Anxiety disorder trying to get back on track

[JRM]

I am looking for advice or suggestions. I suffer from panic attacks and agoraphobia. (Had them since 2001, spent 2 years kinda bed ridden taking meds, never again) Done the doctor route with meds and all and nothing has worked so I am now med free (as of 2005). I have found if I keep active the attacks diminish greatly so I have been pushing myself to keep motivated.

Now here's the problem the aches and pains are driving me crazy so is the lack of sex drive. If I slow down my phisical activities ( go easy for a fiew days ) I start getting the heart palps and shaky feelings again. Ive talked with my doctor and he says stop and take it easy, Lets do another blood test check this and that and long an behold everything is great. He thinks I am overworking my self I say I am just doing 1/2 of what I did 10 years ago in phisical activities ( Yard work, moving engine blocks (machinest and automotive restorer by trade), sanding cars, remodeling the house etc). Unfortunatly I am not confident enough to try a gym membership yet so my old trusty dumbell set has been getting alot of use.

I am finding muscles I forgot I had and man my joints are aching. Is there anything out there that will help speed up the muscle healing maby even permote growth that won't cause heart palps. I tried tribulusterris (spelling incorrect) for a month and it didn't do much. I was hoping it would at least kick my sex drive but no luck. I try to eat 3 meals a day and a multi vitiman every morning. About the only un healthy thing i do is still smoke. Quitting by the end on the month is my goal. I am hoping after quitting i'll actually put on some weight being 6'2" @ 165 with, according to the doctor ,really low body fat.

 

[salemlot]

How long have you been off of your meds, I know you said 2005 but what month. I would think that the side effects would be over by now of not taking them. You was on them for a while so who knows how long they stay in your system? Maybe your body is depending on them thats why you are having aches and heart palps.
I know one time around this year last year i quit taking my meds and i couldn't even workout or walk without pain so i went back on them. Have you thought about taking them again. And slowly work your way off of them?
About a gym membership, you could always buy a home gym (power rack with a bench) You won't have to worry about having a panic attack or anything around people.
Don't know what to say about your sex drive. I am probable the hornyiest person alive too bad i don't have anyone to give it too... Even when i went off of all of my meds for a month i still was horny. I must be the most sexual frustrated person around.

 

[JRM]

How long have you been off of your meds, I know you said 2005 but what month. Don't know what to say about your sex drive. I am probable the hornyiest person alive too bad i don't have anyone to give it too... Even when i went off of all of my meds for a month i still was horny. I must be the most sexual frustrated person around.

I've been off my meds since feb 2005. We had tried a batter of diferent meds and none of them helped. Either i was stoned out of my mind or the side effects were worse then the PA. Before the meds I was a horney sob, The old wind blows and the flag was standing(lol) after the meds its a entire diferent story. What I explained to the doctor is its not a mental thing. My mind is always in the perverbial gutter its just other things not wanting to comply. So after a bunch of other tests his advice was no advice other then heres the little blue pill take it when you need it. Which is all well and good but what good is it if (like you said) no one to work with (Not to mention the arm workout lol). Or when the chance comes, give me a 1/2 hr I need to pop a pill. I personally think it is a circulatory thing so I fall back on i need more exercise to keep the blood flowing. From what I have read poor circualtion causes alot of problems and the only way to improve it is through exercise and muscle growth. I don't take an article as fact but it makes sence to me hopefully I am not misunderstanding.

 

[salemlot]

If you dont mind me asking how old are you. I'm 30. I don't need the little blue pill yet, hopefully never...I heard Welburtin (sp) doesn't have sexual side effects have you tried that? I totally get you when you said meds make you stoned out of your mind. I think i could see a murder happen right next to me and show no emontions.
I read also some where also that cardio helps circulation down there. I would continue doing what your doing. I would seek another medical opinion about the body aches and pains and heart problem.

