Punkoffgirl
11-09-15, 17:40
Hi everyone
I've been reading various posts on this forum unregistered for a couple weeks. Came across it via google search and I've kept coming back.
Seeing how helpful/supportive everyone is made me decide to join up. It's been quite some time since I've used a message board!
A little about me.. I'm 37, female, single, living with and taking care of my 78 year old father with dementia. I have a salaried management job for an agency that provides supports for adults with developmental disabilities.
I've had issues with anxiety over the years (often associated with break-ups), and have used medication before. However, I had my first panic attack about three months ago, in early June, out of nowhere I thought, mistaking it for a heart attack. I have since pieced together it was likely caused by my concern for my heart palpitations, which I had just seen my doctor for and hadn't had my tests come back clear yet. My next attack didn't occur for another month and a half, when I had taken my first vacation in 4 years. I had become oversensitive to my heart palpitations in that time. I made it almost another week before having my next panic attack, which set off a three-day stretch of constant panic/anxiety. I started on medication during that three days, Celexa 10mg for 1 week then increased to 20mg, and 0.5mg Ativan as needed. The Ativan was a godsend, but the Celexa didn't agree with me. I had a few okay days on the 10mg, but side effects were unbearable on 20mg, so I then switched to 10mg Prozac, which I just completed my 4th week taking it.
I've also been seeing a psychologist for CBT once a week for the past month or so. The full blown panic attacks have subsided (haven't had in over a month now), I returned to work about three weeks ago, but I still struggle with breakthrough anxiety (usually due to hyperawareness of physical sensations) and difficulty sleeping through the night.
I try to remind myself that I have come a long way already, that my periods of good days are outweighing the bad ones, and that even my understanding has made great leaps and bounds.
I've been reading various posts on this forum unregistered for a couple weeks. Came across it via google search and I've kept coming back.
Seeing how helpful/supportive everyone is made me decide to join up. It's been quite some time since I've used a message board!
A little about me.. I'm 37, female, single, living with and taking care of my 78 year old father with dementia. I have a salaried management job for an agency that provides supports for adults with developmental disabilities.
I've had issues with anxiety over the years (often associated with break-ups), and have used medication before. However, I had my first panic attack about three months ago, in early June, out of nowhere I thought, mistaking it for a heart attack. I have since pieced together it was likely caused by my concern for my heart palpitations, which I had just seen my doctor for and hadn't had my tests come back clear yet. My next attack didn't occur for another month and a half, when I had taken my first vacation in 4 years. I had become oversensitive to my heart palpitations in that time. I made it almost another week before having my next panic attack, which set off a three-day stretch of constant panic/anxiety. I started on medication during that three days, Celexa 10mg for 1 week then increased to 20mg, and 0.5mg Ativan as needed. The Ativan was a godsend, but the Celexa didn't agree with me. I had a few okay days on the 10mg, but side effects were unbearable on 20mg, so I then switched to 10mg Prozac, which I just completed my 4th week taking it.
I've also been seeing a psychologist for CBT once a week for the past month or so. The full blown panic attacks have subsided (haven't had in over a month now), I returned to work about three weeks ago, but I still struggle with breakthrough anxiety (usually due to hyperawareness of physical sensations) and difficulty sleeping through the night.
I try to remind myself that I have come a long way already, that my periods of good days are outweighing the bad ones, and that even my understanding has made great leaps and bounds.