Anxiety Disorder with Possible Agoraphobia

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My name is George. I'm an adult diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and a current college student studying full-time for my Bachelor's degree in Communications within broadcasting. My aspirations is to go into radio broadcasting to become nationally syndicated and make myself known to SiriusXM.

I have been on summer break from surviving my first year of college. After the routine has been changed back at home, I have been feeling panic attacks in public situations to the point that the activities I already know (i.e. riding public transportation, exploring parts of a city I've never been to) cause me to have the fight-or-flight response and I keep feeling physical symptoms that cause me to go within the flight response. This hasn't been a problem before I started college and I have also been finding summer employment to places I know but I often feel chills that go beyond the normal anxiety for occupational interviews.

I see to a professional monthly who prescribes me medication to help with my anxiety and see to family and friends for support. I also exercise for jogging nearby my residence to let the stress out but it only works as a temporary distraction and the symptoms come back later.

I want to see to any advice from other fellow members of WrongPlanet and see their responses or advice if possible.

I used to have bad anxiety & panic attacks at times before I started the med Buspar. I'd suggest talking to the professional about it if you haven't tried it already. It's specially for anxiety instead of being an antidepressant or a benzo. It's meant to be taken regularly & can be taken with most other psych meds.

Did anything happen around the time summer started when you 1st noticed you were having problems

Hi nick007,

I apologize for the lateness of my reply. I have started taking the medicine known as Buspar/Busparine and hoping that this can help after talking with my doctor. The panic attacks were starting to get worse and interfere with my daily life of preventing me to want to go to activities and sometimes having panic attack symptoms in public.

There was nothing bad or traumatic that occurred when summer started. When I was getting out and heading back home, it felt like a change in routine for me and I started looking for employment in internships for my field I'm joining in (radio broadcasting to be exact.) The internships came to no avail and looked for other employment but was passed on from other applicants. I'm still persistent on looking for radio internships around my area and hope to see to luck.

I was used to the independent living while at college and will return back after the vacation for the final year with my degree in Communications within broadcasting. I found that I was preoccupied with schoolwork and like-minded allies that I could talk to and that may have prevented the panic attacks from occurring. I guess it will get better when I get back but I have to try to find permanent preoccupations during the summer vacation to survive.

Any other tips, suggestions or input you want to give?

I have taken Buspirone as well, for severe agoraphobia and panic. I found it actually worked best at the lowest possible dose (I forget the increment but it was half of the normal intro dose). When I increased the dose to any degree I got zapping noises in my head (a squeezing, electrical sensation) and I started to feel like a zombie.

At the lowest dose it was wonderful.

I just thought I'd mention this in case you continue with the Buspar and are instructed to increase the dose over time. If you start to think it has lost efficacy at the higher doses, you might consider going back to the lowest dose rather than stopping.