? Anxiety Attacks ~ Panic Attacks ~ Depression ?
 

Hi. I know these boards are not medical boards and so on. But I thought I would ask others about this. I was not exactly sure where to post it so I just posted it here.

I am struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. I also suffer from depression. But I fear storms (all), rain, snow, dogs, travel (to places/areas I have not been before), and others things too.

I was thinking about trying "St. John's Wort" for these issues. I heard it is good for depression, but I am not sure if it will help with the anxiety and panic problems. Has anyone tried this? And what did you think?

Do you know something out there that would help with these issues? My family thinks I should see a new doctor. But I really don't want too. So I was thinking about natural remedies or what have you first.

Also, is anyone else totally terrified of storms? If so, when the storms are in your area what do you do? This is my BIGGEST problem. I can't stop pacing the floors back and forth to each window looking at the skies, and back to the computer to check the weather radar, and the weather channel on tv and so on. It gets bad.

Thanks in advance. :)

I am also very scared of storms. My fear (though I don't know where yours comes from) is actually the result of a bit of a traumatic incident.

A couple of years ago, I took my nephew to one of the pools in our apartment complex. It was cloudy, but since when did clouds hurt anybody? I told him that if it started to rain or anything, we were coming right home! So, we swam for about 10 minutes, we were the only ones there. All of a sudden, the leaves on the trees in the pool area started falling all around us. The wind was gusting horribly. I told Jordan to get out of the pool, quick. We quickly ran over to grab our things. As we were getting our towels on, the umbrella in the table we were at picked up and flew right above our heads and onto the other side of the pool area. I shouted for Jordan to go faster. We had almost gotten all of our things when we heard a sickening CRACK followed by (for me) pain. The very large tree that our table was sitting next to had let loose one of its largest branches, and it grazed my hand and leg, leaving blood trailing down each part. Luckily, I'd shoved Jordan to the side, so all that happened to him was that the leaves of the branch whipped his back. I ended up getting an infection in my leg that took something like 2 weeks to fully go away.

So now, whenever it storms, or even just gets windy, I get panicked. If it's a thunderstorm, I often run to my bed and throw the pillow over my head and try to think happy thoughts.

I have no clue about the St. John's Wort thing, but I would definitely follow your family's advice on seeing a new doctor.

I know exactly what you are going through. When I was younger I had a really bad drug problem. When I stopped , cold turkey, I had a horrible time. I had panic attacks everyday, all day. I was very depressed. I was terrified to leave the house. I stayed in for 4 months solid. My panic attacks were so bad that I would go to the hospital atleast 3 times a week. Sometimes I would just sit in the waiting room and never check in, because I felt safe there. My biggest problem is that I developed a fear of ANY medication or herbal remidies. So, what was I supposed to do. It has been 7 years since I went through that and I am just now where I can live a somewhat normal life. It took a long time but with lots of prayer and just knowing that my life was in God's hands I got through it. I still can't do things some people do though. I know my limits and what might bring on a panic attack or what to do if I start feeling that way in order to prevent it from happening. I would suggest however that you do see a doctor. I do know a lot of people who have the same problems and are on medication and it seems to work well with them. Whatever you decide to do I hope that your problem will soon come to an end.

Lydia,

WOW! I would be freaked out too! I am sorry you had to go through that. I do thank you for sharing the story though. I am trying to think back to remember if something happened to me. I can't remember to many things to make for these episodes though. However, many people don't remember things like that, at least not without help. I am working on this though. So maybe I will remember something and be able to fix this.

branbrown,

Woah! That is unbelievable. But I can understand just sitting there and not checking in! It is amazing how our mind gets working and makes us feel!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have seen my doctor before kind of on this. I can't remember for sure what happened. With the depression he said it was just mood swings and left it at that. But with my fears, phobias, anxiety, and panic attacks issues, I can't remember what happened.

