Feeling of dread

[MiaB]

Is there a name for this, and does anyone else here experience it?  I have a huge knot in my stomach and a constant feeling that something terrible is about to happen.  This has been going on for about 5 days and it's starting to affect my daily functioning.  The evenings are even worse, and when I try to go to sleep my heart pounds and I have to talk myself through some controlled breathing.  I'm taking 2.5 - 5mg of diazepam at night right now, and it's just not cutting it.  I'm too wary to take it at work, and besides, it wasn't prescribed for use during the day.

 

I know, call pdoc.  I was trying to stick it out until my appointment next week, but I'm thinking I need to ask for something fast acting now.

Edited October 8, 2014 by MiaB

[Jessamine]

I'm no help but I hope you get it dealt with soon and feel a bit better.

I get it sometimes but it's usually in relation to an upcoming event or something I'm already anxious about. There's only been a few times I've had it for no apparent reason. It did eventually pass.

[MiaB]

Thanks Jessamine.  I spoke to pdoc and she's putting me on slow release alprazolam (Xanax).  She thinks it's possible my BP is "pushing through" with high anxiety since we started the process of taking me off lithium.  Apparently I can take one tablet immediately after I've collected them from the pharmacy, but I hate taking meds during the day until I'm sure I know how they're going to work.

[melissaw72]

Have you tried propranolol?  That helps with anxiety and blood pressure at the same time.  Worked wonders for me before I had to go off of it.

[cleo]

This happens to me pretty much daily! I just never thought anything of it so usually pay it down when I speak to my Dr.

Its a horrible feeling sometimes I even feel like I'm falling out of myself if that makes any sense. Nauseous also.

It isn't directly as a result of an upcoming event. I could have a thought that sets it off. Or think that I had a de ja vu and something bad is about to happen

[revolution724]

For me, a vague ball of dread means my GAD is acting up.  I'm not saying that to try to diagnose you, just that that's what it means for me, and I get it often.

 

Do you see a tdoc in addition to your pdoc?

[lysergia]

yes oh dear lord yes i know that feeling very well right now.  it is out of control anxiety for no reason (for me).  which is a spinoff of my bipolar stuff.  it can be a warning of oncoming mixed states or hypomania for me.  every time it's ever happened i get a bunch of AAPs and increased benzos round the clock until it calms down.  

 

i hope your pdoc is able to work with you to find some relief.  it doesn't sound unusual for coming off a mood stabilizer, if there's nothing there to replace it.  i'm sorry you feel so awful.  i understand the trepidation about taking something new during the day.  i sometimes avoid sedating meds during the day too because i want to function "optimally", even though i don't work anymore, i still do it.  but there gets to be a point where flipping out at work is a bigger risk than being a little out of it while getting accustomed to a new med.  only you know where that line is, though.

[crtclms]

Anticipatory anxiety? I get it too.

[jt07]

I'm all too familiar with this feeling. I hope the Xanax helps and it should. In the past, Risperdal and Invega helped me with these feelings of doom because they border on paranoia for me. I get literally convinced that something bad is going to happen at any time.