Recovered Chronic Anxiety Sufferer

Hello

Are there any books you read that you would recommend? What would you say helped you the most with overcoming panic attacks?

Hi matt

I have been suffering from chronic anxiety for about 2 years now. It started at the onset of my pregnancy and has continued since then. I have a 1 1/2 year old son who is healthy baby brat. I was living in Doha and now moved to India . I have couple of pyscharist and on medication. However I want to slowly vane off my medication and move towards recovery. Most of 20months I have been only moaning, crying wailing and trying ways to come out of the situation. Trying to seek reassurances from close family members. I have very under standing family who support me in very way they can. I have gone thru few sessions of cbt in the last two months and it has helped me a bit. The frequency of the attacks have reduced, though I still get at least one panic and anxiety attack. And days when I don't get an attack, wld think oh have not got an attack and then finally get one. I am fully aware that anxiety can't hurt me. And I do not fear of getting an heart attack. However constant fear that this struggle would continue for life. Also constantly get the feeling am one of those who cannot be fixed. I am too eager to get well and that I feel is delaying my progress. In spite of knowing that the thoughts are irrational I continue get them and can't get rid of them. Your story seems to be truly inspiring and most of the symptoms that u have mentioned is something I can relate to. In addition most of my anxiety and panic attacks give a urge to use the washroom and sweating. Would like to know in specific what is that would lead me to the path of recovery. I feel there has been some improvement in last 2 months want to get rid of it and live a normal life. If I would ever be able to do that. Ur response will help me. As I believe I have already taken the first step to recovery.

Regards

Jyoti

I think I'm still dealing with derralization and depersonalization to where it's like Anxiety strips you bare of your faith, your trust of who you were or can be, you question everything about yourself and of your going insane your memories, orientation (as I have OCD and focus repeatedly on the same questions even after I answer) has anyone gone through this but rebuilt themselves and did it take medication or just time

How can you ease yourself to calm yourself down? I am often so agitated I feel calming exercises won't work. I am scared. I tried a couple of medications and they made me worse. I don't want to try another out of fear.

Hi

I have bee n suffering from anxiety disorder (GAD and panic attacks ) since the past two and half years. The physical symptoms are sweating and loose motions,occasional palpitations and shortness of breath. The psychological symptoms are bizarre and irrational thoughts and a feeling that this wld never end. I would get these attacks at least 4-5 times in a day. There is not a moment in a day when I am not self checking if I am OK. Last 6 month I have gone through CBT sessions and got better to a point where i reached a point where I did not get these attacks for a week to 10 days. It took me lot of effort and struggled through each of these panic attacks and fear to reach to this point. However probably I got too eager to get well and messed up badly. After 7 days of no attacks I got a mild one and instead of ignoring it just built on it fearing the worst and in about 5 days have become the same as I was in my earlier days prior to my cbt. My therapist is on a vacation and likely to be back in a week. I feel I can never get over this. Is there a permanent solution, can I ever be free of this disorder? I don't want to live a life like this where I cannot express my emotions or live normally. Is this a relapse? Had I recovered earlier. I feel all my efforts this far have come to naught. Need to restart again. I do not have the strength or courage to do it all over again. Your guidance would help. Has anyone faced such a situation and got better thus far and then had to go back to how they have at the start and completely recovered. It exactly feels how I was on day one. Back to square one. (where my excess bowel movement and sweating)

Positive and success stories might just provide reassurance.

Regards

Jyo

Good morning. I am so sorry you are having a rough time. Take a deep breath. Know that you got better before and you will again. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for about 2 1/2 years also. I feel better for a while, then I relapse. It is hard, I know.

At the moment I'm going through sevre unbearable anxiety attack. I'm 69 male mentally and physically sick going through multiple self and family problems and failed to cope since last four years and trapped in sevre mental treatment resistant sickness. Gone the series of Antidipressants cocktails, suffered with their sevre side effects and facing physical sickness, used CBY sessions and ECT sessions but nothing helps. My daily triggers don't let me relax 24/7, I can't lay down, I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't poop properly. Completly isolated, helpless, worthless, hopeless, support less like dead body. I don't know what to do now. Mind is blasting and freaking now. Heart perptaton increased with chest pain. Short of breath and what not. Stopped all, lastly Seroquel due sevre side affects and sleepless ness. Only taking Clonazipan 1.25mg at night which also not helping relax or sleep after taking and then stopping Seroquel. Don't know what to do. Fear of just going and laid down on bed is killing and passing the whole day with unrelated and with mental pain unbearable. Any one can help and advice. I did all what was possible but now seems tired and lost hopes..... Prehaps some self help at home may be helpful. Going out to see Dr. Or Therepist is very difficult as now not able to drive due eye and other side effects. No family support or help available due my prolonged sickness. 

They all seems abandoned me and don't care. Yes I'm to be blamed for everything being head of the family never drunken or smoked, remained working whole life for upbringing sons and now after getting adult married damn care about old aged sick parents who are now dependant on them as given up all to children before time and without thinking old age benefits or savings. Expecting support but now it's too late to regret.. Faces and attitudes changed drastically and killing every moment. Sorry for long disturbed mindset post right now as going through sevre agony and mental pain. It is 11am now and long sleepless noght is their. Then morning to evening painfull day will start. Support and advice and help needed. Technically not qualified for any Gvt. Help or support as children used my credits to obtain loans etc hence on paper we old age parents never qualified for any deserving benefit Eligiblity.

I am sorry you are in so much pain. I truly am. Please seek counselling. There are establishments that have counselors who work on a sliding scale according to your income. Talk to your family doctor. They may have suggestions as to where you can go. Sit your children down and talk to them whether they want to listen or not. It will help you. Keep trying medications till you find one that works for you. I wish you all the best.

Probably reading this 3 years to late but I thought was worth a try.

I've battled with anxiety around 10 years on and off . It comes when I'm stressed stays a few months then goes away a few years .. but this time I don't feel strong enough and this time I gave into beta blockers . I've never medicated before but I have two kids and need to get stronger quicker . Im scared this time I won't be able to and came across your post. I'm currently doing acupuncture and recieving councilling. Find it helps a bit but it's the annoying being woken at 4.30am with nausea thats upsetting me I guess due to anxiety. Then the avoiding stuff again cause I'm scared of an attack . I can't even pick up my daughter from school without feeling panicky something like that would never bother me in a million years why now!!!! I don't want to be alone that scares me I'm literally taking my mum eveeywhere with me at the moment it's so sad. Please give me some hope how you did it??

Hi I know this post is a little old but I would like to share my story and I also have some questions. I have dealt with anxiety since I was around 12. It came and went throughout the years and like you said the symptoms went away without me noticing almost every time. Recently they have been bad again. About the last 6 months. I am an alcoholic and was using alcohol to cope with my symptoms. That combined with medication really messed me up. I have quit drinking as of 3 days ago and I feel better on the sober end. The anxiety is still here but it comes in waves. I still feel a little hopeless like there is not an outcome or end to this. I know how determined I am for things to get better and I will seek help. Financially i am struggling but my job provides me with free counseling up too 5 sessions. I hope you can respond and give me a little advice and motivation to keep going and that things are going to be okay. Thank you