Anti Anxiety Meds?

[tvt]

Today while coworkers/friends were asking me about the wedding, my stomach knotted up, and I was so anxious/nervous. Like I have been for the past weekish whenever people ask me about the wedding. The other day it was pretty bad - felt like I couldn't breathe, over this wedding. A coworker suggested getting some anti anxiety medicine for the big day. She took some on her day, and said it was a life saver.

 

I'm not big into taking medicine, but I'm seriously considering some anti anxiety medicine, but I have no experience with it at all. And I don't want to be drugged up on my wedding day, but I also don't want to be a huge ball of stress/nerves.

 

Has anyone done this? Or takes anti anxiety meds?

[samanthag]

I'm 32 years old and had never experienced anxiety. However, with all this wedding stuff going on I had a panic attack at work last month! It was the scariest thing I've ever been through. I felt like I couldn't catch my breathe! I was beyond nervous and I wanted to just jump out of my skin!! I actually had to be pulled off of my trip and sent home!

I went to see my doctor who said that it's pretty common for people to go through this when they are under stress. He gave me samples of anti anxiety medication. I took it the very next day and felt worse then I did when I had the panic attack! It just made me feel weird. I didn't like it at all!

I've learned that, for me, exercise plays a HUGE role in helping me cope with stress. As much as I hate the treadmill, it turns out that I feel much better with a little exercise!

Definitely talk with your doctor and see what he/she suggest. You are not alone, many people suffer with anxiety and I think you just have to experiment with what works best for you and your body!

Best of luck! Keep us informed!!!!!!

[tvt]

that is exactly how i felt the other night. like my throat was closing in on itself and i couldn't catch my breath.

[samanthag]

Yes I know exactly what you mean! I kept checking my pulse to make sure I was ok because I felt like I was going to pass out!!!!!

I'm a flight attendant so we have the medical equipment on board so the other girls checked my blood pressure & pulse & everything was normal

 

Every now and then here at home I go through the same thing and I just have to talk myself back to being normal.

I don't know if that makes any sense?

But I try to tell myself that it's mental, I'm not going to die, and I just need to take deep breaths and calm myself down.

[kate.com]

I have taken low dose xanax and it works in a pinch. I have the same problem... but I can't stop thinking, so I lose sleep and can't relax.

It may help, but I'd try it now to make sure you know how you'll feel. And if you have never taken anything, take the smallest dose. It might just be enough to take the edge off.

[A10CalGal]

Yep, totally understand what you are talking about. Low dose Xanax works wonders for me...you might ask your doc about it & definitely try it so you know how you'll react. For me, if I'm really having an anxiety attack, then it just makes me feel normal, not drugged up.

[rodent]

last fall a combo of planning the wedding, issues we were having with a neighbor, and stress at work was making me crazy. I started taking zoloft and it has REALLY helped.

 

but, it took a while to get adjusted to it. I was sick to my stomach the first few days & light sensitive. i'm not sure if I'd try something so close to the wedding. you also have to be careful with alcohol.

 

zoloft is something you take daily, but it is not habit forming. i think xanax is something you take as needed so maybe it wouldn't be as bad to get adjusted too.

 

i never wanted to take medicine, but my friend had such a great experience with zoloft i decided to give it a try. it has been wonderful. I'm going to stop taking it in the next year or two. i mostly wanted to get through the wedding.

 

it helps me a lot though when i drive & fly.

[weddingchick]

Klonopin is a life saver for me. When I take it, I do not feel drugged up at all. I just feel more relaxed and able to breathe. I take a 1/2 pill of 0.5mg (low dose) as needed.

 

Talk to your doctor and see what s/he suggests.

 

Let us know how you're doing.

[Nrvsbride]

Klonopin, xanax, or ativan should do the trick. Speak to a doctor and see if they can give you a small dose. But don't ask for the medicine or else they probably won't give it to you. Just mention all the anxiety your feeling and they will probably prescribe you something. I'm sorry you are feeling so much stress and anxiety but like Christa I completely understand. Sometimes life gets the best of us. Try your best to relax and destress whenever you can.

[yamille]

You poor thing. Panic attacks are very scary and there are several ways to treat them. One thing that you should know is that a panic attack usually wont last longer than 10-15 mins. Just something to keep in mind when you feel like you are going to pass out or have a heart attack. I do understand that in the moment that can be hard. I have never taken Xanax but I do know it's a lifesaver for people with severe anxiety. My mother suffered from mega panic attacks (scary to witness) and therapy, yoga and understanding what was happening in the moment have helped her. It was severe though.

 

Tara a few things you can try the next time it happens are:

deep breathing. 4 counts in and 4 counts out... several times

making a phone call. sometimes talking to someone that knows you are having one the moment it starts helps alleviate some of the anxiety and may take your mind off it.

 

Xanax and Klonopin are ant-anxiety meds that begin affecting you the moment that you take them. Xanax being the more habit forming according to MD's. This is why it's not something that you take on a daily basis - unless- for some reason it is prescribed that way. Zoloft is somewhat affective for anxiety but is usually not prescribed solely for panic attacks. It also takes about 2 weeks for your system to respond to it. It sounds like you had a panic attack and your doctor will obviously prescribe what he feels is best for you but I thought I would just give you a little info.