I am a wreck. I can’t sleep at night without calling my Mom at least once and saying, “I love you” a million times. I’m afraid something will happen to me or my family and I not there to say good-bye. I always look out my bedroom window at night to see if anything unusual is in the sky. My mom can’t be out more than two hours without me having to call her (when I stay home alone). I hate this experince! It is very frightening and I have even considered taking prescribtion medicine to wave away those types of thoughts. I have talked numerously to the school counselour, but my mind is no where near ease. I never had this anxiety (disorder) last year. It came from no where! What can I do to clear away my anxiety? (P.S. Last night, I had a dream my Dad got shot and this man walked up and said he died, but then I practically jumped awake).

Chosen Answer:

The good news is that anxiety generally responds VERY well to treatment.

There are a number of ways to go about it, but first – I would suggest you speak with your doctor to work out a plan.

You can do biofeedback, meditation (sounds true has a CD called anxiety relief that is terrific), yoga.

You can work with a cognitive-behavioral therapist who can help you get your thinking on track.

And then, there are a LOT of different meds. Some anti-depressants can be if you’re a teen this may not be the best course. There are anti-anxiety meds and then there is propranalol which inhibits the body from having anxiety reactions – so you may start to feel anxious but when your heart doesn’t race and you don’t get a stomach ache, it stops the chain of anxiety and you’re fine.

Or…you might wind up doing a combination of things. just speak with your doctor. This is totally workable!
by: Shrieking Panda
on: 17th April 07

I know that I am very depressed and that I have adhd, but lately I feel like if something or someone makes me mad then they are like having the conversation with me until I just actually blow up… I then start talking to the person and saying how I feel.. What is wrong with me???? I start arguments with my husband for no reason and just go off… I know I need help But where do I begin.. is this more like depression and I need counseling or all in my head I need to go to a brain doctor.. I already go to a nuerologist for migraines and counselor for ADHD and anxiety/depression, But where to begin???
I am being treated for ADHD with a form of Ritalin… I was using Adderall. I am also using Zoloft for depression. I also take Topamax for Headaches and mood. I just feel like a walking time bomb.. One minute I am fine and the next I am stressing.

Chosen Answer:

sweetie, stop worrying about what is wrong with you. you’re okay. now, the next time you go to see you adhd counselor ask his advice on who to see. my thought is that you need to see a good psychiatrist and let him diagnose you. there are so many new therapies and drugs out there for the problem you described. you will find help and your life will get better. so, chin up and get out there and find help. you deserve to have the help you need. don’t let anyone discourage you. God Bless you and the best of luclk to you
by: justme
on: 13th March 07

A friend of mine has extreme anxiety issues when they become really scared. They have recently had many nightmares where they woke up crying and unable to breathe. She feels like no one else have these problems, but I know that many do, or else there wouldn’t be a medication for it. So how many of you experience these same problems and take anxiety medicine for them?

Chosen Answer:

Bonzai. That would be me. Try valium. I like that one because it’s cheap and it has no side effects for me. If it makes your friend sleepy, perhaps xanax would be better. There are a lot of benzos, and it might take a few tries to find on that works.
by:
on: 4th January 12

I need to act as though I have severe anxiety. I’m at college studying drama and performing arts and it’s crucial for this new role. I’m acting the part of a troubled middle age man who suffers with anxiety and Bipolar disorder. Any tips?

Chosen Answer:

I have a anxiety disorder so if I was you I would be really happy and jolly then sudden outburst with anger at someone or something when something happens, when you are anxious you feel like you are excited about something, remember a time like this then remember the feeling 100x more powerful, it’s horrible but if your acting. You have to shake a lot, be clumsy, talk shakily, move around a lot and try to always sit down. Hope this helps you!
by:
on: 20th January 10

I know clinical depression is more serious, but lasts shorter, while Dysthymic disorder [or dysthymia] is chronic and less severe. But, is there another difference in between them? Like, what types of things would cause dysthymia and clinical depression? Is it a chemical imbalance or something like that? Or does it just develop? I just want to understand what I have to deal with better. =/

Chosen Answer:

Life changing events can cause either. Often in a life changing event it takes six months to settle into the change. If not an adjustment disorder occurs which can lead to clinical depression.

Depression is not a simple topic as it can be organic, or caused by life stressors. (Reactive).

Dysthemia is just a general feeling of being down, whereas depression is acute and has sometimes debilitating symptoms.

