LoveAllAlways
11-04-2003, 07:48 PM
First of all, anxiety and panic disorder is the most misunderstood disease. I want to know why it is listed under "mental health" istead of nervous disorders. This is why doctors and shrinks tend to think "its all in our head". That anxiety must be some type of mental or psychological issue which needs to be resolved. To me this is an incompetent judgement. Doctors don't realize what anxiety and panic disorder really is. They give out prescriptions for expensive placebo pills such as buspar and then tell you to go see a shrink. I want to know why this is?
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Karla
11-04-2003, 08:55 PM
Personally I don't care who treats anxiety as long as someone does. Weather my gp helps me or I go to a mental health dr doesn't matter to me either way. I want medicine to make it stop and that is what I get. To me I can't think of a much better win/win situation.
HoosierBj
11-04-2003, 08:56 PM
In the medical/insurance world "Mental/Nervous" disorders are pretty much the same category.
Since anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of genetic, psychological & physiological reasons,
And
Panic disorders are anxiety that is focused on specific external objects or situations that come to represent the underlying anxiety.....
then it does stand to reason that anxiety & panic disorders would be a Mental Health issue. And as mentioned above, Mental Disorders and Nervous Disorders are pretty interchangeable. Like Bipolar Disorder and Manic-Depression are.
Is this what you were getting at?
Since anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of genetic, psychological & physiological reasons,
And
Panic disorders are anxiety that is focused on specific external objects or situations that come to represent the underlying anxiety.....
then it does stand to reason that anxiety & panic disorders would be a Mental Health issue. And as mentioned above, Mental Disorders and Nervous Disorders are pretty interchangeable. Like Bipolar Disorder and Manic-Depression are.
Is this what you were getting at?
LJ74
11-04-2003, 09:04 PM
It also runs in familys. 9 out of 10 times, "SOMEONE" in your family has anxiety, or panic disorder. That's another reason they say it's mental. Genetic. Mental just means having to do with the BRAIN. Doesn't mean your are "MENTAL" ;)
katie_in_az
11-05-2003, 12:00 AM
First of all, anxiety and panic disorder is the most misunderstood disease. I want to know why it is listed under "mental health" istead of nervous disorders. This is why doctors and shrinks tend to think "its all in our head". That anxiety must be some type of mental or psychological issue which needs to be resolved. To me this is an incompetent judgement. Doctors don't realize what anxiety and panic disorder really is. They give out prescriptions for expensive placebo pills such as buspar and then tell you to go see a shrink. I want to know why this is?
LoveAllAlways
I was very caught up by your post. I liked your headline, “First of all, anxiety and panic disorder is the most misunderstood disease. I want to know why it is listed under "mental health" instead of nervous disorders”. Wow. That is great. But what led you to say this? It sounds like you have good reason for saying it, but I was so sorry you did not explain more about why you think this. Please explain a little bit more.
I do think that anxiety and panic have both a physical and a cognitive component. That is, I think there are physical symptoms. These are real. And I think there are unhealthy thought patterns that do not help the physical symptoms. They may even contribute to the physical symptoms and can be overwhelming. These are what meds, even Buspar, are developed to treat. If they do not work as prescribed then your individual feedback in detail is important. So again it would be great if you explained more.
The other point of view is that many of those who dislike medical meds look to alternative remedies. Google “alternative medicine” to get great resources, So, in this view, panic and anxiety may be exacerbated by nerves being stripped raw of nutrients, for instance. Nerves are stripped raw by stress and/or too much white sugar, white flour. And in turn, stripped raw nerves will tend to contribute to negative and even catastrophic thinking.
Anyway, my bottom line is if I am anxious and or panicky, I be sure to take enough B vitamins and C’s. I just buy standard supermarket brands and read up on dosages. As neither B’s nor C’s are EVER toxic, feel free to experiment for dosage and effectiveness. I also try to calm myself with various tried and true methods of relaxation. I do not think they have a Skills for Relaxation forum on healthboards.com, but these kinds of skills are an important component of treating anxiety and panic, as much a feeding the body and nerves with good nutrients.
A nice warm/hot bubble bath with Epson salts really helps anxiety and panic.
Playing very restful music, reading uplifting thoughts; also help. Nothing is a cure, but working on the restful stuff, not on feeding the problem always helps.
LoveAllAlways
I was very caught up by your post. I liked your headline, “First of all, anxiety and panic disorder is the most misunderstood disease. I want to know why it is listed under "mental health" instead of nervous disorders”. Wow. That is great. But what led you to say this? It sounds like you have good reason for saying it, but I was so sorry you did not explain more about why you think this. Please explain a little bit more.
I do think that anxiety and panic have both a physical and a cognitive component. That is, I think there are physical symptoms. These are real. And I think there are unhealthy thought patterns that do not help the physical symptoms. They may even contribute to the physical symptoms and can be overwhelming. These are what meds, even Buspar, are developed to treat. If they do not work as prescribed then your individual feedback in detail is important. So again it would be great if you explained more.
