Suggest Treatment For PTSD, Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Posted on Wed, 18 Mar 2015

Question: HI I'VE BEEN WTH TRAUMA THERAPIST SINCE MAY 2013. ON OCT 10-31-12 MY PHYCHIATRIST WRONGLY TOOK Me OFF 12 YRS OF MEDS WTHOUT WEANING ME. I WAS THERE THAT VISIT CAUSE WAS HAVING CONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS. I HAD TO PROVE I HADN'T OVERTAKEN MY MEDS AND I DID THAT. WELL I DIDN'T FIND ANOTHER PHYCHIATRIST TILL 3/25/2013THEN It TOOK 3MTH TO GET MY PROPER MEDS BACK. SO WTHWTHOUT My MEDS I HAD My MOTHER KICK Me AS PER USUAL WHEN IT COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE, MY HUSBAND OF 18YRS ABANDON ME 2ND WK FEB.2013 JUST GONE, BY NOW I KNOW ME I'M JUST EXISTING. MY 3 CHILDREN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN My EVERYTHING. I AM A TOUGH STRONGMINDED, LOVING,OPINIONANATED AND MY KIDS KNOW TILL 2YRS AGO IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM I HAVE THE ANSWER NO MATTER WHAT MOM WILL FIX. SO I HAE NO OTHER FAMILY BUT KIDS, HUSBND AND A 30YR HEROIN USER CON MOTHER. WITH MY MOM OUT OF MY LIFE, HUSAND GONE I HAD TO ASK MY 2 KIDS FOR SOME HELP MY OLDEST SAID NO AND MY YOUNGEST SAID SORRY I SHOULD GO TO ILLINOIS WTH MY MIDDLE CHILD. UNDERSTAND WHAT I am TELLING U IN THIS PARAGRAPH DOESN'T EVEN SCRAP THE SURFACE OF MY LIFE. MY PROBLEM IS FOR 2 STRAIGHT YRS I have SOBBED DAILY. I JUST ALWAYS KNEW MY EX HUSBAND WOULD CARE ABOUT ME. SINCE HE'S LEFT I HAD NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. BUT MORE THEN THAT I AM NOT DEALING WITH MY KIDS ABANDONMENT OF Me AT ALL, IT'S INCONCEIVABLE AND UNFORGIVABLE AT THE SAME TIME. SO SINCE MY EX PHYCHIATRIST ESSENTIALLY KILLED ME 2012 I HAVE NOBODY TO GO TO FOR A LITTLE SUPPORT. I'VE BEEN ON MEDS SINCE 2000 WHEN DIAGNOSED SEVERE ANXIETY,PTSD, PANIC ATTACKS, INSOMNIA AND DEPRESSION. I HAVE RECURRING NIGHTMARE SAME ALWAYS. BUT SEPTEMBER 2013 TRAUMA THERAPIST DIAGNOSED ME MY BRAIN HAS SHUT DOWN I WASN'T SURPRISED. I HAVE BEEN WHAT I CALL LOSING TIME, THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN 3 1/2 YRS. THOSE SCARE Me. CAN YOU EXPLAIN IN A WAY I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT MY BRAIN SHUTTING DOWN MEANS??? I'M IN SO MUCH EMOTIONAL PAIN IT'S UNBEARABLE. I HAVE NO QUALITY OF LIFE, DAYS,DATE AND TIME HAVE NO MEANING TO ME. I AM LIVING UNDER POVERTY LEVEL I HAVE I CHILD THAT STILL CALLS AND THAT'S IT. I AM EMOTIONALLY, MENTALY AND PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO FUNCTION JUST DOING THE DAILIES IN LIFE. SOMETIMES I'M TOO WEAK TO SPEAK MY PHYCHIATRIST GIVES MEDS AND MY TRAUMA THERAPIST TRYS Ad I KNOW HE WANTS TO BE MORE HELPFUL BUT MY SITUATION IS I CAN'T CHANGE THINGS. I CAN'T GET BETTER IF I HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT CAUSE ME SO MUCH HEARTACHE. ANY SUGGESTIONS??? And PLEASE DEFINITION OF MY BRAIN SHUT DOWN.....

