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...

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mistigale 01/28/2013

I wake up every morning feeling shaky and weak. I have attributed it to my anxiety because usually by mid day I feel slightly better. Well, it has been going on for months now and it really bothers me. Since I had my little girl a year ago, my anxiety has been through the roof. After I had her all I could worry about is getting a blood clot, then I worried about having a heart attack, recently it has been MS because of the shakiness and weakness, NOW it is fear that my heart is going to stop because of the heart flutters that I am having quite frequently.
That's just it, I will feel better in the middle of the day then at night here come the heart flutters. Last night, I was so scared because I was having them A LOT. I try to tell myself they are benign, but it doesn't work when my heart feels like it isn't beating right!!
I have been to the doctor 4 times for all of this...I had an ECHO, wore a 24 hour holter, and a bunch of other tests 6 months ago and they all came out fine (I do have mild MVP, which I already knew). The docs always say ANXIETY!! They have given me meds that I do not want to take, I feel like that is just concealing the problem. Not to mention the bad reviews I have read about the drug. I don't need that.
I woke up this morning feeling awful....just feel sick...like I am dying. I mean I know I am not, I just feel that way. I don't feel well.
I have 4 kids that need me and I can't give them all of me because I constantly feel awful or have this feeling like I don't want to do anything. I feel a lot of guilt over this and many other things.
I just want to be better.....
Does anyone else feel this way ever? I have felt this way before...it never lasted this long though.
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent....I am at my wits end.

deleted_user 01/28/2013

I used to feel the way you do about medication, but eventually my anxiety got so bad that I just decided I would simply do everything I possibly could to try and make my life livable. Including medication. It's not a miracle cure, but it has helped.

Sometimes, if you can't cure the problem, you have to find ways to live with it.

Good luck!

rskb3 01/28/2013

when i first had anxiety i was like that every morning as well and doing something simple seems like the biggest task in the world and it makes you feel even more anxious. i hate having to take medication but it does help me. i know it seems like your putting a bandaid on the issue but until you can see a psychiatrist and help your anxiety the medication can help you live your life because who needs to feel like that everyday. wishing you the best of luck :)

mistigale 01/28/2013

Your right...I just can't bring myself to take it. I will have my mind set that I am going to take it and them I start to think about all the side effects.
I Google too much and that only deters me more. I have read where people became suicidal or gained weight. That is the last thing I need because I am already struggling to lose weight.
I am so afraid of having to deal with the side effects of the med or that it will only make things worse.
It's an endless cycle....

bafw26 01/28/2013

I wake up every morning with pretty bad anxiety. Like you, I was very hesitant to take medication but I had to, nothing else worked. I've been on Zoloft for just over two weeks. I have felt somewhat of a reduction in my anxiety but this morning has been tough. About a minute after I wake up the fun starts. I am totally wired yet exhausted at the same time. Then I feel guilty about over what I 'should' be doing, whatever that may be. It's a horrible cycle that's really hard to break. You are definitely not the only one feeling this way. Isn't it awful? I am just trying to patient while the medication takes full effect.

deleted_user 01/28/2013

I have been feeling anxious since a week before Christmas. I ask myself all the time is it really anxiety? Why is it lasting so long. I finally gave in to Zoloft and have been on it for 3 weeks and I also am waiting for it to take affect. Hope you feel better soon.

Also I have MVP and it can cause anxiety. I just found this out. Which makes sense since so many people who have MVP have anxiety. What a pain!

Hope you feel better soon.

deleted_user 01/29/2013

Did you know you have the ability to control how you feel?Start by writing down what you are capable of in a given day; be realistic.
Taking on everyone elses emotional giants will get you SQUASHED.
Empower yourself for what you can do and rebuild your confidence.

deleted_user 01/29/2013

I have to say that working through therapy is helping me a lot! I have chosen for the moment not to take any full time meds. I have many reasons for that choice, and luckily both my regular doctor and my psychiatrist support my decision. If you have the opportunity to see a therapist I would say do it. My anxiety also started to hit it's worst phase after the birth of my child.

Therapy is difficult and digging into underlying issues and undealt with emotions is painful, but by doing so I am really seeing improvements in my anxiety levels. There are so many things just below the surface that I didn't even realize were still hurting me. I truly think my anxiety has become a protective coating for dealing with underlying emotions. I am just so unable and unwilling to deal with certain things that it built into this anxiety problem.

