How many suffer from anxiety?

[SeVeN]

I,ve noticed a few people talking about benzos and the such. I'm just wondering how many people suffer from anxiety? How many people find that being an addict can make anxieties worse?

I know my father had horrible anxieties/panick attacks, and I started having them around 14-15. I also think his alcoholism/ and my addictions are partialy due to such anxieties.

Another thing I've noticed is that since I've been relatively clean, my anxieties are at a high level. I think this is largely brought on by my H using. I don't always feel "great when I use but often feel normal or at least that I can function without extreme dread. Anyone else have similiar thoughts/feelings?

[Chicago]

Yes w/out heroin in my system I have unbareable panic attacks.

[LorTabitha]

I always have "some' anxiety, but when I'm less medicated I have quite a bit. I am working on it both using biofeedback/talk therapy and ativan, which does help. I try to save the meds for when it gets really bad/unbearable. The problem is I have really high blood pressure, so I can't let things get too "out of control." The meds help with that a LOT. I only take ONE ativan, when needed, and that's usually only 2-3 times a week, sometimes less. I don't need a benzo addiction on top of all my other problems!!

[Raz]

Panic attacks are fuckin horrible.I had them while i was awaitin trial in jail and had afew other things goin on in my personal life at the same time..The only thing that got rid of them wa physical exercise and just switchin off.But i was in a crazy jail enviroment at the time.If my only relief out here was opi's i would still be doin opi's everyday.Panic attacks are no fun..I hope you guys find a way out wivout drugs...

[SeVeN]

I always have "some' anxiety, but when I'm less medicated I have quite a bit. I am working on it both using biofeedback/talk therapy and ativan, which does help. I try to save the meds for when it gets really bad/unbearable. The problem is I have really high blood pressure, so I can't let things get too "out of control." The meds help with that a LOT. I only take ONE ativan, when needed, and that's usually only 2-3 times a week, sometimes less. I don't need a benzo addiction on top of all my other problems!!

Well I hate that others suffer from this also but it peaked my curiosity.

I try really hard to not medicate myself very often. I only take my xanax when I have bad panic attacks, and especially when I'm panicking and I know I'll be out in public. I don't take it for every anxiety because I've been down this road before and after too long the meds don't work so great unless I've doped myself into a benzo zombie.

[ein0606]

aniexty and addiction both run in my family. my mom has terrible aniexty along with her mom. my dads dad was an alocholic and his dad my Great grandpa an OG heroin addict. but it seems that im the only one in my generation of family that got either, adn i got both.

and yes panic attacks are horrible. i never got them until after i was addicted. i remember my mom screaming and running out of a grocery store when i was like 4. she scooped me up and just fucking ran, she literally thought the walls were closing in on us. then she got to the car and popped a pill 45 mins later she was ok. it was crazy

[Armegeddon73]

I too suffer from excruciating anxiety as well as panic attacks. They did not start until 20-21 yrs old, but I knew something wasn't quite wired right at a much younger age. Although I have been taking other meds for OCD and bi polar disorder for over 10 years, opiates are the only thing that helps. The mental anguish of withdrawals from opiates is especially agonizing for me, not so much the physical (I also withdraw from my other meds when I miss a dose or run out by accident, so why are the OK to take?). :(

PS. love the site and feel very lucky to have found it by googling "getting the most from your vicodin".
ARM

[Saint]

I started getting panickattacks when I quit using heroine (after 16 years) and then started tapering methadone. I had been using both all that time. Once below 20 mgs I didn't know what hit me. Severe panick.
I'm convinced it has something to do with the good old brainchemistry being changed by my longterm opiate-use. I never had a panickattack in my life before that.
Once you're clean or 'almost' clean your body can't keep up with all the changes and panick will hit me when least expected. I do take benzo's on and of but try to use them as prescribed - or even less. I take like 5 to 10 mgs valium if needed. I don't feel shit from that amount - not groggy, nor high or sleepy - but at least the panick is gone.

