Life, Anxiety, Depression?

I am all new to this and this is my first time being here, and I seen others people stories. So I thought hey maybe I can write mine and get some advice.

My name is Manda I am nineteen years old. And just about a month ago I was drinking a lot. Why? I don’t know just to do it and not to think about reality and to have fun. But then one morning my whole body went numb and I got really weak and everything around me was slow motion.

When I went to the hospital I told the doctors I felt like my body was shutting down—all the vitals in my body where high and my heart was pounding. All the doctors told me I needed to stop drinking and drink water because my body was dehydrated.

Three days later I couldn’t sleep and I wasn’t the same anymore. I felt like I was leaving a dream. Every time I would try to fall asleep I was afraid I wouldn’t wake up. Scary, huh?

Then a week after that I started to get painful headaches that just lasted forever and would never go away. I even got a MRI but of course the MRI said everything was normal... I kept going back to the hospital and to doctors appointments and they all said I had anxiety. I have about six different prescriptions and haven’t taken any meds. I am scared that I will get on meds and they won’t work for me or they will change me.

I have an acupuncturist, and it’s helping a lot. He gave me herbal medicine in which I think is way better than what western doctors have. I also have a counselor which I hope will help me. My anxiety has me stuck its like its a chronic type and never leaves...its not just the type to come and go here and there—its just stuck with me...

Any advice? Please.

First published October 2007

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Hang in there, you're on the right path. You were drinking a lot, which affects your sleeping and does all sorts of other things to your body. See you counselor and get some exercise. Walking is easy and it's helps when your anxious and depressed. My wife is dealing with anxiety, ocd along with depression and takes paxal which has helped her alot. The many anti-depression meds handled by a psychiatrist are a true blessing and need to be taken as prescribed to change your life. It takes about 60-90 days to feel the affects because the low dosage has to build up in the body. Sometime meds have to be changed or adjusted, but they will help in time. Take care..

I drink a lot, and have doubts about my future, but I go to college, and wrestle with success. How can I be so accomplished and feel like I can't do things? I go back and fourth like I feel one minute I can take on the world, and then the next I want to sleep and lay in bed. I can run a mile in 6 minutes and 40 seconds! That's the best I've ever done! but yet I don't feel like I can't win at life. I think AA has helped me, but I still drink tons of beer, and the doctor would probably tell me to put beer down and see what happens instead of perscribing me some xanax or drugs, ya know?

Manda, it is good that you sought help for what was going on with you. Don't discount the medications the doctors are trying to give you. They could save your life. I am 49 years old and suffered untreated depression for over 22 years until about 15 years ago when I experienced a "psychotic break" and had to be hospitalized. The doctor told me that due to my major depression and anxiety going untreated for so long, this happens to people when they get about my age (at that time I was 34) and he said I had a chemical imbalance in my brain and the meds he gave me would replace the chemicals that my brain lacked of. I've felt better although I'm not "normal". I have to take meds everyday for the rest of my life, probably. I didn't get help sooner because I thought nothing was wrong with me. Hearing voices and having major mood swings is a part of my normal day. I pray you keep going to the doctor and follow his advice, you don't want depression and anxiety to ruin your life.

Alot of great ideas from people that have been on the same path as you. Prescriptions need to be changed and dosage adjusted before there is significant change. Try "Tension Tamer "tea by Celestial Teas-lots of vitamin B quiets down the anxiety and the flight/fight syndrome. Good luck and be patient with yourself.Listen carefully because you know your body better than anyone else.

I have struggled with anxiety and depression for a while now. I had anxiety so bad that I would have to stop and take deep breaths just to be able to breath. It just felt like I had a heaviness on my chest that would not go away. I eventually went to the doctor and got medicine for it. He gave my Xanax which I got addicted to because it would only work for a little while then it would go away so I had to pop them all the time and then I got to where I drank with them and started abusing the drug just to get messed up, so just be careful with what you take and how it reacts to your body because everybody is different. It will go away I promise, while I still have depression and struggle with that I no longer have the anxiety and I am not taking any meds for it.... so just hang in there it will get better I promise.

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