Hi All. I'm new to the program. Session 3 is helping. I really don't have panic attacks but I do get generally anxious and I think it has to do with an unfounded fear of running out of things to do at work which is silly. Perhaps this is a sign of low self esteem?

I was doing great and had even weaned myself from Lexapro, Imiprimine, & adavan after being on it for years. A few weeks back I started getting generally anxious again: stomach problems, side ache, sweats. I went back on the meds about 2 weeks ago. From past experience, it can take about 4 weeks for the meds to get to theraputic levels.

Comments?

Thanks, Steve

Hey Steve,

Yeah, my anxiety attacks me in the stomach too.
I get a knot right in the pit of my stomach. Also get sweaty palms.....Stay with session 3 for as long as you need too...I've been on it for nearly 3 weeks...I'm begining to master the power of positive thinking...stick with it...it really works!!!! Good Luck....

Thanks for the support.

I think my problem was mainly due to weaning myself completely off of all meds: lexapro, imiprimine, & adavan. I think what happened is the theraputic effect off the meds wore off. As my former phyciatrist said, I should have cut back but not cut off.

I have been back on the meds for about 3 to 4 weeks and I'm feeling great.

The 3rd CD and the relaxation CD really do help however.

Steve

Take your time, wean off slowly. I was on 2 meds and weaned off one and then about 6 months later, weaned off the second med. I think it may just have been too much all at once. I had a horrible experience going cold turkey with Klonopin becuas the nurse in the ER said that basicially was a "nothing" dose! Well what I expereinced in about 5 days was more than I have ever experiened in my life, anxiety like there was a volcano inside that was going to erupt, the shaking, the sweating, the racing thoughts all over the place, te racing heart, I felt like I was dying. I think slow and easy works best, especially if you have never expereinced the motherload of all motherloads, that is something I rather never relive! Glad you are feeling better and that the relazation CD is helping. Keep on working at it, it does get easier!

I'm on meds too. I take Buspar, which I'm gradually getting off of, and I take Gabitril, which has been like a wonder drug. It used to be that my anxiety would go from 0 to 100 mph in seconds -- like if I looked in my purse and couldn't find my keys, oh my god I've lost my keys! And I'd be in overdrive. That stopped happening when I took the Gabitril (anxiety is an off-label use: the drug is designed for people with seizer disorders, which I think is an interesting comment on the nature of anxiety; it's a kind of brain seizure).

I'm planning to get nice and slow and solid before I even think about getting off Gabitril. I find that when my stress at work is high, my anxiety kicks in: hard time sleeping, get anxious more, etc. I'm wondering if there is something in your work environment that is not supportive. You worry about running out of things to do: is this, at base, a worry about being laid off?

I find lots of things help -- the Gabitril, reducing work stress, daily meditation, positive self-talk. Session 3 has been a real eye-opener for me. One afternoon, working in my home office, I wrote down a half-dozen negative thoughts. I had thought those were just TRUTHS about my work ("I'm always behind.." "My small company is such a mess..." "What a jerk I am to let that person take advantage of me...") It's so helpful to rephrase these observations.

AT the same time, I know it's important to see what's really going on. Postive self-talk is not about papering over a hole in your life. If there's a hole, we need to perceive it, and act to really heal it.

Good luck!

Missouri Gal