<p>I have developed an acute panic/depressive disorder over the last week.
Although I typically go out everyday, I have not been able to make myself even get to the grocery store.</p>
<p>The bright side is, I now have nothing left in my cupboards or freezer!
My H is 0 help. Asking him for help makes him angry & I suspect that part of this is brought on because he is suspicious of any outside errands I usually do. But I have * never* felt like this before & it scares me.</p>
<p>I am also reluctant to call my psych, because- I know that any depression medication is going to take a while to work & because I am afraid he would put me on something I would have difficulty stopping.</p>
<p>I have stopped answering the phone. All I do is work in the yard from about 7am till 10pm, stopping only to take the dog out.</p>
<p>I had wanted to go out this morning, because D#2 who is a counselor at a camp, wanted me to bring some things to her tommorow & I needed to buy them first!
( I was going to go see D#1, and bring her some plants for her new garden but with 90deg temps- I am rescheduling )</p>
<p>I really wish I felt comfortable with my Dr, but I only see him because he is covered by our ins, which has a list of about 4 drs within 10 miles.</p>
<p>this is just really strange. Anyone experience anything like this before?
I am still having periods, but could it be menopause/hormone related?
( I know everyone is going to say call your dr- but unless I can snap out of it- I won’t * be able to * call my dr) :(</p>
<p>Addressing only the practical: Do you have a good friend who can come over? Maybe you would feel like riding along if she drove…or if not, maybe she could run some errands for you.</p>
<p>Call your psych. You can do it. We/they are capable of talking about risks AND benefits of medication, AND of non-medication options. If whatever is going on has only been going on for a week, and is new, it should be shared with your psych. Psychiatry is not just about prescribing medication.</p>
<p>Panic attacks are awful. I suffered from them about 4 years ago when I was going through some serious changes in my life. It was definatley coupled with depression.
Since you are having problems with the phone (almost sounds like a form of agoraphobia) have you considered e-mailing your Dr and explaining your fears and symptoms. Also consider contacting a local mental health family support
group via email. Do it now. Right now. It will get better — the sooner you get help</p>
<p>E, typically panic disorders manifest several months after a severe series of life changes or stressors… Could it be something environmental? I started having problems after a cross-country move/my wedding/long-distance marriage/new job/parents’ divorce/placing-mother-in-assisted-living all slammed me within three months of one another. I seemed to be handling it all beautifully, and everything had stabilized, but three or four months after everything was over, I started having these awful panic attacks. I didn’t connect the two at first. I figured that if I’d handled everything just fine before, why was I getting floored by panic attacks after the worst was over?</p>
<p>Your doctor could prescribe a benzodiazepine, which is short-acting. Those helped me a lot in the short-term. Taken for a period of longer than a few months, you can develop a tolerance to them, but I was able to take them seldom enough that I’d be able to do what I needed to… The relief was huge, to be able to take something to get out of those tailspins so that I could buy time to fix what was wrong without drugs. The thing they typically prescribe for long-term panic disorder symptoms are SSRIs like Prozac or Wellbutrin or something.</p>
<p>If you don’t like your doctor, see if you like one of the others… Having a supportive doctor is so important…</p>
<p>Try getting as much sunlight into your house as possible. Maybe you can get your seratonin levels up enough to get moving.</p>
<p>Then know we’re all thinking about you and supporting you from here!</p>
<p>Forgot to add this website [NAMI:</a> National Alliance on Mental Illness](<a href=“http://www.nami.org%5DNAMI:”>http://www.nami.org) — they probably have a chapter near you. Its a grass-roots organisation that can give support, advice and referals. The National Alliance on Mental Illness. Ive found them VERY helpful.</p>
<p>While you are right that SSRI medications take time to kick in, benzodiazepine drugs work right away and can give immediate relief. I have known women who were affected this way as their hormones began to shift in their forties. While I agree that you should call your psychiatrist, if you are more comfortable with your family doctor or internist, he/she could prescribe some Xanax or something to take the edge off which would help you then contact the psychiatrist, etc.</p>
<p>I appreciate the help- I just feel so weird.</p>
<p>I had no trouble going to school, but now the qtr is over and neither girl is at home. ( well D#1 lives in Portland)</p>
<p>I am going to have to take a shower at least- cause I have been working in the yard all week & all I have been doing to keep clean is taking towel showers like in junior high PE!( I definitely am having some OCD things- I keep moving what I just planted)-</p>
<p>I have also called a friend to come and get me for book group, didn’t tell her what was going on- ( didn’t read all of the book anyway), but gas is so $$$ have a good excuse to carpool. </p>
<p>I keep thinking I exposed myself to something weird while digging in the yard, but I can’t think of what-</p>
<p>Maybe this is just connected to having youngest D graduate from high school ,even though that didn’t seem like it was the thing.</p>
<p>Blaugh- I did take some of D#2’s zanax ,that she didn’t take to camp. Half of .25mg, hoping that will lower the anxiety level enough to call the Dr.</p>
<p>When I used to do hair, I had a client who was agraphobic, she would schedule but only 1/4 of the time would she be able to come in.
I * never* thought, that I would be like that.</p>
<p>Personally, I think if H & the rest of my birth family weren’t such stressors, I wouldn’t be having a problem, but at least I have been able to get a lot done in the yard :)</p>
<p>Wish I could drive over there, Emerald. I am on meds myself for a number of reasons. Can you call a friend or family member to sit with you for a while and perhaps take you out? Sometimes it is easier with company.</p>
<p>A good Vitamin D supplement is emulsified liquid vitamin D drops called Bio-D-Mulsion by Biotics Research Corp. It is easy to take and inexpensive. You can order it on line - I think it’s about $10 or so a bottle.</p>
<p>I also live in the PNW and had a friend who was very anxious and nervous. She began to find normal everyday shopping overwhelming - she just couldn’t bring herself to be in public places. She saw a naturopath who prescribed the Vitamin D mentioned above. Today she is anxiety free and reports that her sleep is better than it has been in years.</p>
<p>This may not be what is troubling you, but you might consider making an appointment at Bastyr Center for Natural Health - I suggest you avoid the team approach which includes students and see a single practioner listed under Practioner Care:</p>
<p>EK: You need to have your hormone levels checked (blood test). Seriously panic attacks,OCD and depression can be caused by unlevel hormones. Tell a friend you need help following through making/going to Dr.appts. this week. Good luck. This could be an easy fix. Really.</p>
<p>sax - this is why I recommended EK4 see a naturopath. Vitamin D is a hormone and individuals who reside in the Pacific Northwest traditionally have low Vitamin D levels. I have found few traditional internists or general practioners who appear to understand the link between Vitamin D, hormones and the Pacific Northwest area.</p>
<p>I experienced something like that a few years ago. It was triggered by stress in my life. I had trouble leaving the house, but had even more trouble being left home alone. I was worried about what would happen to everybody. I saw a doctor. THe first medication given to me made things even worse. But the second slowly made things better. I took it for about nine months to a year and then gradually got off the medication. I’m okay now. Stopped the medication about two and a half years ago. </p>
<p>The suggestions made to email your doctor or have a friend take you are excellent. Do it for your sake.</p>
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