I am seeing a dr in a week for anxiety/depression. i saw someone a few years ago but had to stop the meds cause i dont have insurance but i found somewhere new that is for people with no insurance.
so my question… what am i suppossed to say to them? i realize that they are dr’s but i dont wanna sound like a loser saying how i cant even handle going out in public because i get nervous, cant breathe and am depressed and miserable all the time. also i wouldnt call myself bulimic but i binge and purge anywhere from 2-5 times a week (anytime the bf is gone) – do i have to tell them ? I am going to feel so stupid

Well, they should be able to help you to know what to say by asking the questions that will help them know how to treat you. If you’re already feeling anxious and this appointment is making it worse, it’s even more critical that you let your doctor know about this. They can’t effectively help you unless you’re open with them. Be straighforward and they’ll guide you. They’ve heard it all before anyhow. And you’ll feel so much better!

Good luck!

what are natural at home ways to get rid of social anxiety disorder?
i have valerian root capsules and st john wort at home, does this get rid of this condition?

The pills may help but its not realistic to expect them to prevent anxiety. They don’t cure the cause. In almost all cases of social anxiety there is no serious imbalance in brain chemistry (except in severe cases) its purely all in the head.

You should ask yourself on a scale of 1-5 how severe this condition is. If you’re just having difficulty maybe asking someone out on a date or have mild symptoms then you can try to work this out on your own. If you have a more severe case then you should seek counseling. Any severe anxiety disorder 95% of the time requires effective treatment to correct.

You might try a few things like have a simple converstation in a mirror or have a friend or relative come over and do some role playing. The other way you might face this anxiety is to try to tackle it head on and do things like try out for sports or join school or community groups. The worse thing is to do nothing. Because then you just make this homeostasis that only ensures the anxiety never goes away. Counseling, even in mild cases of social anxiety can also help too.

It’s sort of a self diagnoses. I’ve been asking around for years and doing research off and on and I came across the symptoms for Social Anxiety Disorder. I seem to have about 90% of the symptoms in such a severe way that it effects my daily life dramatically. I’m unable to see psychologists or doctors due to the cost, and I don’t have any support from family. I’ve been reading about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but how do I know that’s right for me? As long as I know a certain treatment will work for me, I would be willing to do everything in my power to try and get it. I’m afraid if I wait too long, my depression as a result from my social anxiety will get even worse and impair any chances I have of recovering. Thanks everyone!

I also have social anxiety and I feel for you….I tried everything because I’m not much of a medicine person and I thought I could handle it myself but I couldnt I’m on Lexapro right now and I’m doing so much better you wouldnt even think I had social anxiety. If you don’t have the money I would say get a good book about the subject…goodluck

I’m doing a research paper on the five main types of anxiety disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive, Post-Traumatic Stress, Panic, Social Anxiety, and Generalized Anxiety. Are all of these disorders treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy and SSRI’s? I was wanting to be able to sum up the treatment in one paragraph at the end rather than dedicating a paragraph about treatment to each disorder. Thanks in advance. [:

Not all, because different people may react differently to medication. Doctors are trying to find the minimum effective dose, with the medication with the least side effects. If SSRI does not help they have to switch to a more serious medication, with perhaps more severe side effects.
Many medications originally approved for the treatment of depression have been found to relieve symptoms of anxiety. These include certain SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs, and the newer atypical antidepressants.

Antidepressants are often preferred over the traditional anti-anxiety drugs because the risk for dependency and abuse is smaller. However, antidepressants take up to 4 to 6 weeks to begin relieving anxiety symptoms, so they can’t be taken “as needed.” For example, antidepressants wouldn’t help at all if you waited until you were having a panic attack to take them. Their use is limited to chronic anxiety problems that require ongoing treatment.

The antidepressants most widely prescribed for anxiety are the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

I am a very stressed college student, and I recently started talking with a professional and I might go on anti-depressents or anti-anxiety medications. What are the negative side effects? Will they affect my weight?

I really hope that you don’t have to go through as many medications to get the right one as I did!

