Hi,
I have been on prozac for about 3 or 4 weeks. I thought it was working great for anxiety, But today when I was crossing the street and there was alot of cars, I started thinking people are staring at me! that kept going over and over in my head. It got to the point to where I could barely finish crossing the street because my legs felt like a ton of bricks. I have not had the racing heart with my anxiety sense being on prozac. So it is helping to some degree but I am at a loss as to what it is that happened today. Can someone please help me out?

has this sort of thing happened before starting the prozac?
the prozac dose range is about 20 to 80mg daily, perhaps your dose needs to be upped, ask doc.

feeling that everyone is staring at you and judging you badly is common with social anxiety

Anxiety is actually an occasional side effect of Prozac. If the medication is worsening your anxiety, you should take something else, not increase the dose.

Hi you 2!
Thanks so much for your replies. I did have anxiety before taking the prozac. I was put on prozac for depression and anxiety.

My Symptoms before prozac were as follows:
fight to take a breath
fast hart beat.
trimbling
flushed face

My symtoms with prozac are as follows:
over whelming fear in some situations.
Hard to move if walking.
trimbling
flushed face

So as you can see the prozac has helped some. But it has increased my fear to the point of almost not being able to move.
That is really the only draw back. should I still wait it out? have my dose increased? or ask to try something else.
thanks for your time
dragonballwizard

Originally posted by dragonballwizard:
over whelming fear in some situations...
... prozac has helped some. But it has increased my fear to the point of almost not being able to move.
... should I still wait it out? have my dose increased? or ask to try something else.

I believe you should stop the Prozac and try something else. I got panic attacks (overwhelming fear) while taking Zoloft, which is also an SSRI like Prozac.

I've never heard of a case like mine an neither have my doctors. But if you had never experienced a panic attack before the Prozac, there seems to be a connection. I don't think "waiting it out" is a good idea.

There are other medications for anxiety that are not SSRI's. Ask your doctor to switch you to another medication.

According to SSRI's clinical trials, 60% of the people get better, but you could belong to the other 40%, or worse, to the 5% or so who experience unpleasant side effects.

I have been having a heck of a time with Prozac too- for anxiety/panic. What dose are you taking, and what type of pill? See, if you are taking the tablet form, you can use a pill cutter to decrease your dose until you see the side effects go away, if they do. I am supposed to be taking 20 mg of Prozac, but was told to start off with 10 initially. The 10 (1/2 the pill) made me feel as if I couldnt sit still, and I was as !physically! anxious as I have been in years. After that, I sure as heck wasnt going to drop the 20 mg and wind up in the ER with a full blown panic attack- I dont have the money for that crap; Ive been blood tested and all was OK. SO, I cut the 1/2 in 1/2. Less nervous but still way to anxious- thats like a 5 mg dose! Cut that in 1/2 and that STILL made me more PHYSICALLY nervous than before I started it. Suffice it to say, I aint taking it anymore. I guess some of us just cant be cured with a miracle pill.... You can try that route with the tablet, if you think it might help you. Again, Im no doctor- its just a suggestion and it would be best to discuss it with your MD.

I'm like you- the first few days it worked alright- then boom; Bad side effects. I'd guess (I'm no doctor http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif) that the reason why you didnt notice your heart because Prozac makes it so you dont "notice" as much; ie. it treats OCD too. Good LUck, and dont feel bad. Youre not the only one who seems to have trouble with Prozac.

