Question:
I'm new to the whole idea of taking medications to change the
characteristics of my brain chemistry. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't
use any recreational drugs, and never have--I don't even use caffeine.
In fact, I was unwilling to take the 1mg tablets if Lorazepam I was
given when I was first diagnosed with panic disorder three months ago.
They're still sitting in my freezer, just in case.
Note, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking mind-altering
substances, for health or for play. I sometimes wish I were so
constituted, but I have avoided them primarily out of a personal fear
of their unknown impact. It's one of those "healthy" paranoias nobody
thinks is a problem until a time like this, when medication is
apparently called for.
Now I've had a month-long run getting onto and off of Zoloft (which
did way more harm than good) and I'm two weeks into trying Prozac
(which hasn't had any effect yet, but I understand it can take six
weeks to start "working.") I'm reading the discussions here, with all
the back and forth about balancing this medication against that one,
and I'm feeling like a stranger in a very foreign land.
Has anyone sucessfully made it through their panic disorder without
meds?
Answer:
Three years ago I went through a very painful divorce (I'm 33 now and
re-married) and did the worst possible thing - flung myself full
throttle into my career (IT Professional) and studied part-time for a Degree.
I, of course, found out very quickly - like many of you - that my physical and
mental health are not indestructable and landed myself with horrific
anxiety attacks which turned my work and social life into a complete
nightmare.
2 GP's refused me medication - on the grounds that I'm actually very
fit ... but still the symptoms of dizziness, chest pain, nausea,
depression and panic attack continued - to the point where I was starting to be
terrified of attending the smallest of meetings in my Office - or even crossing
the road to get some lunch.
It would seem that Gavin's (my friend) GP had also suffered from panic
attacks early in his career and had turned in desperation to an
alternative remedy suggested by a collegue. I'm afraid I don't have the medical
evidence (and frankly am not interested) - but it would seem that there is
something about learning this new coordination skill as an adult which
stimulates use of the middle brain - consequenty the part that most neuro-surgeons
(or so I'm told) acknowledge as our cognative reasoning centre.
Juggling kits (the ones with 3 balls & an instruction video) can be
purchased all over the place. It's fun, a bit weird at first (like
when you try to explain to people why you are doing it) - but has had an
amazing affect on my panic disorder - plus you get to be the cool person at
parties
I started feeling better after about a week - consequently the average
amount of time it takes to start juggling with 3 balls. I still keep a
set in my Office - and (less frequently now) disappear for a juggle if I
feel a pang of my old symptoms (something I now genuinely believe I'll NEVER
have to cope with again).
From just about wanting to kill myself ... I've now re-married and my
wife & I are expecting our first baby in September (ok you lot probably
aren't intersted in that but I'M excited !)
