I have had anxiety/depression for as long as i remember, for the last 6 years i knew i had some sort of problem. I gave birth to my daughter nearly 6 years ago and "morning sickness" never stopped, about two years ago i realised this was part of my anxiety and have tried to control it myself, i visited my gp who told me there were several ways of dealing with it, meds, counselling or to do nothing. I chose to do nothing until now!!!
I have an appointment tomorrow to see the gp again where he will refer me to a psychothreapist. When my sister went he refered her to a talking therapist, i know we have different issues but what is the difference? why do i need a psychotherapist not a talking therapist?
I have had a lot of problems in the past and have been using these boards for various advice on different matters, but it is the first time i have come here! I know before i can get everything else i want i need to tackle this anxiety, i get so ill i pass out, i throw up constantly and just the thought of going to the school playground sets me off, i dont want to be like this.
I am not sure if counselling is going to make me worse, for bringing up my past normally leaves me depressed for weeks, i want to be strong but i need to know if its worth doing. HAs counselling alone ever helped anyone,
My parents were both on med for years and now my dad is really messed up, he is still on the pills and there is no sign of him coming off them ever. This is another anxiety i have is this going to keep running through the family, and will my daughter inherit this from me?
Thankyou for taking the time to read this, sometimes it feels better to just write my concerns :angel:

I have also experienced the same kind of manifistations of anxiety as yourself layla and have had it since about the age of 15 i think and I am 24 now. I have never done anything about it other than try and deal with it and strengthen mentally to try and battle the problem. My attacks come in social situations where i may be feeling nervous or excited and its miserable and since finding these boards fell something can be done to help. I tried some alternative treatments like shiatsu massage, even reiki and they didn't really have any impact that I can remember. I also feel apprehensive to see a gp because they either blow you off or give you some medication (something I am not keen on for the same reasons as yourself) I have seen too many people report bad expereinces or dependancy on drugs for anxiety and depression to consider using them at the moment. What do the gp's do to try and diagnose what the problem is when someone is suffering anxiety and panic attacks?

What do the gp's do to try and diagnose what the problem is when someone is suffering anxiety and panic attacks?

There is no test for panic and anxiety.
The only real way to diagnose panic and anxiety is to run tests to rule out other illnesses.
I've heard panic/anxiety disorder described as the "Great Mimic" or the "Great Pretender", because the symptoms you have with those disorders are also the symptoms you have with some physical disoders.

A good GP...and I had a great one, will run tests to rule out other things.
I had all kinds of heart tests, everything was fine there.
I had blood tests for high or low blood sugar, thyroid problems and a couple of other things that I can't remember.
In short I had every test known to man I think :) .
Actually that easied my mind a great deal, at least I knew what I had wasn't going to kill me.
After all those tests came back normal, then and only then was I diagnosed with Panic disorder.
IMO, if you go to a GP and all he does is ask you a couple of questions and then tells you that you have panic/anxiety disorder without running any tests, it's time to find a new GP.

As for being worried about passing this disorder on to your Daughter.
This is what my Doctor told me..."Yes, it does seem that this disorder runs in some families, but that doesn't mean just because it's in your family you'll get it or pass it on if you do get."
I came to find out after I was diagnosed that my Mother had it as well as my Grandfather and several cousins all on my Mothers side of the family.
Some people say it's a learned behaviour, but that doesn't seem to be the case with me....I never knew my Grandfather, my Mother had the problem long before I was born and didn't really have a problem after that and the Cousins that have it I was only ever around them once or twice a year at most.
I just did some research into it, so that's how I found out that it does run in my family.

I'm 37 years old, I have 4 children...an 18 year old son, a 6 year old daughter, a 5 year old son and a 2 year old son...none of them show any signs of having a problem....and I'm the only one of my siblings who ever had a problem.
So just because you have it, doesn't me your Daughter will too.

Sorry I wrote a book, but I hope I helped a little

graciecat- you have words of wisdom and i spent time reading over what you said, thankyou. It feels better with some one else giving me that assurance.
I am 24 and suffered with depression all throughout my teens, knowing that my illness is in my head gets me through most things, i try to control it most days and sometimes i am able to, then if i keep ignoring it i get physical pain. my blood pressure, sugar, thyroid have all been fine (blood Pressure with the odd exception)and i know in myself im fine, as long as i have nothing planned i am fine as soon as it looks as if i have to go out the anxiety and sickness start, it feels like a never ending spiral. Ill stop writing now. Thankyou

Layla,

You're very welcome.
I'm so glad that my words helped you in some way.