280 replies to this topic

[nursedeborah]

Maureene,
Would you give me the site your talking about, as I have such incredible
anxiety, and this thing your talking about sounds really great!!

Debbie

[Cecile]

Junior,
I am reading books, on the web, with my pyhciatrist, going to a Physical therpist, doing excersises, Dr. appointments and doing everything i can to stop my panic attacks and feel better..So don't say i'm not trying cause iam.. i have spent alot of money i do not have cause i'm not working right now.. on trying to get better..if u feel like you are at your wits with me then don't write me no one is forcing you to write me..

Kind reguards,
Cecile

[Cecile]

Nursedebbie,
the website is www.anxietyonline.org.au

cece

[cmonk]

Hey Debbie, I have been having times that it is hard for me to breath. I also have a sinus infection and they say it could be allergies. I am thinking it might be a lite anxiety attack. It is not all the time but I get really tired when it goes away. Since we started this hell at about the same time I was wondering if you may be having the same systems?

Maureene,
Would you give me the site your talking about, as I have such incredible
anxiety, and this thing your talking about sounds really great!!

Debbie

[cmonk]

I went to the site http://www.anxietyonline.org.au/ and googled panic attacks. I do think that is what I am having. I have had them in the past but this is a milder form. I have Xanax if they get to bad. I just hate taking the stuff. I try to just work through them. If I went to the Dr. God knows what they would put me on. LOL
I just went back and read some of the older posts and I do not care what anyone thinks, The people here have helped me so much with just the little words or things they have tried it is unbelievable. So to that I say THANK YOU!!


Candy

[MaureenV]

I went to the site http://www.anxietyonline.org.au/ and googled panic attacks. I do think that is what I am having. I have had them in the past but this is a milder form. I have Xanax if they get to bad. I just hate taking the stuff. I try to just work through them. If I went to the Dr. God knows what they would put me on. LOL
I just went back and read some of the older posts and I do not care what anyone thinks, The people here have helped me so much with just the little words or things they have tried it is unbelievable. So to that I say THANK YOU!!


Candy

Hi Candy, did you see that the site has a free 12 x week self directed course which may help you?

It's a reputable site. I put the link there, as I read about the initiative in the newspaper - a joint effort between a local university and the Victorian State govt - no advertising or anything on there.

There was concern that there are a lot of people in isolated areas in Australia who don't have access to face to face counsellors, and that there are also people who are reluctant to go, or can't afford to go.

Hope you get some help from the site.

regards, Maureen.

[MaureenV]

Hi Cecile,


I'm still trying to work out why you think the same questions were asked over and over. Can you tell me what you think about my question above? Not what you feel, but if you think the question's the same.

regards, Maureen.

[Junior]

Junior,
I am reading books, on the web, with my pyhciatrist, going to a Physical therpist, doing excersises, Dr. appointments and doing everything i can to stop my panic attacks and feel better..So don't say i'm not trying cause iam.. i have spent alot of money i do not have cause i'm not working right now.. on trying to get better..if u feel like you are at your wits with me then don't write me no one is forcing you to write me..

Kind reguards,
Cecile

.... but no psychologist.....

I'm glad you are doing everything you can... but a little 'thanks' for providing information would be nice every now and then, even if you don't want to follow anything that has been recommended.

No, I don't have to write you... nor does Maureen or anyone else. We do it because we want to help. It's just that there's not much point trying to help someone who doesn't seem to want to BE helped...

Cheers
Junior

[Cecile]

What is a Psychologist? it's not the same as a Psychiatrist?

Maureen, I started doing the SAD online program where you say how your feeling...Thank you!! for the website..My results for the test was a "specific Phobia" is what i scored the highest in..and it's ture iam scared of when i'm going to get my next panic attack..and i think that's why i scored high in that area..

Goodnite,
cece

[MaureenV]

Hi Cecile,

Thanks for the thanks! It was nice to hear!

Also, congratulations on no longer using !!! and ??? to convey your meaning. I know expressing how you feel is sometimes difficult, but dealing with difficulties is one of the ways we can reduce anxiety.

No a Psychologist is quite, quite different from a Psychiatrist.

I really do wish you would 'engage' more with Junior and Debbie. They both have soooooooooooo much to offer you.


But when people criticize you, sometimes it's because they really need to let you know that you've gone too far with the way you're talking and responding. I DO know we're all a lot older, and believe me, if I didn't know you were so young I wouldn't have kept trying.

