26th March 2003
Hi Mike and everyone else,
While I would not classify myself as someone who has completely recovered from anxiety problems, I would say that I am someone who has learned to live and cope with it successfully. I was on Serzone for 2 years which was completely ineffective, and during that time I felt like my personality was changing because I started becoming very agoraphobic and asocial and really felt depressed and helpless at times. When I reached the lowest point I broke down in front of my family explaining to them that I needed to at least try to get off meds because it wasn't making me any better...in fact I barely felt like life was worth living at that time. So in conjuction with going off Serzone, I found a posting board where I could talk to others about my anxiety symptoms and fears and looked up literature on GAD and bought a couple of self help books. Talking to others who shared this disorder really helped me, and I found myself being a source of strength to others, even though I felt I wasn't in much better shape. I came back to school in the fall and decided an attitude and lifestyle change was necessary for me to regain my life back. I started pushing myself to go to places I avoided before where I'd had panic attacks, met new people and formed more friendships, and in no time I was my outgoing funloving self again. I think having good self esteem and realizing I could control my problems cognitivitely and not have to rely on meds really helped me get back to a comfortable place within myself. Naturally there are times when I'm on edge, and in truth, I have not overcome all my fears, but the point is that I don't let those things stop me from living life to the fullest. I handle panic attacks alot better now, usually able to stop them before they get out of control (i do have a backup reserve of xanax just in case, but i have not needed any in months). So coming from someone who's been off meds for about 8 months, there is hope!
While I would not classify myself as someone who has completely recovered from anxiety problems, I would say that I am someone who has learned to live and cope with it successfully. I was on Serzone for 2 years which was completely ineffective, and during that time I felt like my personality was changing because I started becoming very agoraphobic and asocial and really felt depressed and helpless at times. When I reached the lowest point I broke down in front of my family explaining to them that I needed to at least try to get off meds because it wasn't making me any better...in fact I barely felt like life was worth living at that time. So in conjuction with going off Serzone, I found a posting board where I could talk to others about my anxiety symptoms and fears and looked up literature on GAD and bought a couple of self help books. Talking to others who shared this disorder really helped me, and I found myself being a source of strength to others, even though I felt I wasn't in much better shape. I came back to school in the fall and decided an attitude and lifestyle change was necessary for me to regain my life back. I started pushing myself to go to places I avoided before where I'd had panic attacks, met new people and formed more friendships, and in no time I was my outgoing funloving self again. I think having good self esteem and realizing I could control my problems cognitivitely and not have to rely on meds really helped me get back to a comfortable place within myself. Naturally there are times when I'm on edge, and in truth, I have not overcome all my fears, but the point is that I don't let those things stop me from living life to the fullest. I handle panic attacks alot better now, usually able to stop them before they get out of control (i do have a backup reserve of xanax just in case, but i have not needed any in months). So coming from someone who's been off meds for about 8 months, there is hope!