Does anyone have constant anxiety? - Anxiety Message Board

kendallbella09 · 09-10-2004, 08:50 AM

Hello, Please help me if you can-

I have currently been off work for 1 month and I need to get my life back! About a month ago I started to experience dizziness, brain fogg, surrealness of my envoirnment, severe panic, muscle weakness, chest pain, tremors and a feeling of total panic in places where I have to sit doen like in restaurants.

I also cannot sit still (I pace constantly), My heart feels like its gonna beat out of my chest, I can't eat/drink/sleep. My vision is totally disturbed, I feel like passing out at the end of the day/ but I can't until the wee hours of morning. The worst part is that once I wake up in the morning, I can't go back to sleep. I go into complete panic mode until I finally pass out at night of exhaustion! I also notice that in the morning my hands feel like they are very weak and they tingle/have a burning sensation.

I have NEVER been this way before! I have always worried, but I can't function all of a sudden. I have never been scared of public places either.

I have been to many docotors and they think it is anxiety/depression, I cam currently taking 10mg of celexa daily.

I have had an MRI which came back normal. Yesterday they tested my thyroid, cbc, urine, etc (don't know the outcome yet) I have to go and get an upper GI and and CT of my stomach, because I have had diaharrea for this whole time and I may have an ulcer.

Has anyones life ever changes so abruptly like this? I am in constant "fight or flight" mode and I don't even talk to my friends. It's hard for me to hold down a conversation. Please I cry daily and I am in constant fear. I am afraid that I will never be me again. Please any advice would be helpful. I love my old life and I really want it back.

Ps I have had no immediate traumatic event

Kendall

redherring · 09-10-2004, 10:00 AM

How long have you been on 10mgs of Celexa?

kendallbella09 · 09-10-2004, 10:07 AM

I have been on celexa for a week, but these symptoms have been going on for 1 month.

Graciecat · 09-10-2004, 10:12 AM

My panic disorder just came on "out of the blue" the way it seems yours did.
Nothing and I do mean nothing in my past or at that moment had changed or been threatening or life changing at all....nothing new at all going on in my life and then one day when I was 16 years old I was taking clothes out of the dryer and BAM there it was, I was fine one second and scared to death, shaking, heart racing, feeling like I wasn't real, feeling like I was going to pass out, die or go crazy, the next second.
I had every test you mentioned plus they checked my blood sugar levels and several EKG's...everything was fine.

This may not be the case for you, but do you know if anyone in your family...even as far back as a grandparent suffered from anxiety or panic?...of course they didn't call it that then.
After I was DX'd with it I came to find out the my Mom suffered with it and then several years later I came to find out the my Grandfather(whom had passed away before I was born) had also suffered from it..plus several cousins...all on my Mothers side of the family...yet I'm the only one of my siblings who has/had it.
Like I said this isn't the case for everyone and just because someone in your family has it doesn't mean you'll get it...but it does run in some families.

You can get your old self back...for some people it's medication, for some it's theapry and for some it's a combo of both...everyone is different and what works for one person doesn't work for everyone.
But like I said, you can become your old self again, there were times that I didn't think I would, but I did and you can too.
Just remember that you're stronger than it is...I know sometimes it doesn't feel that way, but you really are.

redherring · 09-10-2004, 10:26 AM

You are having breakthrough anxiety. FWIW, Celexa takes about 4-6 weeks to become fully effective. Also, you are on a sub-theraputic dose. 20mgs is the minimum dose for panic and anxiety. Please discuss any dosage increase with your doctor.