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I really appreciate this message. Especially the part “don’t change your life to appease the anxiety” I’ve developed agoraphobia because of this and it’s really been controlling my life But I’m trying to make a change because I don’t want to live like this.
I met my wife because I did something I would have never done if I let the anxiety win. I ended up living down the shore with a friend and it was greatest summer of my life and when my anxiety was the worst. Experiences help
I have an anxiety and panic disorder.Nothing triggers mine.So I’ll be on and off benzodiazepines the rest of my life.I also have depression.You might want to try acupuncture for anxiety though and less caffeine and meditation.
I’ve been dealing with debilitating driving anxiety lately. Like I disassociate and freak out and can’t feel my hands. Got anything for that one?
Are you angry while driving? Expecting everyone else to do the same thing you’re doing? When someone does something you don’t agree with, you get angry? What other things are going on?
Nope. I just freak out and feel like I have no control.
I dealt with such anger behind the wheel during my worst anxiety but I have ways to fix it. Just need some more info
I feel a tingling in the back of my head. Like I’m disassociating while driving. Which of course makes me nervous and anxious and I start shaking and can’t drive.
Here are a few tips to try:
Practice relaxation techniques Before driving, try deep breathing, mindfulness, or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) to calm your mind. You can also try positive self-talk, such as repeating positive affirmations.
Also, you should try to understand what triggers your anxiety. Consider minor incidents like driving through a bad storm, getting lost, or having knowledge of an experience involving someone you know.
Try to face fears by driving but be sure to breathe. There are also programs out there that can help.
Some of us have no triggers, it hits us out of the blue,I learned that after many years of therapy.
Do you have any tips on programs? I don’t want to just google and get ripped off ya know.
Random question but obviously important in America, Do you have health insurance? You don’t have to tell me. If you do, you need to start with just a session or two on a platform like Talkspace or find someone in your area, may take longer to get appointment. You don’t have to go to these appointments weekly or monthly. Just go one time and ask questions. The things they will tell you, are simple things that can be found online but it’s help the anxious mind when you hear it initially from an expert. From there, you have to do your own research if you truly want to be helped.
There is no easy solution. Anxiety is something that has been around for as long as people have been on earth. We are finally just understanding the major issues anxiety has on the human both mentally and physically. With that being said, you just put in the work for a true change. It’s not easy but those who are willing and strong enough will succeed. Just a matter of when not if.
I have a therapist and we are working through it. But I guess I’m so strong willed, I want it gone NOW lol. Yes I’m in the US. I work for a bank and have good health insurance.
I’m a school teacher and I actually got myself an e-bike because I was having such issues with anxiety on the road. I only drive when I need to and ride my e-bike all other places. This is what works for me.
I live in a town where driving is necessary. Unfortunately.
It’s so strange because this just started a few years ago. I’m 35f for reference. In my 20s, I would drive anywhere any time any place!
Hey girl, I've got on and off driving anxiety. Sometimes I can drive and others it just isn't happening. Typically it is the highway that I find problematic. Maybe it is too stimulating or something and I feel like I am off kilter or lightheaded and then my arms or legs might start to feel numb and I begin to panic. Yeah, good times! I'm 40 y.o female. Just wanted to say you're not alone. ❤️
This helps and I’m the same way. I can drive to the grocery store, the gas station, close by etc. but long distances debilitate me. How do you deal with it? I’m in therapy and I’m trying to over come it. I found a comment in another thread that helped me immensely, but I still struggle.
Post I’m referring to:
is happened to me in my early twenties and it took about five years for it go away. It got to the point to where I couldn't leave the house without someone being with me. I was able to get over it using certain techniques which I wish I would have implemented sooner so it wouldn't have taken five years. I simply made these techniques up when I finally got fed up of being stranded in the house.
First, I challenged my panic attacks. I simply refused to let them stop me from driving anymore. If I had one, I simply had one. I wasn't going to continue giving them power over me because the more power I gave them, the worse my condition was getting. I told myself to pull over, panic, get over it and continue. I had really had enough at that point.
To avoid getting to the panic, I broke my trip up into very small, digestible parts. For example, every few blocks I would mark in my mind a "safe zone". It could be a store, a gas station, a park, a school, a police station, anything really. I designated these "safe zones" as places I can go to if I felt fear or panic. I could park there and go inside, distract my mind, even ask for help if I needed to. I never had to use these "safe zones" because just the thought they were there, were as if I had a co-pilot.