I think I am going to haul my butt back in there (as soon as the next storms pass of course - tomorrow and Friday) and see what happens. I need to be careful even with natural remedies because I am asthmatic and I do take migraine medication when needed. So I can't mix things that shouldn't mix. But I will go straight in and be seen as soon as the weather allows.

Thanks so much for your help here! I do appreciate it.

TMunday-

I have always suffered from anxiety disorders-mainly anxiety attacks, depresion, and OCD. I don't fear storms-but I do have an insane fear of WORMS (yes, I know... :lol: ), and deal with the anxiety attacks and all of that-and my compulsions from the OCD.
I did try St. Johns Wort, but I didn't really notice anything at all. I have never taken any prescriptions for it.

Aphil

Aphil,

First of all... long time no see and CONGRATULATIONS on your baby!!! :) I bet you are on cloud 9! :)

Worms?!!?!?!?! Yes, you have me laughing.... kind of that is, only because some of my fears people think are funny too. I have been ignorning this for awhile now. So I have been checking out different ways of taking care of this. I got a book from our library today called "The Truth About Mental Illness". So hopefully that will give me some input too. I didn't think St. John's Wort would do much of anything. Glad I didn't waste my money. Thanks and nice speaking with you again!

Tracy-I have a weird phobia, too. I fear other people throwing up. I have had panic attacks relating to this since I was 5. Now I'm 34, and I have 3 kids, so it's not something I can run away from. I resisted telling anyone for a long time, because it is such a weird phobia, and I was too embarrassed. About 5 years ago it got to be too much to handle. I was always terrified my kids would get sick. I would check on them all night, even waking them up if I thought they might possibly be sick. I finally went to the doctor and "confessed" my fear. He put me on antidepressants. I have been on one after another since. They don't do much for the depression, but they do help me get a bit of a handle on the panic. I still take Xanax when I get panicky, but it doesn't happen as often. When it does, I want to die. So I know what you are feeling. If your doctor blows you off, go to another one. It's too important to let go. I'm now diagnosed as having a form of bipolar, and just started a new med yesterday. I am hopeful it helps with both the depression and anxiety. Yes, meds can be scary, but living with panic attacks and depression is much worse.

We are here for you whenever you need us. I always feel so alone when I am panicky, and I know it helps me so much to be able to come here and post.

Marcie,

Thank you so much for your post! I sure do appreciate it. I don't know how you have hid it for so long!!! Especially since you have children! I can't imagine having your phobia and having kids... and if they are school age! I can imagine how you must feel on a daily basis.

I am thinking about seeing my doctor one more time about all of this. I don't want to be set on the back burner again! Something needs to be done to help! I don't think my doc is much for handing out pills. Which can be a good thing. But there comes a time when you just have to try something! Hopefully he will see this as the time!! If not, I may need to head to another doctors office instead.

I wish my family could understand how I feel when a storm is coming or is here! They don't get it! They pick on me and laugh and giggle and so on. It makes everything so much worse! They admit to understand my fears but there actions are oposite. Like now, I can feel my body tensing up because a storm will be here tomorrow! :(

Anyway, thank you so much for your post!! I sure do appreciate it!I do feel it helps to speak with others that suffer with the same issues.

Tracy, I sent you a pm.

Hi Tracy,
I too have depression,and anxiety, about 8 years ago i took St. Johns wort for depression, and Kava Kava for anxiety, i was pretty happy with the results.....but then after talking with a psychiatrist she told me that true medications are much more studied and safer than the herbs. Just because the herbs are "natural" doesn't make them safe, they are still drugs...just like marijuana and opium-they are natural too.

So i opted to stop the herbs and do true medications, but i believe that medication alone isn't enough. I believe we also need counseling/phsychotherapy, we need to get to the bottom of the causes of our fears and sadness, and our issues...gosh i have so many issues.....*sighs*

There are so many things we don't share with our family, and friends, that we can be brutaly honest with a counselor, and if you find the right one, accompanied by medication, they can really make a world of differance.

God Bless

And Tracy,
if you dont' like your doctor, or don't feel they are working with you, etc..
look for another one, you will find one, who really wants to help you.

