Aa
is accepting anxiety the first step?
been suffering from daily moderate to severe anxiety and ~2 full blown panic attacks/yr since 1996 w/o any professional help besides PCPs dx'ing sinusitis
last year was rock bottom and anxiety/depression combo nearly and literally killed me. found a good psychiatrist who is into natural supplements vs synthetic meds (although he rx'd remeron to break the insomnia - it worked!!). also located an excellent therapist who i've been seeing weekly since June 2008. I am definitely making progress from where I was last year, but am still having daily battles with what my psych has dx'd as GAD. The depression has subsided to virtually non-existent. Just wish I could say the same about the GAD.
My worst symptoms currently are headaches, head/neck tension, fatigued/strained eyes and mild daily attacks (usually @ 1030 and 1530 hrs). I hate the fogginess feeling, but can deal with that. However the HA's are wearing me down again.
Therapist keeps telling me to just accept the anxiety and watch it pass. Logical - yes, easy no!! I have always fought my anxiety b/c in my mind, if I can beat it, it cannot beat me. However, this leaves me exhausted on a daily basis. I've spent tens of thousands over the years looking for a hard cause (and almost wished they'd find something), but it wasn't until this April that I realized that there probably isn't one.
So my question is:
"Is acceptance of your anxiety and stopping all the doctor visits to find an underlying 'physical symptom' truly the first step in healing from this dreaded affliction?"
last year was rock bottom and anxiety/depression combo nearly and literally killed me. found a good psychiatrist who is into natural supplements vs synthetic meds (although he rx'd remeron to break the insomnia - it worked!!). also located an excellent therapist who i've been seeing weekly since June 2008. I am definitely making progress from where I was last year, but am still having daily battles with what my psych has dx'd as GAD. The depression has subsided to virtually non-existent. Just wish I could say the same about the GAD.
My worst symptoms currently are headaches, head/neck tension, fatigued/strained eyes and mild daily attacks (usually @ 1030 and 1530 hrs). I hate the fogginess feeling, but can deal with that. However the HA's are wearing me down again.
Therapist keeps telling me to just accept the anxiety and watch it pass. Logical - yes, easy no!! I have always fought my anxiety b/c in my mind, if I can beat it, it cannot beat me. However, this leaves me exhausted on a daily basis. I've spent tens of thousands over the years looking for a hard cause (and almost wished they'd find something), but it wasn't until this April that I realized that there probably isn't one.
So my question is:
"Is acceptance of your anxiety and stopping all the doctor visits to find an underlying 'physical symptom' truly the first step in healing from this dreaded affliction?"
this is seriously a good question. and seriously for me, I dunno. I found out what Im afraid of, and i understand everything and know everything there is to know about my panic attacks and anxiety, yet, i still get them and i still hate them. I haven't figured out how to just let them go.
Hello again!
You posted: "Did you have any reactions to the Paxil when on it or when weaning from it? I'm curious to find what meds have worked for different people as there are WAY too many AD horror stories and I do not want to go down that road."
My body felt like a crazy hurricane when I started taking Paxil. There were many times that I wanted to quit taking it, but I'm glad I didn't because in the end, it was the best medication for me. This won't be the care for everyone, and Paxil certainly has its fair share of enemies!
One of the best things about Paxil is that it is on the Wal-Mart list of prescriptions that were lowered in price - mine was only $5 a month! I'm not sure which other anxiety medications are on the list as well, but it was definitely music to my ears. I almost didn't believe the doctor when he told me!
While taking Paxil, I had a lot of the symptoms that people worry about - headaches, fog in my head, inability to concentrate, terrible body aches and pains, etc. It felt like I was living with a terrible flu. Sometimes my skin would feel like it was burning or feel numb - other times I would randomly break down into tears, or fits of anger and frustration that I couldn't control. It was a whirlwind of physical and emotional roller coasters, but when it was over I felt like I had really achieved something great.
