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anxiety "veteran" seeking answers

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kittiesgoME0W

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:24 pm


Hi, all. As you may have deduced from my gaia name, I am Jess. I have been dealing with anxiety since freshman year of high school. My symptoms include panic attacks in closed situations (ex: classes, concerts, formal dinners, etc), constant nausea, stomach pains, migraine-like symptoms... I've been prescribed 30 mg prozac and 15 mg buspirone. Things have been going well. Of course, i still experience anxiety every once in a while. But i konw what it is and how to deal with it better. My boyfriend has also really helped me through attacks.

So, that's my long and tedious story... And now for my questions.

1) Where have the rumors of prozac being a placebo come from?

2) If medicine improve my condition drastically, is it not correct to assume that my condition is chemical and not only psychological?

3) Does the fact that bipolar, OCD, and anxiety disorder runs in my family mean that I ( and my future children) am predispositioned to such disorders?

4) My boyfriend is similar to a security, in my situation. He is the only one who really understands why i act the way i act. We dont go to the same college and when i come back to my school after spending the weekend together, i have severe depression and suicidal thoughts. What can i do to become less dependent and more stable in these situations?

5) I have problems sleeping sometimes. Suggestions?

6) How can I help people that go through anxiety like i do, but without becoming a psychologist?

Thankyou for your time.
PostPosted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:15 am


I suffer from anxiety and depression myself, and if the meds have been helping than it probably is chemical, as for the sleeping thing, I'd suggest trying taking a bath like an hour before you go to bed, warm milk, chamomile tea, valerian drops, or melatonin.
A lot of mental disorders that are caused by chemical inbalances are often genetic, but not all the time, like if the mood disoders were caused by a situation or event it wont be.
I know myself when I have suicidal thoughts I think of how much it would hurt my boyfriend, you could also try seeing a councelor about that one, because I am still in the process of finding the right medication lol.
Now to help others with anxiety without being a psychiatrist, perhaps you could do speeches amoung schools to help bring awareness to it, a lot of people think it's not real or that it means that they are inferiror, you could also just be an ear for them when they need help. Hope this helps a bit hun.

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LorienLlewellyn

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:30 am


1) Where have the rumors of prozac being a placebo come from?

It's difficult to say exactly where the rumors first started. But there are now many websites out claiming that Prozac is just a placebo. There are even research articles about it. It's not something I have researched a lot though, so I can't say how much truth there is to the rumors. But if it is something you're interested in, keep researching it.

2) If medicine improve my condition drastically, is it not correct to assume that my condition is chemical and not only psychological?

Some people always notice an improvement in their condition no matter what pill they are given. That's what the placebo effect is. So when people test a new drug, they have to give the drug to one group of people and the placebo to another group. People in both groups will claim to be better, but the researchers have to see if the number of people claiming to be better in the real drug group is significantly higher than the number of people claiming to be better in the placebo group. So basically, we have no way of knowing if the drug is actually working for you or if you are experiencing the placebo effect.

3) Does the fact that bipolar, OCD, and anxiety disorder runs in my family mean that I ( and my future children) am predispositioned to such disorders?

Yes.

"Bipolar disorder runs in the family
A person with close relatives who have bipolar disorder is more likely to be affected by the illness—this is what is known as a "genetic predisposition." Not everyone with the condition has relatives with bipolar disorder. But, according to the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, your chance of developing the illness greatly increases if you have a family history:

* Parents—When one parent is bipolar, each child has a 15%-30% chance of developing the condition. When both parents have the illness, the risk jumps to between 50% and 75%.

* Siblings—If you have a brother or sister with bipolar disorder, you have a 15% to 25% chance of developing the illness."
http://www.bipolarhelpcenter.com/understanding/causes.jsp?reqNavId=1.8


4) My boyfriend is similar to a security, in my situation. He is the only one who really understands why i act the way i act. We dont go to the same college and when i come back to my school after spending the weekend together, i have severe depression and suicidal thoughts. What can i do to become less dependent and more stable in these situations?

I would suggest talking to a therapist for tips.

5) I have problems sleeping sometimes. Suggestions?

We all have trouble sleeping sometimes. Work on some relaxation techniques. There are relaxation tapes and videos with exercises to clear your mind and relax your body. You can try a lot of them out for free from the library. But if that doesn't work, and if you think your sleeplessness is severe, is making your life harder, or is possibly a sleeping disorder then talk to your doctor.

6) How can I help people that go through anxiety like i do, but without becoming a psychologist?

-Check local non-profit organizations. Maybe you'd enjoy volunteering for a hotline, such as the suicide hotline?
-If you don't want to volunteer, you can donate money.
-You can also help by simply spreading the word. Make a blog on MySpace or write your experiences in your Gaia journal. Or join a Gaia guild that's all about mental health and write about your experiences. People can learn by hearing your story and maybe asking for your advice on some things.
PostPosted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:14 am


Thanks for the feedback. smile

kittiesgoME0W

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Depression and Other Mental Health Issues Subforum

 
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