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I've never been an anxious person, how did I get an anxiety disorder

Posted , 7 users are following.

greentea30029
greentea30029

OK, so I have had a bout of depression 5 years ago, but got over it (I believe it was related to hormones, perimenopause).  But, I have never been an anxious person.  Nothing really bothered me too much.  I was always able to get over break ups, miscarriage, infertility... you name it, I was able to cope, and not have to deal with anxiety for very long.   Back in August, I seemed to have developed some anxiety, and I went to see a psychiatrist who gave me zoloft, but it sent me into panic attacks (I think I had some sort of manic switch).  Since then I have had an anxiety disorder.  I have tried numerous medications, but nothing has gotten it under control.  Some have even caused worse depression and anxiety.  I have been pretty treatment resistant.  How could I suddenly develop this disorder, and not able to get out of it when I wasn't an anxious person to begin with.  How does one get out.  I am now in therapy.  Hope I find. Good med mix. Anyone in my same situation?

3 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 greentea30029

    Posted

    Hopefully the therpaist can help figure this all out. No one understands all this just yet they are just trying to figure out how to get the symptoms under control. This disorder seems to just appear for all different reasons, 
    • greentea30029
      greentea30029 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply.  I hope to get this under control, it is debilitating.
  • amanda85723
    amanda85723 greentea30029

    Posted

    I too, have never really been an anxious person until around last fall. I don't really even know what initiated mine. I hear that a traumatic event can however, initiate anxiety. In my case, I think it's because I overthink everything. How is therapy working for you?

    • greentea30029
      greentea30029 amanda85723

      Posted

      Hi Amanda,

      I just started therapy.  He is really into mindfulness, but mindfulness does not even touch my anxiety in the morning.  I have had a few traumatic events in the past, but nothing I did not get over.  I do tend to overthink.  I am on medication, but that has not helped my severe morning anxiety.  I take klonopin when it gets bad.  

  • ann55375
    ann55375 greentea30029

    Posted

    Hi, my anxiety disorder started a while ago after i had an operation (first time ever).  Dr doesnt seem to know why, me neither. All i know is that this anxiety is ruining my life by stopping me doing what i want.   How can i get to be ove 60, never had it before, and wham it hits.  The meds have all made me worse, depressed even.  Trying cbt but not much progress, feels physical, not mental if you know what i mean. 
    • greentea30029
      greentea30029 ann55375

      Posted

      Ann, I feel your pain.  I am on meds too.  Some have made me horribly depressed, some have made me even more anxious.  I am on a combination now that seems to make me better in the evenings, but the rest of the day is horrible, and debilitating.  Sometimes I think my anxiety disorder started when I took antibiotics and steroids, but not sure.  Mine feels physical too, like too much adrnaline.  I think about trying holy basil, but haven't found any natural treatments that touch my issue.  I have to take a mood stabilizer with my antiddepressant or I get too hyper.  It is just much too frustrating.  I am now trying 75 mg lithium, and 10 mg paxil,  I have been trying differnt combos since August, and I am just drained and tired.  Keep me updated on your progress.   There has to be an answer.  I have a team of prayer warriors and I am not giving up, but life is not the same, and I am just exhausted.  Blessings to you Ann.  Don't giveu up.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 greentea30029

      Posted

      I am like you, feel there is too much adrenaline running round my body,or is it cortisol too.  Whatever, the same feelings of anxiousness, agitation inside of me. Trying several med approaches but none worked so far.  Interested to hear you are trying lithium and paxil.  I havent gone down that route yet but think psych may try it at some point as the prozac, sertraline, duloxetine etc all havent worked, i cant take them for long as side effects are awful. What are you finding helped make your evenings better?  Ould be you have diurnal depression which does that.
  • daveyyyy
    daveyyyy greentea30029

    Posted

    How does one get out? I've been out for the best part of a year, I developed an anxiety disorder 3/4years ago due to a massive panic attack. Something changed that night, a reset button. Maybe it was time to adjust my course in life.

    No.1 get to know what anxiety is, research research research.

    No.2 seek help, CBT works wonders.

    No.3 look into meditation if only for awhile it will keep you in touch with your phyiscal symptoms and help with thoughts. retrain the brain.

    No.4 do not relay on medication to make things better solely, anxiety can manifest in the mornings, evenings, all day or nothing at all, so don't be quick to blame the medication it's only there to ease your symptoms but if the anxiety is strong then nothing will just turn it off.

    No.5 go on YouTube, your not alone and you never will be. It's a condition that effects MILLIONS worldwide, and if you think it's only a million then rethink what a million is.