When I started the pill I had just quit my Mountain Dew addiction (the caffeine is horrible when you have anxiety), so I was in heavy caffeine withdrawal, and I had also recently moved from Florida to Illinois and my body was attempting to get used to the new environment (not to mention separation anxiety from my family). I had about 1-2 months of pure hell and I spent all of my free time moping around the house. A lot of my symptoms were due to the Paxil, but I decided it was best for me to give it 3-4 weeks as the doctor suggested and see what would happen. I'm glad I did, because one day I woke up and felt phenomenally better! The change was quite literally one day to the next. I remember running around the house singing and dancing like a lunatic because it was such a breath of fresh air. I'm sure everyone has a low period when starting a medication, but don't worry, because there's always a great day around the corner!
The worst thing you can do when trying new medications is to worry about the side effects. It's good to be informed and know what you are taking, but don't over-worry yourself. Everyone has a different body and it's EXTREMELY important to remember that not everyone is going to react the same to every medication. I've read dozens of horror stories with Paxil, but my story wasn't their story. And that's OK! When you try something new, make sure that you spend some time on it before you and your doctor decide whether it's right for you. Most of these medications, to keep it to non-medical terms, work to "re-train your brain" as my doctor put it. You will never feel 100% better overnight on a medication that is trying to change so much. It's a gradual change that you need to have patience with. Remember, too, that the medication won't do all of the work - it will only help you with the physical part of anxiety. The emotional part is your job.
There are a lot of doctors out there who do not know all of the ins and outs of anxiety, mostly because its causes are still not widely known in medical terms. I was only on 10mg of Paxil when I started on it, and this is a VERY low dose compared to some I've seen here on MedHelp (I have seen some people on 30mg or even 40mg!). I was having attacks that would last all day, every day, and I still only needed a low dose to help me. BE CAREFUL if your doctor suggests extremely high doses, because it's easy for your body to become dependent on them which makes it even harder for you to ween off of them. High doses also increase your risk of side effects, and many people on high doses complain that they become "emotionally numb". This is something I did not experience, although I did feel a lot more calm when dealing with stressful situations - something I eventually learned to feel WITHOUT the help of the medication!
After three straight months on 10mg, I spent one week with nothing as a "test" to see if I was ready to quit Paxil - and by the first day off of the pill, I knew I wasn't ready to let it go just yet. My doctor suggested another three months, with the last month cutting the pills in half to 5mg. That's exactly what I did, and after my supply was up it had been seven months on the pill. I had a very common withdrawal symptom, called "brain zaps" - literally small zaps of energy in your head, although they are not dangerous and VERY common after taking Paxil and other anxiety medications - they were more of a huge annoyance than anything else. I had the "brain zaps" for about two months, only after waking up in the morning and when I grew tired in the evening before bed.
I also had horrible insomnia while on Paxil, and had to take very small doses of Ambien (a sleep aid) to fall asleep at night and keep me asleep. A lot of anxiety medications list insomnia as a side effect, so there's no harm in informing your doctor about it if you experience it as well. Keep in mind that sleep aids can be just as addicting as other medications, so never take more than needed. I was able to sleep on only 3-4mg starting off, and then 1-2mg when I was weening off of the Paxil.
Overall, I consider my experience with Paxil to be a great one and I'm glad I stuck to it. A lot of bad experiences I read about are people who were on very high doses of it, which is their doctor's responsibility and mistake. As a poster said above, find a doctor you can trust and don't be afraid to research what he tells you or any medications he gives you. You will feel much more at ease knowing what your body is going through and what you are taking rather than trying to guess.
Hopefully my story with Paxil was helpful to anyone who was curious, especially those who are familiar with its horror stories. It didn't work for them, but it did work for me!
You posted: "Did you have any reactions to the Paxil when on it or when weaning from it? I'm curious to find what meds have worked for different people as there are WAY too many AD horror stories and I do not want to go down that road."
My body felt like a crazy hurricane when I started taking Paxil. There were many times that I wanted to quit taking it, but I'm glad I didn't because in the end, it was the best medication for me. This won't be the care for everyone, and Paxil certainly has its fair share of enemies!
One of the best things about Paxil is that it is on the Wal-Mart list of prescriptions that were lowered in price - mine was only $5 a month! I'm not sure which other anxiety medications are on the list as well, but it was definitely music to my ears. I almost didn't believe the doctor when he told me!
