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...
Hi, I am happy to have found a group I can share and compare about my anxiety issues. A little back story, I was diagnosed with GAD by a general practitioner about 14 years ago after a couple of travel related panic attacks and anxiety attacks. I was prescribed citalopram (generic Celexa) 20mg and I slowly made it out of the fog by using the medicine and some coping mechanisms I picked up from various friends and family members. I did have a small relapse (again, travel!) and my dosaged was upped to 40mg. Since that time I have mostly been taking the 20mg, unless I have travel planned or get sick. Sickness always seems to aggravate my symptoms. I have felt in control of my symptoms for all this time, of course with breakthough attacks that I let play out, then move on, but no major problems. Skip forward to now. I had a severe case of strep throat, immediately followed by food poisoning that had me in the hospital two nights. I had a panic attack in the hospital, talked it through with the nurse, still felt a little uneasy, but continued to get better. I returned to work, though I did not feel at my normal level of energy or general health. After a week and a half, we went on Thanksgiving break, in which I traveled (!) and then it all fell apart. I would have turned around and went home immediately if it hadn't been for others on the trip. I managed through with the unexpected help of CBD oil (had never tried it before) and thought if I could just get home, I would be okay. I get home and things get worse. Like, I feel like I am back a step one. Tonight I went to the ER just to get something to calm me, because I literally couldn't stop crying. I'm not usually a crier at all, and I was a sobbing mess. I feel so powerless and that I the work I had done to get to this point is out the door. I have an appointment with my general practictioner tomorrow. Thanks for any ideas or support you can offer. I feel very helpless.
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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First, I hope everyone is doing well, and continuing to fight that good fight! Keep up the great work on yourselves; I'm rooting for all of you!So, I started doing therapy at the beginning of the year, when I was in my most depressed state, but with my therapist, I made big changes and steps in the right direction. But, over a month ago, she couldn't take my insurance anymore, and I had to stop...
For what it's worth:
Inside my own strictly personals, I view the anxiety/illness connection from the opposite angle. I believe the anxiety exacerbates the illness rather than the illness exacerbating the anxiety. The physical stress of anxiety weakens my immune system, making me more vulnerable to whatever evil microbes are hiding in front of my eyes in their microscopic mischief. When I focus on managing the anxiety, my immune system stays strong enough to fight those invisible little devils.
But that is me and every case is unique.
Gentle support while you sort your own particulars. Welcome aboard.
That is really interesting. I had not thought about that, but several episodes have been due to multiple illness back to back and then I fall apart. I think I need to pay closer attention to my levels and maybe take some supplements for immunity at those times. Thank you.
Girl,
My doctor has suggested therapy as well. I definitely have a history of illness and travel anxiety, often illness while traveling, going all the way back to when I was a child. I am going to make an appointment today. I have never done therapy before, but I am excited about it.