How long does your anxiety last?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
How long does your anxiety last?
6
Wed, 05-04-2005 - 12:18am
I just wondered, how everyone else feels about this.
How long does your anxiety last usually? And is it every day?
I seem on edge most days. I wonder if I am the only one that feels this way, and will it ever go away??
Xanex helps, but I don't take the prescibed dosage because it makes me so sleepy and I can't do anything...So instead of taking 1 or 2 pills, I split a pill in 1/2 then in half again, taking 1/4 when I wake up, then the other 1/4 about an hour later.
(My hubby says I should take the dose the dr. prescribes...what do you guys think? It just makes me so darn sleepy!)
Anyways, Today I went a little further from home than normal. I almost turned back, but didn't...(I typically can only make it about a mile to the grocery store or fast food places that I am familiar with! And these trips maybe last an hour max.) I was happy I went because I was buying plants for my garden. And I ended up being gone about 3 hours. I was proud of this but am more on edge than normal for this time of day. Probably because this is the first time I have made it out for this long in a about 1 year and half...but i really do not like this feeling, I feel drained and really anxious at the same time...if that makes any kind of crazy sense! So I was just curious, if anyone else feels this way...Do you feel anxious daily, for all day? Or does your anxiety just come about everyone in a while? Or come and go? I never know what to expect from myself because I don't know how I am going to feel each day. Even tho I go to sleep at night with plans for the next day, some days I just can't make it out, but I do push myself when I feel this way most times...Ok, enough of my rant! Thanx for listening to my post. I hope everyone has a no-anxiety day tomorrow!!! :0) hugs, shasta
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 05-04-2005 - 6:43am

Hi, Shasta! I am really pleased that you went so far from home & were gone 3 hours. When I think about it, I see a *not so necessary* trip. Going to the grocery store or picking up food to eat are necessities. You actually performed a task that was for your pleasure. In my book, that makes it doubly momentous & something you should celebrate!


I think your dh maybe right about the meds. Many times it's better to take the full dose, than to have the anxiety get ahead of you down the road. That sleepiness you describe does wear off with time. I think the dr. prescribed the dose for a reason. Perhaps that is what is holding up progress here??? Taking a little dose here & there just might be helping the anxiety a little bit here & there. (IMHO) You can always check with the doc to see.


Are you seeing a therapist? Are you able to attend a support group? These are some ways that helped me get going again. I had the anxiety all the time, but facing my fears & pushing through the anxiety made it easier & easier to go places I had long since given up on. I have a court appearance on Friday & I am terrified. Almost daily, I have thought about that upcoming experience & got a big pit in my stomach & thought, "What if I can't go? What if I get in there & feel trapped? What if I have a PA?" I've been doing alot of abdominal breathing & relaxation exercises. I quickly get busy & even have left the house & visited friends just for a change of scenery & to get my mind off the fear. Switching gears does work. Over the years, I have gotten better @ it.


I am NOT an expert, Shasta! The only thing I have any expertise @ is having panic & anxiety! LOL I am just like you. If I can make myself leave home once everyday & drive farther & stay away longer than I did yesterday, so can you! Good luck! Sending P&PT's your way! jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Wed, 05-04-2005 - 1:52pm

Hi Shasta,
I'm not too much help and I really don't have any advice.
I've been stuck in this anxiety fog for 2.5 weeks now.

I am waiting for the meds to kick in.

When i first started Lexapro it may be so tired, it was great because it helped me sleep. It also made me nauseous, that all went away after the 1st week.

Maybe you could plan on taking a nap the 1st few days that you take you prescribed dose of Xanex.

Sorry I couldn't be more help...

((HUGS))
Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
Thu, 05-05-2005 - 2:00am

Thanx Jan, for your sweet encouragment, as always. <3
Well Firstly, I just want you to know I am thinking of you. I know how stressful it is knowing you have to go do something you do not want to do,and that it is out of your control. You are so strong, and I admire you so much. I can't do much to help with your anxiety about your appt.on Friday except to say 'I'm Here for U too!'
Please feel free to email me if you want to.
I know a little about what you might be feeling altho I don't know your exact situation.
I worry about stuff like that too, I was called to jury duty right after I quit my job in Nov 2003 and the judge let me off for 1 year, it has gone well past that, and I haven't been called again yet(knock on wood) but everyday I totally dread getting the mail even, as I fear getting another 'jury duty' calling...
Yikes! Why do we have to worry about so many things!?!
I just want you to know I am here, and will be thinking about you Friday.
I wished I could get you out of it, where is my magic wand?? LOL
I hope it goes fast for you, and you are home as soon as possible. It sounds like you are doing really smart steps in preparing yourself such as the relaxtion/breathing techs & 'switching gears'.
(I am just learning to do that myself, if I start worrying and obsessing too much, I try to submerge myself in something else that totally occupies my mind to help me forget about my worries a little.)
Please let me know how it goes ok?? BIG HUG! <3

