Yesterday Good Day, Today Bad Day

[Shannon Wyatt]

Can anyone tell me why Anxiety fluctuates so much?  Yesterday was a great day -- free of anxiety.  Today I woke up just horrible, shaking with a slight headache (more like pressure).  The headache continued all day -- and I almost had a panic attack in the car driving home today -- my mind was racing about the pressure in my head, wondering if it was anxiety or something "else."  When I got home, I started crying for no apparant reason.  Is that anxiety too?  Thanks gang!

[mikej1736]

Anxiety for sure.  I feel it like that too, sometimes I wonder how the feeling can just come out of nowhere for no "apparent" reason.  

[bip]

Im happy for one day and the next day  Right out of the blue Ill start crying. Ya, that is anxiety your not alone.

[suzi-q]

I felt the same way yesterday....I just wanted to cry for no reason and I had a dull headache ALL DAY!  I just felt like I couldn't take anything anymore...today,  little better, not wonderful...going for blood work today which is causing my hypochondria to spiral out of control!!!!  I hate having to wait a week for results....FEEL BETTER!!

[DollChina]

I feel kind of like that, I will be fine for a while and then all of the suddem worries, sadness, and anger will come all over my body.  Is it normal?  I just started to take Zoloft about a week ago, hope it will help me.

[Shannon Wyatt]

Thanks everyone for your comments.  Today was a little better -- still have a dull headache at times.  My doctor thinks my situtaton is one part anxiety and one part depression.  It has been 2 months now -- and I haven't started an SSRI yet.  I was hoping I could work through this without medication.  I occassionally take an Ativan (.5) every once in a while -- just to stop the trembling/buzzing throughout my body.

Question to the group -- my doctor thinks "talk therapy" will help me -- or what he calls cognitive behaviour therapy.  Does this actually work for anyone?  Thanks!

[eyrl]

I often fluctuate in my mood from severe depression to mania.  I also have episodes of intense fear, anxiety, terror that can be casued by a change in weather or other things.  I like blizzards, but a strong wind without the snowstorm, creates a lot of anxiety for me, especially in the summer!  

[Limonada]

I've been told that cognitive behavioural therapy works wonders for people like us - I"m on a waiting list to start some myself, have been referred by my GP.

I'm on an SSRI myself, currently - Celexa - the .5 of Ativan that I was originally prescribed didn't do much for me, I was still having panic attacks.  I applaud you for trying to work through it on your own - I'm looking forward to being able to get off the meds eventually once I've gotten the help I need.

Good luck :-)

[eronski]

Yes anxiety does pop out of know where - or at least it seems to.  I have a book on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy FOR DUMMYS - it's a work book and it is great.   Maybe you could get it while you are waiting for therapy to start.  The book was only about 14$.

Once you have experienced anxiety and panic you are forever changed and you need to learn the tools to work through it.  Sometimes we are stubborn and think "I just want to be my old self again!"  But for me every time it happens I am changed and I remember not to take "my old self" for granted.  There I times I fight it and wish I could be on automatic pilot living my life, I resent having to practice my breathing and watching my caffeine intake, my stress levels etc. etc. for fear of the anxiety getting out of hand again but if I don't take care of myself it will.  For me this is a good thing - my anxiety has taught me to calm down, live in the moment, eat better - it's hard to name them all.

Not to say you will be plagued with this forever, it may fade away and never come back again.  But I bet you will never forget it cause it's such a bummer isn't it......  When it hits try to remember this is a warning to stop, calm down, pamper yourself and focus.  You will get through it, there are tons of options for you.  Take Care, Erin