Dear Tracy,

I agree with everyones comments especially campbellredhead...when you have anxiety disorders and things along that line its important that you have a health care professional in any stream that youa re completely comfortable with. I have had Chronic anxiety disorder for about 10 years now...mine gets so bad sometimes that I will hyperventilate and pass out..usually I only get them now when I am upset...but they used to happen all the time in stores and everything, I got so I could barely leave my home at times. Ive tried Kava Kava and it took the edge off a little and I also tried some chamomile tea at night to relax me so that I could get some sort of sleep. But all the drugs, drs, and meds will only help you manage the issue, it wont really solve the problem. Everyones situation is different I understand that and you have to do what works for you. Personally, I had to rearrange my life..I had to come up with strategies that would help me function daily without causing me stress (such as making my lunch the night before so I am not rushed and flustered in the AM)..I know that sounds so stupid and elementary but changing small things really helped me get organized and take control. I also had to eliminate things from my life that made me feel out of control. I wish you all the best, I know its a struggle...but please hang on this is not an easy thing to go through...but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Take care of yourself.

I agree so much with campbellredhead's post-on the issue that it is just as important to deal with the therapy aspect of this, as well as the medication. I don't personally think it is good to just hand out the medications-simply because you aren't doing anything at all about the problem-you are just treating it.

This would be equivalent to a heart patient having a bypass surgery, but continuing to eat shortening and butter and never get off the couch.
If you do go with the medication route, I think it is very important as well to talk with a counselor or therapist that is familiar with anxiety disorders. Depression is pretty common and most therapists deal with that, but anxiety disorders-anxiety and panic attacks, OCD, bipolar/manic depressive, and other things are a whole different ballgame. You can't just go to a counselor who is used to dealing with marriage issues, you know? :)

For instance, with my OCD and the compulsions that I have with it-my parents would just tell me/beg me to "quit stressing out" and to "relax". For those of you who don't know me-my obsessions aren't the classic "everyone can see them-handwashing-germaphobe sort of thing."Mine have to do with symmetry/organization, things being "just right", perfection, numbers, listmaking, repeatedly checking things, order of items, etc.-and then the phobias/fears. As a professional dancer, and as a seamstress/costume maker-they thought I was just overworking myself and being too much of a perfectionist in my work. They thought that if I just "worked less" and took some time off that I would be fine. :rofl:

I literally had to explain to them, that if I wasn't up all hours of the night hand beading a costume piece perfectly for 7 hours-that I would be walking around instead picking lint and cat hair off the carpet by hand until it was all gone, and sorting a bag of M&Ms by color. :rofl: They just didn't "get it". The anxiety is there, and in my case, it has to be released in some way.

Anxiety disorders of all types are very similar-even though someone having phobias or panic attacks alone may not think they relate right away to someone with OCD. They are exactly the same. The only difference is the result of that extreme fear. It is also very common for someone with any type of depression, anxiety disorder, or related illness to have more than one-since the same chemical imbalance causes them.

The only real difference between them, is that someone with claustrophobia alone may have a panic attack in an enclosed space or in a crowd. Someone with OCD may have a fear/phobia that is very similar, and as a result of that, they just develop a ritual to ease that feeling of anxiety. For instance, I have a fear of getting to the cash register at a store, and not having the means to pay for my items. Stupid fear, I know, but it is what it is, and that means the ritual I developed is to check my purse for my cash/checkbook/debit card before I leave the house, again in the parking lot of the place, and again in the store before I check out. I have done this since I was a teen. That is how a "checking" ritual gets started. You simply don't trust yourself enough that you checked right the first time. It is the same as a tv protrayal of someone with OCD checking to see that they locked their door 17 times.

I have a great sense of humor about it, though, and I laughed my tail off when I watched "As Good As It Gets" and "Monk" because I can totally relate-especially to Monk. :lol:

I have learned little things to do to "ease" some of my stress, and cut down on some of my rituals. One of those things was to buy my clothes hangers in all the same color/style. I used to "sort" them in the laundry area by color-and now, since they are all white, I can't do that any longer-and it is no longer a trigger for me. It is a tiny thing, but that is 1-2 minutes out of my life each day that I get back. It is all of the little coping mechanisms that help you through the day.

