Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 115623

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

taking a long trip,fraking out.help

Posted by felipe on August 7, 2002, at 23:59:49

this saturday im supposed to take a very long trip by bus(17 hrs)with my girlfriend to a beach.im really getting very anxious about it.ive already told her im going.if i tell her now i dont want to go shell get upset.ive gone many times and it made me positive results.its a very relaxing place with warm sun,sea,good food,very nice.theres also surfing which i dont do since more than 2 years.the last time i went i had already experienced anxiety and panic attacks but it wasnt like it is now.i wasnt so agoraphobic.im scared of getting in that bus for 17 hrs.im also kind of claustrophobic and worry about accidents.sometimes i think i should just say fuk it and confront one of my biggest fears right away but there are times when i get really nervous and think of making an excuse and not go(as always).i cant live like this anymore,not being able to do the things i like.this is veery debilitating and as the day of the trip comes nearer i get more anxious and frightened.i cant sleep at night thinking about it.if i go the idea i had was taking some clonazepam and have some emergency xanax.when i take those meds at home it really relaxes me but i dont know if they will work on the bus for 17 hrs.i know going there is a good thing for me but the trip scares me,although ive done it many times.if i manage to do it i know i would have beaten the anxiety monster right in the head.but i dont want to suffer that much on that bus.theres also the coming back issue cause im going just for ten days.any suggestions?could this be a good time to try remeron?please help me.

 

Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help

Posted by felipe on August 8, 2002, at 0:27:27

In reply to taking a long trip,fraking out.help, posted by felipe on August 7, 2002, at 23:59:49

sometimes brutal problems need brutal solutions.however i dont want to suffer more than i should.if im able to do this the things i usually fear would be peanuts afterwards.do you think it is too brutal and i should take a more step by step approach?the bus im going on is pretty comfortable.also,im going with my girlfriend so i wont be alone,and i intend to take a lot of clonazepam and xanax to be prepared.i could go by plane but that fraks me out worse.here it is cold and sky is gray.very depressing.where im going sky is blue and the sun shines.it has made wonders for me when i went.last time i even drove a pickup truck for 16 hours straight without any problem.iven i was surprised.at that time i was depressed had anxiety,drank a lot,had had some panic attacks,etc.but it was not as bad as it is now.do you think the clonazepam will work in that situation?

 

Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help » felipe

Posted by andyboy on August 8, 2002, at 8:06:49

In reply to Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help, posted by felipe on August 8, 2002, at 0:27:27

hey
i can totally relate. A couple years back my girlfriend and I took a 16 hr. road trip and I was as nervous as hell for the weeks/days preceeding it, running thru my head every worst case scenario. Had agorophobic fears that I would be in unfamiliar territory and would freak out. But I did it. Sure there were times when I felt uneasy (especially some depersonalization at a rest stop) but other than that it all went off without a hitch, on the way there and back. You are going with your girlfriend as well, and you have meds if needed. You need to do this for yourself- like you said- to hit the "anxiety monster" right on the head.
good luck
andy

 

Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help » felipe

Posted by LLL on August 8, 2002, at 9:07:25

In reply to Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help, posted by felipe on August 8, 2002, at 0:27:27

I've had panic disorder and agorphobia for 16 years. During that time my symptoms were either in some phase of remission wherein I functioned quite well to being in total relapse. I am currently crawling out of a total relapse after enjoying about 8 years of near total remission. I too can totally relate to your experience because currently Im having trouble with a car trip over 20 minutes. I am taking an AD to treat my disorder, however it will be weeks before it takes effect. But, what I am doing, is practicing all of my CBT, by reading, doing meditation, relaxation exercises and challenging the anxious thinking (and you're having the anxious catastrophopic thinking) which guarantees a panic attack. Yes, facing your fears is the way to go. However, flooding yourself with panic when you're no where ready to deal with it - is not. You may end up just reinforcing and worsening your symptoms. Yes, benzos work, although your anxiety will tell you right now "maybe they really won't", but it may mean keeping a steady stream of them in your symstem. That alone however is not the answer and I encourage you to begin some self help as described above. Although my AD hasn't yet taken effect, I am making strides each day by doing what I mentioned above and am increasing my confidence in my abilities to handle "this monster".

 

Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help

Posted by GreatDaneBoy on August 8, 2002, at 17:46:40

In reply to taking a long trip,fraking out.help, posted by felipe on August 7, 2002, at 23:59:49

> could this be a good time to try remeron?please help me.

Just my opinion, of course, but I would very strongly reccomend against starting Remeron now. I know that for most people it is a really great drug, but I had a terrible reaction to it. Generally, I think that it's not a good idea to start a new med right before a vacation because you should stay close to your pdoc. You never know what may happen and how your body will react.

Take your benzo's and have a great trip!!!
Dane =)

 

Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help

Posted by felipe on August 8, 2002, at 22:47:10

In reply to Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help, posted by GreatDaneBoy on August 8, 2002, at 17:46:40

thanks everyone.it looks like everybody is saying i should go.i wonder how many of you would actually do so.im having a really hard time anticipating the event and as soon as i step on the bus it will be terror.do you think that benzos will work now matter how anxious i am?

 

Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help » felipe

Posted by LLL on August 8, 2002, at 23:02:01

In reply to Re: taking a long trip,fraking out.help, posted by felipe on August 8, 2002, at 22:47:10

Sorry, if you re-read my message you'll find I never said to go; And furthermore would not do so myself at this point in time. You do not sound prepared to deal with your panic and I do hope you acquire the skills and proper medication to do so for future events. We can't just "will" this away, or force it away. Although I stated that your facing the fear is a step toward recovery, it has to be done correctly, not blindly. Good Luck in your decision.


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