drinking!!!

[kelly2010]

Im starting to worry because im drinking to ease my nerves because the doctor wont give me any medication and im worried ill get dependant on it!! I have suffered from panic attacks for years but recently they are getting worse i have been to the doctor and he says he dont want to put me on medication as he feels im too young but im 30 yrs hes referred me to a specialist but thats not for two weeks and i cant cope!! I have an appointment this afternoon and i know i will start to panic whilst im there so i have been drinking and altho i feel a little better its worrying me pls help

[englishguy43]

I totally understand you on this one as alcohol became my life - drinking to self medicate. Your doctor sounds as helpful as mine. Have you previously been addicted to anything? Just trying to understand his reasoning.
If you do drink then don`t beat yourself up but try to moderate it and don`t let it take over you. Let me know how you get on.

[englishguy43]

are you drinking right now?

[suzy-sue]

The trouble with drinking is ,It will take the edge off but will cause you even more anxiety when it starts to leave the system .As for 30 yrs old being too young for medication .:lac:Ive never heard such a load of bull in my life .There are numerous medications you can take for a short time to help with Anxiety and panic .Having some type of Therapy like CBT is essential too tho .Otherwise when you come off the meds you will be back to square one .Self help like reading and practicing relaxation and breathing is also advisable .All this will enable you to get rid of what is a debilitating condition .You can control /overcome if you put the hard work in .Have you tried something like RESCUE REMEDY for the panic/Anxiety ? Also worth reading are Dr Claire weekes books available from the NMP shop .I hope the Drs appointment went well ? let us know how you got on .t/c Sue x

[kelly2010]

@englishguy43 I have never been addicted to anything before!! I had a drink before i went to my appointment it was really weird drinking at 12 midday but it did help me a little!! Im gonna try not to drink everyday just when im feeling really nervous and i will tell the specialist aswell what im doing i hope he or she will give me the medication!!

[elainey70]

Hi Kelly,


I know alcohol helps in the short term, but you are in danger of depending on this to get you through. You need to speak to your GP, i've never heard the likes of it, regarding your meds. Hopefully you'll get the help you need. wishing you the best of luck.

[kelly2010]

@suzy-sue I cant believe he wont put me on medication there are alot of girls younger then me on them i think im gonna have to change my doctor hes not helping me at all. I have got rescue remedy but it doesnt seem to help me and i have tried all the chinese herble remidies and they dont help. Thats why i have turned to drink because thats the only thing that seems to work when im feeling really bad.

[suzy-sue]

Kelly ,Yes I think you do need to change your Dr .I can understand why he doesnt want to use Medication tho ,as its only really a quick fix ,unless you do other things as well .But it does help to get you into a good place so you can do this .Have you tried Kalms and Quiet life ? Boots do one as well thats meant to be better .It may help you until you get another GP .Vitamins like b6 complex will also help calm your nerves ,but buy a good brand .Magnesium is often effective too. You could always try 5HTP if you dont want to take conventional meds , and or Inisitol .Good luck with getting a more empathic Dr . You really do need to ask for CBT Therapy ,there is usually a long wait so get you name down asap .T/c Sue x

[Anxious_gal]

get your self a new doctor!! ASAP
self medicating with alcohol is bad but your aware of that so thats good at least.

[tomspy77]

I started to get panic attacks when I was like tweny one or twenty two or so.

I was working overnights and out of no where one day at six AM I felt like I was having a heart attack.

I eventually went to my doctor and he said it was most likely acid reflux and gave me meds for that. That of course did nothing so I found myself drinking all the time because when I was buzzed I felt OK.
I eventually looked through an old medical book my mom used to have cause she worked at a doctor's office and found the entry on panic attacks and disorder.

My doc gabe me the lowest dose of Xannax he could, which I only took when I needed it badly.

I as I said was in my very early twenties then, so that this doctor won't give you proper meds at thirty years of age is a joke.

I agree, get a new doc, but also realize you are not alone when it comes to drinking at first to self medicate your way out of anixiety. Its soothes so you do it, but stop ASAP and be aware that it can turn into a bigger problem then the anixiety itself (of course that probably seems hard to believe at this point for you I'm sure, nothing feels bigger then the panic when it is present).