[Aussie99]

Hi Steve,

I was very lucky to be able to view one old post where you had posted that when you first were diagnosed with SFPN your anxiety levels were high. And you also said that your BP consequentially became high due to the anxiety.

Well you know I have developed anxiety/panic. I am very certain I have this problem as 95% of the time it occurs in the context of social settings. I am even seeing a phycholgist now. When I get anxious and panicky my BP goes up high and I get the jitters and so on. There is something about people who develop PN who also seem to develop anxiety/panic. You have said you suffered,and cured yourself from it, and I am wondering what you have done. Why do you think you developed panic/anxiety in the first place?

I have a theory for myself. I think I developed this problem for a few reasons. But mainly because I was constantly being told by doctors that all my tests were normal,and I felt as if they thought I was going mad. Secondly, I am in a high pressure job, and I have moved heaven and earth to hide my illness. Lastly when the docs kept telling my husband that all my tests are normal, even he was doubting me, and wasn't being supportive. So I stopped telling him how I felt.

So the combination of all of this was devestating me and somehow or other I developed agoraphobia.

Everytime I walk into a business meeting or a work related social setting I feel like I am going to explode or pass out. Today I had a meeting,and I for the first time took 5mg of Valium,and I was a whole different person. I was calm,social, NORMAL!! That little tiny pill gave me back my LIFE!!!

Normally I would have been very ill the rest of the day.

I am already taking Betaloc for hypertension, and feel fatigued. I was also on a Trycilic and felt so over medicated and fatigued it wasn't even funny. That is why I stopped the Tryciclic. The problem I have is that my GP as a rule of thumb, will not prescribe Valium because he said it is a drug of addiction.

Any thoughts on the Valium? Does it help anyone else? Does anyone else suffer any anxiety because of the PN?

Any thoughts are very welcomed.

Thank you,

Aussie