Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I have been here since August 2014. I have learned alot about my anxiety and have had some people give me great ideas on how to handle it. I have lost my 18 year marriage, and both my parents in the last 3 years. 3 years ago is when my anxiety started to really get going. At times it is manageable, but never goes away. The last 3 weeks, it's in over drive, and I am at the end of my rope. I wake up everyday, almost in a full blown attack. It has gotten to the poitn where I hate to drive anywhere, and I sit at work, fighting it off. I really need some help with this..... Please
I'm so sorry you're going through this. Chronic anxiety is one of the most devastating and painful things to deal with.
Regarding your situation, I would recommend finding a professional to talk to and maybe getting a temporary prescription to help calm the especially bad moments.
After you feel like you've gotten it under control again, I'd try speaking with a therapist on a regular basis to help cope with the natural ups and downs and better learn how to handle the really bad times so things don't spiral out of control.
I know how hard things are right now, but you'll get through this. You've made it a long way already.
If it helps, my anxiety goes through cycles - I'll have only very mild symptoms for several years and then I'll have a few months where it's really bad again. I've learned how to keep it from ruining my life by recognizing the early signs, by keeping my imagination and worrying at bay when it's happening, and surrounding myself with positive things that keep the fear down.
Easier said than done, but with practice and discipline it really does work. Some people need a little medication to help them and that's okay, too. Whatever works best for you.
Just hang in there. We've all been through this and we're here to help.
Visit your doctor or go to urgent care, explain what's been happening and ask for a temporary prescription, then seek out counseling from a qualified therapist.
Good luck. I hope this was helpful.
All I can really do is tell you about my background and what has helped me...
I had a very emotionally, physically and sexually abusive childhood. Luckily, I was able to get away from it at an early enough age, but the effects have still been severe.
An event happened to me as a teenager that most likely triggered the onset of my anxiety symptoms - I finally told my abusive biological father everything that I thought of him and how much I hated him for what he did to me and my family growing up. It was a huge outburst. Lots of crying and yelling. I then left and never saw or spoke to him again. I already didn't see him very often.
A year later my entire life stopped due to severe anxiety symptoms. I was having panic attacks every night, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat much, I was afraid to go anywhere, and I was failing out of high school. My mother put me on all kinds of medications with even more devastating effects. All my friends had abandoned me and I felt very alone. I even started cutting myself and almost committed suicide.
Two years later I was off medication and on track to graduate from high school on time. I didn't care what any of my so-called "friends" thought and I was much happier.
I realized that I just needed to survive and get through it until the things around me got better. I knew the only way to do that was to take action. It was really, really hard and it took a long time, but I did it. You can, too.
I don't know what's going on in your life, but I promise it's going to be okay. You will make it. You have a lot more power and control over your anxiety than you think.
I'm 29 years old now and my symptoms first appeared when I was 12 or 13. Panic attacks started when I was 16. The last time I was on long-term medication was when I was 17/18. I've had only two panic attacks since I was 18 and they were years apart.
I battle with occasional symptoms here and there but a therapist I worked with really helped me recognize my patterns and feel empowered to stop them.
Remember, it's only anxiety. It doesn't control you, you control it. You can overcome it. Find something that makes you feel positive and keeps you driven. Best of luck to you.
I started at 0.5mg and it stopped being effective, but take 1mg now and it helps.
I too am experiencing anxiety again. Sounds so similar. It is always there in the background. I am on meds but just started and now have to wait for the kick in. I try to find new things to read about. A support group, friends and my therapist help. I am afraid it is something I have to live with.
Try to find a therapist you really like.