CancerCompass message board discussion started by karenchen3 on 2/12/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20888,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello,I'm new to the boards... my husband has Stage 4 RCC but we've been battling since last year and have gotten nothing but better and better news (bless his strength!)  Right now his tumors are shrinking and he's going into remission and I should feel nothing but happy and blessed.Instead I feel totally empty, I keep having panic attacks, heart racing, and then switching suddenly to deep, almost suicidal depression.  My husband needs me so I try to hide my feelings as best I can while I'm at home, so I can keep him positive and moving forward.  However I feel in despair so much of the time, for no reason!I've seen a local psychiatrist and have tried Wellbutrin and Lexapro but those either worsened or accented my depression/anxiety and I'm scared to try another.  I'm at my wits end!!!Does anyone have any suggestions please? karenchen3 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I understand how you feel.My husband has stage 4 esophageal cancer.  His tumor is shrinking but  I was having panic attacks daily until about 2 weeks ago.  I started on Wellbutrin but I started taking better care of myself. I realized that I wasn't and I needed to for myself my husband and my children.  I started working out daily.  great stress relief.  Walking, running whatever you can do.  It helps so much. I also stopped keeping so much in. It was eating me up.  I chose a friend to confide all my hopes and fears in and it was so much better to let it all out.  I can't always be the strong one for everybody. I have to have a place to go for me.  And you need that too.  I am not saying I don't still have panic attacks or get down in the dumps but it isn't as much. I have only had 1 panic attack in the last 2 weeks.  I can only take one day at a time. I hope this helps. Keep fatih and keep praying. God BlessRobin  robinlbr Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT