Because of lack of sleep last night and a strange brain fog this morning, my family found a counselor for me to talk with tomorrow at 2:40pm. She is connected with a psychiatrist and I suppose is the initial filter. I hope to God they don't check me in to this facility. My sister told me this morning, you know Jimmy some people live with tinnitus and they are fine! Do they also live with roaring, dizziness, headaches, ear fullness, varying sound distortions even with hearing aids, confusion, and sometimes the complete inability to hear, sit in a restaurant, and even listen to a TV?
Jimmy, I'm so sorry you are suffering so much. Many of us have dealt with all the things you mentioned. I know I have. A counselor is a good thing. Maybe she can help you with some coping skills. Once you get over your fear of what is happening to you, you will be better equipped to deal with it. Please be careful with the Xanax. It is the worst of benzos. A person taking only 1/4 mg can become addicted in under a month. You don't need anymore problems. All the best to you.
Let your Dr. decide and make a choice. Easy. I doubt you would be checked in. You're stressing yourself out and it isn't helping. Easy to say right. Breathe in through your nose and hold it for a count to 6 then exhale to the count of 8. Only concentrate on your breathing. If you pray then pray while you're doing this but don't lose concentration on the breathing. Do it until you're calm. Sometimes if I do that before sleep. Especially if I can do it outside. I also drink Chamomille Sleepytime Vanilla tea. I've been on and off different benzos for more years than I can count. I went off them and the Dr. would give me a new one. I took each one for a period of 2-3 years i guess. I get the lowest dosage and I'll take one if I'm feeling anxious. Later another but ONLY if I need it. In the beginning it was my challenge to myself to keep it at 1. I go days without it too. There are so many things you'll learn here. Hang in there. ((((HUGS))))
I know, I tried sleeping without Xanax last night but I couldn't stand the noises and vibrating roar. My mind even tried to rationalize the noise or use them somehow for sleep. I even dreamed of using the noises to fly as a drone to get to sleep....sounds pretty crazy, right? I just let you all in on the inner most working of my mind. Used the rain noise maker this morning which helped. Thank you all for being so kind and controlled. I suppose I don't have a lot of control right now, just panic. It seems right now, I get knocked out and I mostly sleep, if not, I am up and my mind is wondering and lost. Mornings are the worst...I am some thing I don't recognize...weepy and self indulgent.
Sorry for a late response. I have been where you are and had the same reaction. A counseor will help a lot. Also, what helped is taking one problem at a time. They tend to snow ball. It is funny that your sister said some people live with tinnitus. I actaully made friends with it. Now if it stops (almost never) I freak out! LOL. What you are going through isn't easy, but you are doing all the right things. Good luck.
Talking to a counselor will be a big help if he/she has had any experience at all with anxiety/depression due to health issues. Your family is concerned and it's good they care enough to suggest this help. Sometimes it helps just to know we are cared about that much. If you had another condition--and weren't dealing well with it--a doctor that specializes with that condition would be the person to see. So, it's the same with emotional disorders, that are caused my various reasons--health, personal issues, etc. Let us know how you are doing--and you know we, here--do understand and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Went yesterday to the counselling. This was a first step, and they wanted to review my drugs before more in depth help. She took me off of Prosac and Clonzepan and put me on Zoloft and Trazodone (use to sleep) to stay to on Xanax for sleep one more week and then use it only when experiencing extreme anxiety. She told me, when things get reallly bad, I could take xanax and get in the bed and take a nap. I see David in three weeks who has experience dealing with people who have extreme heath conditions.
I've been going to therapy for a while now, and I've found it incredibly useful in coming to terms with this disorder and how it has been effecting my life. Menieres is known to cause depression and anxiety, and therapy is a really useful tool to combat those symptoms. I don't take any medication with therapy (besides the meds to treat physical symptoms of menieres) but just talking to someone can help a great deal. Unless you are suicidal or homicidal, you wont be admitted. But I highly recommend talking to someone. Menieres is a bitch and a strong support group is important. Good luck!
I am reading this thread and reviewing what Bumblebea said to me just a couple of days ago, and now she is gone. Hard not to cry......Bumblebea I hope you are looking down at us, giving us even more inspiration and help....may you have a great eternity....
I've only had about half a dozen full blown episodes with vertigo and vomiting, last one about 2 weeks ago and it freaked me out. I'm thinking of going to a Life coach because I don't accept this disease and want to learn how to accept it. I fell anxious and depressed at times and after reading your post I believe going to counseling would benefit not only me but my family and friends as I don't want to burn them out. Wish you best. I find this site helpful and very supportive.
Marie, I have trouble accepting it too, and look to just six months ago, when I was perfectly fine. It is so hard....I know what you mean, I don't want to burn my family out either. They want to go shop and dine and travel, and I can't do it right now. It crushes me and I know it does the same to them.
Jimmy I just read our posts and have vacillated about going to counseling. Have you gone? How are you feeling?
Marie yes, I went to a drug manager first and she prescribed Zoloft and other stuff to help me to manage the medicine. Since then I have not been in these brain fogs that affected me. I would just sit there and not talk but just cry...it was weird like a catatonic state--I have never been psychologically affected by anything until now. You are talking to someone who has never taken more than two Advils in their life up until November. Now I am on all kind of drugs to deal. I see a counselor this Thursday who specializes in traumatic illnesses and I go back to the drug manager. I took a xanex tonight because of the roaring and vibration. It is such a shock to me to realize how devastating these inner ear issues can be....
Jimmy: by a 'drug manager' did you mean a Psychiatrist? I've hear good things about Zoloft--though I have never been able to tolerate any of the anti-dep. drugs. What is this doctors title--who specializes in traumatic illnesses? A therapist--or ??? Anyway--I wish you all the best in your search for help. Please let us know how you are doing--
NO, the lady I saw was a "physician's assistant" who specializes in drug management at the Ridge View Psychiatric Institute in Atlanta. I am seeing a psychologist on Thursday as part of this. The assistant told me he specializes in helping people with managing serious illnesses. I hope this helps me...
I do too! I feel you are on the right track to get help and send 'good thoughts' and prayers your way. Remember you can always 'sound off' here and get alot of good 'coping skills' too. Keep us posted please.