Its crazyness.To this day I still have no clue as to why I was having such horrible anxiety about going out and all.But from the responses I have seen here and from people I know this is apparently a very common thing amongst people.On the one hand that stinks,on the other hand there is people who can relate and help shed light on how to beat it.

It got to the point that I couldn't drink coffee, couldn't be in closed spaces and I was on THE EDGE all the time.  I remember walking into a pottery factory outlet with my wife one night and there were SO MANY "things" on the shelves that it was like my mind couldn't process it.  I had to actually leave the store.

Paxil is what I wound up taking.  I don't like being on medication for long periods of time, but on the other hand, I feel MUCH better.  YMMV, please consult a physician.

Well, I know my mom didn't smoke or drink, BUT, she was and is an avid coffee drinker.

BTW, that would be anti-depressants.

Just a quick comment about Kava ...


... it is mildly narcotic and produces mild euphoric changes characterized by elevated mood, fluent and lively speech and increased sense of sound. Higher doses can lead to muscle weakness, visual impairment, dizziness and drying of the skin. Long term use of the herb can contribute to hypertension, reduced protein levels, blood cell abnormalities, or liver damage. Alcohol consumption increases the toxicity of the pharmacological constituents. It is not recommended for those who intend on driving or where quick reaction time is required.

Kava is the most relaxing botanical herb with exception of the opium poppy. Pharmacological studies show kava kava's active ingredients, kavalactones, produce physical and mental relaxation and a feeling of well being. It has also been used in the treatment of ailments of the genitourinary tract including vaginitis, gonorrhea and menstrual cramps. Kava is a diuretic and an anti-inflammatory, thus useful for gout, rheumatism, bronchial congestion, cystitis and prostatis. It is an effective local anesthetic and pain reliever when applied externally as a liniment. The relaxed state and sharpening of senses also contribute to aphrodisiac effect.


It's most common use ... Kava root is primarily used as a natural sedative and sleep enhancement. Herbalists have traditionally used it as a remedy for nervousness and insomnia. Kava kava is an effective relaxant able to induce a feeling of relaxation, peace and contentment, along with a sharpening of the senses. As a sleep aid it promotes deep and restful sleep. It is also a muscle relaxant that can help relieve cramping due to spasms.

All of this to say that each person needs to research for themselves before taking something like this. I've actually thought about using it (occasionally) as a sleep aid.

And as you might expect, do NOT use if pregnant, nursing, or being treated for depression.

Another comment about Kava

It has been pulled from the shelves, at least in my area, due to warnings about liver problems arising from its use:

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/03/26/Consumers/USAkava_020326

Ok, this report is only 9 months old:

http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/healthyliving/20dd1947.html

Medication for this condition seems to be an alternative nobody wants to take.  

Each to his own.

an excerpt from the link:

IN RESPONSE, KAVA HAS BEEN BANNED IN CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, SWITZERLAND AND SINGAPORE. AND SALES HAVE BEEN STRICTLY LIMITED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS ISSUED A CONSUMER ADVISORY. IT WARNS "PERSONS WHO HAVE LIVER DISEASE OR LIVER PROBLEMS...SHOULD CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE USING KAVA -CONTAINING SUPPLEMENTS."

BUT DR. LIPMAN SAYS THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.


"Given the weight of the evidence against kava, we would urge everyone to avoid its use."

I have used Kava Kava in the past, never had any problems with it. It still isn't sure that Kava is bad for you, lot's of doctors still don't agree on that matter.  Anyway, I don't really feel like taking medicines, I hope to overcome these anxiety problems I have at the moment by myself (and some help from God offcourse). It's all a matter of changing your way of thinking. I tend to think very negative, witch isn't very helping, I just try to stay positive, until my mind is used postive thinking. It's quite weird that so many people nowadays suffer from these kind of things ( about 1 on every 5 citizens here in The Netherlands gets to deal with something like this in their life). Maybe it has something to do with society and the way of living nowadays??


btw. lots of shops are opened nowadays in the Netherlands, it isn't a great succes though. seems like people don't like to go shopping (or working) on sunday.

Arch, so many people have this, and if you ask around, you may be surprised how common it is.  An innocent discussion of anxiety and panic attacks began at work once years ago, and before you know it, half the table told us which anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressants, and tranquilizers they were on!  And then which sexual potency drugs they took to counteract the sexual side-effects!  It turned into quite the eye-opening lunch!

My father had anxiety big time, couldn't go out to far from the house, and couldn't work, couldn't sit and talk to you for too long.  Because he refused medication or examination, it went un-treated forever, but that's the way he wanted it.  One thing I noticed though, is that if something just came up (like someone stopping by the house) that he had to deal with, no problem.  But if there was something planned that he had to think about for days ahead of time, he would totally get anxious and nervous and dwell on it... but then when the actual event came, he was fine.  It seemed to me that the thinking about it was the real enemy, not the event.

My point is: you are right to "just go out" and not think about it if you can, just go do it---- you'll most likely be fine.  That is a great attitude to have.   Don't rule out caffeine(or its withdrawal) causing it, or alcohol, tobacco, weight gain or loss, fatique.  If I overeat (or play trumpet, which I used to dabble in) I can find myself feeling claustrophobic or dizzy, which can lead to anxiety---the trumpet thing caused dizziness, and was I believe, sinus related, can you imagine?!

And if you get anxious, like you said, you always have the bathroom---- many times the attack can be due to enviromental factors: I got so severly claustrophobic at an Arlo Guthrie show in the Quick Center in Fairfield University, that I think I had a panic episode---- It was winter, so my coat, sweater, and scarf got me too overheated, I got an itch, the woman next to me was sitting too close, the theatre was at an extreme slant and we were up way high, near the wall, I felt trapped... and Arlo was talking on and on and on about some family event that was hardly entertaining---I had eaten too much at a nice Italian Restaurant, and was having trouble getting air... I felt like I would die!! So I just went outside for a walk and took a few deep breaths.  I felt like Tony Soprano for a minute...I just called Paulie, and was fine...  

OK, since we're all revealing our deep, dark secrets, ...

I'm a rather shy person (in public, NOT on a DRUM forum   ), but the job I've held these past few years placed me in situations where I've had to speak in front of lots of very smart folks.  There were many times I felt very anxious and wanted to wither away.  However, I noticed that the occassions I'd take an anti-depressant, prescribed for my chronic sleeping disorder, I'd feel more confident and less shy.

Man, I'm sorry you're going through all this. But I do want to address the comment quoted above.

As much as you may care for each other, it simply isn't realistic to place that level of expectation on a relationship between teenagers. And in doing so, you create far more pressure, and - this is the bad part - far greater pain if things don't work out.

Don't try to sew up the rest of your life as a teen. You are going to grow and change SO much over the next 10-15 years. So is she. So is everybody you know. Hell, I'm 45 and still getting things dialed in!

Allow yourself to be young, embrace the change and growth that lies ahead, and do try to have good, caring relationships. But don't put so much emphasis on the forever aspect - it really sets an unrealistic expectation, and that added pressure can take the fun out of things, and/or can make one person uncomfortable under the sheer weight of the other's expectations.

Hang in there - things WILL get better.