Crippling anxiety - I need help

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you may have post partum depression as well. There is a great support group in Alexandria...Google it. You will find there are other moms feeling just like you. Depression/anxiety are real. Please don't listen to people who rag on medication...talk to your dr. And if she isn't receptive go to another dr!! It is worth trying meds. Can be life changing. And Cog Behavioral therapy is also really helpful. Don't give up. So many suffer in silence and don't know there are others feeling the same way!

[Anonymous]

I hope you have found a good solution, OP.

[lauragab26]

Can anyone recommend a good psychiatrist in DC or MD?

[Anonymous]

Go to the RossCenter in Friendship Heights.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Barbara Byers in MD

[Anonymous]

NP here - I could write your post. Please before you start any antidepressants/anti anxiety meds, make sure you get a full metabolic panel done, including thyroid levels and Calcium levels. I was having severe anxiety, panic attacks, heart palpitations, tachycardia, depressive episodes. Couldn't sleep, waking up at night with anxiety and tremors and racing heart. Fatigue. Irritability.

SSRIs and Benzos didn't help.

It turns out that, after YEARS of this and being misdiagnosed, I had elevated blood calcium levels, and was then diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. A disease, which can mimic a lot of other issues ESPECIALLY anxiety and depression.

I write this to hopefully help one person, since I wish someone had helped me. I have been suffering for years. Am now getting a parathyroidectomy later this month, and am praying this will end the nightmare.

Please get your calcium and thyroid levels checked first! I wish I had!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can only speak personally, but medication really helped my anxiety and improved my quality of life. Good luck!

Same here. Prozac 30mg day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here - I could write your post. Please before you start any antidepressants/anti anxiety meds, make sure you get a full metabolic panel done, including thyroid levels and Calcium levels. I was having severe anxiety, panic attacks, heart palpitations, tachycardia, depressive episodes. Couldn't sleep, waking up at night with anxiety and tremors and racing heart. Fatigue. Irritability.

SSRIs and Benzos didn't help.

It turns out that, after YEARS of this and being misdiagnosed, I had elevated blood calcium levels, and was then diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. A disease, which can mimic a lot of other issues ESPECIALLY anxiety and depression.

I write this to hopefully help one person, since I wish someone had helped me. I have been suffering for years. Am now getting a parathyroidectomy later this month, and am praying this will end the nightmare.

Please get your calcium and thyroid levels checked first! I wish I had!!!

This is very important. Get medical symptoms checked out medically first. When a reasonable investigation (NOT a doctor saying sounds like stress without checking anything) shows you are in good health, then turn to the psychological explanation. These illnesses, untreated, can cripple you.

[Anonymous]

I endured years of panic attacks and anxiety. Even on vacation I was having panic attacks. What helped me tremendously was 20 mg of Paxil ( I have taken it for 15 years) and regular exercise. I have had probably one attack in those 15 years.

[Anonymous]

Exercise = the key to sanity