The other point of view is that many of those who dislike medical meds look to alternative remedies. Google “alternative medicine” to get great resources, So, in this view, panic and anxiety may be exacerbated by nerves being stripped raw of nutrients, for instance. Nerves are stripped raw by stress and/or too much white sugar, white flour. And in turn, stripped raw nerves will tend to contribute to negative and even catastrophic thinking.
Anyway, my bottom line is if I am anxious and or panicky, I be sure to take enough B vitamins and C’s. I just buy standard supermarket brands and read up on dosages. As neither B’s nor C’s are EVER toxic, feel free to experiment for dosage and effectiveness. I also try to calm myself with various tried and true methods of relaxation. I do not think they have a Skills for Relaxation forum on healthboards.com, but these kinds of skills are an important component of treating anxiety and panic, as much a feeding the body and nerves with good nutrients.
A nice warm/hot bubble bath with Epson salts really helps anxiety and panic.
Playing very restful music, reading uplifting thoughts; also help. Nothing is a cure, but working on the restful stuff, not on feeding the problem always helps.
Janik
11-05-2003, 09:13 PM
Don't forget that, in addition to possible genetic and environmental (stress) causes, panic can also be brought on by the use of some medications. At least that was my case, I never felt a panic attack until I was given Zoloft. I guess it's better to consider it a mental condition in order to encompass the physical and psychological causes. Avoiding stress is, of course, the best way to deal with panic and anxiety, but sometimes self help is not enough and you need medications, therapy or both.
LoveAllAlways
11-05-2003, 09:26 PM
Hi all,
Well, the reason I said this is because I was being prescribed xanax 1 mg and have been taking it for about a year and its a miracle drug. It takes away all axiety all panic and I felt like a normal human being and could enjoy life to its fullest. Well, now due to insurance problems, i am no longer covered and my doc wont refill my prescription so I go to a new doc and he prescribes me 1 month of it , then tells me to take Buspar and go see a psychologist. Buspar is $75 for 60 pills and its known to be completely ineffective. yea, sure, people might take them for 4 or 6 weeks and then feel a slight difference. And thats the best it does. I mean why in the world can't I take my xanax anymore? And why send me to a psychologist? My anxiety is not caused by stress from my life or my inability to cope with life. My anxiety causes my inability to cope, if you know what I mean. It is purely physical in nature and docs seem to always send everyone with anxiety to a psychologist. Why dont they send cancer patients to a psychologist? They send them to chemotherapy right? Well why is it always assumed by docs that shrinks can help "everyone" with anxiety. Is the shrink going to fix my adrenal glands? This is why its misundertood, in my opinion. Some people have chemicals and hormones like adrenaline that just fire away at any point in time causing people's lives to be hell. And then docs refuse them treatment. But what can we do right? Peace. --Becky
Well, the reason I said this is because I was being prescribed xanax 1 mg and have been taking it for about a year and its a miracle drug. It takes away all axiety all panic and I felt like a normal human being and could enjoy life to its fullest. Well, now due to insurance problems, i am no longer covered and my doc wont refill my prescription so I go to a new doc and he prescribes me 1 month of it , then tells me to take Buspar and go see a psychologist. Buspar is $75 for 60 pills and its known to be completely ineffective. yea, sure, people might take them for 4 or 6 weeks and then feel a slight difference. And thats the best it does. I mean why in the world can't I take my xanax anymore? And why send me to a psychologist? My anxiety is not caused by stress from my life or my inability to cope with life. My anxiety causes my inability to cope, if you know what I mean. It is purely physical in nature and docs seem to always send everyone with anxiety to a psychologist. Why dont they send cancer patients to a psychologist? They send them to chemotherapy right? Well why is it always assumed by docs that shrinks can help "everyone" with anxiety. Is the shrink going to fix my adrenal glands? This is why its misundertood, in my opinion. Some people have chemicals and hormones like adrenaline that just fire away at any point in time causing people's lives to be hell. And then docs refuse them treatment. But what can we do right? Peace. --Becky
HoosierBj
11-06-2003, 10:45 AM
Are you possibly reacting to the Stigma that still exists towards Mental issues? You would feel uncomfortable telling someone what kind of doctor you go to?
Anxiety, Panic, OCD are all illnesses are treated by the mental health community. They involve our brains and behavior.
It's just the way it is.
Is your problem with it more the stigma???
Anxiety, Panic, OCD are all illnesses are treated by the mental health community. They involve our brains and behavior.
It's just the way it is.
Is your problem with it more the stigma???
LJ74
11-06-2003, 11:16 AM
In "Panic to power", (GREAT- GREAT- GREAT- BOOK ;) they say it's an emotional disorder. Just read this lastnight. Also, being it's emotional, they say that it effects the brain. Like with chronic stress.
