Steve_T38
26-06-13, 10:55
44 years old living in London. My story....(Just to bore you)
Until Nov 2011 I was, by my standards, fairly normal. Never had a panick attack or anything like that. In Nov 2011 my stepfather was killed in an accident on the M25. This changed my life in many ways but mainly that I took on a lot of responsibility for my Mum. I also become a little more conscious of my own health. I had a couple of skin blemishes that I had ignored for a long time and decided to get them checked. Went for tests and they were fine but the experience and the waiting for results raised my anxiety levels. Adding this to the additional stress of helping my mum sort her life out and I started feeling down. I still had lots to sort out and a year later I was still sorting things out (thats a story in its own right!) and people around me started noticing that I was not myself. I noticed it too. I decided to start taking 5-HTP as a little pick-me-up and things got a little better. I was more like my old self and I was pleased I was on the mend, or so I thought! I got sick (Man-flu!!) and rather than just ride it out, my mind started creating all sorts of issues for me, convincing me it was serious and not just a cold and that I was going to die. This went on for a few days and I went in a downward spiral thats when I had the first panick attack. Easily the worst thing I have ever experienced. My other half got me into the Docs the next day and he put me on Citalopram. 2 days later I had another attack and I got an emergency appt with another Doc and she ran some tests, thyroid etc and also put me on valium to calm me down. I had a week off work while on the valium and then I went back. Wasnt myself but a little improved. My other half then had a health issue and although it wasnt serious, my mind went into overdrive again. No panick attack but this time I got IBS. Once things had resolved themselves and the missus got confirmation of what it was my IBS settled down. This was early 2013. Since then, I have been far better, doc was pleased with my progress and I was pretty much back to my old self. Came off the meds in May and I have had no issues, until now. We had a bit of a scare with our pet dog, who is very dear to us. My anxiety went right up again and I lost my appetite. Once we got the news that the dog was going to be fine, my anxiety dropped but the IBS kicked in immediately. Its been 2 weeks now and thats starting to get me down again and my mind is starting thinking negative things again and that it isnt IBS and thats its something far more serious etc...And so the cycle starts again! I am really trying to fight the negative thoughts without going back to the docs, I dont really want SSRIs again.
So at the moment, I feel low, I am constantly fighting negative thoughts that I have something seriously wrong with me and that I am going to die and my back aches like hell!
Other than that, I am fine...How are you?
Until Nov 2011 I was, by my standards, fairly normal. Never had a panick attack or anything like that. In Nov 2011 my stepfather was killed in an accident on the M25. This changed my life in many ways but mainly that I took on a lot of responsibility for my Mum. I also become a little more conscious of my own health. I had a couple of skin blemishes that I had ignored for a long time and decided to get them checked. Went for tests and they were fine but the experience and the waiting for results raised my anxiety levels. Adding this to the additional stress of helping my mum sort her life out and I started feeling down. I still had lots to sort out and a year later I was still sorting things out (thats a story in its own right!) and people around me started noticing that I was not myself. I noticed it too. I decided to start taking 5-HTP as a little pick-me-up and things got a little better. I was more like my old self and I was pleased I was on the mend, or so I thought! I got sick (Man-flu!!) and rather than just ride it out, my mind started creating all sorts of issues for me, convincing me it was serious and not just a cold and that I was going to die. This went on for a few days and I went in a downward spiral thats when I had the first panick attack. Easily the worst thing I have ever experienced. My other half got me into the Docs the next day and he put me on Citalopram. 2 days later I had another attack and I got an emergency appt with another Doc and she ran some tests, thyroid etc and also put me on valium to calm me down. I had a week off work while on the valium and then I went back. Wasnt myself but a little improved. My other half then had a health issue and although it wasnt serious, my mind went into overdrive again. No panick attack but this time I got IBS. Once things had resolved themselves and the missus got confirmation of what it was my IBS settled down. This was early 2013. Since then, I have been far better, doc was pleased with my progress and I was pretty much back to my old self. Came off the meds in May and I have had no issues, until now. We had a bit of a scare with our pet dog, who is very dear to us. My anxiety went right up again and I lost my appetite. Once we got the news that the dog was going to be fine, my anxiety dropped but the IBS kicked in immediately. Its been 2 weeks now and thats starting to get me down again and my mind is starting thinking negative things again and that it isnt IBS and thats its something far more serious etc...And so the cycle starts again! I am really trying to fight the negative thoughts without going back to the docs, I dont really want SSRIs again.
So at the moment, I feel low, I am constantly fighting negative thoughts that I have something seriously wrong with me and that I am going to die and my back aches like hell!
Other than that, I am fine...How are you?