Coping with Anxiety and Acid Reflux
Hello, I stumbled upon this site during one of my attacks (combination Panic and Acid Reflux attack) and found hope in maybe some queries of mine can be qualmed.
First let me briefly explain my situation.
7 years ago, during my "party" days I became stricken with Panic Anxiety Disorder, seemingly triggered by too much marijuana. Since then, I have been on a steady dose of 1 MG of Clonazepam 2xday. 5 years passed by with no attacks, the medication controlling. Then I became affected by GERD (more commmonly known as Acid Reflux) which was immediatley solved (or I thought) with Zantac.
Now recently, I have had major stress issues arise in my life, and I know both Panic Anxiety and GERD's symptoms can be worsened with stress.
Anyway, to make a long story short, 2 weeks ago, I had my first Panic Anxiety attack in 7 years, most likely due to the muscle relaxer I was on (which made me feel "high" due to a sprained neck.) and I had to go to the ER by way of Ambulance.
Since then, at the same time, my GERD has worsened to where instead of being on Zantac and still being okay with eating anything I want, now I am down to fat free this and fat free that.
My real question is is there any connection between Panic Anxiety and GERD attacks? I notice that when I have a GERD attack (spasms, etc) that a panic attack seems to follow right behind it.
Also, what can I do to convinve my psychiatrist that lowering my clonazepam dosage (from 1MG 2xday to .5mg 2xday) is effecting me. I sit here now having taken an extra dose of .5mg and calming down as I type this, but my doctor, even though I know he is not lying about the addiction part of the medication, seems to think that it is all in my head. (Technically it is isn't it? Since it is a chemical imbalance in the brain) but besides that, if I tell my doctor what he is doing is not helping, are they not supposed to make you feel more at ease.
I guess I feel desperation rolling along, because for the past 7 years, I feel my life has been pretty normal, but for the past 2 weeks, I am constantly fighting off panic, trying to relax, but I have not been able to just sit and relax for 2 weeks, I feel out of touch with reality and seriously on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Add to that the fact I am trying to single handedly raise a son (the mother selfishly left him and myself behind for a man she met on the net over 1000 miles away) and Social Security is trying to take away my benefits, and I am trying to find my wife to get my divorce, stress is at it's worst for me, and I feel like if something does not give soon, I will (mentally) and end up in a pschiatric hospital.
Any advice for a nervous father?
Thanks for any advice.
Last edited by Rizzano; 08-26-2004 at 12:03 AM.
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