Anxiety Help Please
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Anxiety Help Please
| Wed, 03-09-2005 - 10:30am |
I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 2001. I have been on Zoloft since that time and it has really helped. But, lately the stress of my life has just been too much. I find myself constantly doing the "what ifs" and I cannot let it go. Sometimes I have to take a .25mg Xanex to calm my thoughts at night so I can sleep. I really dont want to go to the psychiatrist again right now ( I go once every six months right now for maintenance). I feel like I need behavioral training again. Except I have forgotten so many of the techniques. Could people please share with me what they do when they start to feel themselves worry?

Shelby, First off (((Hugs))). It's so frustrating when we feel like we have a handle on things and then we start with the anxiety and obsessive thoughts again. The thing that seems to help me the most is to do the positive self talk thing. When I have worrisome thoughts I sit down and write what they are. Then I write rebuttals to them. For example, if I think "What if the car breaks down?", my rebuttal is "I'll call AAA and they'll send a tow truck. The car will get fixed. It will be an inconvenience, but not catastophic." As silly as it may sound to some, just having that rebuttal ready for the next time the negative thought hits me helps so much.
I hope you start feeling better soon!! Make sure you're eating and exercising and taking your multivitamin!! Stress does weird things to our bodies, but doing those things will help keep your system in balance. (((Hugs)))
Jess
Hello,
Let me tell you - I've been through the worst anxiety and back, so I know what it's like to constantly have your life be in a state of panic/worry/stress. Thankfully, I took control (of what I COULD control) and am doing much better with my worrying/anxiety.
First, I spoke to my doctor about the panic/anxiety. She helped my prescribing me with Celexa, an antidepressant that has tremendously help curb the negative thoughts that always triggered my panic attacks (FEAR). She also recommended that I speak to a therapist, and of course to exercise daily and eat healthy. I started seeing my therapist four months ago; first once a week, and now I visit her every two weeks. In addition to exercising (which beats stress), reading positive literature (read a few books on anxiety, but found that reading them also "feed" the anxiety, so I reverted my reading to good fiction and spiritual books.) I am very lucky to have found such a wonderful therapist; she is so non-judgmental, and makes me feel like she really cares for me. She makes me tea every time I visit, and has worked with me on multiple strategies to help me cope with not only stress and anxiety, but every turnpoint life can throw at you. And she reintroduced the importance of our own spirituality to me...no she is not some bible-toting preachy kind of woman, but she asked me if I ever look to God or my guardian angel when I feel anxious, or fearful, or sad, or stressed...and gave me some great books to read on finding that divine connection. Well, I cannot say how much this has helped me conquer my fears. Of course i still have fears, but I no longer let them rule my life. I realize that the outcome of the "what if" scenarios are really out of our control, and i put my faith in God to let everything work out. I realize there is only so much we can do to control what happens to us. Once we get past that point where we can't control it, it's useless to worry.
One of my favorite quotes: "WORRYING IS AN ABUSE OF GOD'S GIFT OF IMAGINATION..." - Unknown
So there are many things you can do to help you control your worrying...one of them is to know there are people (and spiritual beings) out there to help you, and that you are never alone.
Feel free to write anytime.
Love,
Karissa
I use meditation, positive thoughts & breathing exercises to help reduce stress & get through anxiety/panic. In the past I have used meds & though I feel I am coping well without them, I know that I may need to use meds again. It is no shame to use meds to help or even therapy. When anxiety/panic becomes chronic, we need to accept that we'll need an occ. tune up.
Regardless of our individual diagnoses, *what if* thinking can be a problem. Put it in perspective. An old therapist of mine put it this way. When you walk down the street, you can look up & see flower pots on windowsills, balconies & fire escapes. It is possible that the flowerpots could fall on your head, but not probable. I ask myself all the time, *when did I last hear about a flowerpot dropping on someone's head?* I can laugh about it, now. But I have been in your shoes & I know it's intense & scary. Once I got a warning letter from the truant officer @ my dd's school. I constantly feared that something bad would happen to my kids, if I sent them off to school, so I kept them @ home. It was a wake up call. It has taken alot of work, but it is possible to deal with the *what ifs.* I know you can do it. It will take some time. Reduce the stress in your life. Keep yourself distracted from the thoughts by finding ways to fill your time. Good luck! Sending P&PT's your way. (((hugs))) jan
{{{{Shelby}}}} Welcome to the board, the ladies here are so amazing. Honestly I have no real advice to give on top of what has already been posted by these wonderful ladies but I wanted to send you a hug because I know how you feel. I have not yet learned how to manage my stress/anxiety/panic attacks w/out meds either so as I said I know how you feel. I'm working on it. I'm glad you found this board
Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,