Anxiety and irrational paranoia.. help!

[stacey_fc]

My name is Stacey, and i'm 17 years old.

For a few weeks now, i've been experiencing anxiety, which I think is kind of severe. I'm
anxious, with lots of nervous tension and paranoia throughout most of the day.
In the past month or so, I finished my period, which i skipped for a long time (I can't remember the last time I had a period before this month, 4 months +) before taking the placebos on the pill packet this month. A few days after I started taking the 'active' pills, I started feeling sad, and then anxious, and then overwhelmed.
I'm not usually a worrier, so this anxiety is really starting to get to me, and I feel like i'm at my wits end - which is why I decided to start researching and found this site.

I'll sit in class and talk to somebody, have a normal conversation and smile and laugh and enjoy myself, and all of a sudden i'll remember that I haven't been anxious or upset and like a switch, it goes right back on again. It's so frustrating, because I know i'm being irrational and I can't help it. One minute i'll be concentrating on maths, and the next i'll be staring out the window feeling this absolutely overwhelming sadness, with tears streaming down my face. Or I'll obsess about the time, which is a bit silly I know, but I can't help it. I'll constantly ask about the time and wonder how long to go until I can go home, or get out of class, or catch the bus, or see my boyfriend etc. It's so frustrating and embarrasing, because I feel like I can't keep it together, when usually im a pretty composed person.

I only just went on the birth control pill a year ago, for contraception and my skin. I skip my periods on the pill because I generally have pretty unbearable cramps which usually lands me in the sick bay at school with a heat pack and some panadol. I'm thinking that maybe this anxiety and paranoia is coming from the fact that i hadn't had my period for a good 3-4 months, after researching on the internet and finding some women with similar stories.

To combat it i've been practicing some relaxation techniques and combining yoga stretches with relaxing music, taking supplement capsules like magnesium, fish oil and vitamin b. I'm trying to avoid anti-depressants as much as possible. Not that I believe that they're bad, I just have an addictive personality and I don't want to cure one problem only to take on another.

So to the point: I'm posting this story to help someone else out there. I seriously thought I was going insane until I came across some threads in another forum talking about this type of problem. I know it sounds cliche, but it honestly feels good to know that you're not alone, and to have some type of support out there somewhere.
I was also wondering if anyone had any other tips or techniques to combat anxiety and nervousness, and paranoia? It would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers! :)

[stacey_fc]

hey guys, thanks for the feedback.

im happy to report that im feeling alot better. i stopped taking the birth control pills and i feel so much better, even in like two weeks i feel like a new person! i have my good days and my bad days, but i guess everyone does as well. i'll try and search out that book, suffice to say my local library isn't very good, but there's always amazon!

[savygaby]

I agree with mike dr claire weekes books are very helpful I have the hop and help for your nerves and peace from nervous suffering , but what also can happen is anxiety from the birth control pills they are hormones and could be what Is causing anxiety I would suggest talking to your doctor and tell them what is going on, good luck

[shelzmike]

To start with, read as far back and as many posts as you can - there are A LOT of people and stories with some good advice. Also, click on people's names and read their profiles and journals as this is a source of good info as well.

Also, great job on not wanting to get on anti-anythings...having been on them before (not anymore!) you will see in many of my posts that I am a big anti-medication person (for the most part, especially using only this to cope).

You are absolutely doing the right thing by wanting to attack this thing sooner than later.

Oh, and, as many people on here will also tell you - DO NOT search the internet in an attempt to answer for your own diagnosis, this can only lead to more anxiety - Google = bad :). I know it is hard to do, and still do it myself sometimes, and always regret it afterwards.

While this could be realted to your bc pills (it is always good to see an MD about any possible medical issues first), you have described perfectly the illness of anxiety and panic.

This: "I'll sit in class and talk to somebody, have a normal conversation and smile and laugh and enjoy myself, and all of a sudden i'll remember that I haven't been anxious or upset and like a switch, it goes right back on again." [quote] is what is known as the fear, anxiety, fear cycle which will swallow you up faster than you can imagine - like you said - like a switch. This is the cycle that those of us with this illness deal with and have to learn to break - which is possible.

The best advice I can give (and I always give to new people on the forum and will do so until I am blue in the face) is to get a book called "Hope and help for your nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes. It sounds like a cheesy title, but it is a FANTASTIC book and really makes a lot of sense. I am dead serious - if possible, go to a local library or book store as soon as you can and read this - it WILL make you feel much better - it will not cure you, but it will give you back hope and direction on some ways to start getting better.

Also, you should join the forum here and keep us informed. There is NOTHING better than to have people who share the same experiences as you do and can lend some advice. Anxiety, depression, and panic are a very introverted, "why me" , "I am so alone" type of illness, but it is not - they are cumulatively shared by more people than anything else...it is VERY common..

Good Luck..

Mike