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anxiety! tips to get through it please.

Posted , 4 users are following.

marshmellowmel
marshmellowmel

Hi there.

I have been taking sertraline 50mg for 3 weeks now. Im not even sure how or what started my anxiety. It just hit me like a brick wall all of a sudden. The sertraline is helping but at night usually around this time I get really bad anxiety. I carnt settle at all. Iv tried keeping myself busy, cleaning and cooking. I feel like i carnt breath and i just carnt cope. Does anybody have any coping methods or tips that help you get through it. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • adam1972
    adam1972 marshmellowmel

    Posted

    Hello,

    I've replied because I can relate to your post.  Anxiety is a bully.  I have generalised anxiety but when it comes it is all embracing and very hard to stop like sliding down an icy slope into a scary darkness.  I'm still learning how to cope with it.  I've given up on medication as a solution cos nothing I've been given has helped.  I'm glad it helps otheers though.  Take a really deep breath, tense every muscle in your body for ten seconds as hard as you can without hurting yourself and then breath out slowly.  Feel your parasympathetic nervous system kick in.  It's a great technique for immediate relief of the tension that comes with anxiety.  Imagine your anxious thoughts as cars zooming past you while you sit on the side of a busy motorway - don't engage with troublesome thoughts, just let them come and go.  The one thing I tell myself is my anxiety is all a product of my mind/imagination.  I can chose to be anxious but I can also chose to be happy/relaxed/positive.

    Don't get me wrong, it is a real struggle pretty much every day.  I'm just saying what helps me get through it.

    Best wishes,

    Adam

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  • vikki2303
    vikki2303 marshmellowmel

    Posted

    Hi, I've been on sert 50mg for just over 4 weeks now and am still getting slight anxiety sad but I find that rescue remedy helps me, have u tried it?? I get the one with no alcohol in as the taste is foul and hate the taste of alcohol anyway, u can get it in spray, drops and capsules. I have also just started to learn knitting and that really helps take my mind off anxiety in the evenings. Take deep breathes in and out and get some rescue remedy. It is safe to take as often as needed and safe to take alongside sertraline x
  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee marshmellowmel

    Posted

    Hi marshmellowmel,

    Love the name!

    Valarian root, the basis for Valium but in natural form, can be purchased separately or in combination with Sleepy Time Extra or can add it to Chamomile tea with some peppermint tea added. These ingredients will calm you and peppermint soothes the stomach. Also a good soak in a tub with a few drops of Lavender essential oil.

    There is another forum on here called Alternative and Complimentary Medicine and the people who contribute their knowledge there could make some recommendations for you also.

    Hope it all works out for you.

    Dawn

  • marshmellowmel
    marshmellowmel

    Posted

    Thank you vicki and dawn. I will try them both. I was taking clams and some natural stress relief tablets but i heard you shouldnt take them with this medication. Thank you for your help. Its hard to talk to my family about this because i dont think you understand unless you have suffered with it. Thanks again x
    • vikki2303
      vikki2303 marshmellowmel

      Posted

      Yeh u must not take other med with sert but rescue remedy is safe to take x
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee marshmellowmel

      Posted

      Have had to deal with family who do not/cannot/will not try to understand. Because of this, while younger, when family opinions felt necessary to me, I stuffed my problems like this down inside and felt alone. So glad you can find a place to share and exchange your struggles!
    • Digsby
      Digsby DawnDedee

      Posted

      Yes, it's so important if you can find someone who can empathise and knows exactly what you are going through. Any relaxation technique or "distraction" is valid - we are all different so what works for one may not be so effective for someone else. I have just started "mindfulness" therapy and most people in the group suffer with anxiety (I am battling clinical depression). I'm sure you can find information about mindfulness online. The essence of this technique is to concentrate on something in the here and now (like breathing or a routine activity) and draw your mind away from unhelpful thoughts/emotions, in a non-judgmental way (i.e. don't beat yourself up when your mind wanders becuase this is quite natural).

      Good luck buddy. Please try to stay positive & let us know how you get on. You will get better and you'll be able to help someone else in the future from the benefit of your experience.

      Digsby

  • marshmellowmel
    marshmellowmel

    Posted

    Thank you all so much for all your advice and experiences. Reading them makes me feel much more positive. I am feeling ok its just every now and then the ugly beast creeps up on me. I hate the feeling that it gives me. Like im not in control of anything at all. I think the hardest thing was admitting I needed some help. I feel like im maybe half way to feeling normal again so fingers crossed. Thanks again every one x
    • jordy20
      jordy20 marshmellowmel

      Posted

      Hi Mel

      What I do is just force myself through it I know this is very hard and even hard to think about but say you have something to do but you put it off because of your anxiety (believe me I've done this more times than I remember) Just do it even if having an anxiety attack to prove to yourself that it does not control you, also listening to music you like is a good way to calm it and also try keep your mind as occupied as possible when I'm doing things I enjoy I don't even think about anxiety but when I'm sat around with nothing to occupy me it hits me so hard, good luck smile also a nice cup of hot chocolate helps ease and relax you

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