I've seen to have lost the art of coping with my problems non-medically. Just my first day w.o my risperdal after 6 weeks and I am already feeling more depressed than before...

I know it's probably to be expected after stopping one of the more powerful meds but I don't like it at all...

Also, I'm still as fidgetty as ever.

Net,

What 'coping' techniques were you 'taught', prior to taking any meds ?

I'm not sure which 'aspects of life', you are trying to 'cope with'...

There isn't one 'pill', that is going to 'relieve' all types of stress, as stress level differs from one situation to another.

Is there anything you enjoy doing, that has a 'calming effect' on you, that can 'de-stress' you, so you can 'think' clearly later about a given situation ?

I'm only asking because I had to learn how to 'cope', with stressful situations, on my own.
I had to figure out, what 'works' for me, and what doesn't.

I'm actually using my destressor right now but it isn't helping. Anxiety seems to have increased I belive because of the missing lunesta and risperdal.

I've learned about deep breathing but find that it doesn't work but actually makes me worse.

Talk with your Doc.

I will tell you though...'thinking' about something continuously-will add to anxiety.

I know it may be difficult not to do that- to think about 'something'..but try.
Go do something physical, that you enjoy doing.

In the meantime, talk with your Doc.
And talk with them about other 'coping' techniques, besides meds, too.

I was at the doctors yesterday, and she, mom, and I determined that risperdal was causing tics so I had to stop it. Also, w/o insurance approval I can't get any more lunesta so I dont' have that anymore of those either.

Ok.

So how are you going to 'work' around that ?

Before you took those meds...what did you do, to 'cope' ?

Anything you can think of that doesn't involve 'meds' ?

I couldn't deal with it before meds either, but the zoloft helped...

I would have 10+ panic attacks a day w.o zoloft and with it I get 0...

I'm glad that right now it's not a panic attack but it is some type of moderate anxiety.

Hahah oh boy, am i ever in this situation right now. 3 months of high dose xanax makes for some interesting withdrawal even when you're titirating properly.

I understand.

I'd tell you what I do, but I'm not you.

I was only suggesting that since those meds are no longer an option, for you..we help you find another 'outlet', to help you 'cope' when you have panic attacks.

I had terrable tics when withdrawing atavan when the doctor started reducing the dose after 2 weeks. That was back in about March/April 2005.

I'm not having panic attacks. Just moderate anxiety at the moment. I just don't want to "meltdown"...

I've noticed, in the past, that when I feel 'obligated', to act immediately, on something personal (not workwise), that may promote anxiety for me.

If I allow *time* to pass...the anxiety lessens.

Again, I'm not you, though.

Coincidentally, the reason i was taking all of that xanax was that my panic disorder came out of remission...it was angry...very angry. Its decided to luckily to go back to where ever it goes, somewhere in my subconscious i guess.

I have anger issues too. Just inner agitation/irritability. Risperdal failed to help at the dose of 0.5mg. Plus it was causing tics.

Even my yahoo avatar isn't cheering me up...

To be brutally honest I've been using meds as a way of coping and it worked great but now w/o them I am getting anxious.

One drug my doc presribed was clonidine, which is good for me but leaves me drowsy during the day even at .25mg per evening.

How is your physical coordination and how are your driving skills?

My physical coordination is fine and I feel I can drive fine.

Hi Netsavvy -

Just wanted to give ya a loving "shout out" and a friendly "cyberhug" and let you know you will be on my mind, in my thoughts and prayers. I completely understand the upset of going through these kinds of situations. I have recently been going through some of them myself.

One thing that I do that often helps is, (1) I try to get to someplace quiet where I can relax (my bed is my first choice - probably because I'm a single mom and I'm always in the mood for a nap, ALONE, because my youngest still sleeps with me) and (2) If I can't get into daydreaming-mode about something pleasant, I will try to think of so many other situations that could be SO MUCH WORSE. (Believe it or not - that can actually HELP me to feel GRATEFUL that at least I'm not in THOSE situations.)

Thinking of you,
Sue

I'm working as hard as I can to prevent getting another anxious "episode" my current one calmed down...

Glad to *hear* that.

None of us are impervious to 'stress/anxiety', Net.

Try and deal with each 'anxious' situation, as it arises..and try not to 'lump' them all together..if that's possible.

That's what I've been *doing*.

I've been awake for only about 30min and already all the anxiety is creeping in again. I'm so worried :(

How are you *feeling*, during this moment, Net ?

I'm feeling better... Thanks for asking,

Andy...

Great !
I'm really happy for you. (0:

Thanks for being concerned.

(Man, I love it here). <hugs>

Well Net, you have a family that forgives (and for some of us) forgets. :D
What you go through is sometimes shared by others here, but you never know unless you post.

Thank you everybody. I belive this "crisis" has past now that the drugs are clearing from my system...

can someone describe how a panic attack affects them. I think I may have had one or two years ago but I'm not sure. You hear about them a lot and they sound pretty debilitating.

My panic attacks are very bad. Even though I know that each attack is a panic attack every time I have one I feel like I'm going to faint, or die. One place I know I panic is when I'm in the middle of a street because there is nothing nearby to hold on too should something happen to me so I end up panic-ing. The zoloft helps a great deal with this. I also have some form of OCD related to the Asperger's disorder and the zoloft helps mildly with this too for me...