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've been laying low for a while and just reading posts lately because things had been going really well for me. My bf went into rehab and is continuing working on his sobriety every day and my meds were working and I had very little if any anxiety. Today for some reason that has changed. I almost had a panic attack first thing this morning (and at the start of a work meeting no less) but I was able to keep it together and took my klonopin to calm me down. It came back again this afternoon with a vengeance and I just want to cry and sleep. I am so scared things are falling apart and I'm not really better after all. I have blown my entire months income already, my truck needs repairs, the holidays are coming, I have a new psychiatrist appt tomorrow, and worst of all I have developed a very bad habit that could cause me to lose my job or land in jail. I'm really starting to freak out over this....I'm just not behaving as I should in other ways too and I don't like myself for it yet it is so hard to change. I'm wondering if I need to see my therapist more often than once a week. She does seem to help but I have so much in my mind at one time it feels like slow progress. Has anyone gone to talk therapy a couple of times a week? Any advice is appreciated and thanks for reading and letting me vent.
It can't hurt as long as you are completely honest with her AND yourself.
Sometimes looking at the big picture is overwhelming. On your own, try to prioritize the most pressing matters (I know....they all seem pressing...been there myself) to deal with first.
IMO I would address you new "bad habit" with your therapist first off, becuz it will help get many other things in perspective.
This is just my shiny nickles worth and personal experience.
I meet with my therapist tomorrow and I know she might not be 100% happy with how things are going but I think it has to do with not having the proper medication in me yet.
So don't get discouraged because you have increased anxiety right now, it seems like you have a lot of stress going on in your life and that is what is causing your anxiety. Its best to find a healthy way to release your anxiety. I unfortunately have an unhealthy way by gagging but I am trying to change it to exericses. For example, I started jump roping to help decrease the anxiety. I want to get back to running but with me being nausea, I'm scared to run down the street incase I start having a gagging attack. But I have to over come that.
You are having stress (truck repairs, financial stuff, etc) and I can tell by your writing that you are having anticipatory anxiety (worrying about future events that have not even happened yet).
Ground yourself and bring your thoughts back to the present. Today you struggled but took steps to "keep it together". You were successful there so give credit where it it due.
Practice affirmations, things you are thankful for, and do some relaxation techniques (breathing, meditation, guided imagery, visualization, stretching, yoga). Take a nice long hot bath in Epsom salts and relax. You are safe, and things will work out.
Fitness52....I so badly want to start exercising like swimming and yoga but every time I say I want to do it I don't have either the courage or energy to actually get off my butt. I am going to occupational therapy right next to the gym so I'm really hoping I can get myself to the pool after therapy twice a week. I was told by a psychologist a while back it was part of my ADD where I couldn't motivate myself or stay concentrated on things but I had to stop the meds that helped.
Kacc....yes unfortunately I worry about the future entirely too much and that is yet another thing I have discussed with my therapist. So I do try daily to for just a little while live in that moment. Also friends on facebook started stating everyday what they were thankful for (because of the holiday) and I finally caved and joined in. I'm planning on making it an on going thing as long as I possibly can. It feels good to state something positive every day.
Thanks to each of you for your comments...they do make me feel better.