Now with phones, the "safe zone" can also be someone you can call or a podcast, song, radio, anything you can tune into that can keep your mind distracted or break an intrusive fearful thought. The phone is really good at red lights or traffic because it is a mobile "safe zone" which you can use immediately if you need to. So just having it on you will help ease your mind. You would be surprised how easily you can trick your mind out of fear and panic with a simple distraction you can get to quickly.
Another good trick I would do, which is a little hard to explain in written words, is being completely relaxed by imagining that I am riding on a bus or train instead of driving. For some reason, this would ease my anxiety as it "disconnected" me from the car somehow and I could just enjoy the trip. I would make up different "bus stops" in my mind or routes the "bus" was going to.
On highways I stay on the lane that has exits. Just knowing I can take an exit and find a "safe zone" eases anxiety.
These little tricks have helped me be free to drive once again
Those are all great options and kind of how I'm already coping with the issue. I don't go on the highway bc I may have to go three (plus) minutes without a "safe zone". Panicking for 30 seconds sucks, nevermind 180+ lol. I try to count down to when I'm going to get off the exit. If it says it is a half mile away I know I will be getting off in 30 seconds. The amount of anxiety I feel climb in those thirty seconds is unbelievable and then as soon as the exit comes poof gone. Hate it. I wish I had an answer for what works for me, but not much besides a good SSRI has worked thus far and sadly that doesn't tend to work consistently or long term for whatever reason. Good luck!!!
Thank you for your response!!!! I was on Wellbutrin and it was great for like 2 months and then my anxiety got even worse. I’m off all of them now. Only Xanax as a “rescue” if I’m tripping balls. But she wants me to start Effexor. But I don’t feel like I’m depressed. I’m anxious. I’m a ball of nerves.
Any major life changes from your 20s into your 30s? Could be positive or negative?
I mean I got married. To a wonderful man and I’m so happy. I moved to a new city, but it was happening before that too.
Do you watch the news on a regular basis?
Not to be rude but hell no 😂 I refuse to fill my mind with cluttered garbage that makes people turn against one another.
Sounds like a “brain zap” or that’s what I like to call it. I know the feeling. My foot wouldn’t move and luckily I was on a stop sign inside an empty neighborhood. Not much you can do. Only thing I suggest that worked for me is finding any type of external stimulus to snap you out of it.
For me it was music or literally just touching the passenger seat and thinking to myself “this is real” so I can focus on something tangible vs something out of my control.
I have anxiety just thinking about my anxiety. I also get anxiety when traveling, not sure why because I know it is supposed to be a fun thing. I have a trip coming up in 4 days and I am excited because I haven’t gone anywhere in years but also very nervous and thinking about “well what if I get anxiety” “you have had anxiety during previous trips” my brain keeps telling myself that, almost like it’s trying to trick me. I know I cannot let my anxiety control me and I want to challenge myself and prove to myself that I can travel and not have any anxiety. Have you experienced this?
This was so helpful I screenshotted it. Thanks bro
I'm in the same boat. Tried everything. Every medication. Alcohol (and bow have a scarred liver, great). And I'm addicted to benzos that now don't work. Been to a million therapists, outpatient, inpatient, did ECT which fried my brain and my memory is now total shit. Ketamine, TMS....yoga, meditation, herbs, diet, everything every ting everything. I'm 51. My whole life has been this. I don't know what to do. I'm no help I'm sorry but I feel your pain. And I don't want to die, I want to live, I think death is what started my anxiety in the first place since I was very young. I think I'm dying now and I'm terrified. It's a hard way to live.
That’s exactly your problem. You have to accept death! And I mean truly accept it. Have you read from Epicurus? What he said about death… I don’t think any medication can help you with this.
I have not read that. What did he say? No, nothing can help me. I don't want to die and my life is ruined.
Epicurus argues that death should not be feared because it is a state of non-existence, and thus cannot be experienced. When we are alive, death is absent; when death occurs, we no longer exist to experience it. Therefore, the fear of death is irrational because it concerns a state that we will never actually experience.
Just to give you one example...
