Hello Jewellarcher. Welcome to DS. Sorry for what brings you here, but glad you are here.

My favorite old hippie doc laughed at me when I suggested that physical illness made my anxiety worse. I was well into my psychotherapy by then and was approaching the ability to find the humor in my condition.

"Of course physical illness increases your anxiety," he chided. "Anxiety's job inside your survival instinct is to alert you to danger. A viral invasion can be a serious danger. The anxiety spikes are proof that your survival instincts are alive and well."

I cried when that doc left the land of plenty to work with Doctors Without Borders.

Be patient with the process, Archer. The healing mysteries donae work at the speed of a newly released arrow. Sharing honestly within my therapy support network helps me allot with that patience part. Patience doesnae come naturally to my hyper-active survival instinct. This very forum is one of the places I come for that sharing. I hope you'll feel safe sharing here, as well.

Welcome aboard.

It’s a scary feeling isn’t it? People who say it’s ‘just anxiety’ probably have never experienced the intensity. I also wake up terrified at night. I just started an anxiety Med which also aids sleep. Hang in there, I hope your meds start working soon.

Hi there. I started having terrible panic attacks around the age of 29. In retrospect I think that I was experiencing the first stages of perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause). Conventional HRT didn't work for me, but a deep breathing exercise from www.betterbreathing.com really helped to reduce the panic attacks that I was having several times a day for many years. Being in and out of A&E for panic attacks almost on a daily basis was becoming embarrassing and not to mention even more anxiety-provoking. Deep breathing can do much to support the nervous system. I wish you well.

Thank you for the replies guys and support. It means a lot!

Arfie, I’m trying to be patient. It’s hard when things get so intense so fast. It’s also difficult that out of my family and friends I have the worst anxiety. So I’m experiencing things they never did. Luckily, my dog knows I’m uncomfortable and has been with me, head on chest, all the way.

Shaking inside, it’s probably the scariest thing I’ve experienced. My gallbladder made me sicker than this and I didn’t respond like this. I do have high hopes for the meds though.

Shira7 I’ll give it a look. I’ve been trying to find breathing exercises that work for me, I think my anxiety being at such high levels before made it difficult to sit through it. The last Er visit they told me I just sit around and hyperventilate. It’s only embarrassing when they make it that way. This last doctor wouldn’t even stick around to answer my questions. It’s scary how many different ways anxiety can appear when you figure it out alone.

I'm 19 and have been dealing with anxiety since I was 11. It sucks and it hurts and it's scary but in a way, I can assure you that it's made me a stronger human being. There are so many hard days and hard moments, sometimes it feels like i want to give up. But that's an even bigger reason to keep trying. I understand how you feel. I feel those symptoms as well. I used to be so afraid to fall asleep, to take medication, but I slowly began to do so and I started doing better because of it. My medicine helps me a ton. It was so scary before, but I tried being consistent with it and it helped so much. It takes time, that's the one thing you need to know. Some medications take time to really get into your system, but it will really be worth it I promise. I know it's hard towait, and you just want to get better but it's a process. I know it's hard but maintaining a positive outlook will help you so much. Dont be so hard on yourself. Dont sweat the super small stuff and dont let people get in the way of your emotions. I nnow its difficult as heck and sometimes seems impossible , but allowing things and people to take away your happiness and well being will destroy you. Be positive even when you're struggling even when you feel like you're self destructing. This is truly all in your brain. You are bigger and better than that brain of yours. Listen to your heart, to your true self. One thing I was told about a year or two ago is that "you will NOT die because of an anxiety attack." That truly helped me a ton because my anxiety scared me terribly Here are things that have helped me so much with my anxiety and depression:
1. Crisis lines. Talking to somebody who will listen is so helpful. Theres a text line that helps me so much. Here is the number: 741741. You just text the word "home" and explain what crisis you're in: this includes anxiety and depression, etc.
2. Meditation music. Oh my goodness. I just close my eyes and imagine I'm far far away and in a place where only peace and happiness exist. Meditation music is lovely.
3. Do something you love. Something you're passionate about.
4. Right now , i was feeling anxious but I'm listening to meditation music and writing here to you and i feel calmer because i know I'm not alone and i know i can help someone out and offer them a piece of what helps me. Though these things help me, I'm not saying it will help everyone, but it wouldnt hurt to try. You've got this. You're so strong and brave to be dealing with this. I know from experience. Take care and keep being brave. Remember to be consistent with your medication, with your doctor, with yourself. Trust your gut, not your brain.

It is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. God, please grant me patience. NOW GODDAMNIT! ! ! !

Breathing with you, Archer. . .

I lean heavily on my dog, too. She is the best therapy supporter I've ever had. Second to none, though her predecessors were priceless, as well. She is the one who is always here for me now, no questions asked, ever, even when I forget to feed her.

I agree with your opinion, but you need to take care of your health first. Focus on the present, don't think much about the future. who saw our future? If our present is powerfull then the future will automatically powerful. Read the health-related article @ https://www.theindiansun.com.au/health-lifestyle

Three things to do daily. Do even breathing in front of the mirror until you can "feel" the calm and "see" the calm. This will help you master the strength held within the boundaries of your anxiety episode.

Write it out in a private journal. Use this journal to keep track of the pattern of your thoughts and actions (soothing techniques that work and you don't think about are often recognized after writing out in a journal).

Stay hydrated and use gentle movements to break the anxiety path. If you can distract it long enough to focus in the moment, doing grounding techniques will get you better balance faster naturally.

You are not alone! Welcome to DS!

Thank you for the replies guys! A journal sounds like a good idea, would probably help me a lot. Right now, im trying to get back into a normal routine. Trying to do the things I was scared to do while I was alone. I only had one attack last night, it was small, so I think that's improvement. I just never knew anxiety could show up in so many different ways, it makes it hard to cope with each new thing. I am so thankful I found this site and found others who are dealing with it as well.

Its_ok1, thank you for your reply as well. I may need that number in the future if I cant get mine under control like I want to.

It feels like such a process getting back to being normal. Ive never had a sickness make me that anxious. this community is amazing though, non of my family or friends have anxiety like I do. this is great. thank you!

Hurrah for the good moments. You've got this!

I think now that I might. I haven't been anxious today since I woke up. I think its wearing off with the infection. I did things today that I haven't done in days. It feels good to be getting back to normal. :) Its also nice being able to chat it out.