Coping with anxiety - tips?

Rev

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Back to Rev's post...

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As in the title.

I've suffered from depression for as long as I can remember. I have learned to cope with that as I know it will come me go and I know I just need to deal with it until it lifts.

Just over three years ago my mum passed away. I had been her carer my entire life (she became disabled when I was 6). Since then I have developed anxiety issues and they seem to just be getting worse as time passes to the point I'm finding it debilitating now.

Worry was never something I did. I was always the 'what's the point to worrying' type and my mums health continued to deteriorate as he years passed I'd simply deal with it worry never occurred to me.

Now it's all I do thank about. My entire life seems to be dictated to by anxiety. The simplest of things that others just brush off (that I would have previously) leaves me a complete and utter flailing mess.

Just as an example of how my mind works these days.

I live in a rough area. Always have. I'd leave the house. There'd be a gang in the street. I'd think 'bloody gangs' and go about my day.

Now I leave the house. There's a gang in the street. I pause. Think if I go out they'll break into the house, steal my dogs (or worse) ransack the place, the house insurance won't pay out and I'll end up utterly screwed. So I go back in cancel whatever plans I have and spend the day terrified they'll break in whilst I'm there and kill me.

It's not all gangs etc. That's just an example. It's always worse case scenario and I walk around with a constant tight chest and feeing of utter dread in my stomach. My brain never shuts up. I don't sleep. Don't eat. Just worry.

I know logically I'm being bloody silly. But I don't seem to be able to do logic these days.

My previous doctor was useless. His medical opinion was 'stop worrying' but I've managed to change doctors now. The new doctor has referred me for CBT and given me anxiety tablets but they seem to have a few side effects (as in I'm having side effects not just worrying about them!) so I'll be going back to see about changing/stopping them.

I was basically just hoping maybe there's some posters who have been where I am who could share some tips. What worked for them etc. Let me know there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

If you've got this far. Thanks for reading.

missbiggles1

I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks but I found Venflaxine very effective; sometimes you have to put up with the side effect if the meds work.

Rev

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks but I found Venflaxine very effective; sometimes you have to put up with the side effect if the meds work.

Thank you. Unfortunately the side effect is being unable to breathe. When shopping yesterday I had to stop twice before I got to the bottom of the street because I couldn't catch my breath.

Were it something less drastic I'd just get on with it but being able to breathe is pretty important haha!

Upsidedown_Bear

Hello :hello:

You have my sympathy - I have anxiety too.
Have you seen the Anxiety Forum?
http://www.anxietyforum.net/

Rev

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Hello :hello:

You have my sympathy - I have anxiety too.
Have you seen the Anxiety Forum?
http://www.anxietyforum.net/

Hi, thanks. I've not heard of that. Will check it out now.

Huskyrunner

what meds does your gp have you on rev?

I have similiar issues too yourself linked in with the bipolar disorder i have. i struggle like hell with certain types of weather as stupid as it sounds. Mine links in with similar experience too yours, we lost our back fence in the winter storms and i came home from work too someone trying too break into my patio doors.

net result when we have high winds i worry like hell, i used too stress that much the bbc weather page i was on it obsessively.

I deal with it by having a saving emergency funds, as part my stress was another 300-400 repair bill and the money stress. We had a bad october november december last year money wise: car broke, then our fences came down twice, boiler broke just before xmas.

I am not on antidepressants but other wonderful pills, i get stressed too bits leaving the house i take three things which help Valerian and Lemon Balm and green tea both can be bought from holland and barett. The both help calm me down. Distractions i find help too ie music/radio/reading a book when your out and about anything too keep your mind from wandering.
Check with your gp but i find these help me ie valerian etc

Next try these two books i found these both too help me greatly with anxiety, i also avoid the bbc weather ap, have blinds fitted so i can see what the weathers doing etc.

The Chimp Paradox- Steve Peters
The power of now- E Tolle

Huskyrunner

Rev wrote: »

As in the title.

I've suffered from depression for as long as I can remember. I have learned to cope with that as I know it will come me go and I know I just need to deal with it until it lifts.

Just over three years ago my mum passed away. I had been her carer my entire life (she became disabled when I was 6). Since then I have developed anxiety issues and they seem to just be getting worse as time passes to the point I'm finding it debilitating now.

Worry was never something I did. I was always the 'what's the point to worrying' type and my mums health continued to deteriorate as he years passed I'd simply deal with it worry never occurred to me.

Now it's all I do thank about. My entire life seems to be dictated to by anxiety. The simplest of things that others just brush off (that I would have previously) leaves me a complete and utter flailing mess.

Just as an example of how my mind works these days.

