly and fast. I tense all my muscles. I have a hard time concentrating. I have a hard time sleeping, which makes me tired all the time. I have a hard time swallowing, to the point where sometimes I actually can't. I feel like I am going to faint. I think I am going to die. I fear something horrible is going to happen. I try to concentrate on my breathing, but it only seems to make it worse!  I use to be able to walk myself out of it, but that just doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I tend to be a fairly social person, but as of late, I am becoming more and more withdrawn. I talk with my friends about it in hopes that they won't think I am crazy. The seem to be supportive, but I don't think that they can really understand the totality of what I am going through. I try to avoid things that trigger panic and live my life at the same time, but it seems as though everything seems to trigger panic at this point! Unfortunately I don't make a ton of money, nor do I have insurance. I would love to see a doctor and therapist, but financially it just seems impossible at this point. It would just be nice to have someone to talk to who understands. I fear that this is my life now forever and it's making me depressed, angry, and embarrassed. I want this to go away!!! I just want to feel "normal" again!!!

[francie42]

I started having anxiety attacks a couple months ago.I am afraid I'm going to die.can't get it out of my mind. I'm on'05milligram xanax  they help some but I still feel like my life will never be the same. My anxiety is horrible in the morning. I don't know about anyone else but I have muscle tension aches and pains every where. I need help trying to live with this.I've always been a happy go lucky person and I'm not that way anymore.please I pray to God all the time to please help me get my life back. Reading your stories helps me know I'm not alone.

[francie42]

I started having anxiety attacks a couple months ago.I am afraid I'm going to die.can't get it out of my mind. I'm on'05milligram xanax  they help some but I still feel like my life will never be the same. My anxiety is horrible in the morning. I don't know about anyone else but I have muscle tension aches and pains every where. I need help trying to live with this.I've always been a happy go lucky person and I'm not that way anymore.please I pray to God all the time to please help me get my life back. Reading your stories helps me know I'm not alone.

[nrnrnr123]

Hello everyone,
After reading all of your stories I so much sympathize and am going through the same thing every single day. I have been suffering so much with anxiety for several years. But after having emerging surgery in August It got s much worse and I have tried so many anti depress meds and I am allergic to all so far and have had a really bad withdrawl.  I do not know hat my next step is and how to do this without the anti meds. I do take Xanax for relief. But it is all for a few hours. I sometimes feel I cant feel my body that its not with me, light headed, blurry eyes, I feel they will pop out of me, tingly feelings in my feet and body. I feel this will never end. in one way its great to see that I am not the only one but aother its very scary how any people suffer from this and its a everyday issue. my last medication was wellbutrin I was on it for 18 days and I felt sick from it and my doctor told me to stop taking it thatst when all the withdrawls are now.  thanks everyone and lets try to talk to each other and help one another. if anyone knows any natural routes I would love to go that route. I am seeing a therapist that's my start. good luck all.

[cptiff]

I have felt this same exact way, especially for the past few months. I'm constantly anxious. Pretty much every aspect of my life makes me stressed out. College has been a nightmare for me, work is hell, and I never call the friends I do have because I'm anxious. I'm afraid to tell people what I think because I'm afraid I'll be labeled as "crazy".

The really ****** up thing about all of this is I felt absolutely fine a few years ago when I was on meds. I stopped the meds around nine months ago, and since then have let my anxiety take control of my life. The only thing I take now is Clonazepam and it helps, but is really addictive and affects my memory.

I have to force myself not to call someone screaming my head off when it gets bad. I'm just like ****. I feel so trapped.

Get an Rx for Clonazepam/Klonopin if you get panic attacks, because these drugs really can be a life-saver in that bad moment. I wouldn't suggest taking them every day like me though. Benzo's are addictive and you get a tolerance.

[charliebeen]

I feel like I am dying of anxiety, my life has been destroyed by it, actually anxiety and depression never even let me have the chance to start a real life and I am becoming more and more convinced each day that dying is the only way this pain will end, but I am trapped as I couldnt do that to the people that have supported me and then I get panicked about my guilt complex. I wish I wasn't here.

[Chawney]

Hi Cory100,
I've had severe anxiety for 27 years and I'm so tired of feeling like I can't do what I want. I began having attacks at age 10 and still have it at 37.  It seems like even the doctors don't understand anymore how I'm feeling. Every time I go to the hospital the doctors look at me like she's here again for the same thing. The worst part is that it feels terrible and instead when I'm hyperventilating they assume I'm on some illegal drugs.