Here is another one:
This analogy aims to provide a logical and comforting perspective: both pre-birth and post-death are states of non-existence, devoid of sensation and consciousness, and thus, neither should be a source of fear or anxiety. By equating the two, Epicurus seeks to demystify death and encourage a focus on living a pleasant and tranquil life, free from the irrational fear of what comes after.
I have heard the second one many times and while I understand the meaning, I am still afraid, even if I won't be conscious. I know it doesn't make rational sense to fear something that "isn't" but it's more the idea that I don't want to die at all, ever. I know, too bad for me...but I hate the idea. I had a book awhile ago called "Nothing to be Afraid Of" I forget who wrote it, but basically the same principal. The "nothing" is literally "nothing." I think I just wished that we as a race could live healthfully and long (if we must die), without having to go to drs and do treatments and feel pain etc etc as our bodies break down. I know nothing is fair and it's random but still....when i hear about ghosts or reincarnation etc etc I get excited but I know it's probably false. I think I have a major problem with change as well, I never want hangs to change. Like I wish I could have stayed 30 forever because life was good and happy then, now life is terrible. So...
My small guess would be that people are actually afraid of experiencing pain while dying. As in: heart attack, especially since anxiety gives us quite many heavy symptoms while doctors are assuring we are healthy and there is nothing wrong with our bodies. Well, how can it not be, cause we feel it… In principle that’s right. Death is nothing to fear of. And since we are going to die, nothing matters anyway and shouldn’t be a source of anxiety. However we just feel it.
Wow I could’ve written this myself. Im so scared of dying too and it’s ruining my life. My health anxiety is insane. Im going insane.
I am so sorry. Is there anything that gives you relief though that you’ve tried?
nothing
What triggers your anxiety?
Pretty sure: Life. It’s tiring when people ask this question. Life triggers anxiety for the ones dealing with this for years. Of course, some things could heighten it, but that’s just supplemental.
I’m sure if we didn’t have to work- anxiety would go down a LOT.
Not all of us get anxiety from just life, infact there are a lot with death anxiety. Mine was triggered by Complex grief & ADHD meds. So, there is that? 🙃
Well they were asking for advice. Hard to advise without info 😅
I don’t work due to chronic illness… anxiety is still there. I tend to worry about my loved ones and cats obsessively. Especially when they’re having an actual health concern. My cat is now, and I’ve been struggling the last two months.
I lost my cat and that destroyed me for sometime. And I had my coworkers and boss make fun of my dead cat. Yeah, I won’t be telling my coworkers shit personally again unless I KNOW they can be trusted.
That is absolutely awful. I lost my childhood cat years ago and it remains the worst day of my life. I had a full on breakdown. I’m sorry they weren’t supportive. Our furries mean the world to us, they ARE family members. I’m so sorry they made fun of your loss… how heartless.
I just give it to God and try to forgive them like Jesus. All that I can do you know. So my faith hasn’t been the strongest, actually lost it and trying to regain it. But I will say that knowing there’s a higher power helps.
I wish I had your faith. I wouldn’t say I’m an atheist, but it’s really difficult for me to have faith sometimes.
The only difference between me and you is the constant positive self talk I’m starting to do and realizing NO man or woman has the power to literally create their own world, perfectly distanced away from the sun, so we don’t burn, and not too far where we freeze to death. Just think about all your organs, imagine if your heart was in your skull, or your hands were on your stomach.
My anxiety is rooted in my self hatred and I found by working on my self love, my anxiety lessens. It’s hard and I’m still working on it, but trying to figure out the core reason instead of bandaiding the problem. Personal experience, can’t speak for everyone, sometimes there may not be a reason.
Treatment resistant here, with over 26 medications under my belt.
It's benzos and IV ketamine at this point. I'm still not where mentally well people are, but it's better.
Have you tried ketamine, TMS, or ECT? For me, those are my last line of defense.
I’m currently doing ketamine for chronic pain, and I find it does have an effect on my mental health. I think it’s because our nervous systems are relaxed for a couple hours and we get a break. I do wish it lasted longer though… but I’ll take what I can get.
Keep fighting and advocating . I’m 37 and have had panic disorder since 15 . Periods of my life have been absolutely debilitating, almost non functioning.
One super helpful thing I finally did besides therapy and EMDR was GeneSight to find the right medication that works with my genetic makeup . It takes the , let’s throw spaghetti at the wall and see if it sticks , out of the equation…. For the most part .
