When do you just give up trying?

Posted , 2 users are following.

6 weeks into my latest breakdown now, constant anxiety is driving me nuts, I don't tolerate meds well but have self referred to CBT today so now just waiting.

I've had anxiety and panic for years but I used to cope, until 6 weeks ago and now nothing helps, I do allof the self help, relaxation and 'allowing' but still freak out constantly.

Going out is harder than ever, today we got to the shop and I felt I couldn't go in,panicked,begged husband to take me home then decided I was going in there after all.

Walked in holding hubbys arm, wanted to leave but kept on at it, I even let go of his arm at one point.

The anxiety was so bad though, this afternoon we went back,again I felt terrible but managed to do it, even managed to let go of his arm for longer that time but god am i sick of feeling so abnormally scared.

I always believed the only way forward was not to give up, to feel the fear and do it anyway but I've been doing that for weeks, had the odd slightly better day but now relapsed hugely so is it time to just give up and accept that I can't get better? It used to work but it's not now so maybe I just can't beat it this time.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi,

    I have GAD which is mild and my Phy thinks is actually targeted by other medication conditions.  Anyway, he tried every medication on the book and they all gave me side efects and after 20-25 diferent medications ( I'm very sensitive to medications) only 2 worked for me,  Xanas and Valium. Xanax was doing ok for a few months and I only was takig 0.5mg twice daily. Sure, I actually needed 3 times daily which is what he wanted me to take and I actually needed to keep me 24/7 relax but I said no. Eventually Xanax killed my mechanical functions ( if you know what I mean) so he changed to Valium.  I have been taking Valium for a few months 7.5mg at night and 5MG on day time which is working for me.  Sure, again he wants me to take 10mg at day time but I refuse to go that high unless I had no option but 5 or 7.5mg is doing the job for me.   They say these drugs are addictive but if you have control like I do then they are not.  Is up to us to control what we take so my Doc said I proved I have total control so is up to me to take 5-10mg as needed twice daily. So far the combination above is working for me.  Sure, I still have a medical condition which is the reason #1 I have anxiety.  I know your condition is totally diferent, but maybe you sould give it a try.   Deep beathing also helps alot, I took biofeedback when I was getting dizzy 24/7 and now I'm dizzy free.  Yes, it took a few months. ;-)

    • Posted

      Hi I am on valium, been on it for 17 years, it's the only med I could ever tolerate, minimal side effects, good effects for anxiety when used properly too but sadly after 17 years it just doesn't give me many good effects, I tried increasing it a bit but it didn't help at all, it was excellent in the early years though and I'm glad you get relief from it and can keep that control with it.
    • Posted

      Sorry to hear that, just like you I did give 10mg a try for one day and made no diffrence so 5-7,5mg ,twice daily will have to do the trick for now.   Which it is a sfor the anxiety! ;-) I have taken even 2.5mg many times but the Doc insisted that I at least try 7.5mg before he take additioanl measures like Acupuncture because my main medical problem is chest pressure and I have been cleared by my cardiologist and my GI said I only have mild reflux and gastritis which very well can be the reason for the chest pressure.  No medication for this has helped as well. ;-(
    • Posted

      Medical issues have sent my anxiety over the top. Especially when you deal with it daily. I am on alprazolam. I am trying to taper my dose from 0.5 3 times per day to half that,i know i need to taper as you arent supposed to go cold turkey,there are alot of times i so wanted to take more,but now i have to get used to really experianceing the uncomfortable side of emotions. I dont know if i can or not. But if I fall, i still have the meds if needed.
    • Posted

      Cold turkey never, and much less withut medical advise.  Now, he will probabbly lower the dose to twice daily or 0,25mg 3 times daily.  or reduce one daily to 0.25mg and keep the other 2 at 0.05mg twice daily and so on. Normally they will just replace one benzo with another if you are not getting better or reduce if you are feeling better.   Mines just want to keep it safe until my chest problem is clear but I have done 2.50mg valium and up to 10mg ( just once) and it did not make any difference to my chest.  My heart rate does not go up and BP is perfect.  My chest presure is just in the middle of the chest like pressure from gas but is present every single day for up to 12 hours even if I just have a small meal. I have lost 40 pounds and my perfect weight is 170 and right now I'm down to 154.
  • Posted

