Those who have had severe anxiety

[divagirl]

I'm just wondering if you feel your anxiety goes along with feeling depressed? I have been stressing out over some life decisions lately and it is causing my anxiety disorder to resurface which I am trying to control but then I find myself feeling depressed....almost like I cycle back and forth or a little simultaneously. Ugh! Last night I slept maybe 2 hours and am just feeling worse. I need some new techniques to help me through all this. Sorry to rant. I wish I could take life a lot less seriously and stop worrying.

I even missed my workout this morning:-(

Tina

 

[darli ann]

Yep, stress definately makes my anxiety resurface. For me, I have to use positive self-talk, get my perspective square, stop obsessing over things I can't change (that's hard for me). I take Paxil for it but sometimes even that doesn't rid me of the problem. Exercise does help me work through it. (this may sound dumb, but I am a fidgeter, if I tap my foot while I'm working on my computer or sitting in a class, it helps to alleviate a little of the "anxiety energy" that builds up.) It's just an ongoing thing that I feel like I must learn to live with, as much as I hate it.

 

[cpritch_ks]

I have been struggling with anxiety/panic attacks since my early 20s, seems to run in my family. The best thing for me to do when I start feeling that way is to get moving. Seriously. I know it sounds cheesy, but I head out to the yard and start gardening, or I head downstairs for a solid step workout with Cathe. Take a walk, anything, to get my mind moving in a positive, healthy direction instead of in the wrong direction. The other thing that helps is laughter. When you laugh, your body actually creates a chemical that suppresses the anxiety/panicky feeling. So no matter how bad you are feeling, start finding things to laugh at, whether that's watching Comedy Central or thinking about funny things from your past that you've done, seen or heard. They weren't kidding when they said laughter is the best medicine!!

The other thing is watch what you are eating. I've noticed that a lot of times when I start falling back into that cycle it is because I am not eating as well as I should be. There are a lot of foods out there that you could have an intolerance to that could be creating an imbalance in your body. The usual culprits are soy, dairy, wheat and/or sugar. Usually when I start eliminating some things that I eat a lot of (like dairy) for awhile, I start to feel better. Taking a high quality fish or krill oil supplement has also helped me tremendously.

Last, but not least. . .check out this link. This has helped me immensely. Hope this helps, know that you aren't alone!!
http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse1.htm

 

[Liann]

Tina - I feel for you! I have had periods of anxiety in the past and I have literally made myself sick. For me it is usually brought on by stress or big life changes (some triggers for me were going away to college, getting married, moving to another state, problems at work, etc...).

My most recent one was brought on by a situation with a "male" boss at work. I was a mess for weeks and had that anxious roller coaster, rapid beating heart feeling 24x7 - couldn't sleep, ate like crap, nausiated all the time, etc. Some of the things that helped me were immersing myself into activities completely unrelated to what was stressing me out and doing yoga for relaxation. The big one though was finally opening up to someone and talking. I have a habit of holding all of the bad stuff that happens to me in. I don't want to burden anyone with it, so I just do not talk about the bad stuff. That was killing me, and I finally unleashed everything on my poor DH who had no idea what I was going through at work. It really helped me and snapped me out of that particular funk.

It sounds like you a have a lot going on right now and a lot of big decisions etc... No big words of wisdom here, just warm wishes and hugs!

 

[divagirl]

Thanks all! I do have a lot of big decisions ahead of me and they all scare me. I feel like I am making myself sick over them. I have time to make these decisions but the not knowing what to do and how it will work out just frightens me. I have decisions to make but they won't actually happen for a couple months. I almost wish I could just make a decision, do it, deal with it. This "anticipatory" anxiety is just hard on me. I am on an antidepressant for anxiety too but it doesn't feel like its working right now.

I'll try the laughter thing. I do work out and am eating right at the moment so there's nothing to change on that...just keep it in check.