Oh-And you are so right. I was pleased that I was able to be out that long, but felt I paid for it last evening and most of today. Very draining. But I did force myself to go back out to the grocery store today to get something for dinner. But have felt kinda dizzy and out of it today. I am doing much better this evening tho and am thinking postive thoughts that it will be much better by tomorrow.
And you know what, I am not sorry at all that I am getting out, I know it will get better with time.
Hey! My neighbor, even came over a week or so ago, and asked if I wanted a job! I had told her a little bit about my anxiety (not a lot) but she said she had even noticed I had been getting about more often, so that is a sign!
(Altho I told her I wasn't 'quite ready' for that venture. It made me feel good that she thought enough of me to ask)
My other problem I am trying to fix right now is my sleep pattern. I can't sleep at night until about 3AM, wake up after that about every hour and a half. Then sleep way late.
(After taking the 1/4 dose of Xanex) And this is not good for me I know. So I am trying different things to correct this. Even my husband's GoLite therapy. (I have only tried it for 2 days tho') Oh, I did try going to a therapist at first when this all happened and I quit my job (my last day at work I left in a ambulance after a full blown PA if you remember my story) but this therapist was not a good fit for me,in fact she made me even more nervous...And I have been reluctant to go to another...Do you see a therapist and what do you like about her/him that has helped you, if I can ask?
And as far as a support group, You guys are my support group and I love you for it!!!
Do you know how go about finding a local support group for problems like this? (not that I am sure I could make it or not,maybe if it was real close to my home)
I did take into account what you said about my meds, maybe I will try to take the actual dose this weekend when my hubby is home. Thnx!
And I think I have a new mantra for every day:
If I can make myself leave home once everyday & drive farther & stay away longer than I did yesterday, I am one day closer to getting well!
Thanx for all you do Jan. And again, I am here for you too!
hugs! <3, shasta
p.s. so sorry for the book!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 05-05-2005 - 6:57am

Thx, Shasta for all your support! It's getting closer(court) & my stomach is tied up in knots. My inner motor is running & when that happens, I know I am stressed. Like you, I find alot of comfort & hope coming to the board. Wish I could take all of you with me tomorrow.


Finding the right therapist is a challenge. Since my A/P is *ok* right now, I am seeing a man to help me with my relationship with my teen dd. He doesn't pull any punches & that's what makes him a good fit for me. I have a tendency to sit on issues & not take the bull by the horns when I should. When I finally *get around to it* things are generally out of control. He doesn't allow this & even assigns me homework. He is seeing my dd as well, so there isn't much room for *fudging* my work:)


Support groups can usually be found by checking with psychiatrists or psychologists offices, local hospitals, your county's mental health agency or the local newspaper. All the groups in our area(AA, Al-Anon,Overeaters Anonymous, Mental Health issues, etc.) are listed on Mondays. I wish we had one for A/P here, as I would love to go. HTH Good luck to you! (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
Thu, 05-05-2005 - 4:29pm
Well I won't be physically with u tomorrow but you will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers while you are there. Again,I hope it goes by quickly. Please let me know how you are doing,k?
Thanx also for the addtl info. That is a great idea that you and dd are both seeing the same person, I bet that helps alot with communication since your therapist knows what you each are feeling.
Hang in there! And I will be sending P&PT's your way all thru today and tomorrow.
BIG HUG! <3, shasta
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Sat, 05-07-2005 - 8:32am

My anxiety was a daily thing for the first 3 months. I would wake every morning (early) with it and have to really fight to get through the mornings. I would make it to work but barely sometimes. I would struggle quite a bit. By afternoon I would be a bit better but would relapse mid afternoon at times. By evening, I would be much better, pretty much feeling normal again and would go to bed exhausted from the mental strain. The next day it would happen all over again. That was routine for me but very painful. Then I got on Zoloft and over time, I started feeling better. The anxiety would come everyday but not last as long, then it would only come once every couple days, then maybe a time or two per week. I keep a journal and have noticed that around the same time each month (not period time) I would have a 2 or 3 day spell of it. Then this even started to diminish. Last month I only had like one partial day of anxiety. I am sad to say that yesterday I got a pretty full load of it though. I have no idea why really. It really upset me. I am still feeling it today off and on. It is still there and I can feel it and I hate that. This is not even that time period during the month that I was talking about, or period time either one! It is so frustrating. I know what you mean about never knowing what to expect. It is hard to feel so good for so long and then have a set back, but overall I still have to say that it is better than having it daily.

Kim