    I think acceptance is essential. But its acceptance that a level of anxiety may need to be part of our lives,but as long as its managed and isn't as distressing, that's a huge step forward. Getting to that point isn't easy of course
    • Posted

      Absolutely, I can accept anxiety in my life but at this point it is so distressing, before the breakdown it was horrid but manageable and I'd be happy just to get back to that point, it wont be easy but I think all I can do is carry on with the exposure to it and hope it subsides back to it's managable state.
  • Posted

    You can beat it..anything very stressful or tramatic happen 6 weeks ago?maybe if you think about it,you can trace it back. How is your health? anything to make you anxious with that? I know you can do it,dont let it take over,and never give up. I myself have had terrible issues lately but on thinking about it,i can trace the why back to several things. I give myself permission to be anxious because quite feankly,sometimes its justified. Keep your chin up ok? Xxx
    • Posted

      Thank you, all I can really think of is that I lost a lot of weight and everyone around me got worried but I saw a doctor today and she said I am not anorexic, even I thought I was but I'm not, she does want me to gain 6 pounds though so more weight stress but just the other way around.

      There are other things too that I seemed to cope well with before the breakdown but maybe they all caught upon me.

      I am just so worn out by it all and shocked at how bad it is, I hyperventilate doing the tiniest task like washing up, I know I am smoking far too much too but I can't control it at the moment.

      I so want to carry on and push through this but it's the worst it's ever been, I just hope I have it in me to keep trying xx

    • Posted

      Stop trying to give pseudo physiatry online,its very dangerous
    • Posted

      Apparently my advice was wrong according to someone i wasnt talking to. Was just giving my opinion. I hope you feel better soon.xxx
    • Posted

      Its a public forum,so you were talking to everyone. Offering psychological advice is amazingly dangerous- you could cause a huge amount of damage, you were asked not to do it for good reason. This is a forum for general advice and support,not to ask someone to delve into their past which could cause them potential harm,this isn't the place for that
    • Posted

      Wow,guess i couldnt speak from past experiance or from the heart..amazeing. guess you shouldnt be analyzeing other peoples answers either unless you are a professional.
  • Posted

    You need to remember that you have beat this before and you will again.  You must believe this with every cell in your body. Be sure you are taking a b complex vitamin, b12 sub lingual, vit D and buy some fresh basil and chop it up and eat a half a cup a day. Dealing with deficiences will worsen and even cause anxiety (science end of it).  Healing mediations are very soothing and since many with severe anxiety have so many anxiety rules and control issues healing meditations are good. Dont give up, we all have those times, keep loving yourself. Pretend there is a five year old child crying next you and saying all the thought that run through your mind and all the worries..what would you tell that child? How would you comfort that child?    You would be very compassionate and loving and comforting right? Be that way to yourself. Anxiety waxes and wanes and yes weeks of it totally stink but it does calm itself down again. Take the vitamins i noted they can only help and everytime you say a negative thing say a positive one and if needed allow your mind to stop being negative. Walk outside, start a project, clean, count by threes..but stop the thought cycle. The bodies symptoms are chemical once fight or flight starts and theres nothing you can do but accept that as a fact.understand adrenaline and understand anxiety attacks effect 70% of the body so there are tons of weird symptoms that can occur. Its a cruel horrible bully and you need to dig deep within you to beat this. Prayer is good too. You are well worth this battle and you are a lot stronger then you think. Please learn mindfullness. Its so helpful. And watch some videos on cbt for anxiety and maybe eft too. Stay strong you can beat this this. They even sell nutritinal shakes mist everywhere now. They have vanilla, choclate and strawberry so if your appetite is poor you can drink them to help you there too. Some of whats cycling thru you is also unstable sugar levels so you want to be sure to eat a little every few hours. Stay strong and feel better and have faith in yourself

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