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Panic Disorder, appropriate treatment

Posted , 6 users are following.

christophe69712
christophe69712

I have been having panic treatments for nearly 10 years now and also now suffering from agoraphobia as cbt has not helped in itself and getting myself out there to face my fears and breathing exercises just hasnt helped. I get it really bad when getting to know new people and has been a real problem in education and the workplace as I have not been able to hold anything down for 10 year.

I am currently in Scotland so am aware that England for example has different treatment options. NHS (National Health Service) Scotland has suggested using the beta blocker Propranolol and has finally now prescribed me atleast with something.  I have however read on the internet that it is only proven to work with performance anxiety, and I am also sceptical as after 10 years of suffering I practically diagnosed myself and have received no support from them, so basically I have to reason to have faith in them now. I couldnt come across a reasonable answer to why this is being subscribed for panic disorders other than its cheap. It can help with the physical aspect of anxiety so I have read. NHS England doesnt even mention it on its website, they do however prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or, if SSRIs are not suitable, a tricyclic antidepressant (usually imipramine or clomipramine), or, anti-epilepsy drug such as pregabalin or, if your anxiety is severe, clonazepam (these medicines are also beneficial for treating anxiety).

Please has anyone any professional advice on medication and what do they think of the experience I have described. Personally I am shocked at the lack of professionalism and also the stupidity, as the loss of productivity (as I can not work its that severe) must be costing the economy alot.

0 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • NeilMK
    NeilMK christophe69712

    Posted

    While I'm NOT a medical professional there are certain things where medicine only treats the symptoms, not the cause, which in my opinion makes them a poor choice for use.

    Stress and anxiety (if it really is that) cannot be treated with a pill(s) but certain medication can help the symptoms but personally I'm totally against it. Half the world would be on Xanex if we all resorted to pills to manage our stress levels!

    Have you ever tried to identify the cause of all of this originally? When did it start? Was there a specific event or series of events that led to your current state? Perhaps instead of cool 'coping mechanisms' you could work through the blockers from your past? Assuming there is something of course.

    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 NeilMK

      Posted

      The cause has been identified, socialising or interacting with other people.
  • srk904471
    srk904471 christophe69712

    Posted

    there are stages in life when you should not be worried about productivity or economy ..

    relax..

    UNCONDITIONAL SELF ACCEPTANCE should be your number 1 mantra. 

    we worry about our performance.. because we are really "concerned"..

    i am not against doing something in life 

    we should take right action but should not be concerned about "end result"

    even in performance of action.. let us do it..to the extent we can.. never comparing it with others..

     

    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 srk904471

      Posted

      Yip well the job center dont share this vision, and at this stage 10 years down the line neither do I. I have ambitions and this problem is blocking them
  • racheld1975
    racheld1975 christophe69712

    Posted

    Clonazepam was a God send for me...of course everyone is different. I am not a medical professional, just someone that has been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks for over 20 years. I am also in the states so I'm not sure how things work in Scotland. You need a psychiatrist that is familiar with anxiety disorders and how to treat them. I know a lot of our medications are different and haven't heard of most of what you named but I know the combination that worked best for me was clonazepam, escitalopram, and amitriptyline. I have heard a lot of people talking about using propanolol for anxiety, I don't know if I agree with that or not, nor do I understand how that works when anxiety is an issue with the chemicals in your brain. Now maybe it helps with symptoms like the palpitations but like I said I'm not a medical professional. I wish you the best of luck!!!

    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 racheld1975

      Posted

      Thanks for replying, its nice to hear from someone who has suffered from this condition and tried meds. I will definately look in to them as it is a severe panic disorder and after suffering 10 years already. I have decided towards trying to medicate for it as I suspect you have experienced the adverse effect it can have on your life. Somethings a self help guru just cant fix.
  • brenda80266
    brenda80266 christophe69712

    Posted

    Hi I’ve taken  propranolol for a number of years for palpitations I also suffer from anxiety on and off for many years was on Prozac a good while ago which worked great for me once your over the side effects have been back on for 10 weeks and I feel as I’m finally getting there as I’m having some ok days rather than AWFUL days hope you get sorted 
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 brenda80266

      Posted

      Would you describe your condition as a Panic Disorder? Thats interesting, do you take panic attacks?
    • brenda80266
      brenda80266 christophe69712

