nursey4
10-08-08, 03:24
Hi, I just joined the other day. I have had panic and anxiety for just over 6 years now. I am 30 years old. My disorder ranges from severe where I become agoraphobic to mild where I can do my normal day-to-day things and even manage to enjoy life. At this point, it is fairly severe. I went off Prozac just over 2 months ago after 5 months of being on it. This was due to side effects that weren't overwhelming but still unpleasant. As I have been on SSRI's for the better part of 12 years and I was feeling much better anxiety wise, I decided to wean off. So I was fine for the first month and was excited because I started to feel like the adventurous person I had felt like before I got the anxiety. Eventually though, I became extremely anxious again and then last week, I had a full blown attack which I have not had in ages. Then I missed 2 days of work due to anxiety and I decided to go back on the Prozac. I am still very anxious and close to housebound again. Today I took my dog for a walk and felt totally fine and then ended up having a massive panic attack from out of nowhere. I can usually feel my attacks coming on, so this was truly awful for me! It was like 6 years ago when I first started getting attacks. I am a registered nurse by profession and I work on an acute psych ward- ironic, I know. However, due to my illness, I have great empathy for my patients, whatever their illness, and I think it makes me a better nurse. I love my work and have not worked in just over 2 weeks now. I have also cancelled my upcoming 2 shifts as I am too chronically anxious to deal with the stress. I am a bit worried that I won't have a job, but then again, my manager was very cool about the whole thing during my last relapse in January- I just told him the truth and he was great.
I feel scared at times that I will never overcome this and be the person I want to be. People give great advice and I do listen but my symptoms are so overwhelmingly physical and after an attack I feel as though I have run a marathon. Generally speaking, it is chronic anxiety I deal with- as I said, I hadn't had full blown attacks for a long time until recently. I have severe worries about my heart- I get the pains, the palpitations and all that stuff that comes with the territory. Had all the tests, numerous times and been told I have nothing to worry about, but worry I do :)
Anyways, sorry for the long rant. Thanks for reading!
I feel scared at times that I will never overcome this and be the person I want to be. People give great advice and I do listen but my symptoms are so overwhelmingly physical and after an attack I feel as though I have run a marathon. Generally speaking, it is chronic anxiety I deal with- as I said, I hadn't had full blown attacks for a long time until recently. I have severe worries about my heart- I get the pains, the palpitations and all that stuff that comes with the territory. Had all the tests, numerous times and been told I have nothing to worry about, but worry I do :)
Anyways, sorry for the long rant. Thanks for reading!