Both can be organic (chemical) both can be due to life events.
by: Julienne
on: 30th March 08

I have to do a report on a disability. I thought maybe i could do it on depression, because it’s something i’ve dealt with, and still am. So is depression a disability?
Well my reasoning is that it DISABLES your ability to function.

Chosen Answer:

Some depression is, some is not. The temporary depression when you fail a test, you break up with your boyfriend, your grandma dies, or you lose a job. What you need to recover is mostly time. This type of depression unless it lasts longer than a year is not a disability.

Clinical depression is a disability. This is disability that often has no cause that you have control over. Your brain is handling your emotions badly. You need medication to help your brain get itself working properly consistently again. Some people have a temporary bout of depression once in their life, others have it repeatedly off and on and some struggle with it lifelong.
by: Teddy & Chiliswoman
on: 14th January 11

I think i’m an insomniac. I can’t fall asleep until 4 am each night. I always get super anxious at night. Is this something worth going to the doctor over? Do i have insomnia?

Chosen Answer:

You may take a trip to the doctor but pre-diagnosing yourself may be part of the problem. Only a doctor can actually tell you what the problem is. Try getting ready for bed earlier, cut off the tv an hour before you intend to fall asleep. I usually get a book and read until I get sleepy.

Eating before can also cause you to lose sleep.

The less thoughts you have running through your mind the better your body starts to relax. Try that first and if that doesn’t count then you should see a doctor.
by:
on: 24th July 11

I have had a lot of depression lately for how my life is going, and I need to do something without prescription drugs for help. Thank you for all answers.

Chosen Answer:

True depression is caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals as well as other factors. There are many ways to treat depression but most focus on drugs to treat the chemical imbalances.

The problem with drugs is that they can and usually have undesirable side-effects such as weight gain, constipation, headache, nausea, and anxiety. These side-effects caused by unnatural drugs, can contribute to feelings of depression rather than relieving the depression.

Xocai Healthy Chocolate products containing super high levels of antioxidants can provide a great alternative to drugs when it comes to depression.

Xocai products mainly consist of healthy, unprocessed dark chocolate combined with the Acai berry super fruit. Studies have shown that dark chocolate found is Xocai products contain increased levels of serotonin and dopamine which helps decrease depression.

Xocai products also help to increase your energy level which can reduce and help eliminate depression.

The natural vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in Xocai products help to decrease depression as well as panic attacks and anxiety.

Xocai products contain huge levels of natural antioxidants that eliminate disease and free-radicals from your body. We breathe, absorb, and consume free radicals every day. Your body can deal with free radicals in moderate amounts. However with current levels of pollution in the world and poor diets, the body needs supplemental antioxidants in order to fight them all. Especially for those that are currently suffering from illnesses or problems like depression.

In addition to huge levels of natural antioxidants, Xocai products also contain other healthy ingredients like essential Omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

For more information, review our website MedicalChocolate.info to learn about how Xocai is helping thousands of people and how Xocai can help you. Please email me through the website if you have any questions. Take care!
by: LyndseyB
on: 3rd October 09

I notice that I have insomnia which is something that I have never dealt with before and it is making it hard for me to go to sleep. I have heard that Sleeping pills are bad because they make the body dependent on them later on but I feel like I have a hard time going to sleep.

Chosen Answer:

benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a great drug to help you sleep. It is sold over the counter (OTC) in most pharmacies. The best part is that it is non-habit forming, so your body will not get dependent on it.

Another drug to try is melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. Taking it medicinally can help with insomnia. Do not take melatonin if you have high blood pressure (can raise BP), diabetes (can raise blood sugar), depression (can make symptoms worse), or a seizure disorder (can potentiate seizures)

One more option could be Valerian root extract. This has been shown to help treat insomnia. Do not drink alcohol with this drug, or other CNS depressants because they could increase each others effect in the body
by:
on: 24th October 11

I am a 17 year old female who has been dealing with some anxiety issues for the past few years. I am going to my doctor’s next week for an analysis. Lately, my anxiety has really been affecting my self-esteem and frankly, I want to do something about it!

I am open to options about some mild medications which I won’t become dependant on. Are there any suggestions I should ask my doctor about?

Chosen Answer:

Your doctor will likely discuss all your options with you in detail. If you need medication, he/she will prescribe it for you, after talking to you about the various pros and cons associated with it. Make sure you ask plenty of questions if you’re not certain about something. Your doctor knows your situation and will help you make an informed decision. Until then, try not to jump the gun, and good luck.
by: Nox
on: 5th June 10