Here you can ask any questions you might have. Your privacy is protected, and you can of course change your name to protect your identity.
Love Jacob and Emma.
adulthood anxiety anti-anxiety anti-depressants anti anxiety medication anxiety anxiety cloud Anxiety Help anxiety reduction Anxiety Visuals brain swooshes controlling anxiety depression drugs eckhart tolle ego fighting anxiety funny goji berries graphs Hope! humorists jacob markusson lucinda bassett medication Medications methodolgy midwest center Panic Attacks paxil picture poem system point of exit point of exit methodology quitting quitting smoking Relaxation Techniques sane advice sleep Social Anxiety starting stress Stress Management terms tips zrii
December 31st, 2011 at 10:22 pm
I wake up in the morning with my hands shaking and I’m anxious and depressed – If it’s real bad I’ll take an ativan but I don’t want to rely on ativan Meditation (guided) helps some I pray to it also happens if I take a nap in the afternoon. This has been going on for about 6 months – I just can’t seem to shake it. I need help!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 27th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Hello Harmony,
Any time you are dropping off Paxil, or increasing Paxil you will get the zapping and brain swooshes. Always. Perfectly normal.
It’s important to taper off really slow. I currently take 10mg of Paxil each morning, and I find that this is JUST enough to stop panic attacks or surging anxiety, but yet I don’t gain too much weight, sex drive is normal again, etc.
Consider going on 10mg for a few months and see how you feel first, before quitting all together – cold turkey. 10mg is very little and has very little side-effects, but it won’t leave you hanging with rage or brain swooshes. That’s no fun for anyone.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Hello,
I am on 20mg paxil and I feel like i have good days that I am in great spirits and then there are days that I am a rageing B!@*$! I have noticed that I get the “brain swooshes” as you called them and was wondering you would please describle what that was to you. These come on if I don’t take it for a day of two. It scares me..I feel light headed and I guess the best way to describe it is to say It feels like lighting bolts are zapping my brain. Is that normal when not taking this?? I would rather be a raging B!@*$ with out these sypmtoms the one with them
.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Hello, My name is Harmony. I have been taking paxil somewhere close to 6months-a year. I have times when I do not take it just because I forgot or I ran out. By the 2nd day I have having the Brain Swooshes as you call them. I was hoping that you can tell me what it felt like for yourself. I feel light headed and at times feel like my brain is being zapped by lighting (best way to describe it). It freaks me out and I really want to get off of Paxil because of this.
December 13th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Hello, lovable Jacob and Emma:
I´ll try to be brief. I´m a non-natural english speaker so be comprehensive. I´m 40. Since 20 years ago I´ve had anxiety, and for the past 5 years has turned into a Chronic Severe Anxiety Disorder. I´m in the edge, close to the abism of suicide. That´s quite sad but that´s the way I feel. Also, since 10 years ago, I´ve become a Buddha´s disciple and I have practiced his fundamental teaching of awarness, which you teach as well. Even when practicising this awarness or mindfulness of the present moment, anxiety is still there: an unthinkable suffering. In addition to my core problem which is this Severe Anxiety Disorder, I´ve some other several disorders that are as well overwhealming such as (i)Borderline Personality Disorder, (ii) Obsessive Compusive Disorder, (iii)Bipolar Disorder, (iv)Intrusive Thoughts, (v) Anti-social Anxiety Disorder among some other manifestations. I won´t try to explain to what extense this sort of diseases reach to, because it would be an endless message. Just imagine that are also problems I have to deal with. To this extent you should know that I don´t have a job, I´m isolated in a single room in my parents house, have no friends, and in summary, a I´ve a miserable life. However, I believe that anxiety urges to diminish since I´m no longer feeling strong to support it. What else, besides awarness, you recommend me to practice? Is there any other knowledge in you, Jacob an Emma, that may be helpful to diminish my anxiety? I´m writing while crying, trying to believe that there´s still hope. I´ve been in a spiral-down crisis since four months ago and this may be understand as an urgent message.
Thanks in advance,
Juan
October 13th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I’m 42 and have suffered from GAD and panic attacks since I was a teen. 10 years ago I was on Paxil, Welbutrin and klonapin, and wasn’t having attacks, but decided I didn’t need them. I managed to get by with alcohol and klonapin but after a car wreck ( I was hit by a drunk) I had a bad attack and ended up in the ER with a heart rate in the 170s. 2 years and 10 ER visits later and multiple cardiologist “you’re OK’s” I had another big attack, faint feeling, heart rate 169, spaced out. I have been off alcohol for 3 months and on welbutrin and klonapin-3 mg/day. I had horrible withdrawal when I went off of Paxil 10 years ago, but I feel like I’ve lost 10 years of my life to anxiety. I have become near housebound, this from a guy who practically was always out doing something. Today I went back on paxil. I hope it still works. I’m nervous all the time, I space out all the time, I cannot stand to talk to people (my job) I am only working a couple days a week and stand to lose everything. I hope this works, it was the only drug that helped before. My doctor kept me on the klonapin and welbutrin and prescribed 20 paxil.
October 6th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Hi and thanks. I’m in a good place now, but have had what I now realise were bouts of anxiety throughout my life. mostly i was able to adapt and avoid until a significantly stressful event last year at work, where i hit rock bottom. I found your site this morning when looking for info on how to come off aropax. I am a passionate and happy person mostly and like you now know the role ego and mindset play in my life and my attitude. I wouldn’t have ever found this out, other than for the gift of the crash last year, where I decided (being a victim) that I needed to change my career from senior mgt roles in health to that of coach. of course, i have had to face my own fears and reframe these along the way. I want to come off my meds and am so relieved to know that the ‘washing over me’ feeling I get plus the dizziness are side effects. I had terrible side effects going onto meds (had to try out different ones) and did find aropax to work for me whilst I needed it….now I feel empowered with the knowledge of how to taper the dose. So a BIG thankyou and you are making a huge difference. I am reading many books and learning many new things. I particularly like the Power of TED, which is a nice model to assist people to move to creating their own life! My purpose is to assist others to develop the attitude and mindset to live their purpose!!! I am making this my business and do this 2/7 and work 3/7. Much love and thanks, Deb
September 25th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
please help me.
