Chronic Anxiety, strong medications-don't work -Brush with death

Hi there,

I just came across your post and what you are describing I feel as if I have heard many times over - from my best friend. I suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression myself so I know how crippling it can be. The reason I came across your particular post is that my friend doesn't feel the relief from medication that I feel. I can take a Xanax and feel better - not all better, but it will at least take enough out of my head that I lose that "anxiety stomach".

My friend feels no help from medication. NONE. She has been hospitalized with her condition and is currently taking the strongest medications - valium, librium, effexor, neurontin, lamictal, and buspar - but she says they don't help. She also doesn't get to the "flat stage" or that feeling of being numb. I have experienced this feeling myself and while it isn't pleasant I would prefer feeling numb as opposed to the nervous stomach, anxious, heart-racing feeling she describes to me. The issue is so severe she has some physical abdominal soreness from feeling anxious all the time.

I am trying to help her the only way I know how, which is to find out some more information. She, like you, sees a therapist, a psychiatrist, and has faith in God (that's how I took your "spiritual Aunt" so forgive me if I'm wrong) but nothing works. It is a struggle for her to get through the day. I know what that feeling is like, as well as the terror of anxiety - but there is usually something that alleviates the feeling; whether it be medication, an event that I'm anxious about comes and goes, etc. - so I do feel some relief.

Thank you very much for your post. I know it takes courage to put information out there the way you have. Any thoughts or words of advice? What can I do for my friend? Are there possible physical conditions that can cause that same feeling of anxiety that just won't go away? Have you experienced the "feeling in the pit of your stomach" that just won't go away?

My friend is losing hope, which as you know can be a terrible thing. This has been an on-going issue for 10+ years but the "nervous stomach" feeling has been constant, with only slight relief, for over 2 years. Therapy sessions, dr visits, good old-fashioned lending an ear on my part, and every medication in the book aren't helping her right now.....

Thanks again.