I am glad that there are so many here with similar issues to talk with about these sorts of things. It is nice to know that someone understands. :D

Tracy

Just a thought... but have your thyroid checked! I went through this and thought I was going NUTS. Turned out I had a thyroid tumor. After the surgery and getting my meds adjust to right level, it stopped! Completely!!! I found out that doctors do NOT check this usually unless you specifically ask them to.

Hey Tracy,
I'm really rushed this morning and apologize for this short post but I just saw your post and wanted to mention something briefly.

Everything that you mentioned in your first post can be symptoms of a thyroid problem. I had to learn all of this the very hard way, but wanted to encourage you to read the info posted here in the "Depression Articles" thread at:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...t=49146&page=3

and also at http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com...ema-craziness/

Please let me know if I can help in any way with any of the info. I would be more than glad to help if I can.
thanks,
Cathy

WOW! Lots to read this morning. This is a good thing because the weather is going to get pretty ugly here at some point today. So this may keep my busy for a little while. It is blah enough out side already today. This may be a long day.

Marcie - Thanks! I will go and read your PM as soon as I finish up here on this board. :)

Misti in Seattle - Hi. I had my thyroid checked about a year ago. They ran some tests because I have not been able to lose weight. They did a few tests and all that came back (so they told me anyway) was that my sugar was high... pre-diabetic. Maybe they should test me again though!

campbellredhead, Jamie, & Aphil (and all) - I was thinking about seeing a counselor. My parents (I am almost 33 years old lol, but I lack regular medical insurance) said they would even pay for my visits!! However, there is quite a catch to it. Which is what is kind of holding me back.

Here is the story - in short because it is a bit long. My parents are moving to Arkensas (sp?) and they want us to go down there to visit and they want to take my kids down there without me and my husband to visit. Well, my husband and I said no because of a few reasons - 1. We cannot financially afford to travel, 2. I do not like to go places I don't know, 3. I don't like to go where there are more storms (yeah - bazaar I know), 4. I don't want my kids that far away from me for any period of time! (My son is on several medicines daily for asthma which makes me nervous too).

Needless to say my parents said they would make me a deal... they would pay for my counseling BUT I would have to agree to let them take my kids to Arkensas (sp?) for the summer etc. For me that is just to much pressure! And I don't know if I can possibly make a promise like that! Heck, as far as I feel personally, I will never go to Arkensas (sp?) to even see there house!!

Also, my mom picked out this one counselor in this group I found. This counselor helps you learn to make friends and so forth. So she wants me to see this person specifically. Just because my friends are online (I have a few friends online in other states - had them for a long while now) my mom feels that I don't have friends! Because I don't go out every week to play cards (or have people over to my home) or whatever I don't have friends. I don't think this is an issue for me. I am fine with the friends I have.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about counseling. I know it is going to take more then medications to make things better. I do not just want to mask any issues I am having. God knows I have more then I could imagine I am sure! I am going to look further into this though. Maybe I can find a counselor that takes the state medical card. I am keeping my fingers crossed because doing this with my parents does not seem healthy to me.

Thank you all so very much for all of your support here!! I sure do appreciate it. It is so nice to be able to talk to others about issues like these. I really did not want to join another message board and figure out how to use them to and stuff just to talk about this with others with the same issues. I think this is very helpful for all of us. :)

Tracy - you and I were posting at the same time. I just want to be sure you see the info in my post.

and Tracy - I just want to mention - that I do not think there is anything wrong with a mom who does not want her kids to go to another State (even with their grandparents) for the summer. I would not have been willing to do that and I don't need counseling ;) I might have let them go for a week or two but not the whole summer. What ages are your kids?