September 25th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
hello, y name is beatriz i have been on paxil for about 3 years. I cannot afford to go to the doctor or medication. is there any other way to get off paxil? my head is killing me!
September 24th, 2011 at 5:28 am
Hi Jacob,
Thank you for the wonderful site you have put up; it is such a reassurance to us who suffer from severe anxiety and depression, and have been prescribed medication (paroxetine (paxil in USA) ) for it. The horror stories on the internet tend to discourage you, yet when we take tem, and assess the difference it makes in pulling one out of a dark pit when they lose all their previously loved interests, you wonder what causes them to write such things. Since you have been a long-time user of paxil, I would like some specific advices from you and some questions if you find time.
First, though most of my severe depressive symptoms, started to get better within week 1, and much better now into week 6, whereby I am able to work, attend classes, eat, play the piano, enjoy chats, go out and about etc (I am a 22 year old male, doing a PhD in Switzerland), my sleep seems to be a bit strange. While depressed, I would never sleep, and only cry and worry; now (with some very good counselling from my psychiatrist in India, who I visited in August), I am easily able to fall off to sleep, but wake up at 3-4 am, and from then on, have too many dreams (dream type real events, though they are not nightmares by any means, nor do they cause anxiety), thus rendering the later part of the nights’ sleep very light and fragmented. I am advised to take the medication in the evening (I am on 25 mg of the controlled release version) and am presently on 0.25 mg of Clonazepam (Klonopin in the USA), which the psychiatrist will taper town to zero soon. Did you have such strange sleep and dream issues? What could be best to cope with it, since if with all this, I get a good 7 hrs of sleep a night, I will be just fine
.
And point2: regarding sexual side effects, till now, the thing I do notice is a slight decrease in the “drive” or libido. No problems with ED, or anorgasmia or the like. Since you took it for a long time, what would be your best advice on how to put this aside? My psychiatrist said that 25 mg is a small dose, and since I am getting better with that, there is no need to worry, as 25 mg (controlled release, eqv to 20mg regular) will hardly cause sexual troubles. In any event, he plans to bring me down to 12.5 after 6 months, and then continue maintenance therapy for an year or so (since my acute exam related phobic anxieties he said will not disappear overnight, and this has been there since childhood, despite excellent performances in all exams I have taken
).
Your advice would be really welcome, and thanks once again for such a reassuring and wonderful site. God bless you.
Thanks and best Regards
September 21st, 2011 at 9:05 am
Well it seems to me sweetie that you KNOW what your issue is and yet you are still takeing it quite seriously. Laugh at it. Once you stop takeing it so seriously (remember its only a release of adrenaline thats causeing your symptoms, it is not killing you) It will stop. Yes your subconsious fears and pain play out and inside your deep insecurity feels fear and pain, so you panic. But if you can begin to laugh at the past pain and stay in your beautiful moment you will begin to heal as your mind realized the safety and beauty of TODAY and NOW. This has been working for me and I rarely have panic anymore. When I do I laugh. Its only adrenaline, nothing to be afraid of seriously. I will always have my past but I can make my present moment stronger. I bought myself (on credit) a sewing and embroidery machine. It wasnt cheap. But this has given me new creative expression and fun in my life. I would wake up shaking with a panic attack, but laugh it off cause I couldnt wait to get my chores done for the day so I could monogram my bathroom towels and add decortive edging to my sheet sets. Sooo pretty. Find a hobby and indulge yourself sweety. Life is short and its meant to be enjoyed. Yes I have a credit card debt from buying this machine but its manageble and Im sooo happy
GOD Bless Dee
September 13th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Wondering if the A2X has worked?
July 5th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
I am a 36 year old mother of 2 boys and married. I have severe anxiety. I have abandoment issues and have since a child. My parents didnt’ raise me my grandparents did and my mother would come into my life and I would start to bond and she would leave again, so I have no trust in women. My father I never knew till I was 20 and he really didn’t seem to care to know me. I have never felt cared for I have no true friends. My husband is NON affecionate and I need constant reassurance. I feel as though any friendships or my marriage I purposely sabatoge so they will go ahead and leave me and it will not hurt as bad.I havent’ had anxiety attacks in years. Last year I started having them and they have continued for one year now. I get so upset I catch myself holding my breath tryin to keep my heart from beating so hard. I get literally and physically sick with my attacks I break out in a rash that covers my body and I look like i have sunburn. My heart pounds and I get sick stomach. I do this pretty much every morn. I have extreme social anxiety as I feel as though everyone is judging me. I avoid pretty much in and all social events I can. I have became a recluse to a point , My attacks seem to be worse when I get in my car and start driving there are days I can barely get my children to school My dr has given me pristiq and ativan but ativan isn’t helpin anymore and I dont’ know what I need to next. I dont’ sleep at night and during the day I feel angry all the time. I dont’ know how to go about therapy . I asked my dr and she said she couldnt’ refer me I had to do that on my own. What is my next steps? My anxiety is literally killing me mentally and physically.
June 16th, 2011 at 6:11 am
Hi there I have just conceived very recently and usually take 20mg of Paroxetine. I no longer wish to have it. I just cannot take it after the things i have read however small the chnaces. Please help what should i do. Yes I am having withdrawl symtoms and know they will get worse but I am happy about being pregnant and beleive il handle them….