I have a pretty extreme case of panic and anxiety disorder, and have been taking a medication called ativan for treatment.  Out of nowhere, yesterday my doctor said to me that she wasn't going to give it to me anymore, and that she was just going to up my anti-depressant 10mg and that she was going to wait TWO months to see me again. I can't handle this, but I'll be damned if I am going leave my 4 month old daughter to visit my local Mental Health unit at the hospital. What are some options that I have? I *seriously* need some advice. Please, if you are just going to be mean, or rude, please do not reply. I don't need any negative commentary right now. I am not trying to be rude, I am just very disappointed that what I was doing was going very well, and I was managing really well, and then it was just gone, and now I have to start all over. Its very frustrating, especially when you have children that you don't want it to affect.
136404
well i can only say that there is a book called prozac nation, that deals with depression, i suffer from anxiety attacks too.  but have not yet searched out any ways to deal with it naturally.
37361
I am being put through hell by my not soon enough to be "X". No one cared, I was give the run around, my husband took  my daughter and with some help brain washed lies into her head about me. I could get no help then in 2003 and am still being done dirty. The stress was so bad it pulled muscles from bones. I could not eat or sleep I lost a lot of weight and it frightened nearly all who saw me to death. So the answer is yes it can and will nearly kill you. I am now stuck with a vindictive sister who just asked me what is wrong. If I tell her I will be told what a dumb ass I ma for loving my child or wanting to help her. It is to long and complicated to tell here. Vicatin did NOT help the pain I suffered with and I did not go back to the hospital for the morphin the Dr. said would work if the Vicatin didn't.
359485
You don't even need to deal with that stress. Just go to www.healthgrades.com and take it from there. You can tell your story or find reports on your doctor from other peeved patients.\nYour voice will be heard, you'll feel better and anyone that looks\nhim up will be forwarned, thanks to you. If a doctor is not practicing\nevidence based medicine, and in your childs' case that would have\nmeant testing a long time ago, they're negligent.Period.
627290
I've worked in a few mental health places, & unfortunalty, this is usually the case.   A psychiatrist is usually VERY busy, overbooked & does not always get back to a person as they should.  Be sure to check around of other Dr's in your local area as well & call them if this Dr. does not get back to you, but I would try at least 2 more times this week & leave persistant messages.  If no go, then call other places, ask around people you met there.   Also, your Primary Care Doctor, someone in the area, or your former PCP can call in at least 1 month of your meds for you until you get into to see a new psychiatrist.  It's a hard battle, I know, but you will get through this.  Good luck:)
352144
Please listen very carefully? Dial the info line, 211 , that's the number, 211. They can put you in touch with someone who will not be insensitive. I have used this number on many occasions also for suicidal thoughts. The person called me back with-in 20 minutes and talked me down. I am thankful for the info line and the way they run it. I too battle depression and I know it's probably going to be with me for the rest of my life BUT I also know that there Are people out there that can and have helped. The operator will ask you the nature of the call and then you tell him/her that you need to speak to a psychologist about your depression, she will ask you what area you live in so that this person will be close to you. It really helped and I felt much better. If you think you need to be in the hospital, she can call ahead to let them know you are coming, again they are here to listen and direct you to whatever you need. Don't give up and I am really sorry you are going through this, I really am. Please dial 211 or your local hospital and they will help you! Be Safe.
313579
Well I have panic attacks too, and I just went to the doctor for the first time last week, he prescribed PaxilCR and xanax, I to like to call someone just to talk when I have the attacks.  My employer offers a free 1800 # for that sorta thing called LifeWorks.  Don't be scared to take your meds though, I have been on the Paxil for a week now, and it seems ok so far, eventhough it's gonna take a while to start working before I notice anything.  I only take the xanax if im HAVING a panick attack.  You can click on my photo and contact me if you need any more advise about anything if you'd like, I know what you're going through.
258474
I've had better luck going to a nearby walk-in clinic than I have going to my family physician.  The people who work there are more apt to take the time and listen to what has been bothering me.  The doctor who works at the clinic insisted I see a heart specialist (who did find a problem), after my doctor kept telling me I was only dealing with anxiety and had put me on meds for it.
189808
i am so there and have been there for soooo long. i feel for you. and i am married and he gets mad when i flip out and have an anxiety attack or cry for 6 hours straight. Once he finds out I haven't been taking the med he thinks I dont WANT to get better. Depression is the most isolating thing in the world. counselors take forever to get around to telling you that they cant really help...it sucks. But hang in there and I recommend you get a personal relationship with Jesus. The after life is our only hope. Suicide sends you to hell. Hang in there, be strong and know that there will come aday when you and I and so many others will feel  better- for eternity. If you are dont believe I hope you will at least give it a chance. If you do, i hope you will know the devil causes the bad stuff, not God. (I struggle with that, but in my heart I know it is true...) Add me to your messenger if you want to talk ever country_grl_ky  I swear when I read your question I was like "wow. that is me, exactly" Best of luck to you either way and please hang on to the hope. I know when most days are bad, it is so hard to keep on going knowing you have "never" been happy and thinking you arent normal or that you might never feel happy....but it is not true. And try to take your medicine. I do the same thing and I dont know why either. But we should take it.
54286
Tell you therapist and your psychiatrist. Make sure they both know you took medication previously but that you think you needed a stronger dose. If you don't tell them what's going on, they can't help you.