Also just forcing myself to exercise , eat, and move through the fatigue and litany of weird symptoms has helped .
Lastly, I don’t know if you believe in any sort of higher power but my belief in God has truly helped me to continue to fight.
Stay strong . It truly can be hellish ordeal. I am, for the moment , a high functioning father of 3 … That is living with anxiety but dealing with it much better.
I just read a book by a pastor who is on anxiety meds. (Looks like I read it before cause of the highlights, LOL). Ralph Moore. I love his take cause he addresses shame, guilt and faith in seeking treatment.
But you are right, I’ve just made a ritual that incorporates, the yoga/walking/stretching (I can’t just do the deep breathing), prayer (communing with a higher power), blessing the day ahead (affirmations), drinking water and vitamins and meds if needed. My favourite spiritual teacher calls it developing a spiritual muscle. Whatever yours incl, just make it 2nd nature like brushing your teeth.
Love it . I was fortunate enough to have a pastor in my corner who also deals with anxiety / depression . I used to wrestle with my faith so much because I would just pray that it was taken from me and it wouldn’t happen. But I also wasn’t doing the thing I needed to do to help too .
He was like yeah I need Jesus and a therapist . Ultimately I just had to trust that this was part of my human experience and shifted my prayer to helping me make the changes I need to make first that would help me and give me knowledgeable people in my corner that could walk beside me. Both of those things happened.
So I’m doing much better, much better . Sole provider of a wife and 3 kids . Productive in both work and fitness . Am there for my kids. Never thought I would get here.
You are not a loser. It feels so lonely but all of us here are proof youre not alone. Anxiety (for me) boils down to the fear of not having control. Something that has helped me, is focusing on the things I do have control over. Accepting that I cannot control everything. It has helped me immensely. Everyone is different but it helps ground me in the moment. Things will get better!
I'm losing to my anxiety right now reading this, I'm in the ER being seen for rabies exposure because I got a drop a fluid on my face near my eye from a racoon above me in a tree, I've spiraled down into a deep hole of hypochondria and ruminating and replaying. I have really been a lot better lately, and now i feel like ive gone backwards. I was already seen yesterday and the Dr said he would give me the shots but he knew I was fine and didn't need them, so I went home thinking about his words, also worried about the potential cost, but here I am back at the ER waiting to get the shots after being told by 4 separate doctors and all my friends and family that I'm fine, my mind may be appeased after the shots are given to me, but anxiety won today, it's not easy man but try not to let it win, developing the coping tools takes lots of time and practice, of which I need a lot more of. If you have somebody close that will listen to you, those people are priceless. My people do their best, but nobody has the answers for me, there's a certain level of acceptance that comes with life. Hang in there man it will get better.
Please do you and what will ease your mind, forget the loud voices. You know what, the problem with anxiety is things like this is kind of damned if you do damned if you don’t.
I think that’s why I refrain from asking for too many people’s opinions with things, incl Google. Cause now you have to contend with their voices in your head. And this is a case where, an I told you so would mean a horrible end for you. So NO, do you. You have my full support, okay.
Yes to all that you said! I've had anxiety for years now, but it suddenly got much worse this year. After a sequence of panic attacks and a couple months of basically staying at home, I've finally started a morning routine that got me out of it. Only last week it got bad again but then I was like "I know what to do now. I did it before I can do it again". The "recovery" period got much shorter and I'm already back to a reasonably normal life again this week. Gotta keep fighting.
Let’s all go live out in the woods away from this bull shit society, technology, constant overstimulation, and be simplistic subsistent beings focusing on our basic needs and desires. I bet we would have far less anxiety.
Waking up saying "fuck this shit" is actually a good therapy in my opinion. This is how my anxiety got better. My heart rate was a trigger for panic attacks. If my heart rate was "off" based on my baseline (so basically every time I was moving aha) then it was a tragedy.
One day I got tired of it and said to myself "fuck this shit" and I went on a run to check if my heart would stop / explode whatever you call it. Of course nothing happened. Since then I am a regular runner and became fit thanks to my cardiac anxiety.
Treat the anxiety shit with violence. Beat the shit out of it. Fuck those soft programs... and fuck audiobooks too!
