My panic is interfering with my job HELP!!!!!! - Panic Disorders Message Board

soo sad · 10-22-2003, 10:09 AM

I have a fear of being too far from a bathroom!YES BATHROOM! My panic attacks have all of the usual symptoms(heart palputations,sweats,dizziness)with one other major symptome extreme stomach cramps and diarhea.I can breath through the other symptoms when I feel paniced but I have to make a mad dash to the bathroom anyone else have this symptom??
I have been suffering from this for about 9 years,have been to psychiatrists,behavior therapists,and psychologists,been on Zoloft,Clonazapam and am currently taking xanix and Paxil but I find these only take the edge off enough so I can function I still have anxiety especially in the morning and make about 6 trips to the washroom before 3p.m.and this is a normal day. My psychiatrist told me that Im taking the maximum dosage allowed and that the only other thing to take are mao's which I dont want to do.
I feel tired all the time and miss work because some days I dont want to have to deal with people,I cannot travel,have to go everywhere alone because the felling of not having control of the situation brings on a panic attack,If I feel I cant handle a situation I need the control to be able to leave and I feel if someone is with me I am letting them down.
There are lots of places I would like to take my daughter and cant,my boyfriend doesnt understand and I think he feels that I use it as an excuse to not go somewhere,and I have even stopped seeing my therapist because just talking about my anxiety makes me anxious and the whole day after the appointment I suffer more panic attacks. I am at the end of my rope and I dont know what to do somedays I feel like staying in bed and never getting out of it.I dont know how much longer I can take this. Can anyone help please...

DawnMarie1978 · 10-22-2003, 10:25 AM

First I want you to go to wwwanxietycoach.com hit the panic button and read and or print out all sections. I dont think you will benefit from seeing a phsychologist/phsychiatrist personally. I feel you need a cognitive therapist they get straight to the point of dealing with the panic issues. Almost everyone that has significant improvement or completely gotten over there panic has seen a cognitive therapist. Have you considered going to the store and buying that powdered stuff I cant think of what it is called. I think metamucil or something to help bulk you up so you have less bathroom issues? Something like bran or something you can mix into your drinks. And I know how you feel I have three children and sometimes they beg me to take them to the park and sometimes I just cant. Dont ever feel bad about what you can and cant do. That will only make your anxiety worse. I HAD TO DO THIS. I look at my kids every day and tell myself today I did the best I could for you and that is love. God had a part of your child coming into this world and she is here for a reason. Just love her and that is enough while you focus on getting yourself better. Thats what you need to do. Just think of the mothers out there that have cancer and other illnesses they cant do much for there children right now but they brought them into the world and love them as best they can. No one thinks any less of them for not being capable of being superwoman and NO ONE should think less of you.

DawnMarie1978 · 10-22-2003, 12:07 PM

Also to put your mind a little at ease as stupid as it sounds have you thought of trying those ultra thin underpant things from drugstores. They are not just for old people you know. Lots of people cant hold it when they have to go and they were these sometimes in certain situations. I am twenty five and I would where them if I needed to. Your mad dash to the restroom Im sure is because you have to go, but think of how much your mind would be subconsiously at ease that if you didnt make it to the bathroom it could be fixed quite easily by changing your underpants. Sorry if this is an embarresing solution. I am just one of those people whose eyes are opening up and I dont care what other people think. For every problem there IS a solution whether it be temporary or permanent.

DawnMarie1978 · 10-22-2003, 12:17 PM

Maybe we can work on cognitive (behavioral therapy) together. I see up there now that you already saw a behavioral specialist maybe he or she just wasnt the right one for you or didnt specialize in panic. I know its hard for people like us there are so many people offering a permanent solution in an attempt to deplete what little financial amounts you have. The whole thing is about teaching yourself to relax, teaching yourself through effort not to be scared, build your self esteem. And REMOVE anything from your life possible that inhibits your growth as a person. I have read some pretty stupid websights that say avoid what causes your panic attacks. For some people that is nearly eveything. Avoid or get rid of what hinders your life progress or slows you from becoming who you are supposed to be.

Make a list of what you want out of life

Are you doing anything at all to move towards any of these goals?

Remember "Do not fear going forward slowly fear only to stand still"

What is in your life right now that you want gone or dont want to deal with?

Are these realistic goals?

How long have you had panic?

Doug1984 · 10-22-2003, 12:44 PM

Dear Soo Sad,

I know exactly what you are going through. When I started having panic attacks (again, I went 8yrs w/o them) I would run to the bathroom (@ work) sometimes I had diarhea, most of the time it was to calm myself down. I would go 8-10 times a day to relax. Then I noticed something, I was going less and less and then one day I noticed, I wasn't running to the bathroom at all! Like Dawn Marie said, get some behavioral therapy, that has helped me. Also, ask your boyfriend to sit down with you and look on the internet about panic disorder. It's very hard for someone who doesn't have it to understand. God Bless