anxiety/panic attack question?
My SIL was taking ATIVAN for a little while to help control her anxiety and she wasn’t getting any better…in fact she felt worse so they switched her to something else and she has been feeling tired,weak and tingley on her body.
Should she continue taking her anxiety meds or stop all together? Is this a sign of them making her worse or is this specific prescription not right for her?
Also since she has been taking this new medication (I forgot the name of it but she has been on anxiety meds for about 2 months) She has been forgetting things alot, like the meds are messing with her memory.
Hello,
Do NOT stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor.
Every individual reacts differently to antidepressants and anxiety medication.Sometime it takes long months till one finds the right medication which can have some side effects.
In case of a panic attack,
use these simple steps over and over again until you become the master of your thoughts and emotions.You create your panic attacks not your environment .
Take full responsibility.
I was suffering from panic attacks for 14 years.
I did a lots of research and reading on the subject.
Here is a six-step approach to self-control when dealing with an anxiety attack:
1.ACCEPT–Recognize that you are feeling anxious.Accept your body feelings as a symptom of your anxiety and a sign that something is bothering you.
2.PERMISSION–Give yourself permission to feel anxious about whatever it is that is bothering you."Of course I feel anxious because…. and it is okay to have anxiety.I know what this is and why I feel this way."
3.BREATHE– First, inhale through your nose slowly for two-seconds,mentally counting one, one-thousand, two ,one- thousand.then exhale through your mouth to mental count of four-second-again by one-thousands.Do this for at least 60-seconds.
4.INNER DIALOGUE–Use truthful, positive dialogue to talk yourself through the anxious time.It WILL pass. Examples of dialogue might be,"It’s just anxiety.It will go away. I will not lose control.
I can still go about my business feeling spaced-out.It won’t hurt me."
5.DISTRACT–Get busy.Do something to release some of this self-induced stimulation.Your body is like a car in high gear with the brakes on .Don’t just sit there! Walk,jog, clean closets -but do something.Distract yourself from the way you are feeling.
6.LET TIME PASS– and try to see a little humor in the way you feel.You may feel weird ,you don’t look weird.Give yourself permission to feel weird for a little while. It is no big deal.Try to figure out what is really bothering you. Is it some type of conflict that you don’t want to deal with?Is it a scary thought? Is it a ridiculous expectation you have about yourself? How about the television program you watched last night?What is bothering you?
It takes time and lots and lots of practice.But the only way to stop fearing panic and anxiety attacks is to experience them .Then, work your way through them and begin to see that they won’t hurt you.
There is no need to avoid or fight .
YOU are your safe place and your safe person .
YOU can make yourself feel better.
Feel good!
Praise to Lucinda Bassett !
Comments
Comment from ~redneck~sweetheart~
Time January 17, 2010 at 11:26 am
she needs to GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!! no1 on here could give u a sure fired answer! tell her to go to the doctor and tell them everything thts goin on! i would say the sooner the better so tht way if something is wrong they can correct it quicker. hope i helped!!
References :
Comment from Nala7
Time January 17, 2010 at 11:46 am
I take meds for mental health issues too. I have found that there are some meds I cannot take. They have an adverse effect. I have an excellent doctor who listens to my symptoms & feelings & puts me on different meds to suit my body chemistry. I would suggest talking to the doctor about this to see if there are still other meds that might be better suited. Good luck.
References :
Comment from Tamas M
Time January 17, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Hello,
Do NOT stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor.
Every individual reacts differently to antidepressants and anxiety medication.Sometime it takes long months till one finds the right medication which can have some side effects.
In case of a panic attack,
use these simple steps over and over again until you become the master of your thoughts and emotions.You create your panic attacks not your environment .
Take full responsibility.
I was suffering from panic attacks for 14 years.
I did a lots of research and reading on the subject.
Here is a six-step approach to self-control when dealing with an anxiety attack:
1.ACCEPT–Recognize that you are feeling anxious.Accept your body feelings as a symptom of your anxiety and a sign that something is bothering you.
2.PERMISSION–Give yourself permission to feel anxious about whatever it is that is bothering you."Of course I feel anxious because…. and it is okay to have anxiety.I know what this is and why I feel this way."
3.BREATHE– First, inhale through your nose slowly for two-seconds,mentally counting one, one-thousand, two ,one- thousand.then exhale through your mouth to mental count of four-second-again by one-thousands.Do this for at least 60-seconds.
4.INNER DIALOGUE–Use truthful, positive dialogue to talk yourself through the anxious time.It WILL pass. Examples of dialogue might be,"It’s just anxiety.It will go away. I will not lose control.
I can still go about my business feeling spaced-out.It won’t hurt me."
5.DISTRACT–Get busy.Do something to release some of this self-induced stimulation.Your body is like a car in high gear with the brakes on .Don’t just sit there! Walk,jog, clean closets -but do something.Distract yourself from the way you are feeling.
6.LET TIME PASS– and try to see a little humor in the way you feel.You may feel weird ,you don’t look weird.Give yourself permission to feel weird for a little while. It is no big deal.Try to figure out what is really bothering you. Is it some type of conflict that you don’t want to deal with?Is it a scary thought? Is it a ridiculous expectation you have about yourself? How about the television program you watched last night?What is bothering you?
It takes time and lots and lots of practice.But the only way to stop fearing panic and anxiety attacks is to experience them .Then, work your way through them and begin to see that they won’t hurt you.
There is no need to avoid or fight .
YOU are your safe place and your safe person .
YOU can make yourself feel better.
Feel good!
Praise to Lucinda Bassett !
References :
Comment from girlie
Time January 17, 2010 at 11:04 am
Medications take a while to kick in but make sure you keep track of when you start what and what symptoms you feel and what side effects. Some can make it worse and some can make it better. Don’t stop without talking to the doctor.
I would suggest some hypnotherapy to find a way to control the anxiety. It is difficult to live with anxiety but with the proper medication and some life style adjustments you can live through it without the fear.
References :