Posted by Janelle on April 2, 2002, at 17:23:02
Dr. Kramer,
I have problems with extremely intense anxiety, to the point where I can barely concentrate or focus. I will explain it in two posts right here because I don't know how to copy/paste into just one post from previous posts where I had written about it. I would like some recommendations of MEDICINES I could try that would alleviate this kind of anxiety (I'm on Klonopin 1mg/day which barely keeps it in check, and just began Depakote).
Okay, my cognitive functioning is severely limited by anxiety ... to the point where when it comes to reading I cannot concentrate on anything very long or detailed. I can't even read magazines or light fiction books without racing thoughts creeping, distracting me and forcing me to read the same passage over and over again. Then I get anxious about feeling anxious!
Also and primarily, with the high level of anxiety I have, I get a feeling of being overwhelmed by so much reading material that my head starts to swim, the anxiety builds and feeds on itself and I can't focus. Even watching television is also a chore - I can't concentrate very long, I *zone out* and miss chunks of dialog then can't figure out what just happened.
What I'm trying to illustrate with these is examples is that when it comes to doing RESEARCH on topics like those I've put into questions on here, I just can't sift and sort through copious amounts of reading material such as that found in response to an Internet Search, books, or magazines.
Also, even when trying to go about the daily business of my life, the moment I try to do something (like if I have to make a phone call dealing with some kind of personal business I need to straighten out), I immediately feel my body tense up, my heart races, my head starts to swim (almost the point of being dizzy) and I JUST CANNOT COPE with ANYTHING.
All I want to do is lie down, fall asleep and make it *go away* - the feelings are just so intense.
I hope this explains it a bit. I will do another post right under here with a copy/paste of what I had written elsewhere. Any med recommendations you could give me for this kind of anxiety would be GREATLY appreciated.
poster:Janelle
thread:101530
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020402/msgs/101530.html