Managing Anxiety & Panic Attacks with Clonazepam: My Experience

I have suffered from general anxiety for years, but within the past 6 months, my anxiety has gotten worse and I began to suffer from debilitating panic attacks. Because my symptoms were affecting my daily life, I decided to seek the advice of a psychiatrist to see if there were any treatments that might be good for me. Because of the nature of my anxiety, and because the frequency of my panic attacks was increasing, the doctor decided that I should try taking the prescription medication clonazepam (also known by the brand name Klonopin) to help with my anxiety.

Clonazepam is a fast acting anti-anxiety medication in a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines. While these drugs are extremely effective at reducing anxiety, they also have the potential to cause addiction, so it is very important to follow your doctor's instructions carefully when starting treatment with a drug like clonazepam. Your doctor will likely start you off at a low dose to see how you do, and then increase your dose if necessary. My doctor started me off at a dose of 0.5mg of clonazepam, twice a day. 

I was definitely surprised at how quickly the Klonopin affected me the first time I took it. Within a half hour of taking my first pill, I had a definite sense of calm, and noticed that I had absolutely no anxiety symptoms for the first time in months. The drug also made me feel a little "giddy," for lack of a better word. Based on how good I felt after taking the clonazepam tablet, I could definitely see why there was a potential for drugs like it to be abused and become addictive. 

I noticed a couple of hours after taking the clonazepam that I would become extremely sleepy. The first few days I was taking this anti-anxiety medicine, I found myself napping a lot. Luckily, the sleepiness and the initial "loopy-ness" after taking the pill quickly wore off as I became adjusted to the medication. I've been taking clonazepam daily for a few months now, and I can honestly say that it no longer makes me feel sleepy or "high" after I take it. 

Clonazepam has been extremely effective, however, at helping me manage my anxiety and stopping my frequent panic attacks. I've noticed that I'm much more calm since I started taking this drug, and I've gone from having several panic attacks per week to just one or two per month--a huge improvement for me! Overall, clonazepam has been a "lifesaver" for me, and has helped reduce my anxiety symptoms to a manageable level so I can get on with my daily life without being nervous and worried all of the time. 

Benzodiazepines like Klonopin and Xanax are not for everyone, and only your doctor can let you know if any particular medicine might be right for you. I feel like clonazepam has given me my life back, and I am happy that I found a doctor that was able to prescribe an anti-anxiety drug that worked for me. I don't think I want to take clonazepam forever due to the addictive potential, but it has certainly helped me get through a very "rough patch" of anxiety in my personal life.

How Long Does it Take to Have Verizon FiOS Service Installed?

Recently, I moved to a new home in a different city, and one of the things I was particularly excited about during my move was the fact that Verizon offered their new FiOS service in my new neighborhood. For those unfamiliar with the service, FiOS is basically a fiber optic line run directly to your home which allows you to get your phone, television, and high-speed internet service all from Verizon. As is true with many consumers, I have had very bad experiences with Comcast customer service, so I was excited to be able to get my cable television and internet through Verizon, a company which I have had nothing but positive experiences with. As soon as I found out FiOS was available at my new home, I ordered service through the Verizon website, but I was very surprised when I got my confirmation e-mail back from them. They said that the installation of FiOS would take between 4 and 6 hours. This seemed like a long time to have to stay at home while a technician installed service, but I was eager enough to get away from Comcast that I decided I would accept this minor inconvenience. 

Still, I couldn't help but wonder whether or not my Verizon FiOS cable and internet would really take 6 hours to install. The day of my installation came, and the technician showed up within his scheduled time slot, which I was very pleased with. The installation of FiOS was a little more involved than I expected it to be, I must say. The technician had to climb up a telephone pole outside of our house to run a fiber optic line to our home, and this took just over an hour. Then the technician needed to make sure our FiOS modem and set-top television boxes were set to receive the FiOS signal, which took about another hour. About 2 and a half hours after the technician arrived at my home, my Verizon FiOS internet and television services were up and running. 

I asked the Verizon technician if he was able to install my FiOS quicker than most peoples', and he said that I had a pretty typical installation. He also told me that Verizon quotes a 6 hour installation time just to be safe, but in the real world a FiOS installation almost never takes that long. So, if you've been wanting to order FiOS but have been put off by the 6 hour installation, you may want to reconsider. Chances are, the Verizon technician can have you all set up and ready to go with FiOS service in less than 3 hours.

Shaving Tips for Guys with Sensitive Skin

Call me a sissy or a pretty boy if you want to. But I take my shaving very seriously. While normal guys bring a can of shaving cream and a razor with them when they travel, I have to have a whole separate bag for all of my shaving tools. But there is good reason for this. When I first started shaving, I used to get horrible razor burn on my neck and then I would break out and get horrible acne where I shaved. Not a fun experience, needless to say.

