Anxiety attacks
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Senior User
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From: DC
Anxiety attacks
Does anyone here have anxiety attacks or basically constant anxiety? Have you found anything that helps you?
I have a job where I am on call 24/7, including while on vacation (I work in ecommerce). There is no one at work who can maintain or fix the systems I've built over the years. I feel like I can never decompress.
Occasionally, I can sort of "put things in perspective" and relax a little bit, and then something will happen which will bring back the anxiety twice as bad as before.
I've tried alcohol but it doesn't work very long -- maybe 20 minutes. I've had Xanax prescribed to me, but it knocked me out completely for the first week, and then didn't work at all for the remaining weeks.
Exercise works pretty well, at least when I exercise to exhaustion, but it takes quite a bit of time.
Anyone? Any solutions? I'd find another job, but the job market it pretty thin right now.
I have a job where I am on call 24/7, including while on vacation (I work in ecommerce). There is no one at work who can maintain or fix the systems I've built over the years. I feel like I can never decompress.
Occasionally, I can sort of "put things in perspective" and relax a little bit, and then something will happen which will bring back the anxiety twice as bad as before.
I've tried alcohol but it doesn't work very long -- maybe 20 minutes. I've had Xanax prescribed to me, but it knocked me out completely for the first week, and then didn't work at all for the remaining weeks.
Exercise works pretty well, at least when I exercise to exhaustion, but it takes quite a bit of time.
Anyone? Any solutions? I'd find another job, but the job market it pretty thin right now.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 425
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From: WA
Might try Klonipin (clonazapam), a little more mellow, longer acting, with no "buzz" or notable sedation. Knock off all caffeine, look at the ingredients on what you drink. Mellow out on the sugar, too.
Talk to your doc about "cognitive-behavioral" therapy. Sounds like psycho-babble here, but it isn't.
Talk to your doc about "cognitive-behavioral" therapy. Sounds like psycho-babble here, but it isn't.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 18
I've had anxiety attacks for sometime (lost track of the years). I've changed things in my life to reduce stress: changed jobs, started watching my health, gotten away from certain people in my life that were never any good, etc. Though, I still get one occasionally, but it's mostly something that I can fix (I have a tendency to get myself worked up over things).
My mom has had them for many years. Can't remember what she takes for them. She has also done things to reduce stress, a divorce was one of them.
Don't know if I can help much. It sounds like your job is your main source of stress. The way to solving a problem is by looking at its causes, not by burying it with medication and definitely not alcohol/drugs. My best of luck to you.
My mom has had them for many years. Can't remember what she takes for them. She has also done things to reduce stress, a divorce was one of them.
Don't know if I can help much. It sounds like your job is your main source of stress. The way to solving a problem is by looking at its causes, not by burying it with medication and definitely not alcohol/drugs. My best of luck to you.
Still kicking!!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,061
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From: Kalispell, Mt.
There are numerous drugs used for treatment of anxiety. There are short acting drugs such as Lorazepam, used for panic or anxiety attacks, but is more addicting than most other drugs. A good beginning dose of Lorazepam is .05mg three times a day only as needed. Some people with extreme anxiety use more. There are also breathing and relaxation exercises that you can use to assist. I'd talk to your Dr and let him or her know more about what is going on. Keep in touch with them over side effects or non effective drugs. You are the expert on what is going on inside your head and body. The Dr can only attempt to treat you from what you describe and think you need. Most good doctors will listen to you and work with you. If it begins to look like you are mainly drug seeking, which is a frequent issue, only openness and honesty will help your Dr treat you properly. Good luck.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
ROOT causes cannot be medicated over.
If it happens in all of the aspects of your life it is one thing. If you can identify the cause it's different.
Get rid of the cause.
You sound like you're in a no-win scenario. Your job causes it, but the cause of your problem is what supports you.
(Quoting)
"If you want my opinion - you're in the wrong line of business"
(Charles Bronson - Mr. Majestyk)
If it happens in all of the aspects of your life it is one thing. If you can identify the cause it's different.
Get rid of the cause.
You sound like you're in a no-win scenario. Your job causes it, but the cause of your problem is what supports you.
(Quoting)
"If you want my opinion - you're in the wrong line of business"
(Charles Bronson - Mr. Majestyk)
Last edited by Greywolf; Oct 12, 2003 at 10:13 PM.
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Post Fiend
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From: Central Kali
It's your job. I changed jobs two months ago. I used to carry a pager, never again. I know exactly how you feel. You are sitting there just waiting for that stupid pager to go off. That is enough to case stress; you never feel like you can relax. Now I go home and totally forget about the job. Try to make a change. 
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From: DC
Originally posted by Mike W
It's your job. I changed jobs two months ago. I used to carry a pager, never again. I know exactly how you feel. You are sitting there just waiting for that stupid pager to go off. That is enough to case stress; you never feel like you can relax. Now I go home and totally forget about the job. Try to make a change.
It's your job. I changed jobs two months ago. I used to carry a pager, never again. I know exactly how you feel. You are sitting there just waiting for that stupid pager to go off. That is enough to case stress; you never feel like you can relax. Now I go home and totally forget about the job. Try to make a change.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
The rational solution is to look at what you do in a new way, or from a new perspective.
"YES, I know this is causing me to go off the deep end.
YES - I know this is tearing me up inside.
How much control do I CHOOSE to let this have over my life? It is far more important to me to stay alive and healthy than this is worth...."
Keep who you are in mind, and seperate what you do for a living from what you need in order to be YOU.
This is critical!
You cannot help anyone, or be effective if you go off the deep end....
How can I manage the percieved stresses coming in on me in a manageable way?
The first thing to do is to identify the things that push you to what you see as your limits, and see if there are ways to avoid letting them "REDLINE" you.
If there are on the job stresses that cannot be brought in line with what you can handle then manning for one, is an issue. An alternative is management seminars - I never believed in them though personally - they seemed to be a recipe for higher stress!
If there is no workable way to avoid getting your blood pressure jacked up, then Johnny paycheck said it best: "TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT!"
Take care of you first!
This is the most important thing I have learned in forty five years of living. How you manage that exactly is up to you as an individual.
We work best, where we fit best.
-Regards:
Wolfie
"YES, I know this is causing me to go off the deep end.
YES - I know this is tearing me up inside.
How much control do I CHOOSE to let this have over my life? It is far more important to me to stay alive and healthy than this is worth...."
Keep who you are in mind, and seperate what you do for a living from what you need in order to be YOU.
This is critical!
You cannot help anyone, or be effective if you go off the deep end....
How can I manage the percieved stresses coming in on me in a manageable way?
The first thing to do is to identify the things that push you to what you see as your limits, and see if there are ways to avoid letting them "REDLINE" you.
If there are on the job stresses that cannot be brought in line with what you can handle then manning for one, is an issue. An alternative is management seminars - I never believed in them though personally - they seemed to be a recipe for higher stress!
If there is no workable way to avoid getting your blood pressure jacked up, then Johnny paycheck said it best: "TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT!"
Take care of you first!
This is the most important thing I have learned in forty five years of living. How you manage that exactly is up to you as an individual.
We work best, where we fit best.
-Regards:
Wolfie
Last edited by Greywolf; Oct 12, 2003 at 11:27 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: North Central Washington
A good book (short, too!) that helped me quite a lot was "Hope and Help For Your NErves" by Claire Weekes ( I may have spelled her name wrong). You can often find it at used book stores, I have bought a number of copies to give to other people over the years who also had this problem. IF you are having panic attacks, this deals with it. And tells you exactly what to do to stop them, quickly! Without drugs.
Regarding stress, you might try Paxil, or one of its generic forms, whcih are about half price and are the same thing. Paxil takes a couple weeks to get working. You just start to feel brighter and more cheerful, and the burdwen seems to go away more. You can begin to smile again. BUt You don't feel drugged, etc. Just dont quit the paxil suddenbtly as it can cause side severe effects. Taper off. Good luck!
Regarding stress, you might try Paxil, or one of its generic forms, whcih are about half price and are the same thing. Paxil takes a couple weeks to get working. You just start to feel brighter and more cheerful, and the burdwen seems to go away more. You can begin to smile again. BUt You don't feel drugged, etc. Just dont quit the paxil suddenbtly as it can cause side severe effects. Taper off. Good luck!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 248
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From: North Central Washington
OH, I forgot to mention, ands its important! Studies have shown that people who are involved in things outside of work to a large degree (like church, charities, etc) actually live a LOT longer, as it gives you perspective on your job. YES, the job is important, but it isnt everything. However, if you allow the job to become all-important, then it has too great an effect on you when you have problems there. If your job is your life, then the possibility of losing your job mean...? BUt if your job is just a part of what you do and are, then it has a much smaller affect on you when it goes bad.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 425
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From: WA
What Wolfie is talking about is basic cognitive-behavioral therapy. I think the book mentioned is the same type of thing. Identify your stressor, figure out what you're gonna' do about it, do it, and re-evaluate. Just sitting down and coming up with and filing a battle plan in your mind reduces anxiety. If you already have a plan for whatever comes up, you don't worry as much about it. Works pretty cool without drugs. The drugs help control the anxiety while you formulate your plan. But, guys are hardwired to need a plan. To quote Fred Thompson in Red October: "The Russians don't take a dump without a plan, neither should you, son".
Good advice
Kenny
Good advice
Kenny
