Anxiety

Hi Derek,

I really feel for you. I'm 30 and have suffered from anxiety since I was 16. I'd be ok until Feb this year and then have had a really rubbish few months.

I'm not currently on meds so can't advise with that but if they helped before it might be worth discussing again with your doctor. Have you tried any form of therapy? I'm currently having CBT, still undecided on whether it works for me but if you've not tried it that could help.

Other than that the most important thing is that you recognise your symptoms are anxiety, that's the first step. Make sure you look after yourself. Eat well, do regular exercise and try to get on with your normal acitivities. Good luck :-)

I read in one of your comments breathing exercises didn't work for you. I'd recommend anyway you see a breathing therapist, to get some support in practicing these exercises in the right way and the right frequency.

Also I would recommend doing a blood panel on the B vitamines and vitamine D. These causes of anxiety are often overlooked, but can have a major impact on your well being.

Also regular exercise is of great importance; it regulates your brain chemistry in a good way. I can't stress this enough: it's REALLY important. Make sure you go for a half an hour stroll every day at least.

Pills are just a temporary solution, to suppress symptoms, but the don't solve the cause of your anxiety.

You probably developed some disfunctional thought patterns during the past years. For solving these I also, like some other commenters, would recommend CBT. It's very effective when offered by a good therapist, a few months should be sufficient.

The chest pain is a sign of tension in your chest, it will be relieved by doing breathing exercises daily. The bloating is caused by a disbalance in your gut flora due to stress, best take probiotics a.s.a.p. to solve this. it might take a couple of weeks to feel better, be patient, take them every day.

Also make sure you eat healthy: loads of vegetables, fresh meat and fatty fish.

Hi Derek, like yourself I suffer with anxiety & I've been taking antidepressants for 26 years! Here's a suggestion that helps me a lot! CYCLING! I do quite long distances and a lot of Mountain biking....trust me it helps no end! Just do a couple of miles to start off with! It torches anxiety and for me has been a great help! Let me know how you get on mate, as I've many other suggestions being a diagnosed chronic generalised anxiety sufferer!

I am 29 now and have Generalised Anxiety Disorder since ive been 19. Have been through different meds and it comes and gos. I notice a med could be working for me and then after a few years my body builds an immunity and boom, bang to the start again. I am going through a very bad patch at present but I have recently joined a meditation group which I am finding helpful and also reiki is good.

Its going to be slow process for me this time as I am also suffering from Major Depressive but Im sure once they get a med to suit me and I continue what im doing, things will get better

also does anyone else suffer difficulty swallowing with their anxiety

all i can say is that my anxiety started at around fifteen sixteen worse at seventeen and it has been a daily unimaginable hell i feel like im the only one in the world who knows what i would ever mean and i am 33 now almost 34 and it has never changed its been this way every day for all of these years. every second of every day. for all of these years. i saw the original poster and at least one person who replied have anxiety that also started that long ago or so and now at their increased age we still have it all these freaking years later. that i cannot seem to understand. why it is never gotten better only worse or the same mostly worse. in ALL this time.