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 a member for a little bit now. I don't often post, but I do come to read quite a bit. It makes me feel better to know I am not alone. I have had anxiety since I was about 13, however in the last 2 years it really kicked into overdrive. I take an anti-depressant (can't remember the name right now) and I also have a prescription for Lorazepam, which helps me out greatly.
My anxiety usually comes in the form of becoming convinced I am having a heart attack. My husband works 2nd shift and I am alone at night taking care of my 3 young (7, 5 and 2) children. I worry that I will have a heart attack while I am alone with them. But that's not the only way my anxiety manifests itself (I think). I have issues with visualizing bad things happening. In detail. A lot of times it involves me falling down the stairs. I picture where I would hit on the stairs etc. I also visualize choking while I am eating. I start to swallow, have this vision of myself choking, and struggle to finish swallowing. That can get so bad, that I will refuse to eat until my husband gets home. I look forward to going to sleep, because it is a break from the relentless anxiety (some weeks). And when I wake up, it's like I don't remember I have anxiety right away, and that is so nice too. I feel "normal"
Distraction works, but not always, sometimes my anxious thoughts are a lot stronger than distractions I come up with. I did see a counselor, but I am also in school and have an internship, so it had to take a backseat for a bit, but now that winter break is here, and my schedule next semester is a little easier, I will be going back.
I just get so tired of this. There are some weeks where it feels like every day is a battle. I told my husband if they had electroshock treatments that would just fix that part of my brain I would sign up, just to be through with this.
There are other weeks though, that I breeze through. I am confident, I don't need a pill all week, I am energetic and wonderful.
I guess I am just curious if some other people have the same type of anxiety...symptoms? Is that the right word? Like I said before, a lot of times it just helps to know that I am not alone.
My anxiety usually comes in the form of becoming convinced I am having a heart attack. My husband works 2nd shift and I am alone at night taking care of my 3 young (7, 5 and 2) children. I worry that I will have a heart attack while I am alone with them. But that's not the only way my anxiety manifests itself (I think). I have issues with visualizing bad things happening. In detail. A lot of times it involves me falling down the stairs. I picture where I would hit on the stairs etc. I also visualize choking while I am eating. I start to swallow, have this vision of myself choking, and struggle to finish swallowing. That can get so bad, that I will refuse to eat until my husband gets home. I look forward to going to sleep, because it is a break from the relentless anxiety (some weeks). And when I wake up, it's like I don't remember I have anxiety right away, and that is so nice too. I feel "normal"
Distraction works, but not always, sometimes my anxious thoughts are a lot stronger than distractions I come up with. I did see a counselor, but I am also in school and have an internship, so it had to take a backseat for a bit, but now that winter break is here, and my schedule next semester is a little easier, I will be going back.
I just get so tired of this. There are some weeks where it feels like every day is a battle. I told my husband if they had electroshock treatments that would just fix that part of my brain I would sign up, just to be through with this.
There are other weeks though, that I breeze through. I am confident, I don't need a pill all week, I am energetic and wonderful.
I guess I am just curious if some other people have the same type of anxiety...symptoms? Is that the right word? Like I said before, a lot of times it just helps to know that I am not alone.
I definitely have the same type of anxiety symptoms you talked about. Also like you said, some days are great, and others are so awful you wonder how you're ever going to have a great day again.
The "intrusive thoughts" you mentioned, I struggle with all the time. Its as if my brain knows what scares me the worst and then sits there and replays the scary thoughts over and over. Like you visualize choking or falling down the stairs, I do the same thing only I fear I could be chopping vegetables and then stab myself without meaning to. They thoughts get more violent and so incredibly scary because I know that I would never ever consciously hurt myself.
I get so tired of hearing to "deep breath" and "this too shall pass" but deep breathing really does calm me down. I inhale for 7, hold for 3, exhale for 12 and repeat as many times as I feel that it takes to make my heart stop pounding. Seeing a counselor does help, they are well versed in all of these things and want to make us feel better.
Distraction seems to work occasionally like you said. Last night I was feeling very anxious so I literally put on a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie, pulled up a crossword puzzle on my computer and diffused the "peace and calming" essential oil in the room.
Rather than waiting for your husband to get home to eat, would you be able to eat applesauce, pudding...etc. something that wouldn't require chewing so you knew for a fact you wouldn't choke? When I was explaining my anxiety to my aunt the other day, she told me she used to be the same way about food. That she'd convince herself she was going to choke that she would only eat baby food for months. But guess, what, she got better.
Sorry for the novel, you are NOT alone. Your "symptoms" are very similar to mine. What I keep trying to tell myself is, "hey, Christmas is next week, do you think we could shelf the anxiety at least until Christmas is over so we can enjoy this time?" Maybe that'll work for you too. Merry Christmas!
We are here for you anytime you have questions or just want to share your feelings. Hugs GB