Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic
April 29, 2008 by diana gardner-williams
I’ve had a visit to our family doctor since my last post of concerns with dizziness and lack of concentration and the diagnosis was Generalized Anxiety Disorder. “A Disorder” is definitely what I have been feeling for quite some time. The doctor also suggested a touch of ADHD. Much of the time I am in a stressed and in a panicked state which I considered a normal feeling until now. My work and my life are suffering from my inability to concentrate and remember. I don’t know if this stemmed from the death of my stillborn son or prior.
My doctor is wonderful and suggested to get a second opinion. I will do so if his diagnosis is incorrect. My husband came with me to the appointment to verify my condition. I am the multi-tasker moving at a much slower rate. The doctor just told me to keep talking about issues bothering me and why I had lost so much weight. I told him it has been a stressful year. I have this panicky feeling to get our finances in order for fear that I will die of cancer before my husband passes. I have temporary relief of a stressful situation after walking through it only to find myself worrying about the next. I analyze situations without knowing all of the facts and get myself highly worked up and upset. Other symptoms include:
- feeling of pin pricks on my skin
- hot flashes
- rapid heartbeat
- loss of appetite
- absolute exhaustion around 7pm
- grinding teeth at night
- thinking the worst of every situation
- forgetting
- cannot process verbal communication
- head spinning
- moving slow
- short fuse
- hit the floor running in the mornings
I am now on Lexapro, a medication prescribed to me for depression after Tanner died. The doctor said that Lexapro also treats patients with GAD because I assured him I was not feeling depressed. Unfortunately it will take 3 weeks to get into my system for some much needed relief. I remember being on this years ago and it really helped my depression. The one thing I disliked was the inability to cry and becoming desensitized. Crying for me is a stress relief. I will see what happens. Xanex is another medication for immediate results but creates a zoombie-like state, not condusive for work.
All my blood work came out negative for anything life threatening so we will work with what I was dealt. I know several of my girlfriends are on medication and I am wondering if this will be a life long commitment.
Peace Love and Hugs from Above www.justacloudaway.com
Diana
i’m sorry about you losing your son, but i’m glad you are working through it. thank you for being so honest and letting people know about gad. also, thank you for the comment you left on my site and i hope you don’t mind that i added you to my blogroll.
Amy
There’s this quote that I remember from a Six Feet Under …
it’s not exact, but it’s close …
“When a child loses a parent, they’re called an orphan.
When a wife loses a husband, they’re called a widow.
But what do you call a parent that loses a child?
Guess it’s just too f*kn awful to have a name.”
I am so deeply sorry for your loss, and I imagine it has a lot to do with your symptoms. No one should have to suffer that.
I don’t know if it would be helpful to you, but this program helped me overcome panic attacks, anxiety and depression that made me housebound for 3 years, even when meds and therapy didn’t help. This is the link. automaticlifechanges.com/TRN. I hope it helps.
Wishing you peace and comfort in your grief.
:::giant hugs:::
Namaste,
Lina
I was so happy to read your blog. I lost a baby this past winter at 20 weeks. I have been having many of the same symptoms you are having and just not feeling myself. I so badly want to snap out of it. One other issue, which no one discussed with me, is that I started the birth control about five weeks after the loss. This seemed to trigger my anxiety and depression. I felt dizzy and just plain old anxiety filled. I thought it was because of the loss, but I am beginning to wonder if the pill has intensified my anxiety and depression. I am going off for a while to see if this helps. It is so difficult losing a baby and the physical repercussions make it even more painful. I am so happy to meet someone who is also dealing with this. Any advice on the hormones after the loss would be appreciated.