Hi everyone. I am new to this site but I am really struggling so I thought I'd reach out.
I have been a generalized anxiety suffere for almost 10 years now and I've been off and on meds throughout that time. I remember my life before meds and I was functional (maybe not super happy all the time, but functional). My anxiety increased in my 20s and I decided to go on meds.
So recently I've been on 10mg of Prozac for about 3 years now and I'm thinking of having a kid so I decided to go off of the drugs. About two months later I stood up from dinner and got really lightheaded. My brain felt like it was being squeezed and my vision went all melty blurry. I fell down and launched into what I guess was a full blown anxiety attack. I've never had one before and it was obviously really scary. It lasted almost 10 hours and I eventually went to the ER.
That was two months ago. Ever since then it's like the anxiety beast is out of it's cage. I feel lightheaded all the time (almost a dizzy feeling but with no vertigo). My heart races for no reason, and I feel anxious a lot without warning. I am super scared of having another panic attack but most of all I just don't feel like myself. This is interfering with every aspect of my life and I feel like no fun at all. I am afraid to exercise or dance or do anything that might push my body to some unknown limit. I get terrible headaches and generally just feel really weird. If I drink a beer I feel even weirder. WTF is going on with me?
Has anyone else experienced anything similar to these symptoms? I saw a GP and she suggested that I should go back on meds. I am really hesitant to do that for a few reasons:
1. I am afraid the meds have made my anxiety worse, to the point where I can't deal with it without taking them
2. I want to have a kid at some point soon and I'd rather not be on meds
I really keep thinking that this will get better. I have tried acupuncture, yoga, and herbal calmers but nothing really has solved the problem to any noticeable degree. If anyone has any insight into this I would greatly appreciate it! I just want my old life back. I know I used to be able to not be on medication and function. I feel like my brain is broken.