I'm sorry that your feeling this way. Anxiety can be Soo cruel to us who have it. I have suffered from it for many years with ongoing help from therapist and psychiatrist, but nothing seemed to click for me until I started taking gabapentin. I am able to socialize and be more confident with myself, however, the anxiety is still there when the medication wears out.
My anxiety got me on some weird shit.. I feel ya
100%
Had anxiety for 30 years, only thing that worked was ashaghanda/Rhodiola.
Join gym brother 🔥💪
ELECTROLYTE PROTOCOL
1) HCL for stomach 2) enzymes with every food (BioZyme, MegaZyme) 3) Essential amino acids (or whey protein) so your body can make hormomes, glutathione etc 4) immortal shilajit as multivitamin (this way you will replinish minerals) 5) all electrolytes! potassium, magnesium, chloride, sodium 6) malic acid for bile Flow 7) vitamin C 8) little dose of b complex for support ideally made from whole foods quinoa (panmol) 9) few brazil nuts for SELENIUM a day
Good luck!
I feel ya. The intensity is bringing me to my knees. And nothing dis helping besides succumbing to using benzos. I can't take it anymore either.
Does benzos help you ?
Absolutely. This began for me in 2020 following some wicked panic attack that lasted several days and two hospitals. Was given xanax by my primary care then and it stopped everything. He tried giving me ssris among side it but things got worse wirh them so we just stuck with xanax. Started at 3.5mg a day and tapered down over time as my mind and body calmed down again.. the post panic attack symtoms lasted about 1.5 years. Feeling stuck in another world. But by March 2023 I was down to about 0.5mg every other day and eventually was off. In this time, i remained working over time at my usual job and started up a side business, making extra money and living life to the fullest. But unfortunately, in October 2023, I felt sick one day at work and kept feeling faint, and then it struck up a panic attack and I had to go home, and it was all back again. Fortunately, I had about 20 leftover xanax that I was using to hopefully recoup with, but to no avail. I saw a doctor after another work panic attack, and this new guy was lole here. habe was some zoloft which caused me to get sick and miss a bit of work. So I spent months in the worst place of my life suffering panic attack over and over.. finally found a place to give me klonopin, and I was using it sparingly to avoid tolerance and such it didn't work quite that well to he frank but allowed me to work at least. However, things were getting worse, and my paranoia and fesr system was taking control, so I was getting far worse and hallucinating, etc.. I've spent 2 months curled up in a ball sobbing all day. Er visits and php programs and nothing. Many ssris. Just a week ago, I was told to please take the klonopin.as prescribed, and I gave in and did, and wow, I'm spending most days about 60% better.. my time off work came to an end, so at least again, I can work because we got bills to pay. The stuff doesn't work as strong as advertised. I don't get it supposed to be stronger than xanax but the xanax I got left from last year is stronger. Got a couple left for dire emergencies. With all this said, yeah, I'm not sure what the outcome will be..the last 6 months kf my life has been fucking hell. Lost 80 pounds cuz I couldn't even eat.
I'm scared that this will be my fate too ... Do you have a plan after benzos stop to work ?
I'm scared for when they don't work anymore. I already have to take more to feel relief.
This is what freaks me out the most .. but what should we do ... It's so painful
It's not so much when they stop working, it's when the people I am dealing with decide to stop letting me have it. I fought off using the klonopin for a while because the fact i beat this before earlier the year after 2.5 yesrs of a battle but I did have the xanax which again worked amazing. But it was made by breckenridge. I got some xanax in October like 15 pills from actavis and they did barely anything. Anytime I reached back for a breckenridge in times of need it worked for a day or so. But I went from November thru March absolutely ripping my hair out from morning to nite and when I say the horror I was and am going, through is indescribable. However all the doctors and people I talked to just see a crazy ass mental case so they just bluff it off as normal anxiety that all I have to do is breath work or 3 3 3 ruke and shit. No not even close at all I spent 2 months off work curled up in bed crying with massive head pain trying different medicines and sobbing wishing I was dead basically.. I had klonopin and would take one here and there and get a little break but just doesn't seem to work well. And as of recently I finally caved in because I had to go back to work and starting using it .5mg couple times a day but it only drops the fear and paranoia and such to a tolerable level to work. I still sit and worry about everything and borderline cry. I wonder if 1mg would help more but then there's the whole addict thing coming along. I am definitely scared badly because again the symtoms I have witbiut benzos mimic exactly what it would be like if someone were to be on benzos and stop. So what will happen is when she stops them eventually and I revert back to the dude I was the last six months un treated she will just say it's withdrawals. So I'm sure before the year is over i might be locked up somewhere. Instead of the 5 doctors I'm seeing and begging with saying there's a reason I'm broken like this and only benzos work while other meds won't do anything.
