Hello! My name is Kelly. I'm 24 years old and I've had panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder for 6 years or so. It's been a roller coaster ride these past 6 years.
I actually remember having my first panic attack when I was 7 years old. My wonderful mom was always there to the rescue. I have wonderful, but overprotective parents. Because they are so wonderful, I never could bear the thought of letting them down.
When I was 18, I received a basketball scholarship to a local college (almost 2 hours away). I'll never forget when my parents drove away from the college. I was heartbroken. I did pretty well for about 4 weeks. That's when it hit me. Full blown panic attacks. I couldn't eat, sleep, or function. I thought it was just home sickness. I called my parents almost 7-8 times a day.
To make a long story short, I lost 35 pounds in a total of 8 weeks and I had no choice but to go back home. I felt like a failure for so long because I didn't stay. I have learned to accept it over time though.
When I got home, my doctor prescribed Paxil to me. In about 2 weeks, I started to feel like me again. I was on it for 3 years until I got married. I went off it for a year and a half after I got married. Then I had another full blown attack in a restaurant. I couldn't function again so I went back on the Paxil.
I took it again for a year, and then the Lord blessed me with a twin pregnancy. I'm 12 weeks now, and I spent the first 10 weeks without paxil. I didn't think I was going to make it, but I almost made it through my whole first trimester without it. I've been taking it for 2 weeks now, and I'm starting to feel normal again (except for the raging hormones).
I've been meditating, praying, and reading self-help books which have really been helping. The prayer helps the most. I see my condition as a blessing in a way because I wouldn't know Christ if I didn't have it. I hope this helps someone.
Thanks for Reading,
Kelly