[VioletAntigone]

Thanks, Consilience and Bozo!

I know exactly what you mean, Consilience! Before my anxiety attacks I was outgoing, friendly, etc.. I can still be that way sometimes, but at other times it is an absolute nightmare!

I take 300mg of Effexor everyday, and my psychiatrist and I agreed that lorazepam can be used in case of an anxiety attack, but I only get 10 tablets every month, so I can't abuse it. But still, worse than the actual anxiety attacks is the constant anxiety just by itself. The feelings of self-consciousness, the desire to disappear if I have to walk past a group of people waiting for a bus (I live in the city), and the way that my face can inexplicably turn crimson for no apparent reason at all when I am talking to people.
It's weird that I can actually talk myself out of an anxiety "attack", because it's so extreme that I know it's not real....but, the general anxiety that I feel constantly when I'm around people just cannot be reasoned with!
I've been reading a lot about it lately, and I guess that the thing to do is not beat ourselves up about the anxiety or try to suppress it...that's a hard one for me to wrap my mind around, but I'm giving it a try!
Thanks for your feedback and support!