I know it sounds like a bunch of psychobabble, but truly I would say that 90% of those of us with anxiety issues have underlying issues that are causing and feeding that problem. Many people just continue on - not dealing - and take meds just to quiet the anxiety. Before anyone jumps all over me - yes, I realize that some people cannot begin to work through those underlying issues without the aid of medication to help them function and focus more clearly and there is no shame in that. It is a personal choice for sure and different methods work for different people.

One of the biggest things is to learn not to be afraid of the anxiety. I know, easier said than done, but I find the more I fear it the more I close myself off and begin to cave into the anxiety. It becomes a cycle.

deleted_user 01/29/2013

I was at the point where I could no longer function, so I broke down and tried meds. I have been taking low doses of Ativan for about a week. I definitely feel the medication working. It kind of takes the edge off if you are starting to panic. It helps you come back down.
Generally meds are short-term and just enough to get you through a bad episode. I definitely don't plan on taking them long-term.

deleted_user 01/29/2013

P.S. I also have MVP, which used to cause me to pass out. I do believe MVP contributes to, or is comorbid with, anxiety.

deleted_user 01/31/2013

I have found the medication helped me get better. The medicine will replenish what you have lost. I also found eating a cookie when I first woke up helped me with the jitters. I needed sugar to boost me.. As soon as my eyes opened at ate something. Rested for 5 minutes and up. Amazing how I felt. I am off all medicine and this was the last part the morning jitters. I know see anxiety has a parade... I watch it go by.

deleted_user 01/31/2013

Check your thyroid and your hormonal levels. I know they both cause me anxiety. You also had 4 kids so I wonder if that plays a role. Your body is lacking something to feel like that everyday. Diet and supplements may be what you need. I know they help me.

deleted_user 01/31/2013

Hello I'm sorry how your feeling I've been dealing with my anxiety for 6 months now I tried zoloft and lexapro kolonpin xanax xr omg. The worst experience of my life. Zoloft I was very angry yelling all the time my head hurt so bad everyday.my dr didn't wean me off was only on for a month I had the worst withdrawals it put me in a deeper depression and my anxiety was so bad. I have three children of my own and couldn't believe the way zoloft made me feel everyday. I'm currently on a short acting Xanax weaning off the long acting one. All can say is I will never put an antidepressant in my mouth again. I know meds work for some people but it sent me down a scary road. I was like you I didn't want to take anything for three months I would google too and it scared me more but now i'm glad I googled cause i have learned so much these pass months about meds. Have you thought about natural stuff. Like melatonin to help you sleep i called a health store today when I 'm weaned off the Xanax I'm going to start these mints called mindful mints there suppose to help with anxiety. If i was you I would try natural first I wish I would have done that first. Stay strong and when your feeling bad just think about the fun times you've had with your kids that would always keep me going and put a smile on my face. God Bless you and your family

deleted_user 01/31/2013

Hi, I also have anxiety accompanied by heart flutters. Usually the flutters get worse with my increased anxiety levels. I wanted to ask about your diet. Do you eat processed foods, sugars and caffeine. Those things make heart flutters worse. You may want to clean up the diet first if you have not done it yet. It makes a big difference in your anxiety levels as well as the heart flutters. You may be surprised but even a piece of chocolate has enough stimulant in it to mess with the heart. Secondly, try to add in some exercise every day. These things helped my anxiety and heart flutters. I am also scared to take medication so im trying to take care of it via natural remedies. You may want to look into natural remedies for anxiety as well. i started taking evening primrose oil and i swear it works.

MyMeko 02/03/2013

I too wake up every morning shaky and anxious. Mine may be due to a new medication so I will tell my doctor about it at the next appointment. I can understand being worried about side effects so I always discuss the critical side effects with my doctor and then I do not read the pamphlet or anything online until I have been on it for a few weeks. My live in boyfriend reads the pamphlets so he can be aware of any changes but doesn't tell me. We both find it helpful so we don't get worked up over what may never happen. Also remember not every medication works for everyone so don't be afraid to tell your doctor about it or any worries you have. That's why he is there to make you better. Taking medication isn't something I like either but I have learned that it makes me feel better and able to function every day so I will do it. Sometimes you don't realize how miserable you are until you are well and it's an amazing difference. My recommendation would be to discuss you worries with your doctor and really consider medication so you can function for you and your family. Good luck!

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