563128
Ally, Have been to a doctor?  After reading through your profile, it's obvious that there are some serious issues going on.  Getting on Yahoo Answers maybe one form of release as far as getting in put and being able to express yourself and I think it's great that you can come on here and just let loose with questions and answers but you really need to get to a doctor if you haven't already.  If you have a chemical imbalance then you can get medication and have the opportunity to live and be and feel free from all these emotional problems.
300907
Besides medication, what else are you doing for treatment?  You should talk to someone about your feelings.  Not necessarily a professional, but at least someone you trust.  If that isn't helping, then maybe consider professional therapy.  This is VERY common, and often goes untreated.  You've recognized a problem, now just keep working at it.  You probably won't be on meds forever.  Don't focus on the fact that you're taking pills, focus on relieving your PPD.  You daughter will thank you later!
307719
I am sorry that that happened to you. YOu just need to understand that when you post your questions / comments on here we can't tell what form you are saying them in. So some people may read them as harrassment while others look at them as someone in alot of pain reaching out for help. If you do need help this is a place in which you can get some, but also remember that people are mean. And some of them may make comments that hurt your feelings just for the sake of being an a$$. That is really good that you are seeing a therapist and feeling and doing better with everything. If you ever need a friend to talk to you can email me at any time. I suffer from anxiety and I am on Lexapro for 6 weeks now. I love it and feel great. So I guess I kind of know where you are comming from.
127464
I am sorry to hear about this I wish I could answer your Qs. I was just browsing and came across this.I had to post something back!My daughter was very sick about a week ago. She is fine now. But it was so scary.No one knew what she was sick with... Thats the worst part.She is only 2. She was passing alot of blood in her stool....Well we,as humans, always think of the worst first.I felt like the Dr.s were not doing enoff.But I now know that if you trust your DR. with all your hart then your mother is in the right place!But if not...Find some were you do trust.Ya'll will be in my familys prayers.  when you don't know what to do,Take your hands off the situation-by not worring(as much)-and God will then take care of it.
472175
I know of no OTC meds for anxiety. Xanax IS an anti-anxiety med however! If it isn't working, ask your doctor to change you to ativan or vallium.For me Vallium works wonders.Most doctors are hesitant to prescribe them for longer than a few months however due to the risk of addiction to them. Hope this helped. :)
480828
LOL, all the time but the doosy happened last year. I was waiting for my daughters bus to come. She was coming home from school. Anyways it was freezing outside and I was out there for an hour and a half. Of course I was freaking out but tried to keep calm. I live right at the bus stop but I live on the third floor . I did not want to leave the bus stop because where I live the bus driver will not let the child off without someone at the stop. So I stood there freaking out and not knowing what to do. I gave up and called her school in a bit of rage and said/asked, my daughters bus has not arrived yet, is there a problem with the bus? She said, what are you talking about? I freaked out and told her that I have been waiting for almost two hours and it has not come. She said are you taking meds? I was livid and said NO what's your f-ing problem. She yelled at me telling me that school was still in sesson and the kids have not been let out yet. Ok, now I felt small, said no meds and quietly hung up the phone. That's when I realized that I was on the wrong day, month for my daughter half day! Just think I had to go through that in a month, oh my, lol.
64497
Find a doctor/therapist. They can prescribe SSRI's that can help alleviate some of the anxieties. This is something that may or may not completely go away. It depends on you, your therapist, and your therapy. Honestly how long you are off depends on your doctor. Your anxiety problems can fall under FMLA and your doctor can write you off for however long he/she thinks you need. In all honesty your workplace may cause your anxieties to be heightened. If possible try finding another job that you feel you can handle leaving your home and staying there for the time required.
334010
Hi.  I have been suffering from anxiety disorder since 2000.  It was during a very stressful period in my life.  The panic attack made me feel like I was having a heart attack, which is what I called 911 for.  I felt so crazy when they told me I was only hyperventilating/having a panic attack.  And once you have one panic attack, the fear of another sets you up for multiple attacks.  It was difficult for me for awhile.  I was put on medications and I wasn't really ready at that time for that kind of thing.  Since, i have always been against putting chemicals into my body.  My attacks are not due to a chemical imbalance, so they put me on medications they thought would just calm me and relieve stress.  I fought against the meds, and my attacks increased.  I wasn't sleeping because I thought I was going to die.  I finally just accepted I needed the medication and gave it a try.  After a month I hadn't had any attacks.  Then I began to worry I was being weak because I couldn't maintain normal existence without medication.  But a friend of mine made me look at it a different way.  We wouldn't encourage someone with bipolar syndrome to not take their medication or someone who has seizures to try something outside of what the doctor prescribed.  I'm not sure what your reasons are for trying to get off your meds, but if they work...why would you want to?  Breathing methods have proven quite effective, since you are only hyperventilating.  It demands a great deal of discipline, because you have to change your thinking.  Your mind is registering this as you dying.  You may think you know you are not, but the brain works in mysterious ways.  There are several online sites that help you practice the breathing through the nose like you are smelling a rose technique and expelling out of the mouth like blowing through a straw.  I get most anxious at night, before bed and frankly I don't have the discipline needed to say screw it to my ativan and trying out some breathing excercises.  There are also yahoo groups with people to talk to in every single state.  My email is qween_o_hartz@yahoo.com and you are free to write me anytime you need someone to talk to.  It is very frustrating at times.  People look at it as just in our heads or chemical imbalances, etc.  We all handle stresses differently and panic attacks are our bodies way of dealing with it.  Good luck.  \n\nAna