LoveAllAlways
11-06-2003, 06:13 PM
Hi HoosierBj,
I posted a reply earlier but I don't think it went through. About your question, no I don't have any problem with the stigma of mental health. I personally think people who need to see psychiatrists and psychologists and actually make that step are very noble and I think very highly of them. My problem lies with the medical profession. I am not sure why everyone who speaks up to their doc about overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks are automatically referred to a psychologist. Moreover, whats even worse is when they put you on meds that work, and then take you off and say 'go see a psychologist'. Don't get me wrong, I would have no problem seeing a shrink if I thought he could help me. But all signs point to , and I know my anxiety to be of a physical cause. Adrenaline is like any other physical hormone and the glands can misfunction in the body. I have a good life, pleasant childhood, no traumatic expereinces, i speak to people about my symptoms, I eat right, excercise, get plenty of sleep, meditate, and lead a basically not a very stressful life. There is no reason for me to out of the blue and randomly during the day feel bursts of the 'fight or flight' hormone surge through my body fiercely. I believe that psychologists can help many people with anxiety caused by events or things which happened to them in life, such as phobias, OCDs, unrealistic preceptions and fears, etc. But when I recognize the symptoms as stemming from a purely physical cause, and docs ignore that, it troubles me. The physical aspect should not be ignored or brushed aside and sent directly to a psychologist. Peace --Becky
I posted a reply earlier but I don't think it went through. About your question, no I don't have any problem with the stigma of mental health. I personally think people who need to see psychiatrists and psychologists and actually make that step are very noble and I think very highly of them. My problem lies with the medical profession. I am not sure why everyone who speaks up to their doc about overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks are automatically referred to a psychologist. Moreover, whats even worse is when they put you on meds that work, and then take you off and say 'go see a psychologist'. Don't get me wrong, I would have no problem seeing a shrink if I thought he could help me. But all signs point to , and I know my anxiety to be of a physical cause. Adrenaline is like any other physical hormone and the glands can misfunction in the body. I have a good life, pleasant childhood, no traumatic expereinces, i speak to people about my symptoms, I eat right, excercise, get plenty of sleep, meditate, and lead a basically not a very stressful life. There is no reason for me to out of the blue and randomly during the day feel bursts of the 'fight or flight' hormone surge through my body fiercely. I believe that psychologists can help many people with anxiety caused by events or things which happened to them in life, such as phobias, OCDs, unrealistic preceptions and fears, etc. But when I recognize the symptoms as stemming from a purely physical cause, and docs ignore that, it troubles me. The physical aspect should not be ignored or brushed aside and sent directly to a psychologist. Peace --Becky
HoosierBj
11-06-2003, 06:37 PM
A wonderful response!
I was misreading the mood of your first post as almost combative and now I realize it was pure frustration!!
The medical community honks me off too. Since I have Bipolar Disorder NOTHING I have seems to be allowed as purely physical. It has to be because I'm depressed, or stressed, or something.
I swear that someday I'm going to die of a heart attack and they'll put "anxiety" down as the cause of death!!
Thanks for explaining, I can definitely commiserate with you!!
Have you managed to get tests run on the adrenal glands? What can be done to bring them back in line?
Bj
I was misreading the mood of your first post as almost combative and now I realize it was pure frustration!!
The medical community honks me off too. Since I have Bipolar Disorder NOTHING I have seems to be allowed as purely physical. It has to be because I'm depressed, or stressed, or something.
I swear that someday I'm going to die of a heart attack and they'll put "anxiety" down as the cause of death!!
Thanks for explaining, I can definitely commiserate with you!!
Have you managed to get tests run on the adrenal glands? What can be done to bring them back in line?
Bj
LoveAllAlways
11-06-2003, 07:15 PM
Hi :)
Oh yes, absolutely frustrating dealing with docs sometimes, and I can totally relate. No, I have not had any checks on my glands yet, but meds (i was taking xanax) kept them completely under control. I had no problems whatsoever on this med but now am refused more prescriptions for it. Now I go on feeling anxiety most of the day and every other day or so have a full blown panic attack. I can see how this cycle can lead a person to feel depressed or frustrated or down and then again get sent to the physchologist. I think that curing the underlying problem is always the best solution, and for some it is physical and others physc, and docs need to listen to patients clearly since the person knows best what they feel. Good luck to you! Peace --Becky
Oh yes, absolutely frustrating dealing with docs sometimes, and I can totally relate. No, I have not had any checks on my glands yet, but meds (i was taking xanax) kept them completely under control. I had no problems whatsoever on this med but now am refused more prescriptions for it. Now I go on feeling anxiety most of the day and every other day or so have a full blown panic attack. I can see how this cycle can lead a person to feel depressed or frustrated or down and then again get sent to the physchologist. I think that curing the underlying problem is always the best solution, and for some it is physical and others physc, and docs need to listen to patients clearly since the person knows best what they feel. Good luck to you! Peace --Becky
Janik
11-06-2003, 10:31 PM
... I am not sure why everyone who speaks up to their doc about overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks are automatically referred to a psychologist... I believe that psychologists can help many people with anxiety caused by events or things which happened to them in life, such as phobias, OCDs, unrealistic preceptions and fears, etc. But when I recognize the symptoms as stemming from a purely physical cause, and docs ignore that, it troubles me...