Hi,

Thank you both for your reply. I will be talking with my MD. I want this to stop, I hate the fact that the minute I am out in public that I start to sweat. I can't wait for that portion of this whole thing to be over.
At the same time I have to remind myself not to give in. I have wanted to many times!

thanks for your time
Dragonballwizard

Hi Dragonballwizard! How can someone with such a cool screen name be afraid of people looking? (just a little humor from a sister-in-fear.) Until your meds are changed and you feel more comfortable remember what sister Linda says when you are out on the street... Let em' stare! Okay, here's my whole "put it into perspective" thing that's been working for me recently. Now you know that in reality people aren't staring but it just feels that way. But what's the worst thing that could happen if they ARE staring? Nothing. What, is your fly open, do you have something in your teeth is your hair a mess? No, so who cares? They get a momentary glimpse of you, continue on and not ever remember it. Think of all of the people you see in a day. Are you really paying attention to them or even caring? How do those nameless people affect your own private life in any way? They don't. So go out there and look fabulous and hold your head up and damn it, let em' stare at you in all of your splender. Sometimes thinking a good theme song in your head like that one that goes something like "Now you're messin' with a s.o.b" helps. Who sings that? Nazareth? Hope what has helped me will help you until you feel more comfortable through a real professional's help. Best wishes!

Linda,
your a hoot! I was laughing the whole time I was reading your post! When you put it like that it seems so simple. LOL
Humor is good for the soul and the mind. I will keep your post in mind when I am faced with that fear. I am willing to try just about anything at this point! I am sure we all can relate.
thanks for your time
Dragonballwizard

GET OFF OF PROZAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prozac is a horrible drug and if I could do something to ban it I would from everyday use..I have prozac and my life got worst when I took it everyday. Now I take it when I am having a real real problem as a last resort and I am fine..But I actually taught myself how to deal with the problems that were causing me to take it..But to be honest sometimes they don't work and like I say I pop a pill and I am fine..that is the reason some people say it is a head pill..but whatever it may be it works..

Originally posted by MICKEYGIRL:
Now I take it when I am having a real real problem as a last resort and I am fine....that is the reason some people say it is a head pill..but whatever it may be it works..

Prozac is not an instant fix medication like other medications are. Sometimes it takes weeks for it to work if it wants to work at all. IF you think it works instantly, you ought to go buy some sugar pills. Its cheaper , safer, and probably will make you feel the same way.

I'm off of it, couldnt take the nervousness anymore; it helped a little with some OCD, though. If I take any other medication, it will be valium or something like it. After kinda crummy times with BOTH Paxil and Prozac, I'm not too fond of everyday "brain" medications. I like the in and out boom done anti anxiety medications that are taken on an AS NEEDED basis.

IMHO, and from my own experiences, counseling and AS NEEDED sedating type medications are the best way to combat this crap.

Are you still on Prozac, dragonballwizard? Just curious, if so, hope its working for you http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Mickeygirl,

I was told that it takes time for the prozac to get into your system and that is why I have been waiting. I wanted to make sure I gave it time. Also give time to any side effects to go away before I just say it is not working.
thanks for your reply.
also thanks for your time.
Dragonballwizard

Nickey69,

Thanks for your reply. I am still on prozac at this time. I don't feel it is working like it should so far. The only symptom the prozac has helped is the rapid heart beat and the dizzyness. All others are still there. I am really not sure what I should do next. I want this to end...I have learned when anxiety is starting because I start shaking and sweating. I truely am in hopes that this will stop soon.
nickey, again thanks for your reply
take care
Dragonballwizard

Originally posted by dragonballwizard:
...The only symptom the prozac has helped is the rapid heart beat and the dizzyness. All others are still there.

You have given it four weeks already. If this is as good as it gets, I'd consider changing to another med. Especially if you've had another anxiety episode that could possibly be Prozac related, like the one you described in your first post.

Your doctor may recommed increasing your Prozac dose (it's a common practice). IMHO, that's a waste of time and money and could cause you lots of suffering.

Janik,

I think your right. I need to try something else. My only worry is that if I tell her this is not working she will make me see someone else.
I hate having to see new people. I am very uncofortable with that. She was going to send me to see someone before and I refused so she has nicely offered to try and help me without having to do that.
If I can just get myself to relax I know it will get better but it is hard once it gets going.
Thanks for your reply and your time.
Dragonballwizard

Give her some facts first. SSRI's only help 60% of the people that take them so you may belong to the other 40%. And if you are having side effects tell her you'd rather try something else now instead of getting a larger dose and having the side effects increase without knowing if will help at all.