But my wife says to try my best and one day at a time and we will het theough it... eventually I'll lose it and end up in some in treatment given antipsycotics to numb me down then sent home to go back to another php program to work on coping skills for a problem that no coping skills can fix.. coping skills does not stop your mind from being engulfed in horror and terror.. I went to a ER in the middle of a bad episode while at work i atarted to lose my mind and memory of my wife and kids as if i never knew them and i was fighting it so bad..their not panic attacks.. it's actually just something broke in my mind thay keeps feeding me sense fo fear to everything. Constantly tremoring and shaking. I go there and they give me a benzo amd would you know it they said I'm fine and sent me home. After I told them no this has been going on for months.
I feel sorry for people like us ... I don't even know what to say ... If meds stopped working then what is the plan ... Do we have to take our lives to feel the only possible relief... Is there anything else we can do to feel normal?
I really do not know. I am scared forreal. Are you on benzos
For now no but i think I need to get back to them because I'm loosing control
Did you try beta blockers though .... They say they help so much
Yep and they don't do nothing but keep heart rate down.. thays not even my issue. My heart rate only goes up for panic attacks. The actual 24 7 horror anxiety I live with that makes me wanna die... my bp is 120/80 and 85 bpm. Explain that. It's always normal whenever I expect it to be through the roof. Beta blockers just calm the hesrt and kidneys. This only works for peiole witu very mild anxiety. Specifically performance. And side effects of long term use is coincidently.. anxiety and depression. Also I habe minor asthma and if you do it causes fluid retention in the lungs.
So it's not recommended to use beta blockers for people with all day anxiety like us
Keep yourself busy and exercise is the only cure, don't let yourself become a couch potato. Honestly if your jogging or walking your mind is not focused on its mental state. If your overweight or nervous hire a personal trainer. Also if your job is shit leave and get a better one.
What if you gave chronic pain and exercise daily isn’t an option. I try to do stretches… but going on walks daily isn’t an option for me.
The two things that have helped me immensely: consistent therapy (either once a week or every other) and BETA BLOCKERS!!!
They only really help with the physical symptoms (heart racing, sweat, etc), but my mind usually follows once my body calms down. I really recommend speaking to your doctor about a prescription, it’s been incredibly helpful. ❤️
I’m 27 now and have had anxiety since I was 17 bro it’s sucks. I recently started seeing a functional medicine doctor and doing acupuncture and I think it’s starting to help. He has me keeping a food log of everything I eat and how I feel throughout the day and can tell when I completely stay away from sugar, gluten, and oats - my anxiety is way less. Obviously doesn’t take it all away but it’s crazy how much the gut and mind are connected
Yes talk to a dr get some meds
Took me my whole life to finally have a doctor really believe what I was saying. Amd reading these comments I'm crying and laughing bc I am the same way.
They give them out like candy where Iam from.
Some good antidepressants will straighten you out.
Try meditation, buddy. I had a crappy day yesterday, meditated for like an hour and the shit just went away. The app Breathe can help you. Try it and tell us. It doesn't have to be an hour, with ten minutes you will see the difference.
The most helpful way to heal subconscious negative beliefs is to reprogramme them with hypnotherapy. Your mind goes naturally in a trance state right before you go to bed and when you just wake up. So if the first thing that comes to mind is negative, your whole day will follow. If ou don't want to see a hypnotherapist, try morning meditation. Louise Hay's youtube channel has a great morning meditation track, I highly recommend it.
I'm so sorry you've had to struggle with this. I don't know if it helps, but I've definitely been through phases like you're describing and am much better now. Here are a few things that have helped me over the years. 1. Working out consistently, specifically walking. 20-30 minutes of an outdoor walk a day is a great way to ground yourself. Yoga is great too! 2. Daily prayer or meditation. 3. Working through self-talk exercises or books. 4. Supplementation, healthy eating, and medication. 5. Box breathing 6. Weighted blankets 7. Journaling
I'd also consider getting a blood panel to see if there are any Vitamin D or other deficiencies that could be making the problem more pronounced. I haven't had experience with this, but have heard anecdotal stories about this uncovering issues for people. I know this is a long list, but I hope it helps. You've got this!