While taking Paxil, I had a lot of the symptoms that people worry about - headaches, fog in my head, inability to concentrate, terrible body aches and pains, etc. It felt like I was living with a terrible flu. Sometimes my skin would feel like it was burning or feel numb - other times I would randomly break down into tears, or fits of anger and frustration that I couldn't control. It was a whirlwind of physical and emotional roller coasters, but when it was over I felt like I had really achieved something great.
When I started the pill I had just quit my Mountain Dew addiction (the caffeine is horrible when you have anxiety), so I was in heavy caffeine withdrawal, and I had also recently moved from Florida to Illinois and my body was attempting to get used to the new environment (not to mention separation anxiety from my family). I had about 1-2 months of pure hell and I spent all of my free time moping around the house. A lot of my symptoms were due to the Paxil, but I decided it was best for me to give it 3-4 weeks as the doctor suggested and see what would happen. I'm glad I did, because one day I woke up and felt phenomenally better! The change was quite literally one day to the next. I remember running around the house singing and dancing like a lunatic because it was such a breath of fresh air. I'm sure everyone has a low period when starting a medication, but don't worry, because there's always a great day around the corner!
The worst thing you can do when trying new medications is to worry about the side effects. It's good to be informed and know what you are taking, but don't over-worry yourself. Everyone has a different body and it's EXTREMELY important to remember that not everyone is going to react the same to every medication. I've read dozens of horror stories with Paxil, but my story wasn't their story. And that's OK! When you try something new, make sure that you spend some time on it before you and your doctor decide whether it's right for you. Most of these medications, to keep it to non-medical terms, work to "re-train your brain" as my doctor put it. You will never feel 100% better overnight on a medication that is trying to change so much. It's a gradual change that you need to have patience with. Remember, too, that the medication won't do all of the work - it will only help you with the physical part of anxiety. The emotional part is your job.
There are a lot of doctors out there who do not know all of the ins and outs of anxiety, mostly because its causes are still not widely known in medical terms. I was only on 10mg of Paxil when I started on it, and this is a VERY low dose compared to some I've seen here on MedHelp (I have seen some people on 30mg or even 40mg!). I was having attacks that would last all day, every day, and I still only needed a low dose to help me. BE CAREFUL if your doctor suggests extremely high doses, because it's easy for your body to become dependent on them which makes it even harder for you to ween off of them. High doses also increase your risk of side effects, and many people on high doses complain that they become "emotionally numb". This is something I did not experience, although I did feel a lot more calm when dealing with stressful situations - something I eventually learned to feel WITHOUT the help of the medication!
After three straight months on 10mg, I spent one week with nothing as a "test" to see if I was ready to quit Paxil - and by the first day off of the pill, I knew I wasn't ready to let it go just yet. My doctor suggested another three months, with the last month cutting the pills in half to 5mg. That's exactly what I did, and after my supply was up it had been seven months on the pill. I had a very common withdrawal symptom, called "brain zaps" - literally small zaps of energy in your head, although they are not dangerous and VERY common after taking Paxil and other anxiety medications - they were more of a huge annoyance than anything else. I had the "brain zaps" for about two months, only after waking up in the morning and when I grew tired in the evening before bed.
I also had horrible insomnia while on Paxil, and had to take very small doses of Ambien (a sleep aid) to fall asleep at night and keep me asleep. A lot of anxiety medications list insomnia as a side effect, so there's no harm in informing your doctor about it if you experience it as well. Keep in mind that sleep aids can be just as addicting as other medications, so never take more than needed. I was able to sleep on only 3-4mg starting off, and then 1-2mg when I was weening off of the Paxil.
Overall, I consider my experience with Paxil to be a great one and I'm glad I stuck to it. A lot of bad experiences I read about are people who were on very high doses of it, which is their doctor's responsibility and mistake. As a poster said above, find a doctor you can trust and don't be afraid to research what he tells you or any medications he gives you. You will feel much more at ease knowing what your body is going through and what you are taking rather than trying to guess.
