Living with an Anxiety Disorder
How taking an SSRI and Xanax gave me my life back.
What is Serotonin I need to get a little scientific today. The only way to understand your anxiety disorder and how to overcome it, is by learning a few basic facts. Couple these facts with your personal experiences and you will end up with logical conclusions. Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter in the… Continue reading Tryptophan = Serotonin = Low Anxiety
Fall is my favorite season! It was in September when all of the stars aligned and I woke up like if all of my anxiety and panic had been a nightmare. September 2011 Anxiety Free I was expecting to wake up with the same feeling in the pit of my stomach. My mornings for the… Continue reading Anxiety Free in the Fall – 2011
Exercise Reduces Anxiety One of the natural ways to reduce anxiety, is exercise. In my twenties, I exercised A LOT. I went to a gym twice a day and was in great shape. Is it a coincidence that during that time, I barely had ANY panic attacks? I think not. I know that exercise will… Continue reading Exercising for Anxiety
Gut Health So I’m testing out a theory and trying a nutrition program that heals “the gut”. The premise is that if you heal your gut, your stomach will produce more of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. My anxiety disorder appears to stem from a deficiency in this neurotransmitter. Heal the gut, produce more serotonin and cure the… Continue reading What the Gut?
These pictures were taken in the Summer of 2011. Four months earlier, I was on short term disability with Agoraphobia, which is basically a fear of places and situations that might cause panic. For me, it was every situation and every place! That meant I literally couldn’t leave my house! Luckily, with the help of… Continue reading Is Your Normal Really Abnormal?
Anxiety disorders are linked to low levels of Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical and neurotransmitter in the body. Serotonin regulates: mood and social behavior appetite and digestion sleep memory sexual desire and function There is a link between low serotonin levels and anxiety and depression. For this reason, one way to control an anxiety disorder… Continue reading Why You are Losing the Anxiety Battle!
11/1/11 marked the one year anniversary of THE panic attack. When these pictures were taken I had been on medication for a little less than one year. My husband is a fireman and when he is on shift, it is 24 hours. I was able to take the kids “trick or treating” on Halloween and… Continue reading Happy 1 Year Panic-versary!!
I am so grateful that someone, somewhere, figured out how to control anxiety and panic attacks with medication. Without medicine, I would be in some serious trouble. I feel like I would probably be curled up somewhere, crying, watching life pass me by. Would I be on disability? Would I have lost my job? What… Continue reading Love/Hate Meds!
During my worst days, my Xanax intake looked something like this: 2:00am: Wake up in a panic and take a Xanax. 6:00am: At exactly 4 hours, the sensations would start coming back. At this time, the kids were up and I needed to function and pretend I was fine. I would take another one. 12:00pm:… Continue reading Was I Addicted to Xanax?
When I was younger, I expected to be married before my 23rd birthday. I was devastated when at 24, I was STILL SINGLE! I didn't even meet my husband until I was 27! I always expected to have children. When my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, I was overcome with sadness and an unexplainable emptiness. I never… Continue reading Giving Up!
