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 had to leave work early due to a panic attack. I'm so embarassed now everyone knows. I can't take this anymore I have lived with this for 25 years. I see a therapist and have been on every medication...nothing helps. I am at such a low point I just don't know how to keep going...
I've lived with anxiety for most of my life, and there have been a handful of times that I really thought I couldn't handle it anymore. (Think crying on the bathroom floor and falling asleep there because I was too tired to really care where I slept.) It's been worse than that at times, but I'm only telling you this so you know you're not alone.
It sounds like it might be time to look for a new therapist. Some are better than others, and it's worth looking around to see if you can find one who is more helpful than the one you're currently seeing.
Medication isn't for everyone. A handful of my friends who have anxiety have had a lot of success with natural remedies, and doing some research on those could be useful.
I've also noticed that (for me anyway) medication will work for a little while and sometimes years, but eventually it stops working so I have to try a new one. And because I've had anxiety for so long, I've been through a LOT of the medications that are out there. Now every time I need to adjust my medication, my psychiatrist will put me on a combination of things. (Right now its Klonopin, Provigil, and Prozac. Along with Xanax as needed.) There are so many medications out there that you practically have infinite combinations.
There are also some therapies out there like CBT and EMDR. I've only dabbled in them, but again, everyone is different and I know some people who swear by those treatments.
Don't give up hope. I'm sure you're exhausted, but set a small goal for yourself like scheduling an appointment with a new therapist. Take things one step at a time. If you can, don't even think about tomorrow. Just focus on the things you can do tonight that will help you to feel better: a hot bath? watching your favorite movie? calling a friend? And tomorrow morning don't think about everything that needs to get done, just take enough steps to get in the shower.
I hope some of this is useful, and I really believe things will get better for you.
Barbara
Everyone is different and all medications and treatment not work same for everyone. You should try out getting a better treatment by CBT and change in medicines.
All I can offer you is that there are times when you won't feel it. There are times when you will master how you feel. I will keep you in my thoughts.
What helped me the most was friending Adventure Guide and then reading her weekly suggestions. I actually drove alone for 4 hours, got a flat, got back in the car and survived!!! i the last year, I also flew by myself and had to change planes. A couple years ago that would have been impossible. so yes, there is hope! don't give up or give in. what I try to do now is small baby steps, even if it's just driving home by an unknown street or going to the mall. Good luck!!!
It was okay though, I was going to grad school in a month anyways was already planning to quit. After grad school I went on SSDI and never had to work again because of my Schizoaffective Disorder, Anxiety, and PTSD.
i have been on a lot of different medications for my anxiety and sometimes the meds need to be changed if they are not working. Sometimes I need that PRN Xanax.
Medical marijuana, yoga, therapy and deep breathing are other things that help me.
best of luck navigating this journey, I know it's hard.