      Posted

      Yes I have major panic when I start over thinking I've downloaded headspace worth a look x

  • marleen85993
    marleen85993 christophe69712

    Posted

    Hi Christophe l have heard of people using propranolol for stopping panic attacks.Generally a GP can prescribe antidepressants if you wish to go down that route.My advise is stay away from benzodiazepines unless for less than 2 weeks as they can in the long term cause a lot of trouble.Some people can come off them with little trouble however a lot have a great deal of trouble coming off them.Go to your doctor and talk to him about starting medication
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 marleen85993

      Posted

      Benzodiazepines, that could be a solution. Sure I am aware of their addictive potential, but used sensibly I have heard they can help in certain situations with severe anxiety. I wouldnt use them continually though like you said. Well Ill have to try the beta blocker out and see how I get along but if I have been mis- prescribed at this late stage my faith in NHS practioners I think will be once and for all destroyed. UK GPs  have been less than helpful. I have lived in several location whithin the city in past year and every time I visit I get a different practitioner, I feel this is partly to blame as they dont ever really seem to know what they are talking about.

      Also alot of these CBT courses are now privatised like "fear fighters" etc. They tell you in the surgery and on the mental health charity chatlines that the resources on the websites they recommend are free, but when you go home and look they are pay site. They havent even gone and looked at them themselves. GPs are beginning to resemble dodgy door to door sales people, and their web pages, dodgy satellite sales tv channels.

      Ive decided self help books are the way forward and forums, which are what brought me here. If the beta blockers work I will be very happy but equally surprised

    • brenda80266
      brenda80266 christophe69712

      Posted

      Hi Christopher you will be lucky to get the benzos my GP refuses to prescribe I messaged you earlier look at headspace
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 brenda80266

      Posted

      What is headspace, a cbt app? I got a good few books of the web for free im working through

       

    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 brenda80266

      Posted

      Im learning Cbt. Meditation, im not the Dalai Lama you know lol. Well im kinda a skeptical but got very little to lose so Ill defiInately look in to it. Whats the difference between Meditation and sleeping?
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 brenda80266

      Posted

      I definately need to go down the medication route but I guess these things are complimentary to it. I dont have other problems other than severe anxiety attacks in social situations. I get a little anxious and stressed like anybody, but outside these social settings I dont suffer
    • marleen85993
      marleen85993 christophe69712

      Posted

      Christophe totally agree regarding the NHS the doctors are clueless however psychiatric care in the community makes them look good seriously it is frightening.Benzos are useful however please do not use them daily or even every other day as they are very hard to stop.
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 marleen85993

      Posted

      Thanks, nice to see someone else has noticed apart from myself lol. No, im aware of benzos, i used them a few times back in early ninties and know what kind of effect they have. They are not a drug you want to use for leisure, I dont even find their effect diserable at all. But if they help for medical reasons then, well, I guess thats what they were designed for
    • marleen85993
      marleen85993 christophe69712

      Posted

      Oh you are definitely not alone l have got to the stage where l go in to the doctors and tell them what l need haha.l don't care anymore it's my life not theirs.l would also suggest you apply for ESA until you get your anxiety disorder stabilised.

    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 marleen85993

      Posted

      I feel the same way, 95% of the time I get someone who sits there like a plum and does absolutely nothing, im not sure if I caught them on a coffee break or what! then the other 5% they are just really upsetting me. I had a stomach acid problem I know can be related to a anxiety disorder they treated me for and I am greatful for that though
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 marleen85993

      Posted

      There is something very strange happening to services as well. I have been reaching out to my gp over the past 10 years resulting in nothing, but Enable Scotland a employment charity I was linked with through the jobcenter are now offering to help me seek out services, and I know for a fact that the girl I am dealing with is a minimum wage worker as I have seen her post advertised on the internet when I was looking for work myself. I dont know what happened to doctor/ client confidentiality as my mental health has obviously been put out on tender to the highest unskilled bidder.
    • christophe69712
      christophe69712 marleen85993

      Posted

      Might as well get a help sign and stand by the side of the road and see if anyone will stop, maybe they will have a solution. All these 3rd party providers are unskilled and are in the business of appearing to be doing something about a problem without actually acheiving anything. I believe nearly the entire 3rd/ 4th sector is just a scheme to get unemployed people into work.
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