Junior is STILL reaching out to you, so please, please try to listen, AND respond to the questions we ask you.


So ... you still haven't answered my question: do those two situations above sound the same to you?


cheers, Maureen.

[Junior]

What is a Psychologist? it's not the same as a Psychiatrist?


Goodnite,
cece

Cecile

No, a psychologist and psychiatrist are actually very different. A psychiatrist is medically trained. They do a medical degree before going on and specialising in psychiatry. Most use a medical model to treat, which means they prescribe drugs. A psychologist, on the other hand, is trained in.. well many things (I''ve studied to Honours Level myself) but for your purposes, there are two types that could help you; 1) a clinical psychologist - essentially these people diagnose and treat mental illness, but with THERAPY rather than drugs, and 2) a counselling psychologist - much of what a counsellor does ends up overlapping with what a clinical psychologist does, but they are trained to provide therapy in the form of counselling.

For people with specific phobias, e.g. arachnophobia (fear of spiders), claustrophobia (fear of wide open spaces), blood and needle phobia, etc... the most successful treatment is graded exposure. For example, if a person has an irrational (all phobic fears are irrational and the person usually recognises this but can't control them) fear of spiders, you would start with maybe a few pictures of spiders but teach relaxation at the same time. The idea is that eventually your mind will combine relaxation with seeing spiders rather than fear.

Panic disorder - several and ongoing panic attacks, is different. One thing I remember from my studies is that people who have this, are more sensitive to the actual panic symptoms and fear these more than anything else. There is a fear of being embarrassed if/ when it happens in public, so people typically try to avoid places where they have had a panic attack in the past. In addition, while experiencing the panic attack, the person really believes they are going to die.

Research shows that there are different brain structures involved for different people and this is why it is hard to find the 'right' medication for an individual. Generally speaking, however, the best form of therapy is often a combination of medication (at the beginning of therapy) and therapy itself. I think Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is the therapy of choice. You might like to google CBT to find out more about it. Essentially what it does, however, is to combine a psychological are called 'behaviourism' where one changes the behaviour directly, and 'cognitive therapy' where thought processes are examined and a plan devised to work on changing them.

I really believe this type of therapy (talking therapy / with a psychologist) could help you. I know you have spent a lot of money and I know it is difficult but if you don't want to take drugs......

Kind regards
Junior

[nursedeborah]

I went to the site http://www.anxietyonline.org.au/ and googled panic attacks. I do think that is what I am having. I have had them in the past but this is a milder form. I have Xanax if they get to bad. I just hate taking the stuff. I try to just work through them. If I went to the Dr. God knows what they would put me on. LOL
I just went back and read some of the older posts and I do not care what anyone thinks, The people here have helped me so much with just the little words or things they have tried it is unbelievable. So to that I say THANK YOU!!


Candy

Candy,
This is really so awful to deal with, and it does cause anxiety, severe in some so
if your needing something allow yourself that relief during all of this, we are not
all the same. This is about being good to ourselves, and allowing ourselves to heal.

I don't just pop pills either, but I also don't let myself be miserable either, and your
right about going to the doctor, and being put on something for them!!! I never
want to be put on anything unless it"s totally needed.

This place has helped me just like how you saying! I don't know what I would have
done without the support of the people here!

Just for today be good to yourself,

Debbie

[cmonk]

I went to the site http://www.anxietyonline.org.au/ and googled panic attacks. I do think that is what I am having. I have had them in the past but this is a milder form. I have Xanax if they get to bad. I just hate taking the stuff. I try to just work through them. If I went to the Dr. God knows what they would put me on. LOL
I just went back and read some of the older posts and I do not care what anyone thinks, The people here have helped me so much with just the little words or things they have tried it is unbelievable. So to that I say THANK YOU!!


Candy

Hi Candy, did you see that the site has a free 12 x week self directed course which may help you?

It's a reputable site. I put the link there, as I read about the initiative in the newspaper - a joint effort between a local university and the Victorian State govt - no advertising or anything on there.

There was concern that there are a lot of people in isolated areas in Australia who don't have access to face to face counsellors, and that there are also people who are reluctant to go, or can't afford to go.

Hope you get some help from the site.

regards, Maureen.

Maureen, I did not see 12 x week self directed course. I will go back and find it. Thanks.

[cmonk]

Candy,
This is really so awful to deal with, and it does cause anxiety, severe in some so
if your needing something allow yourself that relief during all of this, we are not
all the same. This is about being good to ourselves, and allowing ourselves to heal.

