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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by krybrahaha on March 20, 2004, at 22:41:26
I have generalized anxiety and whenever i read about it i always see that the symptoms are constant worrying and anxiety. For me though, Im not worrying about anything, i am just anxious all day long and i got to be doing something every second of the day because im restless. I cant sleep either. Is this still GAD since I dont have the Worry? My mind is always racing --especially at night. My P-doc said that i need to talk to my therpist but everything that she tells me to do doesnt work. Im thinking its more Chemical related. I was taking Tranxene and i kept growing tolerant to it and i would have to get off it for a week or two then i would get back on it for another week. Whenever i was on it, i never had anxiety at all, so wouldnt my pdoc realize that my anxiety is more related to GABA?
Posted by snapper on March 20, 2004, at 22:59:02
In reply to Generalized Anxiety Disorder??, posted by krybrahaha on March 20, 2004, at 22:41:26
Hi krybrahaha, FWIW, In have GAD and a couple other of the anxiety disorders (they do suck)you don't necessarily need to be worrying about anything in particular...thats the whole problem ... it's generalized and yes I have the same symptoms that you do ...like my mind is always on the go....I think the reason Tranzene was effective for you is because it is a benzodiazepine... and that in itself will tend to slow your brain down (its a little more involved than just slowing your brain down) Unless your anxiety is "severe" crippling and dibilitating(sp) I would not reccomend the continued use of tranxene.. since you can build tolerance- yes it does have something to do with the GABA systems in our brains but thats not the whole solution or answer! Your T or pdoc are probably right in not wanting you to continue you on tranxene> I don't know your full story but GAD and other anxiety disorders can have what appears to be - Chemical in nature or even possible biological or even nutritional deficiencies hence the importance of finding (if possible) the true cause of your feelings of stress and discomfort. I know it may sound trite but moderate excercise can be of significant benefit (plus it has mood brightening effects)
Good luck to You
Snapper
Posted by Fred23 on March 21, 2004, at 17:25:21
In reply to Re: Generalized Anxiety Disorder??, posted by snapper on March 20, 2004, at 22:59:02
>yes it does have something to do with the GABA systems in our brains but thats not the whole solution or answer!
> I don't know your full story but GAD and other anxiety disorders can have what appears to be -
Chemical in nature or even possible biological or even nutritional deficiencies hence the importance of finding (if possible) the true cause of your feelings of stress and discomfort.E.g, see this article about a genetic cause for GABA mis-handling by the body:
http://www.nattc.org/asme/details.asp?ID=0402d
Posted by snapper on March 21, 2004, at 19:59:31
In reply to Re: Generalized Anxiety Disorder??, posted by Fred23 on March 21, 2004, at 17:25:21
Hey Fred23, I think this article is probably appropriate... I used to drink like a fish to control my anxieties ...which in turn fueled the depression. Yah know I think I have a pretty good grasp on the dual diganosis kind of thing. evne though I was able to successfully quit alcohol and tobacco with "will power" and the help of an opiate antagonist,Revia(naltrexone) I could still see my self wanting to use alcohol to calm me down which obviously is NOT hte answer and I do know that on my Mothers side most of my cousins are "raging alcoholics" they just are'nt trying to deal with it through pharmacological means. If I did not have such a strong propensity towards depression , I might still be drinking... I just wish the brain were not THE MOST complicated organ in the universe..Even though the pharmacueticals are'nt taking care of my mal-adapted GABA system I do sometimes feel like saying screw it and start drinking but that might land me in deeper waters than I already feel I'm in. I have a lot more that I could say If my ol' brain would allow me to properly articulate it but for now I guess I'll just have to make due and hope that meds, proper nutrition, exercise etc will have to due:/
So point being GABA dysfuntion does ahve a very important role in GAD, cuz I see hints of it in all my family mebers except for my dear old Dad, who will be 69 in July-who can think well and sleep well and function might I say much better than I can.Thanks for your post and would welcome any further thoughts that you may have re GAD or any other anxiety related issues for that matter.. what I do know is that 8-9 years on and off of Effexxor is NOT the answer and It may have even done more harm than good!! plus every other drug I have tried.See Ya
Snapper
Posted by jasmineneroli on March 22, 2004, at 0:30:18
In reply to Generalized Anxiety Disorder??, posted by krybrahaha on March 20, 2004, at 22:41:26
Hey:
It sounds like you have GAD to me.
I have GAD too and have EXACTLY your symptoms, but they did start out as constant worrying-type thoughts too ... ( like always anticipating problems and planning ahead for EVERY little thing, in my mind only, "just in case"). Y'know, like "well if John had an accident on the way home, first I'd do this, then I'd do that" so I'd have a whole scenario figured out in my head. I wouldn't really be feeling anxious or scared, I just never stopped ruminating on the possibilities of EVERYTHING. The thoughts just kept on flowing.It kept me awake at night and interrupted my sleep for years. I could always seem to follow several thought patterns at once too. THEN, after about 2 years of this, I became panicky and anxious and a bit depressed. I get very irritable and cranky, and if I have a thought, have to act on it till it's resolved. Except, quite often another idea comes along and I follow that !!!! So I feel a bit out of control at times. Last year, I was feeling more physical anxiety ALL the time and Klonopin did wonders for me. I've been on it ever since.
Now I'm under a new stress ( a new business) and the old racing thoughts are back again,and some irrational anxiety behaviour, so my Doc has added Manerix (Moclobemide)to the Klonopin. Hope it helps, cuz I'm not eating etc. and am afraid of "crashing".
My PDoc says therapy doesn't work for GAD ppl, cuz it gives them another thing to have anxieties/racing thoughts about!!
Good luck to you.
Jas
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