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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Very tough relapse

Mike1975
Mike1975
I have dealt with general and social anxiety for 16 years but only received help the last 8. I had been on Effexor for about 6 years which seemed to help me although on occassion I would have a relapse or very tough time. When this would happen, I got very anxious, concerned about how I was interacting with others, worried they didn't like me anymore, when will this end and numerous other concerns. Usually this would last 1-2 weeks before I would calm. A life change or a change in my social group tended to set me off. I had been symptom free for the past 2.5 years and asked my psychiatrist to ween me off, which he did. I had been competely off medication since May. However, my symptoms began to return 2 weeks ago. A new male was starting at my job place and previously it had only been my one male friend and I there. I tried not to get anxious but after about a week the anxiety became really bad and it is tough interacting with others. The anxiety is there almost all the time, dropping some at night. I am concerned about alienating my friends, coworkers. I also have a friend of facebook who is going through trouble and said Sunday he would always be there. Since Tuesday he hasn't responded to any emails although he has been on, and that is making things difficult. Currently I am on Xanax 3x daily as needed and just started Effexor 75mg as of Tuesday. I'm afraid these feeling will not go away like they used to and that rarely have I had symptoms for 2 weeks. I'm hoping it is just because I had no Effexor in my system when the problems started. Just looking for any input from anyone since even with great support from my Mother and another friend with anxiety issues, some days I can barely get out of bed. Thank you very much.
LuckyEmpath
LuckyEmpath
Hi Mike. Welcome to the group. So sorry your anxiety has increased so much. It sounds like you are experiencing such high anxiety because you have not had them in so long. I know for myself that when I have not had anxiety for a while, when it does return, it feels 100 times worse than I remember it. It lasts longer and it's harder for me to calm myself. It's like I fall out of practice on how to deal with it.

I think it's good you are going back on the meds. It sounds like they were helping you really well and will probably help again. In the meantime do you have any coping mechanisms in place like deep breathing, diversion such as watching tv, working on the car, mowing the lawn... anything that will keep your mind off what you are feeling.
Mike1975
Mike1975
I run which helps alleviate some of the stress, especially at night which is good. I tend to flip out with life changes like at work and sometimes social situations. But usually in 1-2 weeks I start to settle down, granted I would be on my Effexor. I was never sure if it really helped me since I would have some freak outs even on it but I guess the medication only keeps you from some spikes and not all. And I guess it also helps bring you back down again, even if it takes some time. I hope that is the case anyways. Knowing that would make me feel better. I was on 225mg when I got weened off and now I am on 75mg. Rescheduled my psych. appt. for next week(previously it was next month) because it is still really difficult. Hoping I feel at least mostly back to normal by then. Just unsure if the 75mg will be enough, if it just hasn't had time to work in my system, what was the correct dose for me,etc. Lots of questions. The anxiety and trying to act normal and not alienate or seem weird to my coworkers and friends are biggest concerns. Especially since my buddy mentioned above, although we hadn't talked much before this, said he's be listening board but hasn't seemed to read my emails even though he has been on facebook posting things to his wall. Obsessing I know, but difficult not to...
deleted_user
deleted_user
sometimes when there is change we tend to start doubting ourselves if we can handle it..i have a lot of work overload at work and they are constantly changing things on me which I start doubting myself that I could do it or that I can handle the change and anxiety kicks in,..it isn't until I start to see its no big deal that I can relax..it may take me a few weeks but that's what happens to me too..i hate change and I sometimes don't believe in myself..its a process we have to deal with day by day ..it will get easier ..as for friends..i can count on one hand on how many friends I have..the older I get the less they are around..you want that one person you think u can count on to be there for you like you would be there for them but they aren't,,so the best thing to do is talk on here or go to your journal and let it out..hope you start feeling better.
Mike1975
Mike1975
Unfortunately for me anxiety can come from work sometimes, change in life and a few other things. It always ends up turning into social anxiety though it seems, ie: afraid of being weird around others, being too needy, over analyzing. I know it is self defeating to set myself up for it but nothing I've done so far has curbed it. Just hoping a little more time, some positive interactions and the build up of medication in my body will sort things out :).
StrongCelticLass
StrongCelticLass
Hey Mike.Sorry to here of your plight.

I understand the social anxiety like the not knowing where to put your hands when your around someone that makes you nervous..I get it.
I also over analyze things and feel like I'm looking through a social microscope when I'm w/ others,subtly watching every detail every interaction an internally psychoanalyzing it to death.

I've tried the whole drug merry-go-round and had to quit because of toxicity.The only thing natural that's helped me w/ this stress is aroma therapy and very high doses of organic/non synthetic Vitamin C.The brand I use is Radiance C by Pure Synergy.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Mike, I doubt myself so much too and always go over in my mind how I recently interacted with this or that person, was it okay, did I say something stupid or that could be taken the wrong way, etc. I have found myself getting caught up in the facebook game a lot too. There have been a few childhood acquaintances who have deleted me recently and one old acquaintance (apparently not a friend as I thought) who simply did not answer my inbox message. I always have to wonder why. But then I tell myself, could be a million different reasons why and not all of them equate to them thinking something derogatory about me. If I did offend any of them, either by speaking out on current events or politics or by posting gay pride memes on behalf of my lesbian daughter, then fine, that is not a friendship I need or want in the first place. We never need friends badly enough to give up our values or beliefs.

Sounds like you have a good med combo, I so hope that it helps you new friend.
Mike1975
Mike1975
Thank you everyone for your support. Hopefully it will help me some until full recovery. Friend still hasn't replied to anything so I've stopped writing and just hope he had some reason for not responding and eventually drops me a line. I hate feeling I've pushed anyone away and worrying it might happen again.