5 months and no panic!
Question:
Hi Joey — Your story makes me very happy. It’s wonderful that you’ve been free of panic for 6 months. Congrats. on taking care of yourself so well. I’m glad you’ve found at least one way to become symptom-free. Now, it sounds like you will try another: anyway the doc says he’s going to start taking me off the meds soon which sounds good, but it does scare me a bit. i have to deal with this myself now. but then again i’ve been doing my homework ie. relaxation/ breathing and all that stuff.
FWIW, five years of Zen training, which, though not CBT, involves a lot of relaxation/breathing practice, didn’t do much for me during a full-blown PA. That’s why I’m so glad to have the meds. (Klonopin in my case). Outside of the extreme attacks, this kind of practice may help alot. So good luck on your new regimen, but I hope you won’t be afraid to go back to "plan A" if "plan B" doesn;t work as promised. Best of luck with Plan B… – Jordan Singer
Response:
: well i’m in month number 5 and still no panic attacks. sure i get jumpy and
Hooray, hooray! I am soooooo jealous! LOL. I like that Joey. 
Just wanted to say I am glad you are not having panic attacks. I don’t want to sound gloomy here but I think you should be aware that PD can come and go. About getting off your medication; This is just my opinion… If I were you, might want to rethink this. I know this sounds so awful telling someone who is so happy not to be having panic attacks and wanting to share this joy. Please understand I am *very* happy for you. I just want you to understand that it could come back. Just for some background info on me; I have had PD for 15 years. 3-4 years undiagnosed and a few years after diagnoses without meds. 3 years ago PD got real bad, went on meds and felt great for 2 years. I thought I was cured, PD and me are history. Well, it came back, even on meds.
Oh gawd, Scott, say it ain’t so. Panic can come back even on meds? I’m sitting here batting my head against the wall about whether to just go on medication or try to deal with this monster by CBT alone. I’ve just reached the point where I’m ready to give medication a try. This has been a BIG decision for me, one that produced enough stomach acid and anxiety in its on right. I guess I’m being naive, but I’m trying to tell myself that going on medication while continuing CBT will help me beat this monster once and for all. Iris — If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy all her friends?
Response:
yeah i went to the psychiatrist today and we decided that i should just cut my imiprimine in half (from 50mg to 25mg) and leave everything else alone for a few more months, i’m also on anafrinil 50mg a day, buspar 15 mg 3x a day, and inderal 20mg 3x a day. it’s scary and he told me that there is a chance that i may have to take the meds for longer, but he also said that there is a good chance that weening me off everything very slowly (over 6 months to a year) that my chemical balance may hold steady. i’m also doing cognitive thinking and relaxation exercises which are the main attack on the panic. the meds are just there so i can learn to control it without having to worry about the attacks right now, or something like that. i’m not slacking on those things either. i know that the panic can come back anyday but i hope that i will be able to beat it. thanks for the response and good luck with your panic "you can have your cake and eat shit too." joey bollard or
Response:
: well i’m in month number 5 and still no panic attacks. sure i get jumpy and : tremble a bit every now and then, but i think (i don’t want to jinx myself : here) i’m cured?! : anyway the doc says he’s going to start taking me off the meds soon which : sounds good, but it does scare me a bit. i have to deal with this myself now. : but then again i’ve been doing my homework ie. relaxation/ breathing and all : that stuff. : hope it works out, actually i now it will. a year ago i was living in hell and : now i can do whatever whenever i want. it’s so nice to have my life back. : just want to say don’t get so down, i was but now i’m back to living. yeah it : took 25 days in the psych ward and a ton of meds and therapy sessions, but i : stuck with it and it looks like it worked. : just wanted to update everyone and add a post that wasn’t depressing. it can be : put under control. i mean my doctor said that there was a time when even he was : about to give up on me! geeez. : but anyway…….no more calling my shrink on sundays and having to talk to him : on his car phone because i’m freaking out. : : -joey : "you can have your cake and eat shit too." LOL. I like that Joey. Just wanted to say I am glad you are not having panic attacks. I don’t want to sound gloomy here but I think you should be aware that PD can come and go. About getting off your medication; This is just my opinion… If I were you, might want to rethink this. I know this sounds so awful telling someone who is so happy not to be having panic attacks and wanting to share this joy. Please understand I am *very* happy for you. I just want you to understand that it could come back. Just for some background info on me; I have had PD for 15 years. 3-4 years undiagnosed and a few years after diagnoses without meds. 3 years ago PD got real bad, went on meds and felt great for 2 years. I thought I was cured, PD and me are history. Well, it came back, even on meds. I really thought long and hard about responding in this way to you. Hopefully yours is gone for good! I really do hope that. I just want to let you know there is a chance it could return. Hate to sound glum but those are the facts. Hoping it never returns for you and happy you are feeling better now, Scott Hampton
Response:
well i’m in month number 5 and still no panic attacks. sure i get jumpy and tremble a bit every now and then, but i think (i don’t want to jinx myself here) i’m cured?!
<happy story snipped for space just wanted to update everyone and add a post that wasn’t depressing. it can be put under control. i mean my doctor said that there was a time when even he was about to give up on me! geeez. but anyway…….no more calling my shrink on sundays and having to talk to him on his car phone because i’m freaking out.
Hi, Joey! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your success with us – it’s great inspiration — Gary Cooper
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -well i’m in month number 5 and still no panic attacks. sure i get jumpy and tremble a bit every now and then, but i think (i don’t want to jinx myself here) i’m cured?! anyway the doc says he’s going to start taking me off the meds soon which sounds good, but it does scare me a bit. i have to deal with this myself now. but then again i’ve been doing my homework ie. relaxation/ breathing and all that stuff. hope it works out, actually i now it will. a year ago i was living in hell and now i can do whatever whenever i want. it’s so nice to have my life back. just want to say don’t get so down, i was but now i’m back to living. yeah it took 25 days in the psych ward and a ton of meds and therapy sessions, but i stuck with it and it looks like it worked. just wanted to update everyone and add a post that wasn’t depressing. it can be put under control. i mean my doctor said that there was a time when even he was about to give up on me! geeez. but anyway…….no more calling my shrink on sundays and having to talk to him on his car phone because i’m freaking out. -joey "you can have your cake and eat shit too." joey bollard or
Funny, because I am about 5 months panic free now too! Let’s celebrate that accomplishment! (Wheels in a nice cake…) I’m a little afraid to be weaned off paxil too, but on the otherhand, if I can live a drug free life, it would be nice… Congrats! Dasha
Response:
well i’m in month number 5 and still no panic attacks. sure i get jumpy and tremble a bit every now and then, but i think (i don’t want to jinx myself here) i’m cured?! anyway the doc says he’s going to start taking me off the meds soon which sounds good, but it does scare me a bit. i have to deal with this myself now. but then again i’ve been doing my homework ie. relaxation/ breathing and all that stuff. hope it works out, actually i now it will. a year ago i was living in hell and now i can do whatever whenever i want. it’s so nice to have my life back. just want to say don’t get so down, i was but now i’m back to living. yeah it took 25 days in the psych ward and a ton of meds and therapy sessions, but i stuck with it and it looks like it worked. just wanted to update everyone and add a post that wasn’t depressing. it can be put under control. i mean my doctor said that there was a time when even he was about to give up on me! geeez. but anyway…….no more calling my shrink on sundays and having to talk to him on his car phone because i’m freaking out. -joey "you can have your cake and eat shit too." joey bollard or