 

[JT]

Prayer works for me and so does working out. I do suffer anxiety and had bouts of depression too. Allowing myself to cry too.
When I am depressed, I try to stay away from fried foods and caffeine since they will increase my depression.

 

[Amy Steppe]

Hi Tina,

I have major depression (right now in remission) and anxiety has always been a part of my disease.

I have found that if you are scared of something in particular, i.e., elevators, driving, etc., the best thing to do is face those fears and let the fear come.

Don't fight the fear -- just face it and accept it as an annoying portion of your life.

I got over a morbid fear of driving on interstates this way. I got a new job that required a lot of auto travel. It was my first opportunity to work in a job where I could use my Master's Degree. The job came with a significant increase in pay and I was not about to wuss out due to some irrational fear.

First of all, I took a friend with me when I drove. Then I drove the routes alone -- like a dress rehearsal. My knuckles turned white and I thought I was going to die. But I kept on and after a while, the fear diminished and I relished my travel time. Especially after meetings were over, I listened to books on tape or the radio and recharged.

I have had insomnia all my life -- it crippled me until I could barely hold a job. Years ago there were no good sleep medications. Most of them required increasing doses and I refused to play that game.

I now take Ambien and have for the past 10 years and I never need more than 10mg to sleep well.

If you do take Ambien or Lunesta, etc. GO STRAIGHT TO BED! You can say and do strange things if you stay awake after taking Ambien. I've been told I even ate cupcakes with balsamic vinegar after taking Ambien. I have no recollection of this.

Although safe and now generic, Ambien is not a drug to take and stay awake.

As long as you go straight to sleep, you will be fine.

This is not a drug pushing post; at least I hope it is not.

I think I would share my concerns with my doctor about this anxiety.

Depression is a real disease -- and anxiety is a big part of my depression.

And Ambien helps me sleep well.

Lunesta left a very bitter taste in my mouth.

This is purely my experience, so again, please see your doctor about your anxiety.

Good luck!

Amy

 

[Amy Steppe]

Watch a funny movie!

That may sound cheesy, but I love comedies when I am down.

My all time favorite is "White Chicks"

I love that movie!

This is no lie: I also have a photo of my ex husband in his jockey shorts that I've held on to for over 25 years. He has this stupid look on his (stoned) face that cracks me up!

I've even taken that photo to the hospital with me.....

 

[Timber99]

Depression and anxiety definitely go hand in hand for most people.

A few things that my therapist suggested & that worked for me:

1. Keep your regular eating and workout routine. Your body needs good food & a stress release. Especially if your body is used to having an hour's worth of exercise and suddenly that is gone, you've lost your stress release that your body is used to. My friend's therapist told her that during extreme episodes of anxiety,l she should only do cardio and not weights because the lactic acid tends to cause you to tighten up and be more tense. I don't know now much truth that holds but it's a piece of information for what it's worth.

2. Make a list of daily goals, including easy ones, and strive to reach them each day. I put my workout, packing lunch, teaching class, etc. on my list so that I feel accomplished for every thing that I do. Be realistic and focus only on the list and not things outside of it.

3. Try to figure out what it is that is giving you anxiety and break it down into easy steps so that you can work on it. If it is making a decision, then perhaps make a list of pros and cons one day, talk it out with a good friend on another, contemplate on another, etc.

4. Perhaps see a therapist to help you organize your thoughts a little, have an outlet and/or make a plan of attack. A lot of times, having anxiety and/or depression is a little bit about feeling out of control or not knowing what to do about a decision, action, etc.

5. For sleep, try to stay away with no naps until it is time for bed. Don't watch tv in bed when it is time to go to bed. When I can't sleep, sometimes I try to stay up an hour or so later just to tire myself out. Before bed, do the things that help you relax. Shower, bath, tea, stretch, etc. Really take some extra time to bring yourself down and put all of your worries away for the night.

It sucks, I know. It will pass and you will work things out.

Good luck