[Fillthee]

I have panic attacks. I have little ones all the time but once ever month or so I will have major ones. I hate them. They started when I was a teenager. I used to take xanax for them but did not have insurance for along time. I have noticed since I have been taking opiates (about 4 years) I have milder ones and not as often. However it may be in my head but when I run out of opiates I start having them again. That could always be a symptom of my mental dependency I guess.

[Princess]

This is very interesting stuff.

When I was young(er), I used to freak out about everything, panic attacks/knots in my stomach like 24/7. I was a complete stress case (yet no one ever knew how stressed I was). The doctor put me on xanax when I was about 16.

I often wondered (now that I'm 34) if it was long term xanax use, long term opiate use, my brain being fried or what...but I'm seriously the most calm female I've ever heard of and have been for a LONG time. Very strange.

Anxiety is a bitch. I so remember those days like they were yesterday. I just wonder what happened and completely changed me. I really feel for those who suffer anxiety attacks.

[scarlettt]

Though I don't suffer anxiety attacks on a frequent basis, I do have them on occasion and when I'm not having them, I usually feel varying levels of anxiety about many things. I've often wondered if generalized anxiety and addictive behaviours are connected in some latent way.

[}<<<*-*>>>{]

Yeah, I am a very anxious person. I think it tends to make me more introverted than I normally would be, I think that because when I am high I'm suddenly cured and outgoing... might even be why I started getting high in the first place. Can't remember. Hahaha.

It isn't fun at all, I have even been known to have attacks where I hyperventilate, which is embarrassing, which only fuels the attacks. It's a fire that pours it's own gas. I used to be on benzos but after a pretty hellacious withdrawl I prefer not to ever go back... I find Opiates and Marijuana are much better treatments.

[LongKissGoodNite]

I only suffer panic attacks when im out of opiates and my connect fucks me around for days promising much but delivering little.

[starglazer33]

yes, and every other kind of attack.:(

[Nate]

Yes, very much so :confused:

[Mustelid]

Yeah, I've had them since before doing any drugs. They're terrible. I scored some ativan recently, so at least, the next few won't last for hours.

[SurfRat]

Not too much anxiety attacks but generalized anxiety is a large part of my existence and my immediate family are all wound way too tight.

I think opiates and benzos help anxiety for sure but if you get dependent and stop taking them you're going to be worse off than before. Sometimes anxiety like physical pain, is so bad you have to take something, not much choice. The reason I never take anything enough to develop even modest dependence is my certainty that it would push all of my anxiety and related problems into an unmanageable place, if I were to back off or have to stop. Then I would really have problems...


So that's why I always take small amounts and skip days so I can try to have some good days and some not so good but none really bad...


Oh yeh, I have to add, sometimes procurement issues will lead to situations where the erstwhile anxious person is placed in a situations that would make anybody anxious, ie. bad neighborhoods, dealers, LE, and other exposures and consequences.
I guess that means that the desire for relief oftentimes supersedes the risk of even greater suffering.

[strikks]

I suffer from real intense anxiety,especially if it has to do with worrying about the pain and withdrawl of 2moro when i am out of meds. also it seems like lately i have been relying and using my opiates for the anxiety and it works to a point. i have never been on benzos but i am considering asking my pm next time.i also have a shrink appt soon should i go for the shrink or pm doc??? i guess if the shrink dont work than i have to ask my pm! since they come in that order. i have tryed ativan,xanax amd k=pin and they really can help me i think but i hate to create another dependance,but the anxiety is unbearable sometimes!!

peace!!
sorry for rambling!!

[turdkenedy]

i have pretty severe anxiety disorder. many people who are drug abusers are such because they have depression and anxiety.

[dirtdog]

dog suffers from severe anxiety. went downhill after got clean. docs wanted to stick me in the nuthouse
once i started using, i was fine.


hmm...

legalize opiates!