Look for other non SSRI's drugs online. Benzos are the best type for anxiety but I hate recommending them because it's hard to quit them.

Originally posted by dragonballwizard:
I have learned when anxiety is starting because I start shaking and sweating.

Sounds like what I was dealing with, only to a greater degree. Do yourself a favor, and taper off of it, though. Its easier if you use the tablet and break it with a pill cutter.

Hey, if your doctor is ticked at you because you dont want to live in a constant state of anxiety induced by Prozac, I say TOUGH S**T. Get another Doctor if she doesnt like it. You cant force a stinking medication to work- it either works or it dont.

Have you ever tried a Benzo drug? Ie. Valium, Ativan, etc.? If you havent, find someone that will let you. Sure, some get "addicted" to them, but there are MANY (Umm...the majority) that do not (like me). The SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE drug I have ever taken for anxiety, and I have taken Paxil, PRozac, Xanax, and Kava Kava, is Valium -BAR NONE. It gets in QUICKLY (20-30 mins), does the job, gets out and you get on with your day. BUT IT IS NOT an everyday lets pop a pill drug- dont do that and use a benzo as needed and you are fine, and they work.

I'm f'ing fed up with all this SSRI Bull***T. Benzo's have been used for 50 years to treat anxiety and now all of the sudden they are bad? ROFLMAO. That comment is not directed to anyone that has posted here, its directed to the stupid medical community for being hellbent on making people suffer to try out new crapola instead of first trying tried and true methods for this junk...GRRRRRRR... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

If any one here has read Claire WEekes book "Hope and Help for your Nerves", the SSRI concept flies in the face of everything she says of "nervous illness". Can she and 50+ yrs of experience ALL be wrong? Heh.

Dragonballwizard, Hang in there. You arent alone, and are smart enough to realize when something isnt working...follow your gut instinct!

GOOD LUCK http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Janik,
Your right I am going to have to tell her even if I am not comfortable with it because if I don't I will be stuck like this.
thanks for the info I will have to make sure to bring some facts with me when I go see her.
thanks again for your time and your rely.
Dragonballwizard

Nickey69,
I can't say I have ever tried a Benzo type drug. My doctor never knew I had this problem until about a month ago. She kind of figured it out on her own after doing a 2nd EKG. I was afraid to ever say anything because I did not want to be thought of as a nut.
I have been dealing with this for a long time and this is the first med I have been on for anxiety. I had an anxiety attack in her office and I smiled right through it!
She figured out on her own I was having one because I became flushed.
I only admited it after I felt she caught me.
anyway, thanks so much for your time and for your reply.
take care
Dragonballwizard

Originally posted by nickey69:
...I'm f'ing fed up with all this SSRI Bull***T. Benzo's have been used for 50 years to treat anxiety and now all of the sudden they are bad?... the stupid medical community for being hellbent on making people suffer to try out new crapola instead of first trying tried and true methods...


I couldn't agree more. I've been to Zoloft hell and I don't think SSRI's are for everyone, especially not for someone with anxiety.

The good thing about benzos is precisely that they've been around for longer so we know more about them. Of course, that includes good things and bad ones.

My own doctor has been prescribing benzos for twenty years and he's found out that a lot of patients develop tolerance and/or dependence. But he prescribed them to me anyway. He acutally *cured* me with a combination of therapy and medications. And when the time came to stop the medications, he set me on taper schedules.

But there are a bunch of quacks who prescribe drugs irresponsibly and then ignore their poor patients when they suffer side effects of withdrawal.

I believe that before you get any meds your doctor should tell you everything about them, including the risk of side effects, tolerance and dependence. But most doctors see you for 15 minutes, write a prescription, and send you on your own.

[This message has been edited by Janik (edited 05-12-2003).]

