anxiety/panic disorder

[alexa1]

hi. i am feeling at the end of my tether at the moment. i suffer with panic attacks and feel anxious a lot of the time although reflexology and reiki has helped to calm it down a bit.

i was prescribed citolpram for panic disorder and bouts of depression but the side effect were horrendous and i chucked them in the bin.

the thing is this, i suffer with sweats when i am in social situations, especially the palms of my hands and underarms as u can imagine, this is embarrassing as i am restricted to what colour clothes i can wear as they show the sweat patches. i dont seem to have a sweat prob in the house but as soon as i am in a social situation i sweat.

I know my problem is panic/anxiety related and my GP said the same but what can i do to get rid of these embarrassing sweat episodes. iam trying to relax as much as possible but i think i have to face facts and accept that i will never be the type of person who is totally relaxed or calm (unfortunatley). my doctors are not interested.

any advice please

Hi,
Have you tried CBT? Have you been referred to a psychologist? I suffer similar to you, but I find medication helps... have you tried changing your meds?

((hugs))

hi quotie what meds are u on that make u feel better??

Ive been on alot... I know lofopramine (sp?) worked well before I got PG. Now im BFing, im limited, so have to take diazepam... but thats to help when I feel panicy, rather than prevent.

Citolpram did nothing for my anxiety/panic attacks, which are my chief problem w/PND.

Lustral did it for me.

Hi I know this isnt the same but 2 years ago and now I suffered panic attacks and depression. Constant butterflies in tummy, couldnt face going out etc. Went to the gp and he gave me Seroxat. Its an antidepressant but it is designed for anxiety and works differently to other ones. Have you tried this. I found first time it really worked and this time it seems to be working although havent really given it long enough. Hope this help[s

quotie - i found diazepam really good but i didnt think it was prescribed long term am i right in this??

I was on it for.... about 2 months, now ive been back on it for about 2, but because im BFing, im only allowed max. 3 a day and only when I need them.... Not sure about longer than that.

hi. thanks for all your replies. just one question. how the hell do i have CBT?? i have heard about it but dont know how i go about getting it. my GP hasnt even mentioned this he just wrote a prescription and couldnt wait for me to get out the door. i think its probably cheaper is it than therapy.

i would really like to have CBT as i have heard some of u mention it is good, but i feel stupied going to the docs and asking for it

Message withdrawn

long waiting list for CBT I'm afraid but I was referred as follows..

GP>>A&E duty psychiatrist>>psychiatric support team>>CBT

Your GP may be able to recommend a private practitioner if that's an option for you..

in the interim try self help with NLP - there are many good books and it has the same roots I think.

Is the anxiety causing the sweating or is the sweating a problem in itself, then leading to anxiety? Overactive sweating is a condition that is treatable in various ways, the most drastic being surgery (called a sympathectomy). You can also get tablets that can dry you up but they're non-specific so you'd get a dry mouth for example too.

whats NLP

thinkstomuch - i dont seem to sweat in the house or when i am with my family but as soon as i go out especially socialising the sweat begins and of course it does make me anxious so i guess its a knock on effect.

i just want to stop the sweating as it is causing me embarasment. the docs have prescirbed driclor and some powder stuff which doesnt work.

neuro linguistic programming

I suppose you could say it finds the link between your internal dailogue and your physiological response and gives you tools to change it.

NLP

dialogue

Also DP's mum is a hypnotherapist & often helps people like us.

oh & finally - you could get your thyroid function checked, it can be implicated in anxiety disorders.

If it's not happening to you all the time then it's probably not hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and perhaps more likely a symptom of any underlying worries.
However you should still try to get your doc to take it seriously (get a different doc if nec) and maybe prescribe some anticholinergics (the drying drugs). Did you know you can even get Botox in your armpits to stop the sweating - film stars do it!

i have had my thyroid checked and its ok

thnkstomuch - regards to the botox, i know my gp mentioned it but she said it was too expensive and not recommended

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a sales rep for the stuff (it is essentially a low-dosage poison), but it has been used as a treatment for this for at least 10 years as well as all the well-known cosmetic reasons people have it. I believe it's easy to get done privately these days at cosmetic clinics, but you'd have to make sure it was with a reputable place.
But do look into the underlying reasons you're getting this physical reaction to social situations, try to get a more sympathic doctor to talk to about it and definitely get that CBT if there's any chance there are issues and worries that have a hold over you. Much better than any chemical/surgical solution.

thanks a lot thinkstomuch (that should be my name)