Hopefully my story with Paxil was helpful to anyone who was curious, especially those who are familiar with its horror stories. It didn't work for them, but it did work for me!
thanks for the excellent advice. i re-read my OP and want to clarify a couple of things:
I] All day long I feel anxious to the point where my stomach flips, my head is foggy, I cannot concentrate well and my vision wigs out (shaky) . This is 24/7. However during the day, I also experience what I guess you'd call "attacks" (choking/gagging feeling, swallowing labored, unbelieveable neck tension and feelings of overwhelmst (sp?). These vary between 2 - 5/day.
II] When referring to full blown attacks, I meant those in which I end up in the ER
For the 13 years I've dealt with this, it hasn't been a pride issue for meds/psych help, but instead a complete fear of them. My paternal uncle (lives ~2 miles away) is bi-polar and when he gets his episodes, one cannot get through at all. He's been to the crisis center numerous times and when admitted, he's drugged to the point of semi-consciousness and held for ~ 2 wks prior to release. I guess just seeing him that way dissuaded me from meds and mental health professionals for quite some time.
Regarding the natural AA supplements path, I've tried them since October 2008. The Inositol worked well for about 3 months @ 14 g/day. I've just been on the Panicyl < 2 wks, but it does seem to work better than anything else I've tried (which is not much). I have taken the occasional xanax (it does work!) a/o vistaril, but only on as needed basis due to fear of addiction (another anxiety trigger).
I spoke to my therapist last night about the slow progress we were making and his response was he just didn't think I was ready yet for some more radical approaches asI still have difficulty opening up. I am definitely a bottler of my emotions. I believe this is/was due to a tryant of a father who will still jump my or anyone else's **** over the littlest things. Family mantra = "boys/men don't cry or become mentally ill as it's a sign of weakness." I think this is what drove my uncle to numerous breakdowns by holding it in and not seeking help.
Re: the timing of symptoms/attacks onset, I've experimented with everything from snacking @ different times, different foods, etc. Blood sugar & cholesterol are perfect, but triglycerides are high (350+) and have been since baselined in 1992.
I think the causes of my anxiety are very numerous (tough child/adult hood, multiple traumatic events, overacheiver, fear of failure, fear of DIZZINESS) as I was conditioned from a child to be a control freak. The more you could take on in my family w/o cracking, the more you were perceived as a man. Thus, anything now beyond which I cannot influence control over, I perceive as a potential threat and the dizziness thing is what really sets me off big time Has since I've been 5 years old.
Yes - I have anxiety for a reason (unfortunately, I think it's for multiple reasons) which is going to take some time to sort out. The physcial manifestations caused by it are varied in scope and severity, but the multitude of work-ups (excluding apnea) all indicate no serious physical conditions and that's a relief.
BTW, I'm not a psych student - though I now feel like one with all my research. Instead, I work FT while pursuing my doctorate on a PT basis.
I'm really glad I found this group and all the great people involved. it's definitely a nice outlet to bounce ideas and get thing soff your chest.
I] All day long I feel anxious to the point where my stomach flips, my head is foggy, I cannot concentrate well and my vision wigs out (shaky) . This is 24/7. However during the day, I also experience what I guess you'd call "attacks" (choking/gagging feeling, swallowing labored, unbelieveable neck tension and feelings of overwhelmst (sp?). These vary between 2 - 5/day.
II] When referring to full blown attacks, I meant those in which I end up in the ER
For the 13 years I've dealt with this, it hasn't been a pride issue for meds/psych help, but instead a complete fear of them. My paternal uncle (lives ~2 miles away) is bi-polar and when he gets his episodes, one cannot get through at all. He's been to the crisis center numerous times and when admitted, he's drugged to the point of semi-consciousness and held for ~ 2 wks prior to release. I guess just seeing him that way dissuaded me from meds and mental health professionals for quite some time.
Regarding the natural AA supplements path, I've tried them since October 2008. The Inositol worked well for about 3 months @ 14 g/day. I've just been on the Panicyl < 2 wks, but it does seem to work better than anything else I've tried (which is not much). I have taken the occasional xanax (it does work!) a/o vistaril, but only on as needed basis due to fear of addiction (another anxiety trigger).