It wasn't until I was 22 years old and became a direct sales consultant for "The Body Shop at Home" (a job I no longer hold) that I really learned the secrets to getting a good shave without irritation. If you're willing to change things up a bit and invest a little bit of money up front, you too can get a close shave without the razor burn. Here's how: 

• Ditch the can of shaving cream, and invest in a higher-end "shaving lotion" or "shaving soap."Shaving cream from cans is nothing more than a bunch of fluff, and the shaving gels are so thick they clog up your razor and make you press harder against the skin. What you want is a product that produces a nice, thick lather when combined with a little bit of water. Choose either a "bar" (usually a round disc) of shaving soap or a creamy shaving lotion that you can lather. I recommend the "For Men Shave Cream" from The Body Shop or Aveda's great line of shaving products. 
• Invest in a shaving brush and a small dish. Here's where things get weird for most guys. They are not used to having to use these tools in order to shave. A shaving brush is simply a small, bristle-haired brush that can be used wet to apply shaving lather to the face. You just put a <i>small</i> amount of your shaving product, or your bar of soap, into your small dish, wet the brush, then swirl the brush in a circular motion through the shaving product to get a good lather. Then you apply the lather to your face with the brush. This accomplishes two things. First off, the brush helps lift and separate the hairs from the surface of your face, making each stroke of the razor more effective and providing a closer shave. Second, the brush/dish combo provides a continuous source of lather that you can reapply throughout your shave. Doing a quick internet search for "shaving brush" should yield lots of places to buy a brush...I recommend going with a synthetic material instead of animal hair, because synthetics tend to last longer, are easier to clean, and don't tend to smell like animal-based brushes can after time.
• Take a shower and use a good face scrub to exfoliate your face before shaving. There are lots of good face scrubs out there...I like the "For Men Face Scrub" by The Body Shop. Taking a nice, hot shower softens the hair on your face and using a face scrub gets rid of dead skin cells and makes your razor glide across your face more smoothly. You'd be amazed what these two simple things will do towards helping you get a less irritating shave. 
• Use proper shaving technique. After getting out of the shower and drying off, step over to the sink and fill it up with water. Wet your face and the shaving brush. Add your shaving product to your shaving dish and work up a good lather...spread the lather all over your entire face. Use small, downward razor strokes (no more than ¾" at a time) and rinse your razor in the sink between each stroke. Always make sure you're using a relatively new, sharp razor blade (I prefer the Mach 3 by Gillette) and save your neck area for last...that's the area where the hairs are the coarsest by saving that area for last, you give the shaving product a chance to work to soften the hairs. 
• Use a good after-shave with a high alcohol content. After washing any remaining shaving product off your face and patting your skin dry with a clean towel, apply a generous amount of an alcohol-based aftershave product. This may burn a bit the first few times you do it, but trust me, you'll get used to it. The alcohol in the aftershave helps to sterilize your skin and close your pores, preventing razor burn. Aftershave products also have moisturizers to help keep your skin protected and looking young. 

By following these few simple steps, you'll find that you can shave as much as you (or your partner) wants without dealing with unsightly acne or razor burn. It may take a little bit longer to follow this regimen, but your great looking skin will be worth it in the long run.

Spice Curls Bar Soap from Lush Cosmetics: Product Review

It is very difficult for me to find a bar soap that I like. Most bar soaps I've tried leave my skin feeling tight or dried out, or else they don't leave my skin feeling clean. After a lot of trial and error, I decided to use Olay Soap with Shea Butter, because it can leave my skin feeling both clean and moist. While I like the feel of the Olay soap most of the time, sometimes I would like a product that I feel really deep cleans and exfoliates my skin when I use it. I had used some salt and sugar scrubs from The Body Shop in the past, but those products were inconvenient and messy to use. I wanted something simpler. Then, I was in my local Lush Handmade Cosmetics store to buy a massage bar, and the sales person put a sample of their Spice Curls bar soap in my bag for me to try out at home. 

A few days later, I decided to use the Spice Curls soap from Lush in the shower. Once I got the bar soap wet, I rubbed it directly on my skin and I could feel the exfoliating power of the soap. Spice Curls contains ground up cinnamon and nutmeg, and it turns out that this blend of natural crushed spices can be great for your skin. Along with the "grit" I could feel, I could also feel moisturizers and cleansers cleaning and conditioning my skin. After rubbing the Spice Curls bar over my body, there was enough product on my skin that I could put the bar down and work the product into my skin. The spices in the soap definitely made my skin feel smooth and clean, and I found that the product rinsed off nicely. 

When I got out of the shower and dried off, I really noticed how much dead skin the Lush Spice Curls bar soap had gotten off of my body. The product left me feeling smooth and soft all over, and very, very clean. My boyfriend said he noticed that the Spice Curls soap made me smell really good, which is no surprise since most products from Lush Cosmetics do. I would definitely recommend having some Spice Curls soap on hand if you want to have an all-natural product for when you really want a good rub down. Plus, all Lush products are vegetarian and are never tested on animals, so you can really feel good about using this soap. Spice Curls bar soap is available for $7.95 at all Lush Cosmetics stores or by visiting the Lush website.

