Hello, I'm New To The Forum

[atruckersprincess]

Hello 

My name is Brie and I am happy to find this forum.

I was first diagnosed with anxiety/panic disorder back in 2000 after going to the ER one night positive I was having a heart attack.  Turns out it was my first panic attack.  I had a lot of stuff going on in my life at the time and I just broke and couldn't handle anymore I guess.  I was put on Effexor and Xanax and they seemed to work pretty well for me.

After a while things in my life started to improve and I was able to start dealing a little better and I came off the Effexor (had already been off the Xanax as I was only given a few weeks worth).  I had told my dr that I wanted to come off the Effexor and he said "Go ahead."  He never told me I needed to wean myself off of it   So I spent MANY months trying to come off.  4 times I went back to taking it because I couldn't handle the withdrawl.  Then finally I decided to wean myself off VERY slow and was able to stop it.

Within a year I had some anxiety come back and this time the dr put me on paxil and I ended up coming off of that because of having no medical insurance and we couldn't afford it.  The withdrawls from Paxil were not as bad as Effexor and I was able to come off of it and did very well with my anxiety for the past 5 years.  I would get nervous spells, but no attacks.

Then I started working again and dealt with the boss from hell.  I ended finding out that she had been embezzeling from the company and fought to get her out of there.  I should have just left myself.  Well, I'm glad I did what I did, but during those 3 months my anxiety and depression kicked back in.

So now I am in charge.  I am the Director of a consumer-run drop-in center for those in the mental health field.  How ironic is that?  I've been there for over a year and 2 months ago I had my first panic attack since 2003 and ended up in the ER again with what I thought was my heart problem acting up (I had an atrial fibrillation in 1999)  The past 2 months have been filled with anxiety and panic.  Last month I found out that my son was smoking pot and I didn't sleep for 3 days because of the anxiety from that.

I started giving myself some extra time off and have found that I do much better when not at work.  But I really can't afford to quit.  I do like my job, but I never really wanted the responsibility of being in charge.  I just wanted the witch out of there.

This morning I was awoken at 5:30 am with my heart racing and have been struggling all time to stay calm.  Don't know what has caused it.  Maybe I had a dream that caused it.  Don't know cause I don't remember.

Anyways, this is getting long and I just wanted to give some info on me before I start asking some questions LOL   

[mommy_2_4_babies]

I know exactly what u are going through except when I went to the ER I was having an episode of supraventricular tachycardia because of a panic attack. I still wake up in the middle of the night also almost every night with the hr and it scares the crap out of me but  to the boards and if you ever need 2 talk we r here 4 u 

[bettys814]

Hi and Welcome
You've come to a good place for support! 

[Anonymous8]

Anxiety sucks but none of us our alone and this sight offers such excellent support for all of us. Funny how everyone's anxiety symptoms range so muc-- I get very bad brain fog, dizzy, and my forehead gets tight and tingly. They're all annoying though!

[scared748]

hello,
i know what you are going through...when im at work I cant concentrate and get nothing done i work with a witch too and when she leaves i will get her job and will be in charge as well i get nervous about it and it hasnt even happened yet...and i too wake up with the heart racing etc and have no idea what provoked it   hope all goes well with your job  take care.