Anxiety help

[Cleardot]

I have had anxiety on and off for a long time. Likely since childhood. Since being diagnosed with hiv about 2 months ago it has been nearly constant and intense at times. The first month I was prescribed Ativan by my HIV specialist to help me sleep. After a month on that I weaned myself off. I don't want to be on benzodiazepines long term because I know how addictive they are. I am seeing a therapist and we are working on the issues that are at the root of the anxiety. I have learned ways to help soften the anxiety, meditation and imagery and breathing exercises. Mornings seem to be the hardest because I wake up very early with heart racing, sweating, panic. Sometimes the anxiety lasts all morning. Afternoons and evenings are a little better. I try to occupy my mind with work, exercise, visiting with friends. However the anxiety (and depression I suspect) are wearing me down. I don't want to restart Ativan. But I am feeling like I will need some help. Anyone have experience with medications other than benzodiazepines that helped decrease anxiety?

[tednlou2]

Sorry to hear about the bad anxiety.  It is something I deal with, as well as other members here.  My anxiety and panic attacks seemed to pop up, a few years before my HIV dx.  It really got bad after.  Depression meds have helped, but I still had them.  I was prescribed xanax.  Fortunately and knock wood, I've not had addiction issues.  I let refills expire. 

My anxiety and panic attacks have gotten much better, with medication and the passing of time since learning my status.  But, I still have it.  Anxiety is an awful thing.  It caused me to withdrawal from normal things.  Even if I felt okay, I would worry I would have a panic episode in front of people.  I would get them at work, the bank, the airport, etc.  It caused me to fear people would think I was doing something illegal or something, because I would be shaky and sweating.  Just worrying about that would cause more anxiety.  I could be laughing and having a great time and get them.  My therapist said the brain can get confused and think positive stimuli is negative, and then trigger the anxiety. 

I wish you the best dealing with it.  Are you on a depression med?  It is good to try all those things-- depression meds and therapy.  But, if your quality of life is still bad, then taking a benzo for relief is something you and your doc have to weigh the pros and cons. 

[Cleardot]

I am not on an anti-depressant now. I tried one about 5 years ago (Celexa) and didn't like the way I felt on it. I will talk to my doctor about options. I have been reading some self-help books on anxiety and trying natural ways to help. Sometimes they do help. My counselor recommended I volunteer or spend my time doing something to help others. He also said, if I needed, to take medicine if I thought it helped me cope better.  Not to be hard on myself or to see myself as weak or a failure, if I did take medicine. I will see my doctor this afternoon and discuss options.
Thank you for your reply tednlou

[mecch]

Can you get a consultation with a psychiatrist?

[RobbyR]

Anxiety is terrible. I have it too. It never really goes away, for me, you just have to find ways to manage it. Therapy can help IF (and thats a big if) you find a compassionate, proactive therapist who can offer coping skills & tangible techniques to help use in every day life. I don't like anti-depressants either, they cause a lot of problems & I've had terrible problems with insomnia on some of them. Everyone is totally different. People are going to respond to different things differently.

I suggest you find a therapist & psychiatrist if you can who can help you through some of it & help you figure out a plan to help tackle the anxiety don't try to deal with it alone, it's not worth it. You're not weak or a failure at all if you seek help for it, quite the contrary, it takes courage to do that. I did it & I'm still battling it.

I agree with you about benzos. They are definitely a major double-edged sword. Of all the meds I've tried for anxiety, they rank near the top in terms of helping get rid of my anxiety quickly when needed, BUT they can be VERY habit-forming for some & many doctors don't like prescribing them for first-line treatments because of this. Again, everyone is different. Some may have dependency issues others may not. Myself, I have a very addictive personality/chemistry anyway, & was given Xanax as supplementary treatment for an anti-depressant regimen. And over a year later, I am still hooked on it. I've tapered down to a very low dose, but definitely talk to your doctor & tread carefully with benzos. Xanax has greatly helped me with sleep & not avoiding things/people, but it's very addictive for sure.

I hope some of this helps you. Oddly enough, one thing that helped me a ton even more than benzos or anti-depressants was a beta blocker. I was prescribed one for blood pressure, & it has the added bonus of totally helping my anxiety to the point I hardly have any physical symptoms any more! And it's something I can take regularly without many bad side effects. But talk to a qualified doc about all your concerns, by all means. Hope you feel better. xoxo