I don't just pop pills either, but I also don't let myself be miserable either, and your
right about going to the doctor, and being put on something for them!!! I never
want to be put on anything unless it"s totally needed.

This place has helped me just like how you saying! I don't know what I would have
done without the support of the people here!

Just for today be good to yourself,

Debbie[/quote]


Debbie,

I am just glad I know what is going on. I saw 2 different Dr. and they both said it was due to my sinus infection ect. I just have a hard time taking Xanax. I take the lowest dose and it makes me sleep for 24 hrs. (when I have not slept for days it is good.) I am not going to deprive my self of anything. I will check out the 12 x week self directed course. Also I want to see if yoga or something like that will help. The video store I go to has all their fitness dvds free for 5 days. Thanks for talking to me or I might very well be a basket case right now.

[MaureenV]

"Debbie,

I am just glad I know what is going on. I saw 2 different Dr. and they both said it was due to my sinus infection ect. I just have a hard time taking Xanax. I take the lowest dose and it makes me sleep for 24 hrs. (when I have not slept for days it is good.) I am not going to deprive my self of anything. I will check out the 12 x week self directed course. Also I want to see if yoga or something like that will help. The video store I go to has all their fitness dvds free for 5 days. Thanks for talking to me or I might very well be a basket case right now."


Sinus is easy to mistake for other things, but I know they can take images of them. I have the dubious honour of having very low sinuses, which showed up when I had a dental implant put in. Because it's the canine tooth, it goes up quite high, and one of the problems I had when ON Cymbalta was sinus not 'clearing' and causing pain in that area. Sinus clearing is not exactly a joy, but it's better than the alternative.

Just out of interest, when my daughter had either a migraine, or bad sinus, our GP (who doesn't assume she always has all the answers) treated her with half the dose of both treatments; so if a GP with 30+ years of experience will admit to not being able to tell for certain *sometimes*, I think you can assume you *may* have a sinus infection, but you might not, too.


regars, Maureen.

[nursedeborah]

Candy,
I did go to that site, I am also taking the test for the heck of it as i am just
stuck in fear, and anxiety for the time being. I at this point don't give a rat's
ass what is causing it I only want to do what ever I can to stop the insanity that
it does bring to my life, and doing these withdrawls I sure am seeing things so
much clearer.

I keep seeing more that's out there lately about what this drug is causing some
people to all of a sudden get the worst craving for booze, some even saying
that they now have become alcoholic's. This is scary stuff, just wonder what
else will start showing up now that it's becoming such an epidemic proportions of
people that are haivng side effects, and the horendous withdrawls, It's almost
like some SiFi movie or something! Not cool at all, no puch lines yet on this
to at least get us to even strat laughing about it all either!

Well I am forgetting what I have even said, guess I need to put food in my body.

Alway's here for you Pumpkin, just let me know when you need me:)

Love,
Debbie

[MaureenV]

"I keep seeing more that's out there lately about what this grug is causing some
people - Debbie"


I've have none of this, Debbie! Grug is a very friendly character who wouldn't hurt a fly.

http://www.childrens... ... prior.html



:))))))))

[Junior]

I was wondering about this 'grug' myself. I've heard it's not a very nice thing.....

:-p

Junior

[MaureenV]

I was wondering about this 'grug' myself. I've heard it's not a very nice thing.....

:-p

Junior

That's very un-Australian. :)) He grew from the top of a Burrawang tree.


Maureen.

[Junior]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh....so he's a relative of the witchety grub? Or is that grug?

We're awful. Sorry Deb =D

Junior

[nursedeborah]

Maureene,
I always do this when I first get up, and I am the most awful person
as far as typing, or checking what I have said for mistakes.

I do come up with some pretty good one's when I do!

Debbie

[Junior]

So you forgive us? *looks innocent*

[Cecile]

Junior thanks! for the Info. well said i didn't even get confused, you really do sound like a dr. when you are speaking about it.. : ) in another words you know what your talking about..

Doing my Sad online program now talk to you later.

Cece

[Junior]

Cecile

That's the spirit! I really do want to help you. Even if only by giving information. A personal philosophy I have is that if you know more about your condition, then you are better equipped to know how to deal with it.

Thanks for the compliment about 'sounding like a Dr'. It's because I studied psychology for 10 years. One thing you learn is how to write academically. Sometimes I just slip into that and forget to just be social :S

It's because I have this knowledge (mental health is an area I am really passionate about) that I wanted to help. I hope you do end up seeing a therapist. When you are ready, can afford it, etc. You have other concerns right now, I know. Just be aware that medication can help for a time but it doesn't cure the original problem. It only controls it.

