I was hit really hard in the mid to late 90s-panic attacks, agoraphobia the whole buffet.
Like many people I was treated incorrectly, went through to many medications too quickly and finally found a doctor who could actually help me, dry me out and then carefully restart medication to make me better.
I am not cured but I am functioning at a higher level than I once was and knock wood I have not had a panic attack for quite some time.
This whole syndrome started when I was a child-I would be anxious and start to feel faint.
Sometimes I was fine and other times I would be immobilized...I never could find a pattern.
As the years went on I was less affected by the fainting spells and light headedness-it seemed like there were new things that popped up-every time I would have one symptom handled a new one would show up.
Over the years I find this is the way my body works-it throws new things at me to replace ones that no longer work on me-almost like a 2nd person living in my head sabotaging life on a daily basis.
The last 5 years or so I have been in a fairly good place with less surprises and a more constant level of stability.
I take very few meds...I have found the less medications the better.
I have tried herbal, natural, homeopathic and new age medicine, meditation, focused thinking, inner communication-pretty much everything that has come along that is supposed to help.
The best thing for me is just trying to plow through the feelings and do my best with it.
It is very important to have help and treatment-I have had plenty and doing less is the best for me-others do well with anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications and other tools like bio-deedback-whatever works its better to be proactive and do something that to suffer and do nothing.
I also learned that it's a smart thing to "interview" physical and mental health care professionals-you are paying them they are employees-tools to help you feel better-you want people who work for and with you.
Often we who have lived with mental health issues are experts at manipulation and we find ways to get doctors and therapists who we can "manage"-that is NOT good-if you want to get better you have to recognize what attributes in a care taker, therapist, doctor are best for you and your condition.
Pushing down pills makes a whole new set of issues-what do we call people who take too many pills to alter their feelings? Drug Addicts.
You need what medication it takes to make you functional-you're not supposed to be sleepy and half stoned or wired and bouncing off the walls-you're supposed to be at a normal level, functional and able to do the things you want and need to do.
Also take charge of your treatment-be very aware of side effects of any meds you take. Take your meds as you are instructed-no more no less.
We, as a population, are very bad at following prescriptions-we take anti-biotics till we feel better instead of taking them as directed and many of us have the mentality that if one pill makes us feel better than 2 or 3 should solve the problems...not so, but we are good at telling ourselves lies that become our truths.
You also cannot give up and just suffer-we find all sorts of excuses to NOT get treatment or we think we can manage alone...we don't like a doctor so we don't go back, our insurance isn't good so we convince ourselves we can't afford treatment...
There are programs, social services and private organizations that can and will help you-it isn't easy and it's often frustrating but eventually you will get what you need and you will be more functional and feel better.
Also do look at natural medications or remedies-some of them work they just take longer and most require simple things available in local shoppes-I know many people who swear by St. Johns Wort-it didn't do anything for me but Vitamin D3 in larger doses does, Calcium and Magnesium may help-read up on the subject and then try a reasonable program to see if you can help yourself.
Just the actions of researching and following through with a program of natural remedies will divert your attention from your problems and help you feel more focused and as if you are accomplishing positive things.
Again this is NOT a replacement for a professional opinion-there are NATUROPATHS in the world but I don't know of any insurance that covers their services (in any country).
With suicide rates on the rise, a world of stress and angst around us, financial woes etc...its easy to become overwhelmed...if you can't face it alone find a friend, a relative, a social worker-anyone who will work positively on your behalf and support you-be cautious of people who say it's all in your head or you just need to pull yourself together--- that decision should be between YOU and a professional-friends are for support, professionals are for treatment.
Finally-don't take pills given to you by a friend just to see if they work...unless you like a trip to the emergency room or psych-ward.
You will feel better-don't procrastinate, start working on a treatment plan today...I am doing much better and so will you if you do the right things to help yourself-don't use Facebook or Twitter as group therapy-there are far more sick folks on there that need help more that you do.
GOD helps those who help themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment