Would xanax help my severe anxiety attacks that cause me to freeze up?!

Question: Would xanax help my severe anxiety attacks that cause me to freeze up?

For many years I avoided social situations and relationships, and I think one of the reasons I began doing this was that I had some early experiences where I completely humiliated myself when my anxiety caused my mind to go blank. People would ask me a simple question which I knew the answer to, but because I was socially anxious I would not be able to recall it. The best example I remember, was when I was at some type of class gathering at the end of the year in high school, and a girl approached me and tried to make conversation by asking me what teachers I had during the year that had just ended. I got nervous, and was unable to remember any of their names. She joked about it and said something like "wow, they were really memorable people", which is actually kind of a funny response in retrospect, but at the time all I could think about was how stupid I looked and how I had humiliated myself. Of course after she left I recalled all the names, once my anxiety level came down, but knowing that there was a chance my mind would go blank in social situations is one reason I began avoiding them. I recognize now that this problem was caused by anxiety, but I used to think it was just stupidity, and it made me feel ashamed.

But these days it has gotten worse, I dont leave my room, afraid to make simple phone calls, my heart pounds if I see a woman or if one shows up on my caller ID. Hell its SO bad I even get an anxiety attack when I see a man a approach a woman ON TV.....lol. I am a big mess and my SAD is holding me back. I often drop classes once I hear that a presentation is involved, I will NEVER graduate college since oral communications is mandatory, I keep putting that class off. I heard those classes have like 4 speeches that you have to make, I might faint or freeze up on the first one..lol

I need HELP, the only thing that worked for me so far is drinking alcohol but I hate the after effects of doing it. I heard Xanax and other drugs in that class does the same thing alcohol does but without the effects. Is it true? I have an appointment with my psychiatrist next week, should I ask him for that specific drug? I heard its the best in its class

Thanks for reading you guys, those of you who have SAD can understand my pain. I am literally trapped in my own body and I feel like I dont belong in this world. I want that feeling to go away, I wanna be able to launch out and talk to women, men, in front crowds, go to job interviews...etc
And PLEASE dont say to avoid medicine and practice, dont you think I practiced for the last 25 years? Not everyone's brain is made up like yours, some people need meds!

Answers:

yes many people need medication--but xanax is a benzodiazepine and has the propensity to be addictive.
So a small dose for a short time may be beneficial, and the psychiatrist (NOT a GP) would be the best person to ask about this.
You cannot drink alcohol while on any medication, especially psych meds of any kind.
Good luck!

24 yrs psychiatric nursing

if you are so set on medication you need to see your GP

Hi.Well,I used to have severe panic attacks myself,but I am now free thankfully.I was prescribed xanax by my ob/gyn,because my panic attacks were due to my being pregnant.I had a very bad experience with my first pregnancy,but that isn't the issue here.So,with your issue with your anxiety although xanax might help you also have to keep in mind,that even though xanax does help with the anxiety it is only useful to treat the symptoms of anxiety/panic attacks.And,your going to have to get the the main cause of these anxiety attacks,and not just treat the symptoms.Ok? And,also keep in mind that xanax..although very helpful treating the symptoms,but it's only for a short period of time.You can ask your psychiatrist when you go to your appointment,and see if he/she will prescribe you xanax,but your psychiatrist might advise you it will only be for a short period of time,and you will possibly require counseling/therapy,and other medication/s.And,those other medication/s you will be able to take for a longer period of time,and those medication/s are very helpful treating anxiety and panic attacks.I hope things goes well with your psychiatrist and you get the treatment that best suits your needs.Take care.

Anxiety is debilitating. I understand. I used to have quite a bit of it myself. It goes hand in hand with depression. When you say, 'SAD' are speaking of Seasonal Affective Disorder or a general feeling of sadness?

I can tell you that Xanax does help anxiety, but it's really not safe to take for more than a couple weeks. It's easy to build tolerance to it and dependence on a benzodiazipene is not really a solution. Paxil, an anti-depressant, is used for social anxiety and depression with more long term success.

You will need to see a doctor to get a prescription for any of the anxiety reducing medications. Hopefully, you can find one who is good at counseling or get a separate counselor to talk about these things. Medication can really help, but it's just one tool. You will need to attack this problem on both a physiolgical AND psychological front.

Best of luck. And, it can get better.

nurse
had many years of therapy

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Would xanax help my severe anxiety attacks that cause me to freeze up?!

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