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...
So, I've had anxiety for
decades. I've fought through it unmedicated for most of it. The last couple years I've been off and on of a low dose lexapro. After a few months of not taking it my anxiety started to rear it's ugly head. It has a lot to do with my weight and cigarette use. I'm heavier and have been smoking for the last few months. My anxiety is in the form of heart issues. Granted heart disease doesn't run in my family and I have a very active job where I spend the majority of my day pushing a 300lbs+ handcart up and down a ramp for 10-12 hours a day.
I started back on my lexapro 4 days ago and am really struggling with increased anxiety during the break in period. I keep getting hot/cold flashes when I feel phantom pain in my arm that I am anticipating feeling. I'm scared to work cause I scared that I'll have a heart attack. I had a stress test done in the spring and they said I was fine but out of shape. The meds have their own side effects that are increasing the symptoms. Fatigue, yawning , stomach gas and burping. Increased sweating.
what sucks is it has caused me to go to the ER so many times that I feel like the boy who cries wolf. I've had multiple ekgs and three stress test over the last 5 years. But I can't kick this fear.
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When i was in the ER February 16th 2025, i was being admitted to ICU where i was for 3 weeks, then had to relearn to walk for 3 weeks in another hospital rehab floor, the nurse told me something that made me feel for over 18 months now that i was finally *safe*. She told me that the guy who raped and beat me 21 years ago now almost 20 years at that time, was in prison as of a month before that...
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I've been feeling like I don't matter my wife the other day instead of telling me she was having a pain day when I went to have sex with her she tell me afterwards that she having pain day due to her fribromyalgia and making feel like shit afterward saying she has a list of things from past 9 years of thing for me to do and is always adding more and more to this list and talk...
I think if you go off and on Lexapro (or any SSRI), you might experience some side effects. Probably best to stay on the dose that your doctor recommends.
If your heart has checked out okay, maybe try and get in some exercise. Exercise is good for anxiety, depression, self esteem...… I think that would help you feel better, from what you have described. How about starting tomorrow? Just try it and do a little bit every day and see how you feel. Best wishes!
Sharing about those fears within a supportive community is the best first step I've found in halting the anxieties which escalate from those fears. This very post is a fine example of how I take that step. It isn't *A Cure* but it often clears the way for more effective anxiety management.
How 'bout it? Did making this post help any?
Welcome aboard. Hope you find stabilizing companionship here.
Finding the patterns often leads to what is really happening underneath.
Best wishes in finding your balance.
I, too, am on Lexapro, along with Abilify. I suffer from depression and anxiety. Your background makes me wonder why you got off of the Lexapro in the first place? Did your doctor recommend it? If’ so, what triggered you to become anxious?
I apologize for all the questions.
I also have MG so I'm still not sure what my symptom goes with what.
If this heart check goes alright, I'm going to push until I pass out.
2019 will be my last year in bed, do or die
The exhaustion, sweating, etc have been the thorn in my side...... Especially at work. And the vision issues. My arms have felt very heavy during flare ups (so putting my hair up is like a workout).
Be careful...... Crisis can strike with little warning. Are you on mestinon? Prednisone? It could very well be MG symptoms instead of heart (but I am no doctor).
There is a support group on Daily Strength for MG. I have found them to be quite helpful and encouraging. Many have experienced Crisis. You truly don't want that. Push, but not too much..... Listen to your body. I wish you the best!