Originally posted by Janik:
I couldn't agree more. I've been to Zoloft hell and I don't think SSRI's are for everyone, especially not for someone with anxiety.

The good thing about benzos is precisely that they've been around for longer so we know more about them. Of course, that includes good things and bad ones.

My own doctor has been prescribing benzos for twenty years and he's found out that a lot of patients develop tolerance and/or dependence. But he prescribed them to me anyway. He acutally *cured* me with a combination of therapy and medications. And when the time came to stop the medications, he set me on taper schedules.

But there are a bunch of quacks who prescribe drugs irresponsibly and then ignore their poor patients when they suffer side effects of withdrawal.

I believe that before you get any meds your doctor should tell you everything about them, including the risk of side effects, tolerance and dependence. But most doctors see you for 15 minutes, write a prescription, and send you on your own.

[This message has been edited by Janik (edited 05-12-2003).]

Sounds to me like you have a good doctor, Janik! Now that I have been through the SSRI stuff, I am kinda thinking they will work for a few people with anxiety issues, BUT the vast majority of people who will benefit from them are people with depression.

Benzos are simple- they calm the central nervous system! No altering brain chemicals, or whatever, they just sedate what it is that is making you NERVOUS. Can you get addicted to them- SURE; its a fact. But most people that do are "addictive" types of people; ie. Cigarettes and alchohol, etc. Benzos got a bad rep from the whole "mothers little helper" crap from the 1960's. There have been literally BILLIONS of prescriptions for something like say, Valium, and there are not hundreds of millions of Valium addicts.

I look at it this way with SSRI's now... I LIKE ME; who I am as a person.... I dont need a personality change with an SSRI, I just need some help in dealing with anxiety. That is what I mean by less intrusive- SSRI effects too much for my taste; mood, social behaviors, etc. I will say that I know many people who they have worked for- but I aint one of them, and I will not waste my money on another one.

I agree with your whole post, Janik. Especially the part about actually explaining the BAD things that can happen with SSRI's. I wont get into those, but they are numerous- however, there may be someone here taking one that is benefiting from one, and I dont want to discourage them.

BOTH SSRi's and benzos are bad for the brain and CNS; they can alter the brain's functions over time and cause dependancy, tolerance and withdrawals. However, I agree, benzos do the job "better" for anxiety.

The main problem with benzos is not "addictive personality", since benzos will not provide "euphorias" at prescribed doses nor cause some elements of addiction(I will post an addiction specialist's explanation in a below post). The problem is dependancy. Dependancy is less likely when the med is taken in a small dose, "as needed" for a panic attack. Only thing is, benzos were usually to be prescribed in daily doses to people...that's where the psychiatric and medical community did wrong..taking a medication every single day whether there was a panic attack or not! Daily dosing is how dependancy/tolerance develops with any psychoactive drug.

So I also agree about the slam/bang/thankyou/madam use of pills....as needed, once in a great while, will lessen the possibility of dependancy...aha...but that's not what the professionals want now, is it? No, they want people to injest pills everyday so they HAVE to have them (or suffer withdrawals); this keeps the patient coming in for the visits at 150 bucks a crack....they want to keep their gravy train a rollin...

Below is the informative article by Dr. Ray Baker. He explains the difference between drug addiction and dependence. I think it clears up confusion about the 2. They are not the same only 10% of people on benzos are "drug addicts".

The article states.....

"It is important not to confuse physiological
dependence as encountered in benzo withdrawal syndrome with addiction or drug dependence. The majority of people suffereing prolonged withdrawal syndrome from benzos does not meet sufficient criteria to make the diagnosis of addiction. They are NOT addicts. Addiction is a bio-psychosocial syndrome.

Less than 10% of the population is at risk. Although there are 8 diagnostic
criteria, 3 of which must be present for a year the syndrome can be best
described as the 3 C's........