I wish you all the best
Junior

[nursedeborah]

Junior thanks! for the Info. well said i didn't even get confused, you really do sound like a dr. when you are speaking about it.. : ) in another words you know what your talking about..

Doing my Sad online program now talk to you later.

Cece

Cece,
Thanks for putting the site up there for me. Can I ask you a question?
Does your anxiety keep you from going places? Not able to leave you
home at times?

Just curious? Mine does.

Debbie

[MaureenV]

Junior thanks! for the Info. well said i didn't even get confused, you really do sound like a dr. when you are speaking about it.. : ) in another words you know what your talking about..

Doing my Sad online program now talk to you later.

Cece

Hooray! congratulations Cece, you really sound like you're heading in the right direction.

I think you can understand now what we were talking about in that you have to 'engage' with people and what they're suggesting, rather than 'sounding like' you're ignoring their suggestions, and just keep telling us how bad it is. ??


Can I ask - does it make any difference to you forcing yourself to write 'calmly', without all the !!!! and ??????

It's very easy to get our emotions across that way (and sometimes essential on the internet where we're missing body language) but to do it on a continual and exaggerated basis is really just substituting expressing our selves - and it sounds as though it's helped you.


Now it's 6.30 am and I'm supposed to be going on a 30k bike ride (to the city with my husband, where he works, then I do the return trip), and it's already 30 degrees - that's mid 80s F. yuk yuk yuk We seem to be specializing in breaking weather records at the moment. Then again in Melbourne we love to whinge about the weather.


regards, Maureen.

[Junior]

Maureen, Maureen, Maureen

A bike ride to the city when it's already 30 degrees??? Ok..that confirms it..you are officially nuts. *pokes tongue out at you*




Debbie,

I used to have to work hard to stop my GAD developing into agoraphobia. I wasn't dealing with drug withdrawal but I'd still feel like I just wanted to run away from everyone, hide inside...things like that. It's because people with GAD have an overactive amygdala. The amygdala is heavily involved in our flight /fight response and because it's overactive, people like us (or our bodies) react to minor 'threats' as though they are major and life threatening. One way to deal with it is to constantly remind yourself that your body is playing tricks on you. When it comes to leaving the house, the old adage worked well for me, "Feel the fear and do it anyway".

Junior

[MaureenV]

Maureen, Maureen, Maureen

A bike ride to the city when it's already 30 degrees??? Ok..that confirms it..you are officially nuts. *pokes tongue out at you*





Junior

'I might be nuts, but I'm also 59kg this morning' she chortles. Got to over 65 at my heaviest on Lexapro (I'm not blaming the drug, just my increased eating and decreased exercise in response), dropped to 63 changing to Cymbalta.

I would agree 30 degrees is not ideal - but at least the sun wasn't hard up at that stage. How my husband rides home after a day at work in 30 - 40 degree temperatures is beyond me.

You may remember a day a few years ago when the heat caused blackouts affecting lots of Melbourne's traffic lights, and chaos on the trains. He wouldn't normally ride in high 30s but that day he didn't have much choice, as it was still 38 at 8pp.m. . I put wet towels in the freezer and had a big glass of cold water ready - which he just tipped over his head.

(38 is 100F for those of you using different measuring sticks.)

Maureen.

[Cecile]

Debbie,

Yes, sometimes i do feel scared to leave my house and "by myself" is the problem but if i'm with my Husband, Mom, sister or just another body with me, i feel soo much better..I do try to go do things without people and sometime i get nerves when i'm driving.., so i will call someone and talk to them on the phone..I try not to get a ticket though, cause my brother in-law just got one the other day and it was 200 dollers that's alot for talking or texting on the phone..Anyway, I do try to get out so that i wont be scared... when i'm home alone i get scared too, so i always feel like i have to have someone there with me at home..I'm trying to break this habbit, but i have gone places alone though..

Are you the same way debbie?
write back

Cece

[nursedeborah]

Junior,
I never really realized just how much damage all this has really done to me.
I am going to have to get help as I just can't live like this forever.

I need a therapist, and will start from there. I am just fed up with the shrink
that I am seeing as he really does not hear me. I have been telling him how
tired I am, and nothing he gives me helps at all.

Cec,
Your doing such a great job, and you just sound better, hope it's the real you
and not just to people please.

Debbie