At my wits end, don’t know how to carry on

Hi chic I'm in the same boat I feel as though I have lost a year of my life GP put me on sertraline but after 8 months I felt no better so switched to prozac which worked for me in the past started just before Xmas now on 60mg and I'm starting to feel more myself speak with GP for some help don't use DR GOOGLE try some mindfullness on YouTube good luck x

First thing...BIG VIRTUAL HUG!!! I will be 43 this July and have been suffering since I can remember, diagnosed over 20 years ago, anxiety and panic attacks. I would highly suggest finding a therapist/counselor, someone you can just talk to, not necessarily for CBT or anything else. Then you need to see a psychiatrist, someone who is familiar with anxiety and health anxiety. You didn't say if you had tried any medication to control your anxiety and its symptoms, this is the ONLY thing that made me a functioning human being. A combination of meds and therapy and a doctor that actually listened to me and knew a little something about anxiety and all the fun it has with our bodies. Now it took me a very very very long time to find all that, it might take a few tries to get a team together that works for you, just don't give up because it is out there. I've been divorced TWICE, in part because of my anxiety and the fact that I married total unsympathetic arseholes LOL. I know how hard it is to get someone to understand, if you haven't experienced it you really can never fully get it. I would highly suggest starting a journal, just for yourself, it helps me so much. Just start writing when you feel like you have nobody to talk to. Write everything, your symptoms, what you were doing when it started, how you feel about it and how you feel in general, physically and emotionally. Write down if you are mad, sad, happy, whatever. Just write, sometimes I write for an hour straight. I will write and cry and by the time I am done writing I feel just a little bit better. It helps to get it out, even if just on paper. Also it is a great therapy tool, you can look back and see that you have felt this way before, you made it through that time and you will make it through again. It is also helpful to take along to your doctor visits, we always forget something when we get in front of them, and you can use it as a reference when remembering symptoms and situations you are concerned about. Do NOT google your symptoms EVER...that is like the kiss of death for us with health anxiety! It is always going to give you the worst case scenario and that is how our anxiety starts to spiral out of control. Instead try googling ways to cope with anxiety or tools to help. You will find things like meditation videos on YouTube, diets (what foods to avoid), breathing and grounding exercises, suggestions for aromatherapy, or yoga or other exercise, adult coloring books, herbal remedies and alternative medicine. There are so many things out there that might help, everyone is different so you never know what might just work for you. And then once again discussing all your options with your medical team whether that be medication or medication and therapy. Remember anxiety is REAL, the physical symptoms is causes are REAL, it is NOT all in your head and you are NOT crazy...well no crazier than anyone else on this planet LOL. We just have an anxiety disorder (s) and our brain is the drunk driver of our body and our bodies only job is to listen to our brain, even when our brain is telling our body to do the wrong things. I hope something I said is of some help or comfort to you. If you ever need to talk you can always message me on here. You are definitely not alone. Good Luck and God Bless!!!

Hello

I unfortunately understand and relate I am 49 and suffer from health anxiety and realize I have become this way from my mother.  I too notice brief moments when I do not experience a symptom but it comes back.  I am always am stuck in my head and it is exhausting.  I too feel like a child and my husband cannot relate so I have to suffer inside.  I am here to support you if you want to reach out 

HI I am in a similar situation as you , suffered nearly all my life with anxiety, depression and fibromyalgia , joint aches and pains , been on lots of antidepressants, now going through the menopause which is taking years ,stuck in some days with the dogs , but 4 weeks ago woke up trembling rushing to the loo all the time , crying , had a appointment that day doctors ,he put me on matazapine, great for sleep but not much difference in feeling well , going to updose tonight a bit , This is the worse year for my health ever struggling to see the future , I also keep thinking awful things , what if , or how long , it go,'s on and on , I go on my tablet , I pad , and do games and puzzles when it gets to much ,

I am 58 and feel vulnerable , you are not alone with this illness , but it,'s a killer for your mind , see what tomorrow brings , from suex

I

Hi Christi,

From your responses you can see you are not alone!!  I am 61 and a health anxiety sufferer for many years.  Been on Prozac for years but I too question how much it helps.  I find as i get older it gets worse because so many more health issues come along.  I have an ex husband and now a boyfriend who were/are not much support.  They don’t understand it at all, even teased me at times and that is hurtful.  I have a wonderful family and friends, but again, unless you experience things you just don’t get it.

I had the flu ( tested positive) it start d on 2/14.  I am much better, but have not gotten rid of this cough and so you know what I am thinking right???  

Sadly this anxiety keeps us at war with ourselves.  All I can say is keep on fighting.  Stay away from the internet accept to listen to meditation.  Walk, breath, Think of the good things in your life and be grateful every day.  Find a therapist or life coach to talk to who doesn’t judge you and can help you.  ( it has helped me a lot).  And most importantly don’t give up, keep fighting the fight.  And always believe, as broken as we all feel, We are worth it!!!

Linda

Hi Christi; I can relate to everything you say...I am 64, and have Anxiety,all the time, since I took my first panic attack at 35...I am not fit to function, my Hubby does the shopping, makes our meals..etc; my head is light constantly,and I cant go out alone...I think I am dying slowly..I never feel good...I have read all your post, and know exactly what your going through...I cant take A/Ds as I have high pressure in both eyes....my GP is useless and nobody understands how I feel...I have tried Hypnosis. Rieky .CBT but nothing works...I would very much like it, if you would private message me..Mayby we could help each other...xx

Hi Christi,

 I am close to your age and I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve had anxiety since childhood and kept everything bottled up inside. I agree that there is just too much to tell people  over all those years, but it was just agonizing!

Nobody realized what was going on including my own parents and people just thought I was sweet and shy .  Was in my 20s my body just couldn’t take anymore anxiety and stress and I had a type of a breakdown where I had about seven or eight symptoms of Anxietyall at Once.   Thought I had MS but I did not. Ever since then I have had major health anxiety.   I also get very frightened and  don’t have anyone to talk to most of the time. So please don’t feel alone in this. 

 Hope you feel better soon ??🌸🌸🌸

Pretty awful couple of days. I try to keep myself occupied so that I might get some relief from the panic but my mind just goes back to how I’m feeling. I keep thinking my throat feels really swollen and that when I look in the mirror my neck will be twice the size........it isn’t.

i just wish I could understand why I let myself get into this state. I try to tell myself that I’ve been sure I have a terminal illness for so many years and that, if I did, then I wouldn’t still be here but then I think this time could be different, just because it’s never been anything awful in the past doesn’t mean it isn’t  this time.

I am desperate to switch my brain off just to get a bit of peace.