Anxiety and panic can be managed very well by a trained psychologist. Even when there is a physical cause to anxiety, people can learn to handle them. Meds alone keep you going, but through therapy you can train yourself to overcome panic and anxiety, regardless of the cause.
Benzos can be very effective but a lot of doctors are afraid to prescribe them anymore. Even if you are not abusing your xanax, they don't want to be in the position of exposing you to a potential addictive drug.
Anxiety and panic can be managed very well by a trained psychologist. Even when there is a physical cause to anxiety, people can learn to handle them. Meds alone keep you going, but through therapy you can train yourself to overcome panic and anxiety, regardless of the cause.
Benzos can be very effective but a lot of doctors are afraid to prescribe them anymore. Even if you are not abusing your xanax, they don't want to be in the position of exposing you to a potential addictive drug.
LJ74
11-06-2003, 10:42 PM
Have you thought about seeing a "nurologist" than?
auntchilada
11-07-2003, 02:22 PM
My anxiety is not caused by stress from my life or my inability to cope with life. My anxiety causes my inability to cope, if you know what I mean. It is purely physical in nature and docs seem to always send everyone with anxiety to a psychologist. Why dont they send cancer patients to a psychologist? They send them to chemotherapy right? Well why is it always assumed by docs that shrinks can help "everyone" with anxiety. Is the shrink going to fix my adrenal glands?
Couldn't have said it better myself! When I read articles about the "horrible effects" and "overuse" of anti-depressants, I want to SCREAM!!!! Do you ever see an article saying "tisk, tisk, tisk, chemotherapy is way over-used" or "those who insulin for diabetes are just weak people who can't cope or control what sugars they eat and doctors shouldn't prescribe insulin so much"? NO, of course not! I get sooo angry! Or when someone says "Oh you should just deal with your problems instead of hiding them with meds." DUH, the anxiety is my problem!!!!
Believe me, I am all for seeing a psychologist and learning ways to deal with your anxiety or other disorder. I have been in therapy, mostly cognitive, for a very long time. But if you need meds, then you need meds! It's like if you have a thyroid disorder then it's ok because the thyroid is testable, but if it's mental then it's not ok. Make me so irritated. If someone has hyper-thyroid and they have anxiety then its ok because of their thyroid, but if someone just has anxiety because of a mental disease, then it becomes a whole 'nother story.
:mad:
Couldn't have said it better myself! When I read articles about the "horrible effects" and "overuse" of anti-depressants, I want to SCREAM!!!! Do you ever see an article saying "tisk, tisk, tisk, chemotherapy is way over-used" or "those who insulin for diabetes are just weak people who can't cope or control what sugars they eat and doctors shouldn't prescribe insulin so much"? NO, of course not! I get sooo angry! Or when someone says "Oh you should just deal with your problems instead of hiding them with meds." DUH, the anxiety is my problem!!!!
Believe me, I am all for seeing a psychologist and learning ways to deal with your anxiety or other disorder. I have been in therapy, mostly cognitive, for a very long time. But if you need meds, then you need meds! It's like if you have a thyroid disorder then it's ok because the thyroid is testable, but if it's mental then it's not ok. Make me so irritated. If someone has hyper-thyroid and they have anxiety then its ok because of their thyroid, but if someone just has anxiety because of a mental disease, then it becomes a whole 'nother story.
:mad:
LoveAllAlways
11-07-2003, 09:36 PM
daisyheadmaisy,
Very well said. I don't understand why people with thyroid deficiencies don';t get referred to a psychologist, or estrogen malfunctions, it seems like the only hormone malfunction considered "all in you head" is adrenaline. Can I control my adrenal glands with my head? If I could then anyone with any physical ailment should be able to cure themeselves with their head. Yes, this is a very misunderstood problem, since anxiety can be caused by so many factors people overlook the idea that it may be all physical.
Very well said. I don't understand why people with thyroid deficiencies don';t get referred to a psychologist, or estrogen malfunctions, it seems like the only hormone malfunction considered "all in you head" is adrenaline. Can I control my adrenal glands with my head? If I could then anyone with any physical ailment should be able to cure themeselves with their head. Yes, this is a very misunderstood problem, since anxiety can be caused by so many factors people overlook the idea that it may be all physical.