1--Control--- when the addicted person starts using there drug the
episodically lose control over their ingestion

2--Compulsion-- getting and using the drug takes on more and more importance
and salience in the persons life, crowding out relationships and activities
that were once very important to them

3--Consequences-- They continue using the drug causing problems at home,
relationships, medical problems, legal problems, emotional and psychiatric
problems and finally vocational problems.

Physical dependence is simply a neurobiological phenomenon due to continued exposure to a drug. It happens to ALL human brains exposed to drugs such as benzos and opiates. It is NOT addiction."

I’m writing this because I think it’s very important. Many patients have been blamed and are made to feel ashamed and embarrassed. Some are living with a lot of guilt. I just wanted to clear that up.


[This message has been edited by Jennita (edited 05-13-2003).]

Originally posted by nickey69:
...Benzos are simple- they calm the central nervous system! No altering brain chemicals, or whatever...

Well, they actually alter the intake of GABA by your brain cells. So it is still an alteration. And your brain responds by compensating and shutting down your natural GABA receptors, hence the tolerance effect. In that sense, benzos are not so different from SSRI's, in which case your brain shuts down serotonin receptors.

... get addicted... people that do are "addictive" types of people...

I don't think so. When I was talking about benzos being hard to quit I was talking about dependence, not addiction (before I used both terms indistictly, now I don't thanks to Jennita). A lot of people get weird symptoms when they quit their benzos. They don't crave them or anything, it's just very uncomfortable. I won't list all the symptoms here but believe me, they are for real.

...there may be someone here taking one that is benefiting from one, and I dont want to discourage them.

Right, these meds have helped a lot of people, even if some others have actually suffered because of them. But if you don't really need them, don't take them.

Benzos may not provide euphoria, but euphoria and calmness can BOTH be "desired end results" of addictive behaviors. I was prescribed to take Xanax everyday for almost 6 months. Did I take it that way? No. No DR can force a patient to take an anti-anxiety type of medication as the doctor prescribes like "3 times a day". Patient Common sense should always prevail when it comes to these things- after all, YOU are the one putting the drug in your body, NOT the doctor.. They are not antibiotics or other types of "do what the doctor said!" types of drugs. I'm not talking about schizophrenics and their medications, that is a different story. If things are SOO bad that you do need HEAVY doses of Prozac or Valium, it would work wonders to see a good counselor, IMHO.

That is the thing about benzo type drugs- it treats ONLY the symptom. Not other behaviors- at least in the case of valium. Its a sedative. Actually, when I was first prescribed Valium, the doctor, who got his MD license in 1955, said to me NOT to take it everyday because it is NOT that sort of medication. Not because I would get addicted or dependent upon it, but because the chance of needing it to function and live everyday life is really slim to none. There is not some sort of conspiracy by ALL doctors to make addicts out of everybody; I think their willingness to overprescribe on their part comes from lack of knowledge about what exactly it is they are prescribing to a patient.

"It happens to ALL human brains exposed to drugs such as benzos and opiates"

I took Xanax for 6 months and Valium over teh course of 3 months. It didnt happen to my brain; I must be an exception.....ALL is too general wording for this type of situation.

Sure, benzos may "alter" brain functioning, but so did that anti-malaria drug on 20/20 a few months ago. Any foreign substance ingested, injected or inhaled has the possibility of altering brain function. They do not alter in the same way that SSRI's do, though. Many people who have taken paxil have reported mania like episodes, such as fighting, talking A LOT to total strangers, etc. Benzos may ALLOW a person to do this, but only because it, like alcohol lessens "inhibitions"; not altering brain functioning for specific "issues" other than one is being treated for.

I understand the concept of "dependence" vs. "addiction". However, there HAS to be some sort of precipitating behavior that leads to either one. Dependence could come from overuse of the drug, as could addiction. One could even say that "addiction" could be the end result of "dependence". Not all people who ingest benzos, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes become "dependent" or "addicted" to them.

The SSRI's are not the miracle drugs they are touted to be; they have real problems that need to be scrutinized. Benzo's do to, but like I said earlier, there have been BILLIONS of prescriptions written for Valium since '63, yet there are not hundreds of millions of people "dependent" or "addicted" to it.