I spoke to my therapist last night about the slow progress we were making and his response was he just didn't think I was ready yet for some more radical approaches asI still have difficulty opening up. I am definitely a bottler of my emotions. I believe this is/was due to a tryant of a father who will still jump my or anyone else's **** over the littlest things. Family mantra = "boys/men don't cry or become mentally ill as it's a sign of weakness." I think this is what drove my uncle to numerous breakdowns by holding it in and not seeking help.
Re: the timing of symptoms/attacks onset, I've experimented with everything from snacking @ different times, different foods, etc. Blood sugar & cholesterol are perfect, but triglycerides are high (350+) and have been since baselined in 1992.
I think the causes of my anxiety are very numerous (tough child/adult hood, multiple traumatic events, overacheiver, fear of failure, fear of DIZZINESS) as I was conditioned from a child to be a control freak. The more you could take on in my family w/o cracking, the more you were perceived as a man. Thus, anything now beyond which I cannot influence control over, I perceive as a potential threat and the dizziness thing is what really sets me off big time Has since I've been 5 years old.
Yes - I have anxiety for a reason (unfortunately, I think it's for multiple reasons) which is going to take some time to sort out. The physcial manifestations caused by it are varied in scope and severity, but the multitude of work-ups (excluding apnea) all indicate no serious physical conditions and that's a relief.
BTW, I'm not a psych student - though I now feel like one with all my research. Instead, I work FT while pursuing my doctorate on a PT basis.
I'm really glad I found this group and all the great people involved. it's definitely a nice outlet to bounce ideas and get thing soff your chest.
you have gotten some great advice and guidance. I have suffered with OCD/GAD and depression for 23 years. I recently just had my 2 total crash last year but am finally turing it all around. The anxiety was the hardest thing for me to accept because until last year I never had a Panic Attack. It scared me to death and started the whole ride with anxiety, which led to a severe depression and the hospital. But I am sooooo much better now! You do have to accept that you have the anxiety but that the anxiety itself is not you it's a symptom and causes can be determined for symptom and be overcome. But give yourself time. One thing I learned is that I wanted to get back to normal so bad that i forces my self to do more than I should, take less of my Lorazepam than I should will I was learning about anxiety and it's roll in my life. Throwing myself back into a stressfull job, all stupid stuff.
About Paxil, never had good experience with it. It is very difficult to get off of if you needed to. I take Zoloft and Prozac right now, we are switching over. And Lorazepam 1 mg. 3 x a day. If anyone mentions Klonopin, it does work very well, but can be highly, highly addictive to the body and getting off of it is difficult, but remember everyone is different.
Find a doctor you trust, explain your issues and symptoms, keep a journal of what goes on during the day, it might help you identify triggers and share that with your doctor too. Medication is just another tool for you to get your head around what's going on so you can clearly think and rationlize, and begin to recover, which you will.
Take care.
About Paxil, never had good experience with it. It is very difficult to get off of if you needed to. I take Zoloft and Prozac right now, we are switching over. And Lorazepam 1 mg. 3 x a day. If anyone mentions Klonopin, it does work very well, but can be highly, highly addictive to the body and getting off of it is difficult, but remember everyone is different.
Find a doctor you trust, explain your issues and symptoms, keep a journal of what goes on during the day, it might help you identify triggers and share that with your doctor too. Medication is just another tool for you to get your head around what's going on so you can clearly think and rationlize, and begin to recover, which you will.
Take care.
Hi TerraC:
Thanks so much for your response and guidance. It helps tremendously to actually chat with those that have experienced what one is actually going through. Journaling has been a good outlet for me and I have started Panicyl almost 2 weeks ago. It has taken the edge off, but not eliminated the anxiety.
I realize my apprehension to accept my anxiety is likely what is currently causing it and has been for the past 13 years. I now just need to face it head on and do my best at getting better. It's going to be an uphill battle, but the spoils will be well worth it.
Did you have any reactions to the Paxil when on it or when weaning from it? I'm curious to find what meds have worked for different people as there are WAY too many AD horror stories and I do not want to go down that road.
Thanks again for your kind and inspiring words - they are appreciated!
Thanks so much for your response and guidance. It helps tremendously to actually chat with those that have experienced what one is actually going through. Journaling has been a good outlet for me and I have started Panicyl almost 2 weeks ago. It has taken the edge off, but not eliminated the anxiety.
