My Anxiey Stress Levels

[keef54]

Hi!

I have suffered from depression and acute anxiety since 1994. It was brought on over a number of years before by increasing work pressures.

Although my stress levels/physical symptoms go up and down most of time I seem to go through periods of say a week or so when my stress levels go to 5 no matter what I do to reduce them!

I remember years ago I spoke to my doctor about this and he said in reply, that I should consider it like a trapped nerve - what do you think he meant by that remark - and what will untrap it?

Usually, aside from the above mentioned periods of time my normal day begins with a 3 -4 depending upon the demands of the day.

Any insight and advice appreciated and is there any herbal medicine that brings relief to acute anxiety sufferers? Thank you!  

[Jaquta]

Thank you.  I think hearing other peoples stories and how they manage their illnesses can be quite enlightening.  It can also help us to feel less alone (and more normal).

By moving forward, do you mean dig deeper?  Triggers, I think, can sometimes be quite superficial in terms of underlying content.
For example, I may be triggered by sitting in road works or driving behind extremely slow traffic.  I start to feel frustrated, my heart rate goes up, I become impatient, I find it difficult to control my emotions.  Waiting or being delayed is only a trigger, it is not the real reason I become so frustrated and intolerant.   I haven't looked at this too deeply but I could be frustrated at myself for making bad decisions or not being better organized.  It could also make me feel trapped which could leave me feeling powerless.

Once you understand the true meaning you can work towards resolving it or accepting it.

Coping strategies in some respects feel a little like medication and that is to control or manage symptoms.
It would seem to me to make more sense to address the underlying issues.

I have heard that yoga is good for relieving stress and anxiety and for fitness and flexibility.

I'm not overly familiar with herbal medicines, etc.  I would be cautious of anything with alcohol in it.  I would recommend people read labels and ask questions before taking anything.

I'm currently using a calendula and rose bath lotion in the shower.  I find the smell is something which relaxes me.
Different things work for different people though.

I started drinking a Mi Chai drink (with milk).  It has spices, etc in it.  I find it soothing but it isn't decaf so I need to be careful I don't over-indulge.

Blood sugar levels are something I haven't paid too much attention to coming from an anxiety perspective.  It could be interesting to monitor for a bit.  Usually when my levels are low I get cranky or feel dizzy and like I may pass out.

Thanks for sharing.  I hope you are able to get to the bottom of your own anxiety.

J

[lucy1403]

the comment you posted was quite good...I have had panic anxiety attacks for the past 10 years, without medication to help, just breathing exercises and sometimes a brown paper bag to breath in when they got bad,

You need to talk to yourself and rationlise why you are having the stress attacks and find your trigger to take you back to the "|starting| point, then work forward from there, breathing exercises as in yoga does help counting ten when you take a deep breath and breathing out saying relax, rescue drops help, but do not use excessive.they are alcohol based. lavender essential oil and clary sage are good to add in a bath to relax.

check your bllod sugar level as well, as that can also have  atrigger, as it does with me , when i go out if I havent eaten my sugar levels drop and then triigers anxiety, have  a sweet cinnamon warm milk drink to help.


thats that , all I have.


good luck

[Jaquta]

I think teaching stories are a good way to explain things to us but I think the narrator should ensure that we understand the message being conveyed.

My interpretation of the comment is that like a trapped nerve, your stress levels are stuck at level 5.

What will untrap it is something you will need to work out for yourself possibly with the help of a psychotherapist.

It would seem that even on a good day your anxiety levels are quite high.

My doctor has given me his book on anxiety disorders to read several times.  The main strategies for reducing anxiety seemed to be deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation techniques, desensitization and cognitive behavioral therapy.

I personally would recommend psychotherapy for coping strategies and resolution of underlying issues.

There are a number of herbal formulas marketed towards reducing stress.  Rescue Remedy and Executive Stress are two that come to mind.

Other basic things that can help anxiety are: exercise, reducing caffeine intake and being vigilant about meds as some can actually increase anxiety.
There are tonnes more strategies but you need to find what works best for you.  It's possible you may need to make lifestyle changes.

[Jaquta]

I had a light bulb moment the other day just when reading about triggers and coping.
I think many of my issues with the mhs have come about because they have been predominantly concerned about treating symptoms (which arise due to invalidating and ignoring the underlying issues).  I don't know if this means anything.  It just seemed to make more sense.  I already knew that they just used a revolving door policy.
Medicate, discharge.  Readmit, medicate, discharge.
I'm not sure why covering up real issues is so highly valued.

I guess this was also about understanding on a different level.  It is the same, yet different.

Diet, exercise and all that other stuff are all equally important.  It's about creating a happy balance in our lives.

[Jaquta]

As difficult as it is we learn a lot from that painful stuff.

You will move on when you are ready and the time is right.  Forcing change can sometimes be more harmful.
I agree with the doctor that understanding is what will help us grow emotionally and allow us to change.

There is a quote by Albert Einstein saying that in order to solve a problem we need to do it at a higher level than at which it was created.

I'm hopeless at paraphrasing people and I seem to do a good job at butchering comments.  Understanding is crucial though.

The page wouldn't load when putting in that web address.  What I did access would seem like political and religious stuff.

I need to go.  I am being harassed into driving mum into town for a hair appointment.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

you have already received excellant advice and recommendations from our community members.  I would only add that you should think of the difference between coping and really understanding.  You may  be able to cope with your anxiety and stress but the origin continues until you'll have another kind of understanding.  Your counseling should help with that.  Whenever you have stress you are either frustrated or threatened by something and often times the frustration and threat are irrational, and once that irrational origin is understood, the intensity of the anxiety experience diminishes rapidly.  You can get some additional help with this at my site my virtual shrink.com where you can take any problem and sort out the rational from the irrational and come out with a different perspective.

[Paxiled]

For a good overview of natural remedies for depression and anxiety try the book Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, a colleague of Dr. Gould at UCLA.  It will give you a good idea of what's available naturally.  The natural approach would include a formula of remedies that suited you, plus diet, exercise, therapy, meditation, that sort of thing.  It's a holistic approach, not like medication where one thing covers up your symptoms.  Good luck.

[Jaquta]

I was thinking about my driving the other day.  I didn't want to admit it but I think doing something on someone elses terms dings my ego.  It must make me pretty insecure not to be able to tolerate change or discrepancies.

I read a quote the other day.  It said, "Help me to change.  But don't ask me to do anything different."

I often want things to be different but I find change extremely scary.  I am very resistant to change.

I think the doctor is right in that the threat is irrational.

I had a lot to say but my head is a mess trying to process this new info or way of looking at things.

I just want to thank the doctor for helping to educate us all and for explaining things.
I am finding that I am learning a lot through posts on this forum.

[keef54]

Hi!

Keep your comments and encouragement coming because it is helping me to take on board the good and useful points you're all making and to take responsibility and control.
As to counselling while I know the main source of my emotional distress I am still involved in a situation that is hard to move on from it. To help you to understand (and I need that understanding) where I am with all this right now, please go a website I have created at:  
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/1234zz    Hopefully, after visiting that site you will see the source of my emotional pain!

Fond regards and thanks again for your care!

Keef

[keef54]

Thanks for all your comments.It does help to be reassured that I'm not alone and I will get through this and to think positive (even though its difficult at times due to the intensity of the physical symptoms!). I seem to go through periods like this when I struggle with it all. AND I KNOW I WILL GET THROUGH THIS ONE! I think I know why I'm struggling to cope as I have been undergoing some intense Person Centred Counselling in the last month or so and it has thrown up a lot of painful stuff!!