Overwhelming anxiety all day every day!

Hi. Just read yours and Dannie's post. Sorry your both having a bad time of it. Anxiety stinks. Sounds like your at that point where it feels hopeless, please be reasured it's not, I like many have coped with anxiety for over 20 yrs, being able to post here for help and advice is something I didn't have, I just hid it and hid away. Worst thing you can do. I got help eventually as I thought I would go mad, cbt helped, but soon racing thoughts and focusing on negative stuff returned, I tried relaxation, meditation, I talked to family and friends just so I wasn't living in my own head constantly. When I couldn't eat I ate milkshakes , bananas, keep hydrated. Every muscle ached as I held myself tense never relaxing. Talk to your doc and get as much help as you can. Some people aware by meds short term to help alongside pushing yourself. ( don't lie in bed or sit alone , time drags and your mind races and focuses solely on anxiety, pains etc. People here with great advice, please (and I know it's difficult) look for similarities here, if you relate your first step is knowing lots of people out here are in your situation,but there is hope , anxiety is scary and frustrating but can be treated and you learn to understand it more and cope better. Wish I knew all this years ago, I was so afraid thinking there was something wrong with me, couldn't believe anxiety could have so many symptoms and make you feel so bad. Push forward, lots of support, talk anytime, I have more good days than bad now, it's been a long journey but worth it,😊??

It's so comforting to know when you're not the only one going through all of this.

It's just so frustrating when you try to do as much research as possible to help yourself and loan behold it doesn't work for us. Just disheartening.

Only reason I'm back at work is because I can't afford to stay off sick otherwise believe me I'd be at home rocking in a corner.

I've been on fluoxitine for around a month and a half now, I was on venlafaxine before this and they worked absolute wonders for me but myself and my partner were talking about starting a family which my doctor advised me I couldn't on venlafaxine as it can effect the development of the respiratory system in a foetus, that's why I changed or if still be on them now.

After 2 sessions of CBT my therapist said it's possibly not right for me that's why she's referred me to Adult Phycotherapy Services which looks at different types of therapy other than CBT. I just don't think talking about death helps me, more like sets me off.

It's awful isn't it?!!

Feels like your never going to get through it.

Thank you Edwina for your positive reply.

I'm currently reducing Mirtazapine as they think it's making me feel worse and causing the nausea etc., going down to 15mg then starting Escitalopram at 10mg, which my mental health nurse specialist has tried to assure me will be better, I really hope so.

Am so scared of trying new meds now, had a very bad reaction to Setraline about two years ago too.

I think I'm going to stop the CBT for now as really not in the right place to even focus on it tbh.

Please let me know how you go on.

Karen

Thank you for your positive reply.

I do spend a lot of time by myself , my choice at the moment as I can't face being with people other than my husband.

But you are right, I just spend my days thinking and thinking over and over again, until I just can't cope anymore.

So glad you are having more good days now.

Karen

It does feel like I'll never see the end of this all...i know what you mean about not wanting to be around anyone but your partner, I'm exactly the same when my anxiety kicks in.

I also get what you mean about new meds, they always scare me because I don't know if they're going to make me better or worse, I hate having to start a new antidepressant but it's for a good reason, citalopram gave me an extremely bad reaction, only lasted a week on those before I almost had a full break down.

I understand about CBT, You really have to be in the right place to talk about what's really troubling you. I hope I hear back from mine soon.

Please keep in contact! It's so nice to meet someone in a similar situation to me. X

Hi,

I will keep in touch, it's also good for me to know there are others who understand too.

I was on Citalopram for years with no problems, just goes to show how we all react differently to medication !

I think the medication you are currently on, ( is it something beginning with F ? ) is the other one my mental health nurse specialist mentioned too, I've got to the point, I dread going to bed as I know come anytime between 4.30am and 5am I'm going to wake feeling nauseous and panicky!

Karen

Hi ellebi,

What new approach are you trying out of curiosity?

I too have tried talking therapy etc

I am meeting a lady whos a psychotherapist, she was recommended through a friend of a friend who met her and found her outstanding for anxiety and panic attacks.

Shes deals in Gestalt therapy which is her main therapeutic practise and she also employs C.B.T. techniques and Mindfulness.

She said instead of talking about the past and what caused my anxiety and panic attacks as I had a very happy childhood and nothing overly traumatic happened to me in my life.

Shes going to work on all the negative thoughts I have and low self esteem etc

That sounds very interesting, I am interested to see how this goes for you as I'm also looking at alternative therapies as none I have tried so far have helped me.

Good luck, please let me know how you get on.

Hi Karen. I tried a therapy group. An old lady who had suffered all her life started it to help others. A group of people who understood how each other felt sharing how they feel, how they cope. The best therapy I have had by far, cbt didn't work for me as I thought perhaps my therapist didn't understand how bad this was as she was a coucilor(I asked her if she ever had anxiety, she said no but I get nervous sometimes) cbt works for some though. This is just me but I always say I can only relate to people who understand what this feels like and learn how they cope and try to support other sufferers along with medical help and family support. Talk anytime, thank goodness for these forums, I'm not ancient😊But we didn't have these 20 yrs ago, anxiety was the loneliest illness, I thought I was the only one and must be crazy. When people ask here 'is anybody else like this' I think thank goodness they can reach out for reasurance??