Some medications may make you "too happy"… which may sound good, but really isn’t. They can make you unable to react appropriately to situations. For example, I fell down crossing a busy intersection and all I could think was "hehehe… my wrist hurts…. hehehe… there’s cars coming at me… heheh". Not cool.

Yes, medications can affect your weight, either to make you gain or lose weight, dependant on the way your body processes the meds. Remember, the best way to control it is to have an eating plan, stick to it. Don’t binge on junk food, and keep exercising.

Exercise is actually one of the most important things with depression- it helps you feel better and helps the natural neurotransmitters to work better!

Some other side effects are dizzyness, nausea, vertigo, etc. Remember, with this type of medication, you have to put up with some side effects- just make sure what the medication does is worth the side effects.

Your doctor will probably have to switch you a few times to find the right medication. And medications like this take about 2 weeks before you start seeing the effects. Be patient, and don’t be hard on yourself if it doesn’t seem to work at first.

Above all, make sure you are honest with your doctor and yourself.

Hope this helps!

I just recently had blood drawn for a thyroid panel and I want to know if anybody who has suffered from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism has experienced constant nervousness, anxiety, or panic attacks.

I want to hear from people that have experienced this first hand.
Hey Michelle, is there a way I can keep in contact with you?

Hyperthyroidism can cause the same symptoms as anxiety or panic attacks. That doesn’t mean that you have anxiety or panic attacks. Those are mental diseases. Hyperthyroidism is a physical disease, usually an autoimmune disease.

Hypothyroidism can not cause the symptoms of anxiety or a panic attack. Quite the opposite.

I have taken 5-htp and st.johns but they don’t really help that much. Is something like l-tyrosine more appropriate. Thanks everyone!

if you are having trouble with stress or anxiety ….check thsi out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjPcb3eMS6s lil Dr Jack can helps

what im mainly asking is can Generalized anxiety disorder/social anxiety make you less aggressive to people in a physical way, because it is drawing attention to you and doesnt generalized anxiety disorder make you think MORE?

Jason, not quite sure what you are trying to get at, but some people with GAD and SAD can suffer from frustration which at times may bring out aggressive tendencies, while at the same time its more common to find a person who has GAD and SAD to be basically shy and non-assertive in interactions with others.

GAD makes you WORRY more, which is not the same thing as thinking more. Many of your thoughts (until you learn to counter and change them) are catastrophic or wrong thoughts, even paranoid to some degree.

The good news is GAD and SAD respond well to treatment either with Cognitve Therapy or a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and medications.

I’m looking into going to a sedation dentist because I need a lot of work & gag easily. I read about some that give you a pill to take beforehand & you start feeling very relaxed & are awake but feel no pain. Has anyone with an anxiety disorder ever done this? If so, how did it work out for you?

I have never heard of a sedation dentist but my mum gets valium from the doctor to take before she goes to the dentist. It really relaxes her. Also telling the dentist and dental nurse helps as they can try to keep you relaxed. You can also take headphones and your music player to the dentist to listen to relaxing music.

I have decided to go see a Dr. about my anxiety. I have had two panic attacks within the last year. I have always been an anxious person, and when I am stressed out, my anxiety gets the best of me. I’m naturally hyper, and I can’t fall asleep until at least 3am every night because my brain keeps going & going. Do most people with anxiety problems take a daily pill? Do they have as needed pills that work quickly? Thanks!

There are other solutions to anxiety attacks. Breathing exercises, meditation, relaxation techniques work for me most of the time. Learning to cope with stress can work wonders.
Two panic attacks in the last year doesn’t sound like you have a real serious case, I know a guy that has attacks almost every day. This is not to diminish what you go through. I get them from time to time and I know they are scary.
Yes many people take a daily pill for anxiety, but two attacks in a year might not justify a daily one. There is one designed for occasional use; it’s called Ativan, in a sublingual tablet, (it goes under the tongue.) It gets to you faster than the usual pills.

Ativan is a benzodiazepine, and can be addictive. It also can make you very sleepy. It is a drug that you need to be careful with. I only use it when absolutely necessary.