I understand wanting to try to stay positive or tell yourselves positive things, but please know it’s okay if that doesn’t help or work for you. You don’t have to be positive if you aren’t okay
I’m not encouraging you to never try to think of some positive things, but I dislike it when people say “ oh you’re always so negative “ and the person has a reason to feel however they’re feeling
I struggle to keep existing sometimes. Sometimes our bodies keep going even if our minds don’t want us to
For me, grounding myself and doing a lot of self talk helps. Sometimes supporting other people online on a mental health chat support site helps because when im listening to someone else, I either can relate to them or they “ distract “ me from my own shit
Thought records can be a helpful tool too sometimes. I know how some of these things sound, maybe silly, I didn’t try meditation techniques until years ago because I thought you had to just sit with your thoughts, but there’s mindfulness techniques that you may already be doing that you didn’t realize
Also I heard once or read once to congratulate yourself from doing something. Say you usually brush your teeth, but due to your mental health, you’re struggling to even touch the toothbrush let alone put toothpaste on it
One day, you pick up the brush, even if you don’t put toothpaste on it, try to congratulate yourself because you did something you haven’t in a while
( I used this example because I struggle with brushing my teeth or showering sometimes )
I'm guessing you've probably tried Lexapro by now? If not, I recommend it. It's definitely helped me
Learn about the cognitive dissonance.
Have you tried EMDR?
Get benzos. And not just that. 2 things is all your need.
- Find something your passionate about or enjoy doing and do it
Second part is the hardest.
- Maintain that passion and fun or find ways to expand upon it.
Ppl with anxiety disorder like us. Especially with schizoeffective and PTSD on top like me, doesn’t matter how many benzos you take u less you find something to FOCUS on. And not only that but KEEPING that focus.
I had mines and lost it and again and again so this time I’m creating my business where I can jump into different things at anytime I feel “bored” or “exhausted”. That way I have more options. I’m still trying to perfect this but there is no perfection in this.
What I can say is, that there IS a method to this madness. But each individual is different but fundamentals are the same across the board.
I’m not gunna say keep going or keep your head up since I don’t believe that myself. What I will say is keep your head on a swivel, not from paranoia or any other mental factors. But for looking for things that interests you and things you can focus on that are productive in the long run
I turned my gambling habit into playing with stocks. And that’s one of my outlets now. Doing well because there’s so much more I have to analyze to choose the correct stocks and when to sell and all that comes with it.
That’s just one example that I did personally. Still not perfected but I’m finding and creating my method to the madness
LAST THING I WILL SAY
DONT STRESS ABOUT STUFF YOU CANT CONTROL. ONLY STRESS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL AND HOW TO TAKE ACTION FOR CONTROL.
We get anxiety because of our lack of control at times in anything. Life, work, relationships, etc. this is just one factor out of many but just say fuck it to shit that is out of your control and take control of what’s tangible and right next to you.
Salute mah brotha.
I can agree with you but what if we have ADHD and can never focus? And can't get helped by a doctor?
There’s degrees to ADHD. Anybody can focus. It’s just a matter of how difficult it is to maintain that. That’s the main point. Finding something to focus on is “the act of focusing” in itself. Then maintaining that focus is the hardest part.
If you got ADHD and can’t get help from a doctor then I have to know a few things first to give proper advice before I start talking out my neck.
Do they have a legitimate diagnosis from any type of doctor? If they do then keep trying. The process is grueling, I know. There’s a lack of doctors especially in the psychiatric or mental or behavioral health field throughout the country. But keep trying. You will find one. And if they are shit, stick with them still but search for another as well.
It took me 3 years just to reunite with my old psych after I had to transfer to another state for work. I got ADD but Welbutrin, Ritalin or adderal don’t work for me. Weirdly benzos slow my brain down to a degree where I can focus on one thing rather than spiraling.
If you don’t have a diagnosis and are claiming that you have ADHD. Then prove it. Get that diagnosis first. The rest is after you get that official paperwork
To a degree, ADHD can be controlled mentally by yourself but there’s levels to this shit and also how strong your own mentality is to logically rationalize it so your brain can operate on a functional level. Get that diagnosis first. After that, any doctor is REQUIRED to help. If you can’t find a doctor or can’t wait while you’re searching for one, GO TO THE ER. Then go to urgent care.