I do understand that you have anxiety issues and that your family probably feels that those anxieties are keeping you from letting your kids go - making it an issue with them - but I'm just saying - that some (like me) without anxiety issues would feel the same way about it and not let their kids go for the whole summer.

hugs,
Cathy

Cathy,

Sorry I have not replied to your message. When I seen your first post I went directly to the thyroid site you put in the message. I have been reading that. :) Thank you so much for sending that information. As I read the site it makes more and more since to me. This will also be mentioned to my doctor when I see him!

Thank you also for being so understanding about my feelings about sending my kids to another state. I could not even handle that for one day!!! :( But I think that is a stepping stone that I am going to have to learn to walk on comfortably because one day my kids will be grown and want to move out on there own! My son is 14 (will be 15 in July), and my daughters are 11 and 7. I don't have a lot of time to learn because they do grow up quickly. But I am sure willing and wanting to take the first step. Unfortionately the first step is not going to be what my parents want it to be. This is going to take time and patients and understanding from my family. I hope they all (my husband understands it) realize that and don't pressure me to much.

Everyone - Sorry if my posts today are jumpy and don't make to much since. It is very cloudy and windy here and storms are coming. So I am jumpy myself. But I am trying to keep my mom online instead.

Completely true Misti. I have lived and been diagonsed with many different mental disorders such as panic/anxiety disorder, severe depression, OCD, bipolar disorder and extreme parinoia(sp?). It got so awful a couple of times that I begged to be put in a hospital and just wanted to die because of my mind spinning out of control. I am now better but when it was the worst was when my thyroid was out of whack. As much as I fear medication I took it for a year for my thyroid. But then I started feeling bad again. I went and had it rechecked and it had straightened out and there was no need for medication. So by it being off balance again it messed me up again. Every since I came off of the meds this last time my thyroid has been in check and things have been great. But it could have alot of effect on how you feel. You just have to keep a close watch on it. Get on a forum about thryoid problems and you will see that the number 1 problem everyone has is they feel like they are going crazy.

By the way usually your PCP will only check your TSH levels to see if your thyroid is messed up. However, they cannot always tell if it is messed up by just checking your TSH levels. Sometimes there needs to be more testing involved to truely tell. I had to go see an endocronoligist(sp?) for this.

Amazing! You would think doctors would know all of this!!! After reading the site Cathy sent and all of the posts about thyroid issues it really makes me wonder!! All my doctor did was take some blood and test it. I am thinking maybe it should be retested. They tested me for thyroid because I was trying to lose weight (still trying!!!) but I keep losing and gaining the same 5 pounds! They said it appears I was eating well, exercising (at that time) well and everything else! But then they came back and just said sugars were high basically. I think I am going to get re-checked. Something has got to give! And if my doctor don't want to provide the service to find the problems then I will have to go else where.

Thanks a million!

Hey Tracy - I really hope the info will be helpful to you. It has been for MANY!!!!!

Just want to encourage you to bring the list of the exact thyroid tests that need to be done. Normally, most docs do not run the more accurate thyroid tests that can actually find the problem UNLESS you specifically request the tests.

You can find the exact list at
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com...ended-labwork/

Most good docs will run whatever tests you ask for. But there are some that are stubborn and say "not necessary". You may have to shop around OR request your own blood work thru healthcheckusa.com

hugs,
Cathy

Cathy -

Awesome! Thanks for pointing these tests out. I wrote all of the tests down so I can carry it with me when I see my doctor. Hopefully I will get some results.

I am thinking about asking them what the last test (blood work) was that they did exactly. This way I can see which one it was and so on.

Thanks again! I do appreciate it.

Tracy - you can ask your doctor's office for a copy of your last bloodwork - and/or all the bloodwork they've done on you - and they should give you a copy. It is YOUR bloodwork. I suggest that everyone always get copies of their bloodwork so that you can see exactly what was done and how your results are in the range. Also then you have it to compare to bloodwork that is done in the future.
hugs,
Cathy

I am thinking about asking for a copy of my entire file. If I do end up going to another doctor they will want my history anyway. But I have a feeling it won't be that easy to get this, and if I do get it, they may charge me for it. I am not sure though. I might have to check on this. Just in case I do end up going elsewhere for my care.

Tracy-Your mom sounds a lot like mine. Basically it's a control issue. They hold the money out, but to accept it, you have to do things their way. They may think they have your best interests in heart, but you need to be able to make your own decisions, and pick your own therapist. I'm sure that with a little research, you can find someone who accepts a state card, or does reduced fees. I started therapy in Jan of this year, and it has been really wonderful. But I think if you make this deal with your parents, you will end up resenting them, and feeling out of control. They seem like they're being a bit unreasonable. I know I would not send my kids to their grandparents for the summer! Esp. if one is on meds and you feel you need to be there. That sounds like it would be a major stressor, worrying all the time. So, sorry if I seem a bit pushy. I have just experienced this same thing myself with my parents.

Marcie -

Boy did you ever hit the nail right on the head!! Your right! It is either my parent's way or its the highway. They have money and I don't... and yes, they use that against me often. But I do feel I will regret this big time if I follow through with this agreement. I think it will eat me alive until I completely lose it. So I think I am going to do some research. There has to be some counselor out there somewhere that accepts the state card!!! Even if it is a needle in a hay stack, I am bound and determined, I will find them! If not... like you said, there has to be someone out there that will work with me and take reduced fees or something. I will find some kind of help some how. :) I didn't even think of trying this! I am so glad you mentioned it! Thanks a million!! Did you get my PM? :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I am on my way to a clearer mind. Grant it, it will take time, patients, and lots of hard work. But each step is a step in the right direction. Even if I take one step back I have to get up and keep going forward.

Thanks so much. I do feel better since I started posting this here on the boards.

I want that baby!!!!!!!!!!

L

EXACTLY!!!!!!

And my doctor willingly ran some extra tests that I wanted even though she had not planned to do so. A good doctor will see you through and help you to feel confident things are right.

I don't understand what your talking about here???

I did not realize about this till I read everything. And I didn't know there was more then one test for this. I am sorry if I was short in my reply to your first message about this. I really had no idea.

But, I am going to request tons of testing for this and everything else they can do for any and all issues of all of this. Something needs to get done here before it ends up worse. I am hoping to find a counselor as well! Hopefully I will make some progress here and get things rolling quickly. :)

That's great, Tracy! I have found that the medical profession here in the US is waaaaaay behind on diagnosis and treatment of thyroid problems! OTOH I also found the Internet is full of gloom and doom stuff too so be cautious of that as it can weigh you down. But I have been amazed at the difference once mine was diagnosed and taken care of! One doctor said it had probably been affecting me for years... but it took a huge tumor on the side of my neck before I knew about the problem!

Well, not to be argumentative at all...but keep in mind that it is probably *more* likely that it is an anxiety disorder, rather than thyroid issues.

Thyroid conditions are definitely there in some people-but most people who go in for thyroid testing, don't actually have problems. Thyroid symptoms are often the same as other ailments. Hair loss, for instance, is a symptom of a thyroid condition-but it is also a symptom of stress, or a hormonal change, such as after giving birth.

Aphil - I do not find your post argumentative at all. Actually I love discussing this stuff.

The point I'm making is that a lot of people are finding that their "anxiety disorder" actually is caused by a thyroid problem. I don't think a lot of people realize that a thyroid problem can cause anxiety. I think maybe some have heard that hyperthyroidism may cause some anxiety, but I am running into people left and right that are finding they actually have a thyroid problem, once they have the correct thyroid tests run - not just the TSH which can be very unreliable.

My son had terrible anxiety. Once his thyroid problem was found he was started on Armour Thyroid and it took him getting up to 4 grains (240 mgs) before we noticed much improvement. He now takes 5 grains (300 mgs) daily and is doing really well. The difference in him, in his anxiety, etc. is almost unbelieveable - actually I don't think I could believe it unless I was seeing this with my own eyes. Both his doc and counselor agreed that his thyroid problem was contributing to his anxiety, but it was so bad that neither felt he would be able to get off the psych meds and simply take a T4/T3 thyroid med - they had never seen anyone so severe be able to get by with only the thyroid med. Well they are both now pleasantly surprised and amazed at how well he is doing on just the Armour Thyroid!!!!!