I live in a rough area. Always have. I'd leave the house. There'd be a gang in the street. I'd think 'bloody gangs' and go about my day.

Now I leave the house. There's a gang in the street. I pause. Think if I go out they'll break into the house, steal my dogs (or worse) ransack the place, the house insurance won't pay out and I'll end up utterly screwed. So I go back in cancel whatever plans I have and spend the day terrified they'll break in whilst I'm there and kill me.

It's not all gangs etc. That's just an example. It's always worse case scenario and I walk around with a constant tight chest and feeing of utter dread in my stomach. My brain never shuts up. I don't sleep. Don't eat. Just worry.

I know logically I'm being bloody silly. But I don't seem to be able to do logic these days.

My previous doctor was useless. His medical opinion was 'stop worrying' but I've managed to change doctors now. The new doctor has referred me for CBT and given me anxiety tablets but they seem to have a few side effects (as in I'm having side effects not just worrying about them!) so I'll be going back to see about changing/stopping them.

I was basically just hoping maybe there's some posters who have been where I am who could share some tips. What worked for them etc. Let me know there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

If you've got this far. Thanks for reading.

whatever meds your gp has you on do not stop them they can take a long time too work. I know it well the bad sides of meds

Pm me Rev if you need help Rev someone too chat with i know exactly what the dark times of anxiety are like

Rev

Huskyrunner wrote: »

what meds does your gp have you on rev?

I have similiar issues too yourself linked in with the bipolar disorder i have. i struggle like hell with certain types of weather as stupid as it sounds. Mine links in with similar experience too yours, we lost our back fence in the winter storms and i came home from work too someone trying too break into my patio doors.

net result when we have high winds i worry like hell, i used too stress that much the bbc weather page i was on it obsessively.

I deal with it by having a saving emergency funds, as part my stress was another 300-400 repair bill and the money stress. We had a bad october november december last year money wise: car broke, then our fences came down twice, boiler broke just before xmas.

I am not on antidepressants but other wonderful pills, i get stressed too bits leaving the house i take three things which help Valerian and Lemon Balm and green tea both can be bought from holland and barett. The both help calm me down. Distractions i find help too ie music/radio/reading a book when your out and about anything too keep your mind from wandering.
Check with your gp but i find these help me ie valerian etc

Next try these two books i found these both too help me greatly with anxiety, i also avoid the bbc weather ap, have blinds fitted so i can see what the weathers doing etc.

The Chimp Paradox- Steve Peters
The power of now- E Tolle

Thank you for the reply.


I'm on mertazipine for the depression and propranolol for the anxiety. I've been on the anti depressants for a while now but the propranalol is new. The doctor explained it has a few uses and helping anxiety is one of them. Also slowing the heart rate which is a medical problem I have (my resting heart rate is 130ish) so it was given to also help slow that. But it seems to be causing me shortness of breath so I'll talk to her about those you've mentioned when I go back.


I don't have a single thing that causes me worry. I did, like yourself it was the weather (rain mostly) and it just seemed to spiral from there to the point where it's everything and anything.



Will have a search for those books! Thanks.

Rev

Huskyrunner wrote: »

whatever meds your gp has you on do not stop them they can take a long time too work. I know it well the bad sides of meds

Pm me Rev if you need help Rev someone too chat with i know exactly what the dark times of anxiety are like

Thanks. No I wouldn't stop taking them without first talking to the GP.


It's awful isn't it. I genuinely feel like I'm crazy or half an inch from some kind of breakdown at times. Like I can't mentally cope with another thing and it's all too much. Despite the fact the 'things' that I can't cope with are everyday things like leaving the house or ordering shopping etc.

tiger_eyes

Glad you made it to your GP. That can't have been easy with your anxiety. See if you can try a different medication rather than giving up on it entirely - I think you'd be pleasantly surprised how big a difference the right medication could make. Is there a long delay for CBT? Do you have the resources to go private?

Rev

tiger_eyes wrote: »

Glad you made it to your GP. That can't have been easy with your anxiety. See if you can try a different medication rather than giving up on it entirely - I think you'd be pleasantly surprised how big a difference the right medication could make. Is there a long delay for CBT? Do you have the resources to go private?

I had been to my old GP a few times but he was useless (why not just stop worrying, have you tried goi g traveling etc). It took a while to find a GP to switch to as I was outside of the catchment area for most. I'm very lucky in the fact I have great friends. My best friend makes sure I get to any GP appointments etc.


I'm open to a different medication. I realise there's so many of them available and they're all going to have a different affect.


There's a 16 week wait for the CBT. The lady I spoke to said it could be sooner but hopefully not longer.


Couldn't afford to go private. I'm not working right now so money is very tight.