How do you know if you need something for anxiety?

I don't know if I need something or not. I don't want to call the dr. and ask for something if it isn't really needed.

I have had several bouts of anxiety and break downs in the last couple weeks. Two that stick out in my mind were in just the last 2 days. I had a dental appointment for fillings 2 days ago. While setting in the chair my heart started racing, my ears were ringing, hands shaking and I had trouble breathing. Once I was out of the office I was fine. My mom told me it sounded like a panic attack.

Last night no matter what I did I couldn't get my mind off surgery. All the what ifs and maybes. I was sitting in my recliner and reached for my drink and knocked over DHs bottle of Orange pop. He was joking and said "geeee you are worse than the kids" I lost it! I started bawling and had to run to the bathroom to calm myself down. DH came after me and asked what was wrong and said he was just joking. It seemed like I couldn't do anything right yesterday. Everything I touched fell over, spilled, or broke. My hands wouldn't stop shaking long enough to even get a drink.

I am calmer today but my hands are still sweaty and shaky. I wish the next 3 weeks would just be here and have all this over with!

Hi Martie,
Nice to "meet" you. I had a TAH Aug 3rd 2006...one year after you are scheduled...how ironic! Anyway, what you're going through sounds very familair to me. I felt the same. I thought I was truly going crazy. I also had the dropsies and I could cry anytime, anyplace. It's a lot to deal with. The fears and phobias of the surgery alone are astronomical let alone add to that just getting through day to day life with the family, work, etc! Hang in there.
My blood pressure which is normally fine was suddenly and regularly high. My doc felt this was all due to the stress I was putting myself through over the coming surgery. He put me on Xanax for a couple weeks before the surgery and that helped me a lot. After surgery, the pain meds mellowed me out so I no longer felt stressed and once surgery was over...my BP returned to normal. Everyone will tell you to relax and calm down, yeah, right, sure. You'll come through this and in time, all will return to normal except for how crummy you felt before having the surgery...all that pain and bleeding is gone...yippie! Trust me, that allows you to focus on the good times ahead and they are GREAT! If you'd like a hysterbuddy to stay in touch with, feel free to email me at kodimonstersmom@aol.com and I'll get you through it like my hysterbuddy Sue did for me.
Good luck!
Stef

Hi Martie.....Listen, I know so much about anxiety and panic attacks. I had them for several years. Finally 10 years a go I went on medication for them. I don't take it now, but if I get overly anxious I do. I had my doctor prescribe some for me for before my surgery "just in case". I have not had to take any, although I feel like I could have taken one last nite.. I am going in tomorrow, and I was up last night thinking too. If I were you I would get something.. Why spend the next few weeks like this? Also what helps me with anxiety is praying and reading scripture. If you need a friend to talk to you when you are going thru this, I will be there...I won't be on the board tomorrow, but I will be back soon after that.... Hugs to you

Hi Mandm91, I have had one panic attack in my life in 1989 (found out by an anonymous phone call at 6:00 a.m. that my ex was having an affair, got someone pregnant and I still went to the job interview at 8:00 a.m......had to use all my will not to scream and run out of the job interview ....fyi, got hired lol). If I was feeling that kind of anxiety and panic now, I would take a Rx until I felt stronger. With my decision to have the hysterectomy I am full of anxiety and I cry way easier, but as of right now, I think I am having "normal" fear/anxiety. I'm pretty hard on myself; maybe you are too? I say if you are having too much trouble calming yourself down, then talk to your dr. about it.

When I go to the dentist and they numb my mouth I get the same racing, breathing, shaking, and ears. It is, for me, a side affect of the medication they use. It fades after a little bit.
It is 100% normal to feel anxiety about having surgery and what your life will be like afterwards. I am no Dr. so I have no clue whether you would benefit from something to ease your nerves but I just wanted to tell you that while I felt all the anxiety I thought I could bear before, I see now that the "what ifs" is really the absolute worst part of the whole thing. ((hugs)) Denise

Your experiences sound very similar to mine. I was having panic attacks while all of the "diagnosing" was gonig on. I am not one for "meds", but I was really worried about them (the racing heart, dificulty breathing, breakdowns). My primary asked me abunch of questions about my life, did an EKG and a chest sray to rule out anything serious. Then, she prescribed Xanax. Bottle says take 1 three times a day. I take as needed (usually about half of one everyday...prior to surgery). It helped mje calm down, without totally zonking me out.
Now, the surgery is 3 weeks gone, and I have only taken it twice (half a pill each time).
Talk to your doctor. You are experiencing alot of stress right now and Xanax for me was the perfect temporary helper.
Do not be emabarressed or feel like you are being a wimp, this is a very stressful situation.
Take care...let us know how it goes.

Marti, I know exactly how you feel. I am scheduled for Aug. 1 and am having the exact operation that you are. I'm a total wreck and could use a xanax. I am prone to panic attacks though. Whenever I lose my breath and have chest pains, I know it's time to see the Dr. Good luck to you!! Let me know how you're doing....

Dear mandm91,
I am scheduled for tomorrow, July 14, and on Monday of this week I went to my regular Dr. because I thought I had poison ivy. Wrong, I was so stressed out I was giving myself a rash, scratching myself crazy.
He thought I would end up having my surgery cancelled because I was such a mess mentally. He prescribed Lorazepam (anti-anxiety drug)
and I cannot begin to tell you what a difference it made for me. I feel so much better now. It is also helping me sleep. I wish I had this 3 weeks ago.
Don't wait another day. Your Dr. can help you if you ask.
Good luck!