I just hope Dragonballwizard finds something that works for him/her http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif. If you have not tried counseling, Dragonballwizard, give it shot. GOOD LUCK

Nickey,

I have not tried counseling. I haven't even given that a thought. I remember when I had major depression a couple years back and had to talk to someone, they kept asking about my past/childhood. I hate that! I refused to talk about it and the subject was finaly dropped.
I do think that the anxiety that I have when around people has alot to do with my past/childhood and my distrust of people. However, that does not mean I want to talk about it. I would just love to forget all that stuff.


to all that have replied,
Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my post. I thank you all very much. Thanks for all the support as well.
take care
Dragonballwizard

nickey69,

You mention patient common sense should prevail in taking meds,......however the reality is that patient common sense is usually defined as "following doctors' orders"....remember that old saying, "anyone who is his own doctor has a patient as a fool"?

Most people do not know the extent of the dangers of psychoactive drugs; they go to a doctor and do what he says, after all, he's supposed to be the professional, the one with the degree! At least thats what I thought.

Now some doctors start out prescribing doses and amounts that can cause dependancy, some don't. That may be why some get lucky to escape dependancy. Also, other factors biologically make someone more sensitive; for one example, weight has alot to do with it. A larger person is less sensitive to the same dose a smaller person takes. It is not always the patient's fault when dependancy occurs. But the professionals would rather say it's the patient then admit their own fault.

If anyone who becomes dependant on psychoactive meds is guilty of anything, I say, it's being a good patient!

Originally posted by dragonballwizard:
I have not tried counseling... a couple years back and had to talk to someone, they kept asking about my past/childhood...

There are different types of therapies, and psychoanalysis is not for everyone. It is very widespread and (imho) pretty useless. This is the typical "let's take a close look at your childhood and find someone to blame" approach.

Interpersonal therapy teaches you to deal with people, both close to you or the guy at the mail office, in order to avoid conflict, or deal with conflict when unavoidable.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches you how to change your perception of things and your own feelings about these perceptions, so you tend to have better reactions. It's very proactive and useful, but you need to be open minded, because in the beginning it seems to be all about how you tend to misinterpret things and have warped thoughts without cause. I got my life back thanks to c-b therapy.

Exposure therapy is kind of cruel, but very effective. It exposes you little by little to the things you hate most. It's also very slow. It helped me with my anxiety, but I used to hate it at first.

By the way, the doctor that actually cured my depression/anxiety used a combination of therapies, particularly the last three I mentioned. And he had to prescribe benzos, because I was becoming bedridden with anxiety and I couldn't even drive myself to therapy, much less get a job or even a life.

But like I said, regardless of personality, some people cannot stop taking their medications because they develop weird symptoms, so he set me on a taper to wean off all meds one by one.

I have known a few people, both men and women, who have been given the same dose of Prozac. Both were on 20 mg, the man was like 175 pounds, the woman 110. These sorts of medication are really prescribed by severity of symptoms, not by gender and size. The brains are almost the same size...WEll, at least sometimes http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif.

Patient common sense to me means, "If its not working the way its supposed to, then it is pointless to continue with this crap". Sure, its not ALWAYS good to "be your own doctor", but the doctor is not you. They only are the facilitators of prescriptions and an educated diagnoses; not the pill police. Just because they hold an MD doesnt make them God (sometimes they think they are - LOL to that) or infallible. If something is not working for you, YOU owe it to YOURSELF to tell the doctor, and if they think its bull, to find another doctor. Thank God in the US we have the right to choose whatever doctor we feel suits us. If I dont like the way one treats me, doesnt spend time with me, or dismisses my "complaints", I take my business elsewhere; plenty more where they came from. After all, it is a business, anyway. Putting all your hopes in a DR and the pill they give you is ludicrous, IMHO. Janik's experience, from what little I have read from it in this post, shows just how effective a CBT/Behavior MOd. program w/possibly as needed Benzos can be. I have had the same experience with CBT and Valium as needed- sure, I have my ups and downs, but Ummmm. I am a human being! WHo doesnt! Thats why I suggested to Dragonballwizard to discuss with his/her doctor those options. Sure, SSRI's work for some, but they also wear off, and if you havent been learning and trying new coping strategies, you may fall back into the same routine. Sometime the whole anxiety business clouds your judgement in the DR office, and your willing to try anything to get back to "being you".