I've been off my meds since feb 2005. We had tried a batter of diferent meds and none of them helped. Either i was stoned out of my mind or the side effects were worse then the PA. Before the meds I was a horney sob, The old wind blows and the flag was standing(lol) after the meds its a entire diferent story. What I explained to the doctor is its not a mental thing. My mind is always in the perverbial gutter its just other things not wanting to comply. So after a bunch of other tests his advice was no advice other then heres the little blue pill take it when you need it. Which is all well and good but what good is it if (like you said) no one to work with (Not to mention the arm workout lol). Or when the chance comes, give me a 1/2 hr I need to pop a pill. I personally think it is a circulatory thing so I fall back on i need more exercise to keep the blood flowing. From what I have read poor circualtion causes alot of problems and the only way to improve it is through exercise and muscle growth. I don't take an article as fact but it makes sence to me hopefully I am not misunderstanding.

 

[michaeltt]

i wouldnt take wellbutrin because it has a tendancy to make you more anxious.
Have you gotten your testosterone levels checked?
i suffer from GAD and hard work excersizing, and keeping busy really helps, but its kinda hard to do all that when your pretty tired all the time.
try jogging and walking. jog for a minute, walk for 5. jog for a minute and walk for 5. slowly try to get yourself where you can jog a few miles without walking. this might take many months! When you get enough confidence try the gym thing.
As far as helping with permanent muscle gain, if your test levels are normal, then check your diet. make sure to eat alot of protein. you may have to have someone show you the basic ways to work out. How hard to work out, when to stop etc.
good luck. pm me if you have any questions

 

[JRM]

Thanks for the replys, I am turning 35 this month. I have tried the Welburtin, lexapro, valum, librax, librum, xanax, and a cock-tail of other meds. I had my testerone checked and the doctor said i was a little on the low side of normal. But well within the normal scale, if that makes any sence. They have not found any heart problems and say it is from the anxiety disorder. The heart doctor i spoke with thinks I might be adrenlyn (sp) sensetive which he said is common with anxiety disorder. Since I have fluxuating low blood pressure.
I walk to and from my business every day approx 1/4 mile. Sometimes I'll go to and from 4 times a day it all depends on the work week. I would try to jog it but 9 times out of 10 I am carring something so I try for a brisk walk.

 

[michaeltt]

also get your blood sugar levels checked. if your blood sugar gets too low then sometimes your body will produce adrenaline and cortisol to try to complensate and to normalize your blood sugar. THis can be good but its stressful. Low levels of anxiety is a bitch. i know. it drains the life out of you very slowly. walking isnt going to the trick if you want to try to get your endorphins going.

 

[JRM]

also get your blood sugar levels checked. if your blood sugar gets too low then sometimes your body will produce adrenaline and cortisol to try to complensate and to normalize your blood sugar. THis can be good but its stressful. Low levels of anxiety is a bitch. i know. it drains the life out of you very slowly. walking isnt going to the trick if you want to try to get your endorphins going.

Michaeltt,
The doctor susposedly checked my blood sugar levels. But it was not mentioned, I'll call and ask. I do know if I havent eaten in anything in 4 hrs hrs the weak shakyness does set in. A little sugar and im good to go for about 1/2 hr till get something real to eat.

 

[theoak01]

i reccomend lorazepam for when you feel an attack coming on,ive got them and dont use em much but some days they save my life

 

[redclift]

Thanks for the replys, I am turning 35 this month. I have tried the Welburtin, lexapro, valum, librax, librum, xanax, and a cock-tail of other meds. I had my testerone checked and the doctor said i was a little on the low side of normal. But well within the normal scale, if that makes any sence. They have not found any heart problems and say it is from the anxiety disorder. The heart doctor i spoke with thinks I might be adrenlyn (sp) sensetive which he said is common with anxiety disorder. Since I have fluxuating low blood pressure.
I walk to and from my business every day approx 1/4 mile. Sometimes I'll go to and from 4 times a day it all depends on the work week. I would try to jog it but 9 times out of 10 I am carring something so I try for a brisk walk.

Have you tried 400-800mg of Magnesium, I slowly weened myself off of xanex. You also might want to have your adrenals checked.