Pandora Internet Radio: How to Make a Holiday Music Station

I love listening to holiday music! This year, I actually found my holiday music playlist in iTunes and listening to Christmas songs the day after Halloween. I get tired of the same Christmas songs all the time though, but I have found it can be difficult to find a good internet radio station with holiday music, especially early in the year when I like to start listening. This year, I set out to find a good holiday music internet radio station, when I stumbled across a blog posting that talked about how to set up a holiday music station on Pandora Internet Radio. 

For those of you not familiar with the service, Pandora Internet Radio is a customizable, and (mostly) free streaming music service that many people already use and enjoy. To get started, just go to the pandora.com website. If you haven't used Pandora before, you will be asked for the name of an artist or song that you like. There are two ways to listen to Christmas songs on Pandora. Either type in the name of a Christmas song that you like and select the closest match in the drop down box. Or, try typing an artist that you like followed by the word "holiday" (Example: 'Whitney Houston holiday') and then select the artist match in the drop down box. For current users of Pandora, the process is the same, except instead of registering for an account you create a new station, using either the title of a Christmas song or the name of your favorite artist followed by the word "holiday." 

Once you have your streaming holiday station set up on Pandora, the real fun begins. If you like a song that Pandora plays, give it a "thumbs up" and Pandora will play more songs like it. On the other hand, if you dislike a particular song, give it a "thumbs down" and it will never be played on your internet radio station again. The more you listen to your holiday music on Pandora, the better the service will get at only playing songs you like. The best part about listening to Christmas music online through Pandora Radio is that, unlike with other services, you can stream holiday music at anytime of year. So if you need a little pick-me-up mid-year, or are having a "Christmas in July" party, you'll be able to access your holiday music station on Pandora and hear great Christmas songs whenever you want.

I Miss This Place...

Does anyone remember the Franklin Covey store at the mall?  It was back when "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" was really popular.  I remember going around 1998 or 1999 to the store at the mall in Columbia, MD.  I bought a really cool day planner...my favorite one I've ever used!  I think I also bought some audio CDs there, too (I'm a big audiobook fan!).

I was just looking online and it looks like they closed down all the Franklin Covey stores.  I would have thought it would have done well at the Columbia Mall.  But maybe there's just not enough demand for day planners and self-improvement materials in that kind of a retail environment.  I see Franklin Covey does offer an online store, so I think I might look for my 2016 day planner on their website! :)

Lunesta Vs. Ambien: Which is the Better Sleep Aid?

If you have been having trouble sleeping, chances are your doctor has recommended a prescription sleep aid to help you with your insomnia. Two of the most popular sleeping prescriptions are Lunesta and Ambien. But which drug is the right one for you? Here, we'll look at the pros and cons of each of these popular prescription medicines. 

Ambien, which is also known by the generic name zolpidem, has been used in the United States for more than a decade to treat mild-to-moderate cases of insomnia. Ambien works quickly, causing many people to fall asleep within 15-30 minutes of taking the pill. Ambien can be taken on an empty or a full stomach, although it may take longer to work if taken on a full stomach. The drug is meant to be taken for a short period of time (less than two weeks usually), and has not been approved for long-term use. Users should know that Ambien is meant to help you fall asleep, but it does not do much to prevent you from waking after you fall asleep, and thus may not be as effective for people who have problems with waking during the night. Because Ambien is available as generic zolpidem, the cost of getting a prescription filled is usually minimal for those with some form of health insurance. 

Lunesta, on the other hand, has only been approved for use in the United States for a few years. Like Ambien, Lunesta acts quickly to help you fall asleep, but Lunesta can also help keep you from waking in the middle of the night. Lunesta must be taken on an empty stomach--in my experience, the pill will not work if it is taken when there is food in the stomach. Lunesta is also approved for long-term use for up to six months if needed. Lunesta is a brand-name prescription only, so some insurance companies may not cover it unless you try a cheaper option first, and the co-pay will almost definitely be higher than with generic zolpidem. 

When it comes to side effects, I didn't experience significant problems with either drug. I had zero side effects with Ambien, and the only side effect I had with Lunesta was a slight bitter taste in my mouth the morning after taking the drug which quickly went away on its own. Some people say they feel groggy the day after taking one of these medications, but actually woke up feeling more refreshed and alert than I normally would. Both medications can be habit forming, so it is important to take them exactly as prescribed and for the smallest amount of time possible. Some studies indicate that Lunesta may be less addictive than Ambien, but so far these have been inconclusive and more research is needed. 

In terms of which medicine is better, for me I would have to say it is Ambien. I like not having to worry about what I eat at night, knowing it won't affect the effectiveness of my sleep aid. I also like that it is a relatively cheap medicine, and has a long track-record of safe use. Lunesta and Ambien both help me sleep about the same, so the rest of those factors "tip the scales" towards zolpidem. Only a doctor can help you decide which sleep medicine is the right one to try, but the information in this article can give you some idea of the kinds of questions you'll want to ask in order to find a medication that works for you.