    No.6 find the things that work for you, find inspiring videos, films, books, people.

    No.7 Don't give up on work, college or social outings. Keep pushing yourself over and over and over again.

    No.8 setbacks are inevitable espically whenyou push yourself so don't give up. Be a warrior of your own body and mind.

    No.9 try develop an I don't care what your gona do to me attitude. Doesn't jean you have to go around hating everyone and everything but say screw this a lot more.

    No.10 exercise this is a must, get the hell up and get going.

    I could go on and on but I need to get up for work lol.

    Take the bull by the horns because if your going to sit and wallow then forget about it, take the steps even if you don't fell like it. Get out there days you need to act happy then act it, put on a face do not let this sucker beat you. Accept the anxiety do not push it away, befriend it. It's part of you, a good part of you, most of the nicest and smartest people I know are anxious people who have slot to give to anyone.

    Live life's experience no matter what card your dealt with.

    • greentea30029
      greentea30029 daveyyyy

      Posted

      Daveyyy, you are so strong!  I am taking baby steps.  I know medication alaone won't do it.  I have increased my work out.  I am forcing myself to go out, but I don't do it all the time because it makes it worse.  I started to work on my business again.  It is hard to get medication right though when you are on the bipolar spectrum.  Thank you for your encouraging words.  I will try my hardest to get out there, and not wallow in my pitty.  How were you when you were with friends.  I find it hard to concentrate on conversations, or even get involved.  I was invited to a friends house for memorial day.  Maybe I will push myself to go.  I pushed myself to go to Israel for 14 days, but things got exponentially worse.  I get different advice from everybody.  Some say you need to slow down, some say you need to do more.  I will find the balance.  Plus I am praying.  Only God knows how I will get out.

  • Dove_from_above
    Dove_from_above greentea30029

    Posted

    Stress at work has tipped me into a breakdown where I have been continuously anxious. Prior to that I was confident and happy to push myself.

    Sertraline is starting to work for me although I have to take 150mg. I start some therapy next week so I hope that is the more permanent fix.

    • greentea30029
      greentea30029 Dove_from_above

      Posted

      I think that is what caused my breakdown too.  Too much continuous stress, and not enough sleep.  I am unable to take SSRI's.  I think I may be making some progress on lamictal.  My brother recovered completely from depresson 20 year ago with zoloft.  He has never dove into depression again, because he is hypervilent about it.  He went to therapy for 5 years after that, and now is a therpist himself.  Make sure when you recover to be very vigilent about it.  I didn't know the first time I had my depressive episode, and fell into it again.  This time it is alot harder to recover from, so make sure you do everything you can to avoid a relapse.

  • sunnycms
    sunnycms greentea30029

    Posted

    My job stress and mean boss really tipped my anxiety scales. It's been an awful year of anxiety and lots of sickness. It seems I am anxious or sick or both most days. I would like to go on meds, but I tried Prozac and it made me worst so dang. I feel so weak and shaky and loss of appetite. I even get flu like symptoms and body aches from being so stressed. If I get a cold, it lasts a long time because my immune system is low. All of my physical symptoms scare me and make me more anxious and the cycle spins. I have such a nice life, but somehow, I have become an anxious, sick wreck. I get it. This is pretty darn tough.

  • su1977
    su1977 greentea30029

    Posted

    Oh you are describing my life. I was always very calm. I could easily let things roll off my shoulders and one day everything went wrong. I found myself tense about a road trip and it kept escalating. I too was given zoloft due to the minor anxiety of the trip but it caused me to have a serious breakdown. I felt as if I was losing my mind. I was taken off of it immediately and then changed to some other SSRI. I felt the same early signs of a breakdown. I finally saw a psychiatrist and I was diagnosed with bipolar 2. Apparently SSRIs can cause minor anxiety to turn into manic episodes for those with bipolar. Its one of the most common indicators. Go figure. I had to first go on a mood stabilizer - lamotrigine and gabapentin. Now we're working to control my anxieties so I'm on buspirone. I had a relapse so I'm temporarily on clonazepam. I thought it couldn't get worse than having anxieties but having to find the right cocktail of meds is just as frustrating. I too am in therapy and I attend group therapy in ocassion. I've been doing this for about a year and still struggling. Huge improvements from my all time low. I had to go out on leave for a month but now I can at least drive to and from work. Its a tough fight. And it's slow progress but progress is progress right? I just wish I could get back to my normal. All this in one year. I'm baffled. Sounds like you're taking the right steps. I do wish you much success. Its wonderful and inspiring to know someone beat it.

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