Even though they aren’t psychiatrists or mental health professionals, they are doctors and they have a responsibility to help you if you have your paperwork on your diagnosis of ADHD. I had to go to the ER almost every day for a month until I found a stable psych. Annoy the shit outta them, then all of a sudden, opportunities pop out of thin air. They are either lazy, not well staffed, or they are tired of dealing with people who come up with”claiming” they have ADHD without paperwork or any type of proper diagnosis at all.
That’s why there’s a lot of protocols to go through with ADHD and anxiety specifically because what do doctors prescribe?
ADHD-Ritalin or adderall or any type of amphetamine
Anxiety- any type of benzos from Librium, lorazepam, Valium, Xanax, etc…
Drug seekers and self diagnosers are fucking it up for people who really need help. And doctors are wary of that.
I literally had to whip out a DEA medication list when I got transferred to another state just to get my medication. Once they cleared that it was valid, their tone changed 180 degrees LOL
In these comments there have not been many suggestions to try Psychedelic Therapy. Read or watch "How to Change Your Mind" and learn about psychedelic therapy. Consider also Ketamine Assisted Therapy.
I feel it man. Sometimes I catch myself in really depressing moods. The other night I didn’t have access to the basketball game and my first thought was “why would I be able to watch the game. Of course I can’t” like it’s almost laughable to me sometimes. It may seem small just a bball game but it’s a build up of the bullshit in my life. I’m on meds (Wellbutrin) and I talk to a therapist. I deal with anxiety and depression. Some days are good some days are bad. Is that how it will always be or is it possible to start having more good days than bad? Anyways man thanks for opening up and I wish you luck on your journey.
Combination of quitting alcohol, caffeine and taking ashwaghanda helped me immensely.
Been dealing with anxiety pretty much my whole life but heavy since 2017. Honestly it seems to take a team. If you do have even a person you can talk to. A therapist, psychiatrist ECT. I'm going to be completely honest. It takes heavy meds to help and unfortunately I don't get prescribed them. See if any meds work, talk to someone. Do something to try to make time past even if it is playing a game on your phone. Take it day by day. It's hard, I know. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to.
I had anxiety and I only use hydroxizine at the beginning but I slowly went off medication. Ideally you want to lay off medication and you only take it at the starting phase when everything is unbearable. At some point the medication actually makes you worse than any better. Leave medication and resort to a good diet and exercise snd relaxation
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14d
I tried it. No effect
Did u give chances to work at least months?? Did u increase the dosage???
Not everyone responds to every drug the same way. Wellbutrin was great for me for 2 months and ruined my life by month 3. Please do not diagnose strangers on the internet. That’s beyond dangerous.
Ok good luck
I don’t need luck, baby. You need a medical degree before you tell people to take mind altering drugs.
Good luck
Good luck in med school, Dr. Not.
Try Ayahuasca
I joined a religious cult and finally settled on YouTube clips of Abraham hicks. It is the only thing that helps. To be clear, it is not the aforementioned cult
So what do you think is making you feel this way, there's always a reason, life isn't supposed to lived in constant anxiety
Spoken like a true average joe.
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Talk to me bro, I have had anxiety for 27 years and just finally decided to deal with it over past 3 years but only because it almost got me fired. I have a ton of answers to questions. Let me know what biggest issue is. Remember we all wake up everyday wanting to do nothing except relax and that’s leaves to little to no movement which leads to not needing food or drink. You feel worn down already before even dealing with the issue. First thing you must do is eat a good meal in the morning. If you can’t chew because of the anxiety drink yogurt drinks and protein shakes. Next find time for breathing exercises in the morning, repeating affirmations that you truly believe. Also set aside 30 minutes a day for a walk where you focus on something permanent while dealing with the anxious thoughts. I.E. telephone poles or wires. One of the biggest things you must remember, if you want to feel better you have to do these things everyday. Unfortunately the anxiety is there and this will help alleviate it. No matter what a doctor says, it won’t go away completely. You just learn to adapt to each issue you have. Don’t change your life to appease the anxiety. Fight fight fight and you will win. The things we do when have anxiety lead to promising and great experiences we only dream of.