I realize my apprehension to accept my anxiety is likely what is currently causing it and has been for the past 13 years. I now just need to face it head on and do my best at getting better. It's going to be an uphill battle, but the spoils will be well worth it.
Did you have any reactions to the Paxil when on it or when weaning from it? I'm curious to find what meds have worked for different people as there are WAY too many AD horror stories and I do not want to go down that road.
Thanks again for your kind and inspiring words - they are appreciated!
Hello again.
OK, from the top. You suffer from daily moderate to severe anxiety. Do you have actual anxiety "attacks," or just feel anxious? What are your thoughts as to why this happens to you? I know you are studying to get into the psych field, so you must have some ideas. Please share.
You have two full blown panic attacks a year. ONLY TWO? Many of us have two every day!
You have been suffering with this for 13 YEARS and seem proud that you've "done it" without any professional help. Why would you do that when you know help is available?
GAD. Well, this isn't new. You've had it from at least 1996. I admire your determination to not take any synthetic meds, but it sounds to me like the nuts and berry route isn't helping much. If you want to feel better, it's possible the time has come to reconsider your medicinal choices. You've been in therapy for almost a year and you are making some progress but STILL have daily battles with the anxiety. Hmmmmm. If you're content at this speed, then keep plugging away. It's your life. Personally I'd either find a different therapist or ask for some meds. Not like you're going to be on them the rest of your life and if you're not dealing with daily anxiety, maybe you could make some faster progress figuring out,in therapy, WHY you have
the anxiety. Just a thought. Often the combination of therapy and meds makes the process easier.
Currently your worst problems are headaches, head/neck tension, fatigued/strained eyes and your mild but daily GAD attack...........which, for some mysterious reason, happens at precisely the same time each day. Which is bizarre. The times these "attack" happen has me intrigued. Have you had your blood sugar checked? These are pretty common times of the day when our glucose can take a nose dive, creating many of the symptoms you're experiencing. If you eat breakfast at around 0600-0700hrs, then by 10:30, your body may be ready for a little energy boost. And it's well documented that around 1500hrs our bodies have hit the afternoon slump. More energy needed. Perhaps for the next week, try having a small but very nutritious snack at these times as well as getting up and doing some stretching and bending and even better would be going outside for a brisk walk, even if it's only 5-10 minutes. If you are hunkered over a computer, that would so explain your headaches and neck pain, your fatigued eyes...........explains it ALL. (Did you know that a computer screen "flickers" 60Xper second and our brains TRY to keep up with that!? It is why they are now saying one should not sit in front of a computer for more than 60 minutes at a time without a break. I think the GAD is a result of all the stress. But maybe you don't sit at a computer, so how, then, do we explain things? Don't know. It must have been around this point I dropped out of med school.......LOL That's a joke. I was NEVER in med school. Do not write me.....ANYONE!
I know you're a student. Maybe your nose is hunched over books all day. That would still explain almost everything. The only other thing I can think of is to see a neuro for the headaches, an eye doc for the strained eyes, get a massage once a week just to loosen the hell up and take a mild antianxiety med for the GAD................
"Accept the anxiety and watch it pass...." Don't we all wish it was that bloody simple! Sorry, but I'm thinking your therapist is a bit of a twit.
You have anxiety FOR A REASON. The one and only way you are going to "watch it pass" is to first figure out WHAT caused it...............because SOMETHING DID, and THEN you get to DEAL WITH THAT SOMETHING. Once you've done that, THEN you can watch your anxiety pass.
To your question...........ruling out a physical cause for your anxiety IS the first step and you've done that. So yeah, accepting you've got GAD is step two. Step three, logically is getting to the root cause of the anxiety and dealing with it. And taking some meds to help you is OK. Doesn't mean your weak for cryin' out loud. It's just a tool. You can dig a hole with your bare hands, but why, when you can use a shovel?
Peace
Greenlydia
OK, from the top. You suffer from daily moderate to severe anxiety. Do you have actual anxiety "attacks," or just feel anxious? What are your thoughts as to why this happens to you? I know you are studying to get into the psych field, so you must have some ideas. Please share.