Answered by Dr. Urszula Stanko (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You should focus on you.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.

Brain shuts down during long periods of anxiety/ stress. The mind starts to tune the world out. In this time you may feel that world becomes a place that feels unreal or looks unfamiliar. And when the stress is to high your brain "shuts down".

Chronic stress can affect your health in various ways. It can lower your immune systems also can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease or sleep loss.

I understand that your family situation is not good but you should focus on you. All of this stressful situations are not good for you and your health. I strongly recommend you to find good therapeutics so that you will have confidence in his/her abilities. You can experiment with different techniques and strategies because there is no single method which works for everyone.

Avoid people who stress you out. Be more assertive and express your feelings instead of bottling them up - try to share your feelings. Maybe you should talke with your children about your feelings?

Please remember that you can change your situation.

There are several exercises and techniques that you can try to decrease your
stress. Exercise regularly at least 150 minutes per week. All forms of exercise are good.
Breathing deeply. Take a 10 minute break and try to focus on your breathing. Take a slow breath through your nose an exhale through your mouth. At the beginning you may feel that this is difficult to concentrate on it but you can not allow yourselves to be intimidated.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Urszula Stanko (2 hours later)

I'M UNABLE TO FUNCTION THE EMOTIONAL PAIN I'M IN HAS CONSUMED My WORLD. UNDERSTAND I HAVE BEEN ON MY OWN 12YRS OLD. I HAD 3 CHILDREN WITH A BLACK OUT ALCOHOLIC /DRUG ADDICT. I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THRU MY LIFE THERE WAS NOBODY TO CALL OR HELP. I WAS A STRONG,ASSERTIVE WELL JUST A FORCE TO BE RECONNED WITH. UP TILL 2YRS AGO. NO ONLY CAN'T I DEAL WITH MY KIDS NOT HELPING ME AT MY TIME OF NEED. I STILL HAVE My KIDS CALL FOR HELP FROM ME AND I HAVE SO MANY MIXED FEELINGS, WELL THERE ARE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS THE EMOTIONAL PAIN SPEAKING WITH THEM ALWAYS CAUSES Me. I HAVE TO DEAL WITH My EX-HUSBAND [THE ONLY PERSON THAT WOULD HELP ME BECAUSE AM UNABLE TO FUNCTION, GET MY GROCERIES MEDS ETC] EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIM JUST TAKES ME RIGHT BACK TO THE VERBAL AND MENTAL ABUSE THAT HAS AND IS NOW DEBILITATING ME. I HAVE NO CHOICE. CAN OR HAVE PEOPLE DIED FROM TRAUMATIC EMOTIONAL PAIN?? I AM NOW JUST A GHOST Of WHO I WAS 2YRS AGO. YOUR RIGHT I Am GONE I AM LOST IN THIS WORLD... I HAVE BEEN THRU HELL MY WHOLE LIFE BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BOUNCED BACK. I BELIEVE ME HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET ME BACK THESE YRS AND I AM NO LONGER. THE WORLD I HAVE BEEN EXISTING IN THESE FEW YRS IT'S WRONG AND CONFUSING. IF I AM UNABLE TO GET AWAY FROM MY TRAUMATZERS KIDS HUSBAND PHYCHIATRIST WHAT Am I TO EXPECT TO HAPPEN TO THIS PERSON I EXIST AS???

Answered by Dr. Urszula Stanko (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hello again.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

I understand that your emotional difficulties are very frightening. I also understand that you feel hopeless and lack of the perspective.

You need to stop this situation. You are as important as other people.

Maybe you should think about hospitalization? Your anxiety and depression are not treated properly. You will find them multidisciplinary team of highly qualified, caring professional staff ready to support you in the most stressful times. You can be treated more properly in the hospital because of the close monitoring. This can give your recovery.

This situation can not last any longer. Try giving time to yourself by developing habbits like reading, dancing, singing, playing instruments, etc. Spending quality time with yourself will give you better ideas about dealing with issues and more importantly your own mind. Think more about yourself than about others.

Best regards.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj