Anxiety

[Phoebe]

I'm new to the anxiety game, but it's been a real issue for me, too.

Sleeplessness - trouble getting to sleep, waking in the night, and waking up too early. My doc prescribed Trazadone for the sleeplessness and it helped me like crazy. It's slowly getting better, but I'm nowhere near normal sleep quality. I am going to start tapering off it this weekend. I think I might try melatonin as a kind of bridge.

I've also had something like panic attacks for the first time in my life, crying, hyperventilating, chest tightness. It's only happened a few times, but they're no fun. I was given Xanax and I've used maybe 3-4 pills in the last month, but I try hard no to.

I have my first appointment with an IC in couple days, and I am hoping he can help me learn some non-pharmaceutical coping mechanisms.

I already exercise, but I was having a hard time with anxiety this evening, went to the gym purposefully to burn off some steam, and came out feeling just as bad as when I went in. So much for that.

What helped was talking to a friend on the phone. I've found that friends are worth their weight in gold.