Severe anxiety, panic, and rage

[Piedlourde]

I had flu like symptoms when I quit. Lasted about 3 weeks. I could hardly get out of bed to make it to work.

I was diagnosed with OCD 2 years ago and have been medicated since. The medication helps, but smoking was always a quick fix for me.

Since quitting traditional smokes my OCD got to the point where I had to drink to excess in order to stop my brain from recycling obsessive thoughts and worries.

To friends and coworkers I'm perfectly healthy. For the most part I'm able to control my rituals/symptoms to the point that they don't interfere with my day to day activities.

Sorry for the double post.

Cass: You need to be careful with the anti-anxiety meds and alch. You might need a combination of drugs for your "ruminating". Anti-anxiety meds would only help with the reaction to those thoughts not the thoughts themselves. Make sense? Go back to your doc and there's a combo out there that works. May take a bit to find but it can be done.

Good luck to you as well.

[Ghalenlee]

This is all highly complicated stuff. You shouldn't be trying to self diagnose or medicate.

Get to a Doctor. That's the best and only advice I will give you.
There must be a community Mental Health center in your area. Go there and see if they can help you at little or no cost. Try the ER in a public hospital as a last resort. Then pursue your disability claim.

Plus, I'm confused. I'm not a Medical Professional. I read a lot about medication interaction since I have family members that have various conditions.

What MAOI were you on? You said in your OP that you were on SSRI's and they are not typically given together.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are last line, extremely strong anti-depressants and have nasty side effects when taken with certain foods and other medications. Even if you're on a higher dose patch form you still have to watch your diet.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are especially not given with MAOI's. Here's a Mayo Clinic link about MAOI's. Page 2 talks about the interactions. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) - MayoClinic.com

Tobacco use in people with mental illnesses as you describe is a common form of self-medication, it may or may not have something to do with your condition but this is not something I would try to figure out on my own.

I hope you're able to find some help in your community.
Good luck to you.

The only MAOIs I have been on are the ones that are naturally occurring in tobacco.

When I was on a combo of an SSRI, anti-psychotic, and an anti-anxiety (as needed) I noticed that my need for smoking cigarettes was dramatically reduced. I still had the physical hand to mouth need but not so much for the tobacco smoking. When I lost my insurance and ran out of meds I noticed a dramatic increase in my smoking habits.

This leads me to the belief that there is something in cigarettes that is not in the e-liquid. And that is the something that has been keeping my anxiety symptoms at a somewhat manageable level for the last 20 some odd years without medications. I am assuming that it is the naturally occurring MAOIs that I am missing when I'm vaping rather than smoking.

Don't worry, if I get to the point where I'm seriously considering hurting myself or someone else and the klonopin doesn't help it, I will get to the ER.

[BlueSun]

My BF told me I should go to the ER and tell them what's going on, I'm afraid if I do that they will hospitalize me and I have no way to pay for that right now.

If this isn't yet another fine example of why a public healthcare option is necessary in your country, I don't know what is. I can't believe that your financial situation is one of the major things stopping you from going to the hospital. What a shocking, bloody disgrace. In Canada, we consider it a basic human right to have access to free (yes, taxpayer funded) healthcare so that nobody is denied help if they need it, regardless of their financial situation. Where's the compassion?

Rant over!

[a2dcovert]

If this isn't yet another fine example of why a public healthcare option is necessary in your country, I don't know what is. I can't believe that your financial situation is one of the major things stopping you from going to the hospital. What a shocking, bloody disgrace. In Canada, we consider it a basic human right to have access to free (yes, taxpayer funded) healthcare so that nobody is denied help if they need it, regardless of their financial situation. Where's the compassion?

Rant over!

We have a system in place to protect those who are not insured. Any ER is forbidden from turning anyone away who needs medical attention regardless of their ability to pay for it.

Kevin

[a2dcovert]

If fact, tomorrow I will call for an appointment with my MD. I will get to see him at the first available position. I can choose which ever doctor I want to see. That doctor can then refer me to any specialist we deem necessary. I can get treatment any time I need it no matter where I am. Kevin

[olderthandirt]

I on the other hand can't afford any doctor, if I choose the ER I face possible bankruptcy. No insurance so even if I did find a doctor that would see me other than at the ER I would be charged anywhere from 20% or more than those with insurance for all services.

Sorry for hijack..

[BlueSun]

I'm aware that an ER can't deny you treatment if you're in need, but aren't you handed a bill afterward, especially if you need further care and medication? That sounds like what Ghalenlee is worried about, because she said she's had to stash away medication when her insurance ran out.

[a2dcovert]

There's no doubt we need some health care reform. I just don't want Socialism with a government run health care. There are other options.

Kevin

[rfun6]

I believe you should try some vg juice for a week. Just give it a try and see how it goes.

[Frankie]

Please, could you limit the talk to relevant points? I for one am in a post-Commie country with a socialist free healthcare which means I cannot get any pro help besides the advice to take more excercise, work less, sleep more, spend more time in the sun and use Diazepam (Valium) when it´s bad. Or get sent to a nuthouse with all the implications and personal/professional problems it carries... I would really like to see how people deal with the issues of anxiety and depression (I got over the rage stage somehow).

QUESTION: When you return to nicotine, does the anxiety etc. go away? I tried once with snuff tobacco, did not help at all. Anybody tried DL-PA? Kava extracts? St John´s Wort? It might be intreresting to see what helps, especially if it can be bought in free market.

On the other hand, I *think* the problems are decreasing very slowly, month by month.