You have two full blown panic attacks a year. ONLY TWO? Many of us have two every day!
You have been suffering with this for 13 YEARS and seem proud that you've "done it" without any professional help. Why would you do that when you know help is available?
GAD. Well, this isn't new. You've had it from at least 1996. I admire your determination to not take any synthetic meds, but it sounds to me like the nuts and berry route isn't helping much. If you want to feel better, it's possible the time has come to reconsider your medicinal choices. You've been in therapy for almost a year and you are making some progress but STILL have daily battles with the anxiety. Hmmmmm. If you're content at this speed, then keep plugging away. It's your life. Personally I'd either find a different therapist or ask for some meds. Not like you're going to be on them the rest of your life and if you're not dealing with daily anxiety, maybe you could make some faster progress figuring out,in therapy, WHY you have
the anxiety. Just a thought. Often the combination of therapy and meds makes the process easier.
Currently your worst problems are headaches, head/neck tension, fatigued/strained eyes and your mild but daily GAD attack...........which, for some mysterious reason, happens at precisely the same time each day. Which is bizarre. The times these "attack" happen has me intrigued. Have you had your blood sugar checked? These are pretty common times of the day when our glucose can take a nose dive, creating many of the symptoms you're experiencing. If you eat breakfast at around 0600-0700hrs, then by 10:30, your body may be ready for a little energy boost. And it's well documented that around 1500hrs our bodies have hit the afternoon slump. More energy needed. Perhaps for the next week, try having a small but very nutritious snack at these times as well as getting up and doing some stretching and bending and even better would be going outside for a brisk walk, even if it's only 5-10 minutes. If you are hunkered over a computer, that would so explain your headaches and neck pain, your fatigued eyes...........explains it ALL. (Did you know that a computer screen "flickers" 60Xper second and our brains TRY to keep up with that!? It is why they are now saying one should not sit in front of a computer for more than 60 minutes at a time without a break. I think the GAD is a result of all the stress. But maybe you don't sit at a computer, so how, then, do we explain things? Don't know. It must have been around this point I dropped out of med school.......LOL That's a joke. I was NEVER in med school. Do not write me.....ANYONE!
I know you're a student. Maybe your nose is hunched over books all day. That would still explain almost everything. The only other thing I can think of is to see a neuro for the headaches, an eye doc for the strained eyes, get a massage once a week just to loosen the hell up and take a mild antianxiety med for the GAD................
"Accept the anxiety and watch it pass...." Don't we all wish it was that bloody simple! Sorry, but I'm thinking your therapist is a bit of a twit.
You have anxiety FOR A REASON. The one and only way you are going to "watch it pass" is to first figure out WHAT caused it...............because SOMETHING DID, and THEN you get to DEAL WITH THAT SOMETHING. Once you've done that, THEN you can watch your anxiety pass.
To your question...........ruling out a physical cause for your anxiety IS the first step and you've done that. So yeah, accepting you've got GAD is step two. Step three, logically is getting to the root cause of the anxiety and dealing with it. And taking some meds to help you is OK. Doesn't mean your weak for cryin' out loud. It's just a tool. You can dig a hole with your bare hands, but why, when you can use a shovel?
Peace
Greenlydia
Hi jmk73,
Last year I had extreme anxiety problems - attacks that would last nearly the entire day, every day - for nearly two months. After seeing a doctor, I was put on a very low dose of Paxil and it took nearly 4-5 months before I started to feel a large turn-around.
During this time, I had a lot of battles with myself and with my anxiety. Though the medication helped with the physical symptoms, I realized that most of my anxiety stemmed mostly from myself. Some doctors will tell you "it's all in your head" and essentially, they are exactly right - though sometimes, some of us need a little bit of help, hence the medication.
I do believe that the first step to getting better is accepting the fact that you have a problem. Once you accept this, you're able to find out what exactly is causing the anxiety and how to fix it. For me, it was a large mental and emotional struggle that lasted months - for others, it may be quicker or even longer. It's important to remember that everyone is different, and everyone's body is different as well. By accepting your problem and beginning your search for what helps YOU get better, you will begin to feel better.