I have 2 file boxes full of info on thyroid problems and psychiatric problems as it has become my hobby/passion ;) and I could share all sorts of info and articles, but let me just share this recent one posted at bellaonline.com by a wife & husband that found his anxiety was caused by his thyroid problem (just as my son's was and many many others).

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art41515.asp
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Thyroid Disease

The message that I am trying to get out is that everyone presenting with any sort of psychiatric problem should first have their thyroid tested, by running the correct tests, to at least make sure that they don't have a thyroid problem causing their mental problems.

I was told for 20 years that my thyroid was "fine" even tho I had many physical symptoms - but the dang TSH would not catch the problem. Thankfully now my son's doc is also treating me and I am also taking 5 grains of Armour and feel that I have my life back!

I'm just trying to share a little of info that I have found. This info could have saved us years of suffering and challenges.

hugs,
Cathy

What a day! All I want to do is curl up under a rock and sleep the rest of the day away. If it is not one thing, it sure is another! :(

My mom wants me to make an appointment with the lady she chose. I kept telling her I didn't care for that lady! She didn't want to listen to me. So she had that ladies office call me this morning to make an appointment!!!! I told them I was not interested and hung up the phone. I have spoke with that lady on the phone before... she is worse then your average air head. I did not feel like dealing with her.

Well then my mom called!! Of course I didn't answer the phone! She called twice within 30 minutes!!! I didn't answer either call. Shortly I called her back though! All she cared about was if I made the appointment and then all she cared about was complaining at me for not making the appointment! Then she said to call the other place and make an appointment.... now!!!

This has been a very long and very stressful day! I am ready to tell her off already! I did make some phone calls today though!! No one takes my aid card. So I am going to have to do some searching to find something. This is going to take time.

I am thinking about writing an email (I can't do this over the phone or in person) to my mom and telling her to forget it! I am not interested in counseling, going to visit her in Arkensas when she moves, or my kids going there, or anything else. I would love to tell her to control her own life and leave me alone!!! But if I did that it would be world war 3!!!

I so don't know what I should do. Not answering the phone seems like the way to handle this with the least amount of stress. I don't know though. People are so pushy I swear!!

I think I am going to end up talking with my regular doctor and finding out what resources he knows of that could help me. He should know something for both medicine and counseling. We will see.

I hope you all are having better days. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

Tracy-I did get your pm. I'll email you today. We seem to have so much in common!

Misty-I see you are in Seattle. Hey, neighbor, I'm in Marysville!

Tracy-Wow. I didn't see your post until just now. Um, how old are you again? Your mom REALLY needs a reality check. Sounds like she forgot that you grew up. I would totally recommend writing a letter. On paper. That way you can hang on to it until you decide whether or not to send it. I just did this with my mom, and I'm still on the fence about whether or not to mail it. Like you said, it would cause some serious fallout. But it really did help to get my thoughts in order, and get it down on paper. And who knows, maybe I will actually get the guts to send it.

Your mom is way out of line. Having the office call you, and giving you orders. I think if you don't say something, it will just continue. This coming from someone who has yet to tell her own mom to back off!! Maybe we can work on this together. The thought of confronting my mom scares the sh*t out of me.

Visiting your doc is a good idea. They often have access to resources that we don't. At least he may be able to point you in the right direction.

hope this helps you
 

Hi TracyI think I may have the solution that you are looking for , I suffer from anixity and panic attacks myself. You said you were looking for a place that accepts the state card or will do payments. I know of a place in Lasalle IL that I highly recomend pm me and I will send you the info

Hey, hi there neighbor! Actually I am close to Mill Creek so we are even closer than you know!!! :carrot: