I can't cope with having generalized anxiety disorder

Holllie you really need to make another appointment with your GP if you haven't already. Your current situation is not healthy and from what you have written you are really suffering. You needn't suffer alone.

Perhaps the current combination of prescribed medication is not working for you. Maybe being referred to a counselor to help you work through the circumstances that led to your current situation would benefit you greatly and you would not feel so alone.

If I may ask, what happened in September for your anxiety to come on?

Hollie take care of yourself, do keep posting any updates you wish to share....

J

Hello, I have had councelling but it didn't help, I had 1 session a week that lasted for 6 weeks, the mental health team that my Gp refered me to have made an appointment for me to have a physiology assessment on the 13th march, so I'm hoping I may get some help there.

In September I went on my first abroad holiday to Fuerteventura, I was slightly nervous about going but it was nothing I couldn't handle, I was a bit apprehensive as when I went to Turkey with my mum and dad, my mum got ill out there and she died, she was only 44 and I vowed that I would never go abroad again, but I did it and the day we got home I just plummeted and all my anxiety came back, but I had a lovely holiday and can't understand why this has all started since coming back, maybe in the back of my head it could relate to my mum dying abroad but I don't feel that it is, I just want it all to go away and to be my normal self again xx

You sound strong because you faced your anxiety head on and went on holiday. However, I guess that trip did trigger your unresolved feelings and pain you had suppressed since your mum's passing. You could still be in a state of mourning for your mum's loss?

I am glad to read that you did have a nice time on holiday. The change of scenery really did help you. See, there is hope! You will be able to beat this. Always try to hold onto positive thoughts, tackle each day at a time. Good luck for the 13th and stay strong!

Hi,

Yes maybe your right but I don't feel that's the reason for this, I'm having a really bad day today, all I want to do is cry, I just don't know what to do, I have held back the tears all day, but when my fiancé walks in I know I'm going to cry my eyes out , why can't this all go away x

Hi Hollie

Be kind to yourself. This can actually bring you and your fiancee closer together. Cry, it is good for you as well as releasing stress hormones. You will feel better after a good cry. Your fiancee is probably feeling anxious about what is happening to you as well as feeling disempowered because he doesn't know what to do about it. This in turn may cause him to feel frustrated and even angry. Remember that he is frustrated (as you are) by the condition, NOT YOU. What you both need is more information about your condition to really understand what is happening to you and what can be done about it. If you go to the GP try and get him to come with you so he can feel included in your recovery program and also so he can be educated about your condition. If your GP is no good, get another one. If you can't find a knowledeable and understanding doctor then look for a therapist who specialises in anxiety states or your local mental health professionals.

I have been exactly where you are and am now free. You will be too but you need to do a bit of work to get there. The first thing is to understand and get a grip on what an anxiety state is and how it affects us. It is common to all human beings. It may FEEL terrible and the end of the world but I can assure you that it certainly isn't. The strange and disturbing feelings in your body and in your mind are simply the effects of the hormone adrenaline being released into your bloodstream. Nobody EVER died from anxiety. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people all over the world who are RIGHT NOW feeling the same as you are, and feeling just as desperate. There is no need to feel desperate. There are proven methods that work that will bring you out of this and YOU WILL feel your old self again. Have compassion for yourself in the meantime. It's OK for you to seek reassurance and comforting from your fiancee. DO NOT blame yourself or give yourself a hard time about this. Forgive yourself. After all, if the situation was reversed and he was the one suffering, wouldn't you want to help him as much as you could? It isn't personal and it isn't your fault. It is a hard-wired defence system in the human body that has been triggered, that's all. To explain how to get out of it would take quite a bit of explaining and I would be happy to do that for you if you like. But I feel that, especially for your fiancee, the understanding would best come from an 'expert' that he can believe, like a doctor or therapist rather than from some unknown bloke on the internet (me). I can assure you that I have lived through this and that you will be ok. Nothing bad will happen to you, in fact the very worst that can happen to you has already happened which is that you are feeling anxious. It doesn't get any worse than that. I am not belittling or downplaying the horrid and uncomfortable feelings that this state induces (I have called out ambulances in the past, I was so terrified) but nonetheless it is definately treatable. Try to be patient and hang on in there.

The key element is NOT to try and fight it or escape from it (even though I know you want to). This will make it worse. The key is ACCEPTANCE. Most people instinctively go the other way and try desperatlly to get rid of it by any means possible ( and why wouldn't you, it's a horrible feeling) but the point is. THIS DOESN'T WORK. Accepting the feelings in your body and the weird thoughts in your mind works. AS soon as you truly accept it, it goes away. Strange, eh! There are biological reasons for this which I will try to explain in a future post. But for the moment....

1) Try to do a brisk walk of 20 minutes every day. If you can't get out, run on the spot. Get breathless. This will use up some of the extra adrenaline that your body is producing plus you will sleep better.

2) Find a doctor or therapist who is sympathetic to your condition.

3) Eat regularly and healthily.

4) Try not to drink alcohol (it's a depressive) or use recreational drugs (can make anxiety worse). They may give you temporary relief but will not help in the long run. PS if you do, don't forget to forgive yourself.

5) Reassure and comfort yourself. Wear slippers, get a teddy bear, have a hot water bottle, have a warm bath, comfort your body, whatever suits you. Give yourself a treat, Distract yourself if you can by reading (preferably something funny) or TV or radio or a hobby.

6) Take up a simple meditation practice. This is cheap and easy to do.

This has made me think that I will try to write down in as simple a way as I can how to get out of this anxiety state and I will post it on this forum as, judging from the posts on this forum (I have just joined), there is an enormous lack of information and knowledge about this difficulty. I was agoraphobic for 15 years (it wont take you so long) living in terror in my flat. Nearest to hell I have been! Had every physical symptom possible, shaking, teeth chattering, stomach churning, weeping, hair turned white (yes, it really did), eyesight changed, hot, cold, gasping for breath, sweating buckets (keep topped up with water), strange thoughts, unable to sleep, suicidal thoughts etc and I honestly never thought I would ever be OK again. Yet here I am, going out every day, enjoying the sunshine (when there is any!), running my own business and feeling ok. I am not a particularly courageous person or have any special abilities, I just had better information. You can do it too .Sorry this is so long, better stop now. I will post again soon. All my love and remember to be kind to yourself.

PS

If you see your doctor get some anti-anxiety anti-depressants. There are quite a few and it might take a while to find the right one for you as everyone's biochemistry is slightly different. Good as a temporary stop gap until you get on top of this thing. I took venlafaxine and it worked for me.

Also ask for some Zopiclone (sleeping pill) to make sure you get a good nights sleep. Anxiety and being emotional every day can be very exhausting but this doesn't mean that you will sleep. Your body will need to rest to recuperate.

Also ask for some Propranalol. This slows the heart rate and can be useful in the short term to stop panic.

Ask to be referred to a therapist who can help and support you through this.

Hi Hollie

Be kind to yourself. This can actually bring you and your fiancee closer together. Cry, it is good for you as well as releasing stress hormones. You will feel better after a good cry. Your fiancee is probably feeling anxious about what is happening to you as well as feeling disempowered because he doesn't know what to do about it. This in turn may cause him to feel frustrated and even angry. Remember that he is frustrated (as you are) by the condition, NOT YOU. What you both need is more information about your condition to really understand what is happening to you and what can be done about it. If you go to the GP try and get him to come with you so he can feel included in your recovery program and also so he can be educated about your condition. If your GP is no good, get another one. If you can't find a knowledeable and understanding doctor then look for a therapist who specialises in anxiety states or your local mental health professionals.

I have been exactly where you are and am now free. You will be too but you need to do a bit of work to get there. The first thing is to understand and get a grip on what an anxiety state is and how it affects us. It is common to all human beings. It may FEEL terrible and the end of the world but I can assure you that it certainly isn't. The strange and disturbing feelings in your body and in your mind are simply the effects of the hormone adrenaline being released into your bloodstream. Nobody EVER died from anxiety. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people all over the world who are RIGHT NOW feeling the same as you are, and feeling just as desperate. There is no need to feel desperate. There are proven methods that work that will bring you out of this and YOU WILL feel your old self again. Have compassion for yourself in the meantime. It's OK for you to seek reassurance and comforting from your fiancee. DO NOT blame yourself or give yourself a hard time about this. Forgive yourself. After all, if the situation was reversed and he was the one suffering, wouldn't you want to help him as much as you could? It isn't personal and it isn't your fault. It is a hard-wired defence system in the human body that has been triggered, that's all. To explain how to get out of it would take quite a bit of explaining and I would be happy to do that for you if you like. But I feel that, especially for your fiancee, the understanding would best come from an 'expert' that he can believe, like a doctor or therapist rather than from some unknown bloke on the internet (me). I can assure you that I have lived through this and that you will be ok. Nothing bad will happen to you, in fact the very worst that can happen to you has already happened which is that you are feeling anxious. It doesn't get any worse than that. I am not belittling or downplaying the horrid and uncomfortable feelings that this state induces (I have called out ambulances in the past, I was so terrified) but nonetheless it is definately treatable. Try to be patient and hang on in there.

The key element is NOT to try and fight it or escape from it (even though I know you want to). This will make it worse. The key is ACCEPTANCE. Most people instinctively go the other way and try desperatlly to get rid of it by any means possible ( and why wouldn't you, it's a horrible feeling) but the point is. THIS DOESN'T WORK. Accepting the feelings in your body and the weird thoughts in your mind works. AS soon as you truly accept it, it goes away. Strange, eh! There are biological reasons for this which I will try to explain in a future post. But for the moment....

1) Try to do a brisk walk of 20 minutes every day. If you can't get out, run on the spot. Get breathless. This will use up some of the extra adrenaline that your body is producing plus you will sleep better.

2) Find a doctor or therapist who is sympathetic to your condition.

3) Eat regularly and healthily.

4) Try not to drink alcohol (it's a depressive) or use recreational drugs (can make anxiety worse). They may give you temporary relief but will not help in the long run. PS if you do, don't forget to forgive yourself.

5) Reassure and comfort yourself. Wear slippers, get a teddy bear, have a hot water bottle, have a warm bath, comfort your body, whatever suits you. Give yourself a treat, Distract yourself if you can by reading (preferably something funny) or TV or radio or a hobby.

6) Take up a simple meditation practice. This is cheap and easy to do.

This has made me think that I will try to write down in as simple a way as I can how to get out of this anxiety state and I will post it on this forum as, judging from the posts on this forum (I have just joined), there is an enormous lack of information and knowledge about this difficulty. I was agoraphobic for 15 years (it wont take you so long) living in terror in my flat. Nearest to hell I have been! Had every physical symptom possible, shaking, teeth chattering, stomach churning, weeping, hair turned white (yes, it really did), eyesight changed, hot, cold, gasping for breath, sweating buckets (keep topped up with water), strange thoughts, unable to sleep, suicidal thoughts etc and I honestly never thought I would ever be OK again. Yet here I am, going out every day, enjoying the sunshine (when there is any!), running my own business and feeling ok. I am not a particularly courageous person or have any special abilities, I just had better information. You can do it too .Sorry this is so long, better stop now. I will post again soon. All my love and remember to be kind to yourself.

Hello,

I have had it really bad before and I turnt to alcohol and became an alcoholic at the age of 21, I didn't even enjoy it, it was just to calm my nerves, it ended up with me in hospital, in intensive care, my eyes and skin turnt yellow, and I'm lucky to be alive, I haven't drank since then and I am now 25, but I get thoughts about drinking again but I know it won't solve the problem! I thought I was getting a bit better a few weeks ago but Iv just hit rock bottom again, my worst fear is being alone, I feel awful and can't wait till it's bedtime and I can go to sleep and shut it all out, thankyou for your kind words, I want to feel normal again so badly, at the moment I feel really sick, I managed to eat 3 little hot dogs but that's all I could stomach.

Did the Gp put you on any medication to help with your anxiety, as I'm sure the tablets I'm on are wrong because they don't seem to be helping me, I thought they were a few weeks ago but like I said Iv hit rock bottom again xx

Just remember you are not alone really I have the similar issue really just not the depression part which is not wanting to be alone. You do have sever generalized anxiety and you need to be treated. I tried a lot of different medications and the only one that worked for me is paxil I think it might help you, it has side effects but the side effects are like nothing on how you are feeling. Paxil is FDA approved for depression and generalized anxiety disorder, and I don’t think that fluoxetine is FDA approved for generalized anxiety disorder. Now the Pregabalin has been show to benefit with generalized anxiety disorder but I think maybe you should try a new medication to see what happens. How are things now?

Hi hollie, I most definitely can relate to everything your going thru because I'm 43 and going thru the same thing, this started with me in September 2015, I was at work, driving because I was an home health aide. A feeling of fear can over me out of no where, I was shaky and scared to death, I immediately pulled over and began to pray because I thought I was about to die. And every since that day I haven't been the same. I've been dealing with this now for nine months and praying to God for the anxiety to come to an end ,because I so want to be myself again. In December of 2015 I registered myself in school because I didn't want to be at home while my husband was at work ,my 12 year old daughter was home but I guess it just wasn't enough. I was actually begging my husband to get a say job. I've tried to deal with it on my own by taking natural herbs and vitamins which will help for a while then the anxiety comes back. Last week my anxiety was constant and started to get very depressed and crying all the time, so I went to see my doctor and she put me on Bupropion 150mg, I take two a day to get 300mg. It really helped for the depression and great for cigarette craving, because I started last Thursday trying to quit smoking cold turkey, which I think is what put me in a depressed state. This journey with anxiety has been pure hell ,so I'm praying that this medicine helps. Doctor said that it might take from 4 to 6 weeks. I just wanted to let u know that your not alone dealing with this. Pray, pray and pray some more because it really helps me. I hope you get to feeling better.

Hey Hollie, Im new to this but I can relate to your feelings because I've noticed everyone has different anxiety but the symptoms are much rather all the same...but I know how you feel, like you feel like you're stuck and just crazy or like you ruined your life or that you'll never be normal again...that constant weird feeling in your chest. Or that feeling that if you don't get yourself straight you'll be alone or be considered crazy but in reality it isn't that way. It truly feels like a living nightmare that just doesn't stop..I know its so difficult and I know it hurts Hollie but it does get better and sometimes you have to just see the bigger picture..you might not feel like the old Hollie but deep down inside, reality is you are still that old Hollie you were back then. Don't let anxiety take who you are. Be grateful that you have your husband and that there's people that love you. Try to do the old things you use to do. I'm not saying its easy but just try to be you again believe that you'll get better and everyday you'll notice a difference.

You've been on these meds for a few months and you still feel this way? Honey, they're definitely not the right meds for you. They should have kicked in by the second month. Speak to your GP and let em know what's been going on. They can't keep increasing them if there hasn't been SOME improvement at least