Always remember that you are not alone in this struggle. There are millions of people out there feeling exactly how you feel, and many more who don't acknowledge their problems and don't seek help! Many family, friends and even doctors may not quite understand anxiety, how it feels and what causes it or how to fix it - mostly because your own internal struggles and stress are what causes these problems in the first place.
Do as much research as you can on the internet. There's millions of people posting their stories every day and I found this to be a great comfort to me, especially on MedHelp. By acknowledging fully that, yes, you do have a problem, and yes, you CAN fix it, you can begin the steps to that recovery.
I was a lot like you - thinking that if I could beat it, it couldn't beat me - but remember that when you fight your body's feelings it can sometimes put even more stress on your body. Whenever I would feel terrible, not be able to sleep, have a panic attack, etc., I would sit back, take deep breaths and remember that this was normal and I was OK. It it made me angry, I would let it out by keeping a journal - if I felt like I needed to cry, I would do it. Although this won't be true for everyone, I found that getting frustrated or trying to fight the feelings only made them worse. I highly recommend keeping a journal of your day-to-day feelings, and look back on the good entries when you are having a bad day. Also, be sure to record your diet and eat as healthy as possible and drink lots of water. You'd be surprised how things like acid reflux, a common side-effect of anxiety, can make your anxiety even worse!
Would I stop the doctor visits? If you feel they are helping you, no. But I still believe that YOU are the best cure for your anxiety, and the doctors/medication are only there to give you a little push in the right direction. Listen to your doctors and trust them, but most of all, have patience. Anxiety is an up-hill battle, but once you beat it, you'll feel on top of the world!
I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get better very soon!
Last year I had extreme anxiety problems - attacks that would last nearly the entire day, every day - for nearly two months. After seeing a doctor, I was put on a very low dose of Paxil and it took nearly 4-5 months before I started to feel a large turn-around.
During this time, I had a lot of battles with myself and with my anxiety. Though the medication helped with the physical symptoms, I realized that most of my anxiety stemmed mostly from myself. Some doctors will tell you "it's all in your head" and essentially, they are exactly right - though sometimes, some of us need a little bit of help, hence the medication.
I do believe that the first step to getting better is accepting the fact that you have a problem. Once you accept this, you're able to find out what exactly is causing the anxiety and how to fix it. For me, it was a large mental and emotional struggle that lasted months - for others, it may be quicker or even longer. It's important to remember that everyone is different, and everyone's body is different as well. By accepting your problem and beginning your search for what helps YOU get better, you will begin to feel better.
Always remember that you are not alone in this struggle. There are millions of people out there feeling exactly how you feel, and many more who don't acknowledge their problems and don't seek help! Many family, friends and even doctors may not quite understand anxiety, how it feels and what causes it or how to fix it - mostly because your own internal struggles and stress are what causes these problems in the first place.
Do as much research as you can on the internet. There's millions of people posting their stories every day and I found this to be a great comfort to me, especially on MedHelp. By acknowledging fully that, yes, you do have a problem, and yes, you CAN fix it, you can begin the steps to that recovery.
I was a lot like you - thinking that if I could beat it, it couldn't beat me - but remember that when you fight your body's feelings it can sometimes put even more stress on your body. Whenever I would feel terrible, not be able to sleep, have a panic attack, etc., I would sit back, take deep breaths and remember that this was normal and I was OK. It it made me angry, I would let it out by keeping a journal - if I felt like I needed to cry, I would do it. Although this won't be true for everyone, I found that getting frustrated or trying to fight the feelings only made them worse. I highly recommend keeping a journal of your day-to-day feelings, and look back on the good entries when you are having a bad day. Also, be sure to record your diet and eat as healthy as possible and drink lots of water. You'd be surprised how things like acid reflux, a common side-effect of anxiety, can make your anxiety even worse!
Would I stop the doctor visits? If you feel they are helping you, no. But I still believe that YOU are the best cure for your anxiety, and the doctors/medication are only there to give you a little push in the right direction. Listen to your doctors and trust them, but most of all, have patience. Anxiety is an up-hill battle, but once you beat it, you'll feel on top of the world!
I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get better very soon!
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