Congratulations, Janik for working through what must have been an extremely difficult time for you! Thats great, and is a testimony to a strong will and lots of courage.... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Dont sell therapy short, Dragonnballwizard! It may work if you give it a shot AND PUT IN THE EFFORT on your part. At the very least, try to get Claire WEekes, "Hope and help for your nerves". IMHO, Its a great book for explaining a lot of the ins and outs of various anxiety related behaviors and how to cope.

Nickey,
Thanks for the info on the book, I will look into getting it. I would rather do the self help then talk about the past. Is there a work book that goes with this as well as the book?

thanks for your time
Dragonballwizard

Originally posted by dragonballwizard:
Nickey,
Thanks for the info on the book, I will look into getting it. I would rather do the self help then talk about the past. Is there a work book that goes with this as well as the book?

thanks for your time
Dragonballwizard

The Weekes book was actually originally published in the late '60s early '70s. IMHO, that is better, because it is not full of a bunch of pseudopsychiatric mumbo jumbo. I was actually recommended the book by my psychologist, and have found it a GREAT help. He's been a BIG help too, luckily! But getting a hold on this stuff is a LOONG process. Incidentally, I've seen him almost 10 times, and not once have talked about the past. So not all therapists are hell bent on trudging up the past. Actually, he told me that remembering every little thing in the past and constantly reminding oneself of it through therapy causes more anxity than it cures. So our sessions consist of discussing "triggers" and coping strategies. Just some food for thought; there are good therapists out there http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif!

One thing about the book- when you read it, I'll bet you'll say to yourself, "yep, thats me" more times than you would care to admit. But as far as understanding the reasons and typical behaviors associated with anxiety, "hope and help for your nerves" has very few peers, IMHO. It is a SUPER book- one of the best for anxiety/panic problems. I am so grateful to have been recommended it, as it is indeed an eye opener and suggests strategies for dealing with "typical" anxiety "symptoms".

As for a workbook, no, not one that goes directly WITH the Weekes book. There is the "Anxiety and Phobia Workbook", though, which I have not personally read, but have heard that it has been a great help to many people.

Hey, I've been/am in your shoes and am happy to help out with a suggestion or two- I'm only making a SUGGESTION, but once again, I've been there- in your shoes. I hope you get somewhere with the books, and if you continue with the medication, I hope you find one that works.

Nickey, prescribing the same dose to those two people is not necessarily proof it's ok, especially in regards to dependancy/tolerance/withdrawal issues which could happen later on. Down the line, the woman may end up with worse problems physically than the man, or if they both decided to quit, the man may surely have an easier time, since his dosage was not as large to prone him to a severe dependancy.

Now we know that men physically have larger brains than women. But do they use it, or is alot of it wasted space..... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Originally posted by nickey69:
......Congratulations, Janik for working through what must have been an extremely difficult time for you! Thats great, and is a testimony to a strong will and lots of courage.... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif


Thank you, but it's not over yet. I'll find closure when I get rid of all pills (one more left). And I will keep seeing my doctor once a year, just in case.

I still believe that pills without proper therapy get you nowhere. Dragonballwizard, I hope you get the help you need. Remember not all therapy is about past things.

[This message has been edited by Janik (edited 05-15-2003).]

Janik and everyone else that has replied to this post,
I thank each and everyone of you for the time and effort you have put into helping me out. I can't thank you guys enough. May God bless you all!
Dragonballwizard